A sweet topping for salty prosciutto-wrapped pork

Q: My new favorite Italian restaurant in west Broward is Carrabba’s in Coral Springs. Lately I have enjoyed their pork tenderloin medallions with port wine fig sauce. I can manage the pork tenderloin, but I need a recipe for the port wine fig sauce. Can you help? Thank you. — Elaine Michelson, Tamarac

A: Elaine’s request arrived just after we featured another Bloomin’ Brands (bloominbrands.com) recipe, Bonefish Grill’s scallops elote back in July. Bloomin’ Brands is also the driving culinary force behind Carrabba’s Italian Grill (multiple locations nationwide, carrabbas.com), Outback Steakhouse and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

At the time, Carrabba’s pork tenderloin recipe wasn’t available. Fast forward to a random recent online search, and there it was on a news segment. After receiving a thumbs up from the marketing team I am happy to share the recipe for Carrabba’s prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin with port wine fig sauce. It feels like the perfect time of year for this recipe with salty prosciutto paired with sweet port, figs and apples. Perhaps the delay was a blessing in disguise. Thanks for your patience nonetheless. Shoutout to Carrabba’s chef Brian Ephron and WKRG News 5, in Mobile, Ala., which featured the recipe. For those who tend to shy away from figs, Ephron recommends substituting dried apricots, although he adds, “This sauce has converted several fig haters.”

Carrabba’s Italian Grill started as a family-owned restaurant in 1986 when Johnny Carrabba III and his uncle Damian Mandola opened their first restaurant in Houston. Now there are about 250 locations nationwide. Two Houston locations are still owned by the Carrabba family, separate from Bloomin’ Brands’ acquisition in 1993.

Carrabba’s recipes were inspired by Damian’s mother, Grace, and his sister, Rose. And just in case you didn’t know, you can ask for a ball of pizza dough to play with at your table. Although initially provided for kids, adults can get in on the dough, too. Newcomers should also check out Amore Mondays with three courses starting at $12.99 or Pizza and Wine Wednesdays when you get a choice of any wood-fired pizza for $9.99 and $10 off bottles of wine and $5 glasses of sangria.

Or write to: You Asked For It, Sun Sentinel, 333 SW 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach, 33442. Include your name, town and phone number.

CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL Salty prosciutto-wrapped grilled pork tenderloin pairs well with a sweet sauce of port, fig and apples at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.