Beef Wellington is a luxurious elegant dish with a rich history dating back to early 19th century England. This iconic entrée features a tender filet mignon layered with mushrooms and other ingredients all wrapped in flaky, golden puff pastry. When properly prepared, beef Wellington is a showstopper centerpiece for any special dinner or celebration.
But where can you get high-quality beef Wellington these days? While you may find it on some restaurant menus, the best beef Wellington often comes from specialty food purveyors that ship it fresh or frozen nationwide. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best places to order beef Wellington online or in stores for a gourmet meal at home.
A Brief History of Beef Wellington
While the exact origins are disputed, beef Wellington is commonly said to have been named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. Some stories say it was his favorite dish, while others claim it was created in celebration of one of his military victories. Regardless, this savory pastry-wrapped filet has been a classic gourmet entrée since the early 1800s.
Traditional beef Wellington consists of a tender filet mignon that is coated with mustard and duxelles, a finely chopped mushroom mixture, then wrapped in prosciutto ham and baked inside puff pastry. Optional additions like foie gras or truffle slices can add even more luxury. When sliced, the puff pastry reveals the pink filet within, making for an elegant presentation.
Over the years, many chefs have put their own spin on beef Wellington experimenting with different fillings and flavors. But the classic version remains a standard bearer of fine dining restaurants around the world. Recreating it at home has long been a badge of honor for ambitious home cooks.
Where to Buy Beef Wellington Online
Purchasing beef Wellington from a quality purveyor is key to getting the same restaurant-quality dish at home. When ordering online, look for providers that ship fresh or freshly frozen so you get maximum flavor and the best texture after baking. Here are some top online sources for beef Wellington:
Goldbelly
This curated marketplace ships some of America’s most iconic and delicious regional foods nationwide. Their beef Wellington offerings come from renowned LA restaurant Wellingtons, including both individual and large family-size Wellingtons. The filet is wrapped in a mushroom duxelle and Dijon mustard for incredible flavor.
Mackenzie Limited
Known for their gourmet seafood and specialty meats, Mackenzie provides high-end beef Wellington made with filet mignon, mushrooms, and herbs in flaky puff pastry It’s ready to bake and serve for a restaurant-worthy meal. They offer Wellingtons in different sizes, including a full Beef Wellington dinner for two.
Harry & David
The gift basket experts at Harry & David put together a complete Wellington dinner package featuring tender filet with mushroom duxelle and bordelaise sauce in puff pastry. It also includes side dishes like au gratin potatoes and carrot cake for a full gourmet meal.
Williams Sonoma
For top quality beef and easy cooking, the Williams Sonoma beef Wellington fits the bill. Their version features organic grass-fed beef with shallot and mushroom, wrapped in all-butter puff pastry so it’s deliciously flaky after baking. They offer it as individual Wellingtons or as a large roast-sized Wellington to feed a crowd.
Purchasing Beef Wellington In Stores
If you prefer to hand select your beef Wellington, many specialty food stores and butcher shops carry frozen and fresh options in their meat departments. Here are some places to check for in-store beef Wellington:
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Whole Foods Market – Some locations offer fresh, store-made individual beef Wellington in the meat department.
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Wegmans – High-end grocery chain Wegmans offers beef Wellington made in-house at their culinary centers. Available frozen.
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Fresh Market – You can often find frozen or fresh beef Wellington at this quality-focused grocery store. Offerings vary by location.
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Local butcher shops – Many local butchers and meat markets offer house-made or pre-packed frozen beef Wellington varieties. Check gourmet stores in your area.
When buying beef Wellington from your grocer or butcher, inspect it closely and look for signs of freshness like brightly colored beef without dried or dark edges. Make sure the puff pastry is intact and flaky rather than soggy. For best results, use frozen Wellingtons within 4-6 months.
Tips for Cooking Beef Wellington at Home
To achieve perfect beef Wellington worthy of a fine dining restaurant, follow these tips when cooking at home:
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Thaw properly – For frozen Wellingtons, thaw overnight in the fridge, never at room temperature. This prevents pastry from getting soggy.
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Preheat adequately – Use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven reaches the proper baking temperature, usually around 400-450 ̊F.
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Use a meat thermometer – Cook until the center of the filet reaches 125-130 ̊F for medium rare doneness. Let rest before slicing.
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Watch carefully – Check often to prevent over-browning. Tent with foil if pastry browns before beef is done.
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Rest before serving – Allow to rest at least 10-15 minutes after baking for easiest slicing and most tender beef.
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Slice neatly – Use an electric knife or very sharp blade to cut clean portions showing the perfect layers.
Make This Gourmet Classic at Home
Recreating the luxurious layers of puff pastry, tender beef, and rich mushroom flavors is easier than you think with perfectly prepped beef Wellington from a quality provider. Ordering online from specialists like Goldbelly delivers it straight to your door so you can enjoy this fine dining experience without leaving home. For delicious beef Wellington you can feel good about, look for organic, humanely raised beef when possible.
Beef Wellington always makes for an elegant, celebratory meal. With the right prep and cooking techniques, you can master this impressive gourmet classic in your own kitchen. Serve it proudly at your next dinner party for a memorable dining experience your guests will rave about.
Make-Ahead Strategies
We dont recommend making beef Wellington ahead of time and reheating it when its time to serve because the puff pastry will get soggy, but you can make the mushrooms duxelles in advance so its quicker going when its time to cook.
Prepare the mushrooms duxelles up to 2 days ahead of time as directed in Step 4. Cool completely and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before using.
What Is Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is a traditional English way of preparing beef tenderloin. Believed to have originated in the 1800s after the Duke of Wellington had a victory at Waterloo in 1815, it was a popular “fancy” dish in the mid-1900s.
The beef is covered in paté de foie gras or mushrooms duxelles (a mushroom puree that has its moisture cooked out) and some sort of ham — like Parma or proscuitto — cover the beef. Its then wrapped in puff pastry and cooked in the oven.
How to Make The Ultimate Beef Wellington | America’s Test Kitchen Full Episode (S23 E5)
FAQ
Do any supermarkets sell Beef Wellington?
Tesco Finest 2 Beef Wellingtons 505G – Tesco Groceries.
Can you buy individual beef wellington?
Individual Beef Wellingtons Enjoy the elegance of a Beef Wellington in an individually wrapped package. When you share or print a 12 Tomatoes recipe, you’re making mealtime meaningful. Of the many fine-dining experiences served at high-end restaurants, Beef Wellington holds a kind of pinnacle status in my mind.
How expensive is Beef Wellington to make?
Economical – Making a full-size Beef wellington is both a culinary and financial undertaking. Making beef wellington for two ran me about $55–you can’t dine out for one at that price! This recipe is elegant and beautiful without a massive price tag.