Monday, 8 February 2016

Overcooking can ruin the Tenderloin Steak

When it comes to some of the most expensive and popular meats, then the top winner would surely be the tenderloin steak. A tenderloin steak is mostly served in fine- dining restaurants and is considered to be a classic choice for a main dish. Made from beef’s meat, this type of a steak is carved out from the tenderloin or the part of short loin primal. The tenderloin is perhaps the most soft and tender part in beef meats, hence the name. There are also other steaks available like chateaubriand, filet mignon and more.

Although nothing can really beat the taste of good beef tenderloin, however, owing to the hesitancy towards proper beef, many restaurants instead substitute it with buffalo meat. But certain states like Mumbai and Bangalore do serve authentic beef, so one can find this dish in some of the more elite lounges and bars in Mumbai and Bangalore.


One can even make this dish at home, only due to the pricey nature of the meat; the preparation must not be rushed and carried out in a proper manner. There are several different ways to cook this type of steak, that is, one can either keep it rare, medium rare or quite well done. Though one has to keep this in mind that the more it cooks the more it loses its juiciness and soft quality.

That is why, it is extremely necessary, that one should keep a check on how exactly the tenderloin steak is being cooked. Tenderloin is a lean cut and also the most tender part of any. That is why; overcooking can ruin the dish, since the lack of fats will turn the meat dry and tough. Overcooking must be at all costs avoided, as it can completely alter the taste and texture of the meat. 

Sunday, 17 January 2016

Which one is more popular the Chicken sausage or the Eggs Benedict?

An age old question that has bothered thinkers for several centuries is that what came first, the chicken or the egg. While there is no certain answer for that and the debate continues with the weight shifting between the two contenders every time.

A similar thought stirring question comes to many people early in the morning as they ponder over what to eat for breakfast. The question merely calls for a choice between chicken sausages or Eggs Benedict for breakfast. Both are nutritious and tasty options which have been loved by the masses for breakfast since long back. We make answering that question easier for you by providing the nutrition chart for both of them.

Eggs Benedict

The most beloved breakfast of a lot of people, when prepared with two medium eggs has 533 calories, 32 grams of fat and 11 grams of saturated fat. However, it is also high on cholesterol, 434 milligrams in each serving which comes not only from the eggs but also from the Hollandaise sauce used in the preparation.

Carbohydrates are also aplenty in Eggs Benedict, 7 grams to be precise, 2 of which come from fibre. A protein rich dish, it makes sure whenever you have a yummy serving of Eggs Benedict at Smokehouse Deli the best breakfast places in Delhi, you get 27 grams of protein.

Chicken Sausage

One sausage can have approximately 140 calories and 180 calories, which makes it a high calorie breakfast. Chicken sausage is also an excellent protein source as it contains 12 to 14 grams per link. When you have chicken sausage at a restaurant for breakfast, you also get 4% of the daily iron requirement, which isn’t enough, but good value for the first meal of the day.

Tuesday, 29 December 2015

3 valuable tips for regular ‘outside eaters’

Eating out isn’t easy! But people who have to live alone and who cannot cook for themselves as a result of their busy schedules are compelled to eat out frequently. From the nutrition point of view, there’s no denying that the food we eat outside can never match up to what we eat at home. But it’s not necessary to indulge into unhealthiness if you’re missing out on the most loved homemade and mom-made food!

Today, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding upon an outlet or restaurant for casual dining. From Indian dishes to international delicacies, these restaurants offer a wide range of servings! The scope of unhealthiness is high in junk items like Fries and Burgers, and if they’ve become a part of daily routine, we must take time to check our calories. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself trapped in a calorie-full world, only to realize that it’s too late to back out. Here’s how you can develop healthiness out of fast food and save yourself from the bad calorie attack!
 •    Grill check: When you go for a grilled meal, say a chicken platter, ask your server to use olive oil from grilling your dish.

•    The right portion: Eat small portions of meals to keep your calorie in control. Some of the restaurants in Mumbai overfill your plate in order to impress you with their portion sizes. But eating fast food in large quantity all at once is not the best idea. Instead, taking small breaks between small meals helps.

•    Green does the good: When you rush into an outlet for a fast food meal, try and fill yourself up with the salads and appetizers. These salads contain greeneries which are good for health. These salads will sate your appetite and keep you from overeating unhealthy meals.

So the next time you’re going for a lamb burger at Smokehouse Deli, remember these tips in order to keep your calorie in control!

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Tips to come up with the perfect tenderloin steak every time

Tenderloin steak is a delicious solution to all types of hunger pangs. It can be had when you wish to cook a casual meal for yourself one afternoon or at a fine dining restaurant while you’re on a date, and it will always end up in a tasty affair.

Though, cooking tenderloin steak at home can be rather tough because of the utmost care and attention you have to invest. Here are a few tips to prepare the perfect steak every time.

Trim it properly

The thick, silvery layer of tissues on the outside of tenderloin  is really hard to remove. Use a flexible knife to cut the silver skin off and if it still doesn’t look neat, trim it.

Keep the thickness intact

Uneven or too thin tenderloin would never be cooked properly. To avoid this, straighten the steak and tie a kitchen string around it to come up with a round shape.

Season it properly

Tenderloin steak lacks the meaty taste and not seasoning it properly would lead to a bland preparation. Cover the surface with kosher or sea salt along with some extra flavours, spices and herbs.

Don’t overcook

Unlike other meats, tenderloin doesn’t get juicier on cooking for a long time, but rather becomes dry and tasteless. If you want to come up with a taste like that of steaks at Smokehouse Deli a restaurant in Khan Market, cook the tenderloin rare or medium rare at a temperature of 140°F.
Wait before cutting through the steak

Cutting the tenderloin steak as soon as you’re done cooking would make all the yummy juices to flow out. Avoid that by letting the steak sit for a while to recover all the juices and redistribute them uniformly for a sumptuous taste.

Sunday, 6 December 2015

Why have Salmon in Breakfast?

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. No one can discount the importance of breakfast since not only does it supplement the body with the necessary vitamins and nutrients but it can also greatly affect how one's day will go on. A good and complete breakfast can lead to better levels of concentration and a higher level of alertness in the body. One should as a general rule, never skimp out on this meal, and if nothing else then have the compulsory eggs and toast. However when one has the time, then one should certainly put some thought into what they eat first thing in the morning.

In breakfast there are certain foods that can help one to stave off their hunger pangs and also provide a slow-release energy. This way one will not be ravenous by lunch time instead by just hungry enough so eat an appropriate amount of food. There are also certain fruits like grapefruit for instance, which are known to help boost mental stimuli. One of these foods is salmon, especially for breakfast these days. Even a lot of breakfast places in Mumbai and all are incorporating this item into brunch dishes and other breakfast foods.
Salmon is perhaps the most discusses and preferred fish around and nowadays it is being recognized as an extremely good item to be had during breakfast. Being one of the richest sources for omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, it also promotes brain development and better functioning.

Not only is salmon rich in antioxidants, but it also helps in prevention of degenerative and inflammatory diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and more. Salmon also has high amounts of selenium and vitamin D which help it prevent diseases like cancer and more. Breakfast places in Bangalore Delhi and Mumbai and more are realizing its potential and having it in their menu.

Sunday, 22 November 2015

A note from a Burger addict!

A burger a day keeps the monotony away! Burgers are like those rays of hopes which bring freshness and excitement into our dull and boring lives. One can literally go from being disappointed to ecstatic when presented with a Burger and I think burger has magical properties!

And I love the fact that I live in a city where I’m spoilt for choice of Burgers. From Lamb Burger to Guacamole Burger, the restaurants in Delhi have all possible kinds of Burgers you can think of!


Also, outlets for Burgers in Delhi provide all kinds of services ranging from 24/7 availability to free home delivery, which makes the idea of having Burgers even more fascinating! Although my addiction to Burgers makes me believe that Burgers are wonderful dishes to rely on, science tells me otherwise! It tells me that Burger is unhealthy for it contains fats, carbohydrates and cheese- all of which contribute to unhealthiness.

But where there is a will there is away! And if you cannot get over the addiction of Burgers, you don’t have to. Here’s how you can make you Burgers healthy.

•    Content swapping: There’s no denying that beef and turkey make the best of the burgers, but if you can swap your meat with a healthy mushroom filling, you can make your burger way too healthy.

•    Sauce swapping: We all know about the creamy and delectable mayonnaise sauce that just adds the right flavor to the Burger but since mayo sauce is high in calorie, switching it with low calorie mustard sauce would do well!

•    Portion absorption: Try to make your burger small and handy! Measure it with your palm. If it doesn’t fit inside- you’ve got to change it!

•    Go green: Adding veggies to the burgers has always proved to be beneficial. Add things like spinach and broccoli and let the vegetables keep you healthy!

So why give up on burgers when you can make them healthier!

Thursday, 19 November 2015

That’s how you run a bar successfully


Many of the modern-day restaurants also serve alcohol these days. However, it takes great effort to manage the in-built bar alongside food.  Whether you own a separate bar or have an in-built bar, the following tips would help you run it successfully:

1.    Always be well-stocked
There is nothing more annoying than asking for a drink present on the menu but unavailable in the bar. Instead of stocking high amounts of all drinks at all times, store as per the demand graph you have observed. Also, make sure you make adjustments during season peak, holidays etc. I visited a few bars in Mumbai on my recent visit to the city, and was impressed to find all of them well-stocked, even when people asked for the most bizarre drinks.

2.    Use measuring equipment
The use of measuring equipment not only makes all mixed drinks consistent, but also avoids wastage. Use measured pourers and jiggers for measuring and mixing different drinks together.

3.    Signature drink
Having a signature drink always makes a bar more unique. The signature drink should be created keeping in mind factors like demography of the location, economic status of the people around, etc.

4.    Happy hours and other events
Happy hours are extremely common in bars or restaurant with bars. However, you could explore more options such as karaoke, trivia, foosball tables etc. to add more life to your establishment. It was a pleasant surprise when I visited some of the restaurants in Mumbai because almost every restaurant had something unique to offer.
5.    More options in non-alcoholic beverages as well
While alcohol is your main offering, you would do well if you be considerate of the non-drinkers and have enough options for non-alcoholic beverages such as mocktails, smoothies and shakes, etc.

And don’t forget to decorate the interiors nicely. I am so fond of the décor of Smoke House Deli in Saket that I just don’t feel like leaving the place when I visit it. It’s just too pretty. So do focus on the décor!