Best for: A celebratory steak for two or three people who love beef at its simplest.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina is Florence’s great grilled T-bone: cut very thick, seasoned with little more than salt, rosemary, and olive oil, and cooked over intense heat so the crust chars while the center stays rare. This home-grill version uses a two-zone fire and a long rest to get that contrast right.
Grill: Direct high heat; 550–600°F over the coals, with a cooler side for finishing. Equipment: Grill, rosemary sprig brush, tongs, instant-read thermometer, cutting board.
Ingredients
Rest: 15 minutes. Total: 43 minutes.
Steak
- 1 porterhouse or T-bone steak, 2 1/2 to 3 lb, cut 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick
- 2 teaspoons fine table salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
To serve
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- Flaky sea salt, to finish
- 2 cups baby arugula (optional)
Directions
Take the steak out of the refrigerator 45 minutes before grilling. Pat it dry and season all over with the fine table salt and black pepper.
Heat the grill for two zones, with the hot side at 550–600°F. Brush the grates clean and oil them lightly with a folded paper towel dipped in olive oil.
Set the steak over the hottest part of the grill and sear undisturbed for 6 to 7 minutes, until a deep crust forms. Flip once and sear the second side for 5 to 6 minutes.
Stand the steak on its bone edge for 1 to 2 minutes to render the fat along the bone, then move it to the cooler side if it needs more time. Cook until the center reaches 125°F for rare, the traditional Florentine doneness.
Rest the steak on a warm cutting board for 15 minutes, loosely tented with foil. Brush it with olive oil using the rosemary sprigs as a brush.
Slice the meat off the bone in thick slices, reassemble it around the bone, and finish with flaky sea salt, a squeeze of lemon, and the arugula alongside if using.
Grilling tip: The thickness is the recipe: a thin steak cannot char outside and stay rare inside, so order the cut at least 2 inches thick.
