By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A butcher from Pelham’s Texas Roadhouse took home $20,000 after being crowned the champion of the restaurant chain’s National Meat Cutting Competition in Hawaii on May 5.

Gustavo Jimenez proved he was “a cut above the rest” during the competition, which was held at the Grant Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, according to a company press release. Jimenez competed against six other meat-cutting finalists from across the nation after he previously won preliminary rounds of the competition.

Jimenez battled against fellow butchers from Texas, Missouri, Iowa, New York, Texas and Wisconsin during the final round.

During the competition, the cutters showcased their skills during timed “cut-offs,” according to the company. Each contestant received 50 pounds of beef – two top-butts, one tenderloin and one rib loin – and were judged based on the quality of their cuts, meat yield and speed.

“The winner is the meat cutter who yields the most steaks with the highest-quality cut in the least amount of time,” according to the company.