Competition Information

Teams may prep their meats anyway they would like.
Meats must be raw upon arrival. All meats must be cooked on-site. 

Any form of cooking is allowed to cook and prepare meat. However, lighter fluid is NOT allowed. 

Cooking is allowed to start Friday at arrival

Teams are required to set up or drop off their cooking stations Friday, March 28th starting at 4:00pm. Assigned spaces will be given to each team. 

Teams are responsible for the cleanup of their site once the competition has ended (volunteers will be available for help).

Contestants must follow reasonable sanitary practices during the preparation, cooking, and judging process

Judging

As long as the dish contains meat it is allowed. Reminder - this is a cooking competition not a traditional BBQ Competition. Have fun and do your style! - Examples: moose burgers, duck jalapeño poppers, tamales, zebra tacos

Categories:
1. Surf: Any animal from a body of water
2. Turf: Any animal that walks on land - Cuts generally found in grocery store
3. Pork: Anything from the pig…maybe the whole pig
4. Exotic: Anything goes! (See exotic judging scale for reference below) - Teams must be responsible and humane with selection 

Teams required to compete in exotic and one other category.  - Competing in all 4 helps your odds to be Grand Champ

A panel of judges will be featured of chefs, restaurant owners and celebrities • Turn in times: - Surf: 12:00 Pork: 1:00, Exotic: 2:00, Turf: 3:00

Teams are allowed to turn in 15 minutes prior and post assigned turn in times. Before or after the 15-minute window will not be accepted. 

Scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 5. Judges will score entries based on PRESENTATION, TASTE, and TENDERNESS. The Exotic division will have another basis of scoring based on the exotic scale (see above). 

BACKCOUNTRY BOUNTY: A +2 point bonus awarded to teams for any meat they personally harvest and enter into the specific competition category

Proof of harvest must show competitor and animal (with time stamp) must be submitted to lexcapitano@gmail.com by March 26th

In the event of a tie for any given category or overall tie, a winner will be randomly selected from the two competitors by the “Head Judge.”
 

Cooking Team Set Up

Each team is required to keep all equipment including cooker, canopy, chairs, tables, etc. contained within their assigned space in a sanitary fashion.

Waste is to be collected and deposited in designated areas. There will be designated trash disposal and a dumpster on site. 

Bonus Challenge: The best Cook Station will win a hefty prize and be announced at awards! 

Teams are responsible for

All cooking equipment 

Grill, smoker, cooking device, etc

All Meat

Sanitary items (gloves, napkins, etc.)

Coolers and ice

Chairs

Teams will be provided

Fire extinguisher

20x20 Space 

One 10 x 10 Tent  (encourage to bring extra to optimize 20x20 space)

One Table (encourage to bring extra to optimize 20x20 space)

Power (encourage to bring own if needed) 

Turn in boxes 

Team gift bag 

Plywood for underneath fire pit/grill

Competition winners

The top three winners of each category will be announced on National Meat Day. The winners in each category will be determined by adding all the scores together for the following divisions – (A) TURF, (B) SURF (C) PORK, (D) EXOTIC. 

There will be two Grand Champions in National Meat Day. Grand Champion will be the Grill Team who accumulates the most amount of points within their division, The Pros Division or The Joes Division (see sign up form).

*BONUS* The “MIGHT AS WELL BE VEGAN” title will be given out to the Cooking Team that comes in last place overall. 

Serving to Public

National Meat Day teams are encouraged to share food with the public at their discretion. Meat Day is meant to appreciate a range of different barbecued meats, and we encourage teams to share their finished products with eligible event goers if possible!

Disclaimer* Only event goers who have purchased a wristband may partake in the finished products of the teams. Kids eat free. 

Conduct 

Teams must comply with all local laws concerning the consumption of alcohol.

All meats must pass USDA and/or Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection

The health and safety of contestants, judges, and event goers is the main concern of the event. 

Total compliance with all local protocols concerning fire, health, electricity, waste disposal, and recycling is required.


Questions  lexcapitano@ntlmeatday.com or 813-316-8135