Expert: Chef Glen L. Davis II - 12/2/2008

Question
I'm serving filets for a lunch for 30.  Is it best to buy a peeled tenderloin if it's $13.99/lb or unpeeled for $9.99/lb? I'll be serving 5-6oz portions, but since the diameter of the tenderloin is different from one end to the other, how do you prepare it so the size of each filet looks similar?
Thanks!

Answer
Every tenderloin you come across will yield slightly different sized steaks. As far as what loin to purchase it is a matter of how much work you are willing to do and how skilled you are with a knife! If you buy what is called a PISMO (peeled intact side muscle off) tenderloin all you should need to do is cut your steaks. If you buy a whole untouched fillet loin look to get about 35-40% waste, I am a trained butcher and I get at best 28% waste. If this is your first time trying to "clean" a fillet muscle, buy the PISMO.
When cutting the loin to get 6 oz steaks you are looking for about 3/4-1 inch thick. MAKE SURE YOU USE A SCALE!!! Digital in this case is best. The best way to figure proper cutting, if the first cut is correct, is to add about 1/4" in length for every angle on the loin. For example, as you cut the steaks for every 1/4" drop in the width of the loin you need to add 1/4" to the length of the steaks.
This is not a task to be taken on lightly. If you have a good relationship with your local butcher ask him/her if they can help you. If I were to go into all the details that you should know before attempting this job, I would be here typing literally for hours!
When picking your fillet loins I recommend choosing the most narrow ones available, roughly 3.5" across at the widest point for PISMO.
This is about all I can really tell you without being there to actually show you how to handle your knife. I recommend going to food networks website and looking up how to handle fillet on Alton Brown's part of the page, ther you can actually have visual aides to help you understand what I am talking about here.

I hope this helps, let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.