Eating lean beef
By guest blogger Benjamin Prelvukaj, founder of Benjamin Steakhouse
Lean Beef:
Now that the holiday season is behind us, many of us are struggling with the weight of resolutions we intend to keep. That said, many of us have chosen to eat healthier- a reasonable approach to shedding those acquired holiday pounds. Just because you’re cutting down the calories, however, doesn’t mean that you have to cut the beef out of your diet. Of course the most commonly known lean cut of beef is filet mignon, but there are actually 29 cuts of lean beef according to the US Department of agriculture! (Please see chart below- click on it to make it fullsized). Another action you may take is to trim the excess fat, which can actually lower the fat content by almost 50 percent! For example, you can maintain the flavor of the rib eye by keeping the eye and respectively cutting off most of the fat. Also, opt for grass-fed beef, which tends to have lower saturated fat and cholesterol contents.
Bon appétit!
Now that the holiday season is behind us, many of us are struggling with the weight of resolutions we intend to keep. That said, many of us have chosen to eat healthier- a reasonable approach to shedding those acquired holiday pounds. Just because you’re cutting down the calories, however, doesn’t mean that you have to cut the beef out of your diet. Of course the most commonly known lean cut of beef is filet mignon, but there are actually 29 cuts of lean beef according to the US Department of agriculture! (Please see chart below- click on it to make it fullsized). Another action you may take is to trim the excess fat, which can actually lower the fat content by almost 50 percent! For example, you can maintain the flavor of the rib eye by keeping the eye and respectively cutting off most of the fat. Also, opt for grass-fed beef, which tends to have lower saturated fat and cholesterol contents.
Bon appétit!
Editor's Note: About our guest blogger Benjamin Prelvukaj 
Benjamin Prelvukaj is the ambitious young entrepreneur who founded Benjamin Steak House. Benjamin, along with fellow Peter Luger alumni, Chef Arturo McLeod, started Benjamin Steak House in 2006. In two short years, Benjamin Steak House has established itself as one of New York’s premiere steak houses, attracting business professionals and celebrities alike.
At the humble age of 18, he moved to New York in pursuit of a better life for him and his family. After working at various New York restaurants, he began working full-time as a waiter at the famous Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn while also attending school. Juggling school and a full-time job was no easy task, but Benjamin was determined to succeed.
While working at Peter Luger, Benjamin paid close attention to what made the restaurant so successful. He also took note of the areas he thought needed improvement. These assessments were the building blocks to the development of Benjamin Steak House. After assembling a group of investors, Benjamin began to search for a location for his dream restaurant. When he stumbled upon the Dylan Hotel, Benjamin knew he had found the right place. The elegant setting of the two-story space, located in the century-old Chemist Club building near Grand Central was exactly what he has envisioned. With its brass chandeliers, soaring ceilings, and 10-foot fireplace, the location felt like a Sinatra-esque throwback to the Big Band Era.
Many restaurants had failed in this location before- including the Chemist Club Grill and Britney Spears’ NYLA- but that did not deter Benjamin. The first 6 months after the opening, business was slow, but Mr. Prelvukaj refused to lose hope. He continued to refine his menu, hire the finest wait and kitchen staff, and promote Benjamin Steak House around the city. In time, his hard work paid off. Today it is rare to find an empty seat in Benjamin’s, even on weekdays, and celebrity clientele include world champion boxers Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko, movie stars Vin Diesel, Hillary Duff, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Meloni, and Reba McIntyre, and super models Naomi Campbell and Jessica Hart, among others. Benjamin Prelvukaj’s success story is truly inspirational, and a testament to the fact that, no matter where you come from, if you have the ambition and persistence, you too can live the American dream.
At the humble age of 18, he moved to New York in pursuit of a better life for him and his family. After working at various New York restaurants, he began working full-time as a waiter at the famous Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn while also attending school. Juggling school and a full-time job was no easy task, but Benjamin was determined to succeed.
While working at Peter Luger, Benjamin paid close attention to what made the restaurant so successful. He also took note of the areas he thought needed improvement. These assessments were the building blocks to the development of Benjamin Steak House. After assembling a group of investors, Benjamin began to search for a location for his dream restaurant. When he stumbled upon the Dylan Hotel, Benjamin knew he had found the right place. The elegant setting of the two-story space, located in the century-old Chemist Club building near Grand Central was exactly what he has envisioned. With its brass chandeliers, soaring ceilings, and 10-foot fireplace, the location felt like a Sinatra-esque throwback to the Big Band Era.
Many restaurants had failed in this location before- including the Chemist Club Grill and Britney Spears’ NYLA- but that did not deter Benjamin. The first 6 months after the opening, business was slow, but Mr. Prelvukaj refused to lose hope. He continued to refine his menu, hire the finest wait and kitchen staff, and promote Benjamin Steak House around the city. In time, his hard work paid off. Today it is rare to find an empty seat in Benjamin’s, even on weekdays, and celebrity clientele include world champion boxers Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko, movie stars Vin Diesel, Hillary Duff, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Meloni, and Reba McIntyre, and super models Naomi Campbell and Jessica Hart, among others. Benjamin Prelvukaj’s success story is truly inspirational, and a testament to the fact that, no matter where you come from, if you have the ambition and persistence, you too can live the American dream.
Labels: Eating lean beef By guest blogger Benjamin Prelvukaj, founder of Benjamin Steakhouse
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