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TAYLORSVILLE — A meat cutter at a local restaurant is a top 10 finalist for a national competition in Florida.
Adan Bonilla, an employee at the Texas Roadhouse in Taylorsville, made it through a regional contest and several stages in Florida to advance to the final round of the National Meat Cutting Challenge. Soon, he will find out if he won the grand prize of $20,000.
“I’m excited,” Bonilla said. “I feel good and I’m feeling happy. I tried everything to get to the finals and this is my first one.”
The challenge is hosted by Texas Roadhouse and the winner will receive the title “Texas Roadhouse Meat Cutter of the Year.” Bonilla is the first person from Utah to make it into the top 10, according to Brad Allen, who is the managing partner of the Taylorsville Texas Roadhouse location. Another meat cutter from Orem traveled with Bonilla to Florida to compete against 107 butchers from around the country, but of the two only Bonilla advanced to the second round.
Bonilla learned how to be a butcher at the Taylorsville Texas Roadhouse, where he has worked for seven years. After a meat cutting position opened up, he transitioned roles and was trained to cut meat. Now, his managers say he consistently produces beautiful, quality steaks.
"They got a tough job, but he’s awesome at it.” - Brad Allen, managing partner of the Taylorsville Texas Roadhouse
“He’s great,” Allen said. “He’s kind of quiet and shy … (but) everybody likes him. He comes in here and works in the cooler where it’s 34, 35, 36 degrees in there. He’ll be in there 10 or 11 hours a day cutting meat. They got a tough job, but he’s awesome at it.”
For the national competition, Bonilla recently traveled with Allen to Orlando for three days of meat cutting and a group trip to Universal Studios.
He’ll return to Florida to find out whether or not he won the challenge. As a top 10 finalist, he and his wife will receive an all-expenses paid vacation to Miami, Florida, for the Texas Roadhouse Annual Conference where the winner of the National Meat Cutting Challenge will be announced on April 10.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Allen said. “We have a good time and he does an awesome job.”
