Belleau is meat coordinator for the Whole Foods Market Mid-Atlantic Region. The P Street Whole Foods is hosting the second annual Eastern Regional Semi-Finals Best Butcher Contest from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday from 6-9 p.m. Four regional winners from the East Coast will compete, and the winner will move on to the national competition in New York. The event is for those 21 years of age and older. Tickets are $20 each.
What can attendees expect at the event?
Four chefs are going to be highlighting their restaurants. We have vendors doing demos for their products. There will be four local beer vendors. It will be a gathering for the first hour-and-a-half, and then we’ll start the competition.
Is there a favorite to win the contest this year?
I wouldn’t say there’s a favorite, but the guys who won second and third last year are back again … These cutters have been broken down from about 125 stores.
What should the competitors be doing to prepare?
I think the biggest thing is, these guys are the experts. They’ve been in the industry for over 20 years. I know people get nervous sometimes, but they need to do what they know. In the end they are going to have the proper result. Keeping composure is key.
On what criteria will the contest be judged?
They’re judged on time, craftsmanship, knife-handling skills, yield and profitability. It’s a blind thing. They don’t know what they’ll be cutting. They only have a couple seconds to decide how they’re going to cut the meat.
How do you expect D.C. will do in the New York competition?
I’m from the East Region so I’m going to gloat a little bit. Our competitors are going to shine. All of our competitors come with a great skill set.
— Roxanne Turnbull
