LongHorn Steakhouse Crowns It's National Steak Master After Intense Annual Cooking Competition

LongHorn Steakhouse has become synonymous with big, bold steaks and classic steakhouse side dishes across the country.  But it's not conforming to the fast casual recipe that helps them stand out. The restaurant chain does its best to source premium meat, no matter the cost, works with local farmers to introduce seasonal side dishes that taste great and help the community, and rewards their employees generously, especially if they are manning the grill.

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For the past three years, LongHorn Steakhouse has been holding their own cooking competition centered on steak – think of it as a flame fueled hybrid between Top Chef and Master Chef with a bit of Iron Chef thrown in. "They don't know what they;re cooking, where they're cooking it, or how it's supposed to be cooked," explained Jens Dahlmann Executive Chef at LongHorn Steakhouse.

The composition started back in February on a regional level and has continued along the way, eliminating former champions and crowing new ones as it finished in a head-to-head competition of the very best. Dubbed the "magnificent seven," grill masters from around the country came together at Darden headquarters in Orlando, Florida to put their steak skills to the test. They were celebrated first, though, with a red carpet entrance and company-wide party that let them know that their work behind the grill is appreciated. "They're the best of the best," said LongHorn Steakhouse president Todd Burrowes during the celebration.

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When it came time for business, the contestants first completed a written examination and then head to the kitchens to take their skills to the grill – both a flat top and chargrill, by the way. They had just 20 minutes to cook six steak-centric dishes, four with sides, while being delivered another exam, this one verbal.

"You've got to stay focused and that is hard when the pressure is on," says Chef Dahlmann, who also acts one of the judges in the competition. "They get one shot. It's either cooked correctly or it's not. There is no debating."  In the end, Michelle Cerveny of the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio LongHorn restaurant, took home the gold and a check for $10,000.

Cerveny has been part of the LongHorn team for more than 11 years and learned to cook from her mom. She doesn't just cook though. "Some nights I like to be out there, directly connecting with guests. So I work as a server some nights. And other nights, I want to be in the kitchen, just focusing on cooking."

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Her runner up, and the second place winner of of a $7,500 check, Kim Markley from Wichita, Kansas was her biggest competitor and fan. "When I saw there were two women in the competition, I was excited. To go from none initially, one last year, Julie Harwood, and two this year. I was excited. I was rooting for her and she was rooting for me. But I also knew she was my biggest competition."

Local Juan Sacramento from Sanford, Florida came in third and there was a four-way tie for 4th Place thanks to the skill and talent of   Edward Ortiz from Millville, N.J., Assan Jallow from Louisville, Ky., Alex Alvarado Negrete from Hiram, Ga. and Dylan Wike from Easley, S.C.

Cerveny celebrated the win with her GM, who came along for the competition, and her fellow contestants , who will help her man the LongHorn grill hotline just in time for Fourth of July cookouts.  All seven Grill Masters will be available to answer home-cooks questions on LongHorn Steakhouse's GRILL US Hotline.

"I'm still in shock," Cerveny said after the competition. "It should sink in by then."

The hotline is open on Wednesday, July 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET by calling 1-855-LH-GRILL. Tell Michelle we said hi!