National Meat Cutting Challenge starts today

Meat cutting specialists from Illinois and Wisconsin are stepping in frigid temperatures today for the first round of the National Meat Cutting Challenge. It's a one-of-a-kind competition and begins locally in West Bend at the Kettle Moraine Ice Center. To assure the best, freshest quality meat, all cutting is done at a chilly 38 degrees. 

Twenty-one master meat cutters from Texas Roadhouse restaurants in the two states are hoping to win the first round which will get them one step closer to winning the Meat Cutter of the Year title and a grand prize of $20,000.

You can join in the fun too by taking an inside look at the art of meat cutting. For just $10 per person enjoy a Legendary Texas Roadhouse lunch including grilled steak, made from scratch mashed potatoes, corn, fresh baked rolls with honey cinnamon butter and non-alcoholic beverage with all proceeds to benefit the Washington County Youth Hockey Association. The meat cutting competition is from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. with the luncheon beginning at noon.

For the competition each competitor will receive 30-40 pounds of beef, consisting of two sirloins, 1 filet and onerib eyee to cut.  Meat cutters are judged on quality, yield, and speed in this timed \"cut-off\". The winner is the cutter who yields the most steaks, with the highest quality cut in the least amount of time. 

Two people will move on to the semi-finals in February where they'll compete for the opportunity to participate in the 2015 national competition in April in Arizona.

\"The National Meat Cutters Challenge is the only competition of its kind. Meat cutters from stores all across America will be coming together to see who is the best of the best. It instills passion, integrity, and pride into each meat cutter individually and gives them a sense of ownership. Each meat cutter who works for Texas Roadhouse must have those traits in order to be successful and the NMCC is something that helps them achieve that. This year we are lucky to have A1 join us in recognizing the best of the best,\" said Matt Smith, Texas Roadhouse Product Coach.

The National Meat Cutting Challenge is part of the Meat Hero program, created in 2001, to recognize daily efforts of Texas Roadhouse meat cutters. Meat cutters hand-cut each steak served at the restaurant.