Cycle 12 – Cycle 198

22 (Thu) July 2021

Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Basmati Rice and Mashed Potatoes in Masala Sauce

3.0

by me

at home

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

with the Family

The cost of Hanwoo is out of control.  At Aging Master, these tenderloins cost 11,800 per 100 grams, even though rated 2 (4th tier).  Ordinarily, I would be suspicious of Hanwoo at such a low rating (see 8.158 Taste Test: Hanwoo 2 v 1+), but the audacity of the price made me curious.

Originally, I’d purchased them for my father’s birthday, but then – considering the low rating – I got worried that they would turn out to be tough, so I went out again and bought 1+ strip (2nd tier) steaks – at 13,000 won per 100 grams – which turned out to be tough (see 12.194 Spaghetti al Pomodoro Crudo).

The steaks were pretty good.  Despite my fears, they were very tender, being tenderloins, and being aged – i.e., perhaps worth the price.  Didn’t taste like much, being tenderloins, and being Hanwoo.  No problem, they paired nicely with the mashed potatoes and basmati rice, all brought together by the masala sauce.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)