Grill Your Ace Off

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Come by Cypress Ace Hardware & Feed on Saturday, October 29, 2011 for a grilling cook-off fundraiser to support Children's Miracle Network! All proceeds will be donated to Children's Miracle Network in its entirety. Even if you aren't competing in the cook-off, you can still come by and help be the judge!

BBQ Grill

Up for Grabs…

Contestants will turn up the heat and compete for one of four prize bundles. At stake is:

    • GRAND PRIZE:
    • 2 Weber® Performer Grills and a $250 Ace Hardware Gift Card
    • First Runner Up:
    • 1 Weber® Performer Grill and a $250 Ace Hardware Gift Card
    • Second Runner Up:
    • 1 Weber® Performer Grill
    • People's Choice:
    • $100 Ace Hardware Gift Card

2011 Judging Guidelines - Local Celebrity Judges!

Judging will be based on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest. Grilled submissions will be judged on 5 categories (click a category to view details):

Presentation

  • What is the overall look of the dish being presented?
  • Are garnishes used, has the sauce been wiped from the edges of the plate?
  • Is this something you would order if presented to you at a restaurant?
  • Does it look appetizing?
  • Does everything seem to be contained within the serving plate (no lettuce hanging over the edges, no sauce pools underneath the entire plate, etc.)?

Complexity

  • Would the dish be challenging to prepare?
  • Does it require a well-planned preperation to perform tasks such as marination?
  • Are a number of ingredients used?
  • Does anything accompany the dish (for example, lettuce, pickles, etc. for a hamburger)?
  • How much of the dish is store bought (spice mixes, sauce) vs. prepared (single spices, raw ingredients)?

Taste

  • Is this something you personally would order again?
  • Is the meat tough or tender?
  • Can each ingredient be identified by taste according to the amount of each used in the dish? For example, if cumin is used and it is considered a main ingredient in the dish, it should set a large portion of the flavor in the dish, however, if a recipe calls for something like "salt to taste," the dish doesn't necessarily need to be salty.
  • If the meat is presented well done, does it taste well done?
  • Does the dish taste too salty or sweet, or conversely, too bland or "flat?"

Recipie Creativity

  • Is this a family recipe?
  • Are any uncommon, "new and different" ingredients used in what would be an otherwise "standard" recipie?
  • Can everything on the plate, not just the entrée, be made on the grill? Cooking a pizza on a grill or baking cookies is quite impressive!

People's Choice

This is for those that can serve a sample and get a "WOW" or "Mmmm!" from the other contestants, customers and staff. We will have voting slips for all to cast their vote for their favorite dish.

Want to Compete? Here are the Rules:

We will provide a grill and charcoal with which to cook - just bring meat and accompanying ingredients

For those who are up for the challenge, you can apply to enter the grilling contest. Entries to the competition will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until all available slots are filled.

Space is limited to 15 teams.

We will provide each team with one (1) Weber® Performer grill and charcoal with which to cook, however, each team is responsible for bringing their own meat to cook and any other items to go with it, like side items, spices, etc. Meat must be cooked on-site during competition hours to qualify.

A team is defined as a group of up to four (4) people. A $100 non-refundable reservation fee per team is required for entry. This fee will be donated in its entirety to Children's Miracle Network, where it will directly benefit Children's Miracle Network. See store at the address above for an entry form or download it from the sidebar on the left. E-mail completed forms to grillyouraceoff@cypressace.com. Reservations will be confirmed in writing when the $100 reservation fee is received. Mail a check with your reservation fee to the address above or call (281)-469-8020 to pay by phone.

Entry deadline is Monday, October 3, 2011, or when all spaces are filled, whichever comes first.

Download an application here for complete rules.