Jessica Trinco | The Lima News at Texas Roadhouse Patrons can see the steak selection as soon as they walk in the door.
This week, 17 butchers from around the region will arrive in Cincinnati hoping to “gamble” for a $25,000 grand prize in the first round of the National Meat Cutting Challenge.
The event will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Burlington, Kentucky.
Each meat cutter is responsible for hand-cutting every steak served at a local Texas Roadhouse. In a typical year, they cut about $1 million worth of meat, spending seven to eight hours a day cutting the meat inside a 35-degree walk-in cooler.
The National Meat Cutting Challenge is part of the Meat Heroes program, created in 2001 to recognize the daily efforts of Texas Roadhouse meat cutters. Each steak served at the restaurant is hand-cut by a butcher. Their creations are displayed in the lobby, where guests can choose their favorite steak.
Emmanuel Fernandez, Antonio Pedrosa and Alexis Almendriz will compete from Columbus, Indiana.
Each participant receives 20 to 30 pounds of beef, consisting of one sirloin, one fillet, and one rib roast. Meat butchers are evaluated for quality and yield through this timed slaughter. The winner is the cutter that produces the most steaks of the highest quality. All cuts are made in a cold 38 degree environment to ensure the best fresh quality meat.
In January, the region’s top-scoring challengers will advance to the semifinals and compete for a spot in the 2025 national competition. The final competition will be held in March. The winner of the national competition will receive a $25,000 prize and be named Meat Cutter of the Year.
“Our National Meat Cutting Challenge celebrates the exceptional skill and precision of local meat cutters and is a tribute to a unique profession that combines artistry and expertise,” said Sr. Texas says Roadhouse Product Coach Mike Jones. “We are proud to recognize the dedication of our butchers in ensuring that every steak is perfectly cut.”
Other competitors include:
Fairborn, Ohio:
• Jesus Mahe
•Fermin Cruz
Huber Heights, Ohio:
• Scott Henning
•Sean Mattern
Richmond, Indiana:
• Adam Wine
•Antonio Cruz
Greenwood, Indiana:
•Raul Morales
• Alex Torres
Clarksville, Indiana:
• Amancio Flores
•Andy Freeberger
Southport, Indiana:
•Noah Carroll
Troy, Ohio:
• Angel Mahe
•Leo Chigo Seba
West Chester, Ohio:
• Alix Essenmacher
Texas Roadhouse was founded in 1993 by Kent Taylor and has more than 650 locations in 49 states and 11 international countries. The Louisville-based company operates three families of brands, including Bubba’s 33 with 50 stores in 15 states and Jaggers with more than 10 stores in multiple states. For more information, please visit www.texasroadhouse.com.
