Pepper encrusted beef recipe

My wife & I are planning to throw a small dinner party for a good friend's B-Day. We asked our friend what she wanted to have for the meal. Her response was something beefy with a crust.

Are there any ideas or recipes out there that can make this B-Day Girl happy? (Please, no steak au Poivre with brandy cream sauce)

Thanks in Advance

Stick with me...

There is a restaurant in Naperville that makes a coffee encrusted filet (or maybe ribeye).

It is kind of a pepper/coffee crust. I've tried it a couple times at home with mixed results. I think the key is more pepper than coffee. The ground coffee makes it 'dry'.

I would say - one part course ground coffee to 3 parts fresh ground pepper. Equal parts is too much coffee. Slather with olive oil - rub in coffee/pepper mix. I've had better results on the grill than pan seared.

Of course - if they don't like pepper or coffee - this is a BAD idea.

It may be a bit old fashioned, but what about beef wellington?

I haven't tried any of these, but a bit of googling turned up some recipes I'd sure like to try:

Harissa-crusted Tri-Tip Roast
Wild Mushroom - Gorgonzola Crusted Beef Tenderloin

and, if the coffee piques your interest as it did mine, Saveur has a recipe:
Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

Mhays wrote:and, if the coffee piques your interest as it did mine, Saveur has a recipe:
Coffee-Crusted Beef Tenderloin

I like...thanks!