Cleaver-wielding pros battle it out in Whole Foods Market's
ultimate homage to the craft of butchery
AUSTIN, Texas (July 23, 2012) - After months of
fierce competition to narrow down the finalists from 300
original contestants, Whole Foods Market's top three meat
cutters are going head-to-head to crown the company's Best
Butcher at Meatopia, the nation's largest festival of all
things meat, Sept. 8 in New York City. Tickets are
available at meatopia.org.
The annual contest celebrates traditional butchery and
recognizes the company's most accomplished meat cutters.
The finalists are:
· John "Kabali"
Kalabolas (West Coast champion from the Northern California
region)
· Andy "The
Animal" Alcorn (Central U.S. champion from the Rocky
Mountain region)
· Armand "The
Arm" Ferrante (East Coast Champion from the Northeast
region)
Some 3,000 attendees will watch two rounds of cutting
competitions and a final round to test finalists'
creativity. Each will invent an entirely new cut of meat -
a steak, chop or roast the world has never seen before. The
winner enjoys bragging rights, and their cut placed in
Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, starting Sept. 15.
Whole Foods Market and Thrillist, the free daily email
that sifts through the junk to find the best of what's new
in your 'hood, are sending a lucky winner to Meatopia
to witness the contest. The grand prize includes airfare
for two, hotel accommodations, and early access to
Meatopia. Meat lovers can enter online (thrillist.com/m/2851600)
by Aug. 5.
"Our butchers spend years and even complete apprenticeship
programs cultivating their skills; this contest is our way
of recognizing their accomplishments," said Theo Weening,
Global Meat Buyer for Whole Foods Market.
This event highlights the company's meat quality standards:
no antibiotics, no added hormones*, and no animal
byproducts in feed. Plus, all of the beef, pork and chicken
sold at Whole Foods Market comes from farms certified to
the 5-Step
Animal Welfare Rating™ program.
"Meatopia honors all aspects of meat, so butchery is an
essential element of the event. Since Whole Foods Market
has the country's greatest network of master butchers,
and an unrivalled commitment to humane, healthy meat, they
were our first choice for a partner," said event founder
Josh Ozersky.
*Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in
raising pork, poultry, goat, veal and bison.
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