filet mignon

filet mignon, a slice of beef cut from the small, narrow end of the tenderloin, generally the most expensive steak on the market.

Located at the top of a cow or steer just ahead of the hind legs, the tenderloin has few connective tissues and carries no weight, earning it the tender portion of its name. The filet mignon, whose name derives from the French phrase meaning “delicate” or “dainty” fillet, is the most tender part of the tenderloin. Other valued cuts of meat from the tenderloin include chateaubriand and part of a porterhouse or T-bone steak.

Because the two filets mignons in a cow weigh only about a pound apiece, they tend to be costly, particularly if they are of prime grade. However, sometimes bargains can be found when purchasing a lower-grade T-bone steak: the larger side of the T-shaped lumbar vertebrae is a strip steak, and the smaller side is the filet mignon. The strip side is marbled with fat, enriching its flavour. The porterhouse is similar to the T-bone steak but has a larger filet mignon than the T-bone has.

Filet mignon is tender and has a delicate, subtle flavour. It may be broiled, wrapped with a strip of bacon, which lends the steak flavour and keeps it from drying during the broiling. If panfried, filet mignon is usually cooked in butter or olive oil for the same purpose. Some chefs combine techniques, searing the meat in a pan and then finishing it in the oven. It is generally cooked rare to medium rare, since anything beyond those stages will result in a toughening of what is otherwise a fork-tender cut of meat. The steak is often served with an herbed sauce, horseradish, or additional butter to enhance its flavour.