Sign up by May 15 for the All-American CAB Cook-Off and Chef’s Challenge hosted by the American Angus Auxiliary.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the All-American Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off, one of the most popular contests each year at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). The competition challenges juniors to prepare a beef-inspired dish and creatively present their meal to a panel of judges.
While there are plenty of laughs and fun during the daylong event, participants learn the importance of communicating about beef nutrition and the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand.
“We are looking forward to the 35th annual CAB Cook-Off at the National Junior Angus Show,” says Anne Lampe, American Angus Auxiliary Cook-Off co-chair. “Every year we change up the beef cuts to challenge participants. We are continually impressed by the talent and enthusiasm our juniors bring to the table.”
May 15 is the deadline to enter this year’s event hosted July 11 in conjunction with the 2018 NJAS at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members compete in state groups to develop a recipe and prepare it in one of three meat categories: steaks, roasts and other beef items. Each group may consist of two to six individuals, and the age divisions are 8-13; 14-17; and 18-21.
The second portion of the Cook-Off involves a creative skit showcasing CAB.
“When developing your skit and recipe, the main goal is to promote Certified Angus Beef to the consumer,” Lampe said. “Be creative and have fun, but remember to incorporate the quality characteristics of our branded beef program.”
Participating teams should do their homework and come equipped to answer a variety of questions. The CAB website hosts several different information sources and ideas to prepare for the Cook-Off, including the carcass specifications, various cuts and cooking methods and degrees of doneness.
The Cook-Off involves a few rules junior members should consider when making their plans:
- All teams will use the same CAB product in their respective categories, no exceptions. Each category will receive the following beef cuts: sirloin flap, top sirloin, and one pound of pre-cooked meatballs for the other category.
- No team may receive the CAB product until 9 a.m. on contest day. Please do not choose a recipe that requires overnight marinating or cooking time of more than four hours.
- Grills are strongly encouraged for preparation of beef.
Sound like fun? Adults attending the NJAS can also participate in their own type of cooking competition. The Chef’s Challenge is an event open to both senior (18-21) NJAA members and adults, and participants showcase their skills using CAB and secret ingredients provided by the contest. Chef’s Challenge pre-entry is also required by May 15.
For more information on the All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off, visit www.AngusAuxiliary.com. For more information, please contact Anne Patton Schubert at 502-477-2663 or Anne Lampe at alampe@wbsnet.org or 620-874-4273. To find out information about the NJAA and NJAS, visit www.angus.org/njaa.
Source: American Angus Association news release
Leave A Comment