The Fifth Annual Texas Steak Cook-off, Beef Symposium and Tourist Trap starts at High Noon, Saturday, May 17th in Historic Downtown Hico, Texas. This family friendly event will include artisan vendors, local shopping and a chance to explore our historic town, said to be the last home of Billy the Kid! You can enjoy live entertainment all day. Our headliner for 2008 is The Quebe Sisters. We are bringing back Nashville recording artist Ronica Coldiron, with her new band and the James Black Band. Like a fine restaurant, during dinner, Hico’s own storyteller, poet, and balladeer, Bob Sawyer will entertain diners during dinnertime.

Steaks
The Texas Steak Cook-off is an annual initiative introduced by the City of Hico and Hico Economic Development Corporation to promote Economic Growth and Tourism. More important, as a non-profit organization, a portion of profits from the cook-off will go to worthy area charities.
The venue is a competition for the best preparation and presentation of a 12 ounce Choice Texas Rib-eye Steak. There are five categories; “Celebrity Chefs” – open by invitation to Chefs who have accomplished notoriety and fame within the recognized top food achievements; “Professional Chefs” – open to professionals in the restaurant business who own and/or cook; “Backyard Chefs” – open to the true amateur competitor, artist who believe their preparation of “the Steak” is the best in Texas!

And… the Hors d’oeuvres competition
Sort of a ‘free-for-all’ where any registered cook-off competitor can submit hors d’oeuvres for judging by our guests. This category will be a people’s choice award for a cash prize. Last but not least, The Best of Show Competition features a cash award of $500.

Celebrity Chefs are invited to compete against each other and are judged by selected food editors from magazines, newspapers, etc. The contestants bring their own rib-eye steaks for the judging and they may advertise their restaurants. The Cook-off will provide each Celebrity Chef a charcoal grill for the competition. We understand these chefs will need to get back to their restaurants, so this event will be the first one to take place. There is only one award given in this category - “First Place”! The winner will receive the coveted First Place Texas Steak Cook-off Gold and Silver Belt Buckle.
The “Professional Chef” division is next. Professional competitors bring their own cookers and fuel and put on a real show. Many of the Professional entries may have to return to their restaurants after the competition. Some, however, will be able to stay and visit with the public. There is only one winner in the “Professional” category, like the Celebrity award, the winner of the Professional Division wins the highly sought Texas Steak Cook-off “Professional” Silver and Gold Belt Buckle.
The next division is the “Backyard Experts”! This division is limited to 40 entries. The Backyard Chef Teams bring their own grills and fuel. Most entries are made up of team members and have a theme. The Backyard Chefs compete for a First Place Purse of $2,500; Second Place wins $1,000; Third place wins $500 and Fourth Place Wins $250! Throughout the day, the public is invited to see and talk to all the chefs and learn their secrets. When it’s time for dinner, the public can choose the Backyard Chef they like most to prepare their steak dinner in exchanging for your Steak Dinner ticket dinner.

Hors d’oeuvrés
Not to be excluded, any of our Cook-off entry Chefs can compete to win the First Place cash prize of $300 and take home $250 for second place in the “best Hors d’oeuvrés in Texas” category. This event is judged by you - “A People’s Choice”.

Best In Show
The Best in Show category, new for 2008, will be a cash award of $500 for the Backyard Chef Team that goes “above and beyond” all the others. We will look for originality, personality, friendliness, and especially showmanship. The award will be judged by the Cook-off staff.
All winners will receive an award and will be promoted on our Web site until next year’s Steak Cook-off.

Timeline of Events for the 2008 Cook-off:
By 10:00 am........... All Chefs and Vendors must be Set Up and Read
12:00 am................ Cooks' Meeting, Mandatory for Backyard Chefs
High Noon............... Cook-off Opening Ceremony
12:15 pm................ Celebrity Chefs Start Cooking
12:30 pm................ Live Entertainment Begins – The Quebe Sisters Band
12:45 pm................ Celebrity Chef Steak Turn-in for Judging
1:30 pm.................. Hors d'oeuvres Judging Begins
2:30 pm.................. Announce Hors D'oeuvres Winner
2:30 pm.................. Announce Celebrity Chef Winner for 2008
3:00 pm.................. Backyard Chefs Steak Turn-in for Judging
3:30 pm.................. Live Entertainment Begins – Ronica Coldiron
4:15 pm.................. Announcing of Top Ten Backyard Chefs Teams
4:45 pm.................. Top 10 Backyard Chefs Steak Turn-in for Judging
5:15 pm.................. Distribute The Dinner Rib-eye Steaks to Chefs
5:30 pm.................. Start Serving Steak Dinners
6:00 pm.................. Live Entertainment Begins – Bob Sawyer
7:00 pm.................. James Black and The Repeat Offenders
7:30pm................... Announce ALL Winners (After Everyone Has Been Served)