NOLA RIB-EYE SANDWICHES

FOR THE POTATOES:
16 new red potatoes (or small) quartered
salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 pound unsalted butter
1/2 cup roasted garlic puree (recipe)
freshly ground white pepper (to taste)
FOR THE ONION RINGS:
vegetable oil (for deep frying)
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1/2 cup crystal hot sauce (or the hot sauce of your choice)
1 cup bleached all-purpose flour
Emeril's Essence (recipe) (to taste)
FOR THE STEAKS:
4 rib-eye steaks (about 10 ounces)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
TO SERVE:
4 large hoagie buns (each about 6 inches long) toasted*

TO PREPARE THE POTATOES:
Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until fork tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove potatoes from heat and drain. Put the potatoes back in the pot over low heat to dry them, then mash with a potato masher. Add the heavy cream, butter, and garlic puree and mix well, but remember the potatoes should be slightly lumpy. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.

TO PREPARE THE ONION RINGS:
In a large, heavy, deep pot or an electric fryer, heat 4 inches of vegetable oil to 360 degrees F.

In a small mixing bowl, toss the onion with the hot sauce.

Put the flour in a shallow bowl and season with Essence.

Dredge the onion rings in the flour, shaking them to remove excess flour. Fry them in batches in the hot oil, turning them once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels, then season with Essence. Set aside and keep warm.

TO PREPARE THE STEAKS:
Rub the rib-eyes with the olive oil and season with Essence. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the steaks and cook for 6 to 8 minutes on each side for medium-rare, 130 degrees to 140 degrees; 10 minutes for medium, 145 degrees to 150 degrees; 12 minutes for well done, 155 degrees to 165 degrees. Remove the steaks from the saute pan and add the Worcestershire, stirring to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.

TO SERVE:
Spread equal amounts of the garlic potatoes on one half of each hoagie bun. Tuck the steaks and drizzle with the pan drippings. Top with fried onion rings.

*TO TOAST THE ROLLS:
Preheat over 375 degrees F. Brush each hoagie with butter and toast in oven, 6 to 8 minutes; set aside.

Makes 4 sandwiches
Adapted from source: Emeril's TV Dinners by Emeril Lagasse