Meat Cutter of the Year

When you think of what you want to be when you grow up does a meat cutter come to mind? Not likely, but for one Newark man being a meat cutter is taking him to the top. See Story to the left.

Texas Road House has freshly made bread, homemade sides, and fresh cut steaks, but this Newark restaurant has even more to offer. Meet Joe Hooker a 30 year old meat cutter who is competing for Meat Cutter of the Year.

"I started in the store 4 years ago and ever since I started here it has always been something that is really interesting. I have always like to work with my hands so it is something that I was excited when they asked me to do it," said Hooker.

Texas Road House cutters meet annually to compete. They go through a market round and end with the final round and someone winning meat cutter of the year.  It is Hooker’s third year in the competition.

"When I first started doing it it was very nerve wrecking this year seems a whole lot different I found a pattern and I have rituals that I do and it calms my nerves," explains Hooker.

In 2008, he got 4th place in the finals. Now, he is feeling a win and with the win he’ll receive $20,000. Finals are in April in Naples Florida.

He pictures himself standing with the people he works for holding a large check with his name on it.

"It would be amazing. It is hard to put it into words. I picture myself even falling to the ground and being like so you know breathless."

He will cut a fillet, sirloin and a ribeye.

"As far as being able to cut good steaks you just have to be able to hit the weights you want and be able to know and see with the meat sitting in front of you if you can get it to look the way it is suppose to look."

If the steak does not meet the cut it will not be judged.