Marietta Ice Rink Hosts National Meat Cutting Challenge | Events

MARIETTA, GA -- The Marietta Ice Center (4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, 30068) is usually reserved for figure skaters and hockey players, but it is about to play host to a different type of event -- Round Two of the National Meat Cutting Challenge.

The large venue and frigid conditions make it the perfect place to test the skills of Texas Roadhouse master meat cutters from six states, including Georgia. The competition will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

The meat cutters will showcase their skills during a timed "cut-off," during which each individual receives 50 pounds of beef consisting of two top-butts, two tenderloins and one rib loin. They will be judged on quality, yield and speed.

The meat cutter who yields the most steaks with the highest quality cut in the least amount of time will be declared the winner.

Round One began with over 200 meat cutters. There are 10 competitors in Round Two, seven of whom will advance to the semi-finals in Louisville, Kentucky early next year:

* Jose Luis Carpio (Mobile, Alabama)
* Gustavo Jimenez (Pelham, Alabama)
* Jordan Mitz (Melbourne, Florida)
* Mark Williams (Columbus, Georgia)
* Delfor Barrios (Marietta, Georgia)
* Jason Allen (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
* Derek Keltner (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
* David Garcia (Houston, Texas)
* Tim Mitchell (Christiansburg, Virginia)
* Jose Lemus (Richmond, Virginia)

Seven winners from the semi-finals will compete for a $20,000 grand prize in April at the 2011 Texas Roadhouse national conference in Florida.

All of the meat used in the Nov. 16 competition will be donated to Helping Hands of Paulding County, Inc., a non-profit organization formed by five local churches whose mission is to provide help in many forms, including food, to families in need.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, families identified through Helping Hands will come to the Paulding County Texas Roadhouse (140 Depot Drive, Hiram, 30141) at 1:00 p.m. to pick up legendary steak dinners, including made-from-scratch sides and bread.