WHAT’S AT STEAK
Longmont meat cutter heading for national finals
One of the best meat cutters in the country is gearing up to test his skills in a national competition while representing his hometown of Longmont.
On Monday, Auder Revolorio will travel to Independence, Mo., for the National Meat Cutting Challenge, where he’ll face off against 24 other meat cutters from across the U.S in a three-day event starting Tuesday. The competition is open to all Texas Roadhouse meat cutters through the chain’s Meat Hero Program, which started in 2001.
Revolorio, 37, has worked at the Longmont Texas Roadhouse for 15 years. This is his sixth year participating in the competition and his fourth time in a row making it to the finals.
For Revolorio, winning the whole thing isn’t a pipe dream, either; in 2023, he claimed second place in the national competition.
“I was pretty close to winning last year,” Revolorio said.
At next week’s championship, each participant will be given an hour to cut one sirloin, one ribeye and one filet. They’re judged on the weight and quality of the cuts, and Revolorio said if the piece is off by even half an ounce, it gets disqualified.
Revolorio said that while the cutters have measuring tools, he doesn’t really use them. For him, the process comes down to sight and feel.
“I probably just have a good eye,” he said of his consistent success. “I don’t miss cuts.”
At the Longmont Texas Roadhouse, 2351 Clover Basin Drive, the restaurant’s walls boast an impressive collection of memorabilia and prizes from Revolorio’s previous competitions, from posters to championship belts. He said customers have spent this week cheering him on and wishing him the best ahead of the finals.
Revolorio’s path to success is unique, as well, since his career with the Longmont Texas Roadhouse actually began in the dish room. Over the years, he worked his way up from dishwasher to line cook to his current role of meat cutter extraordinaire.
“You keep practicing every day, trying to get better,” Revolorio said. “I feel proud of myself, and it means I’ve been working hard all these past years.”
In January, Revolorio traveled to Las Vegas for the regional competition, where he went up against meat cutters from states including California and Arizona. Revolorio advanced to the finals, where he’ll represent Colorado alongside another cutter from Greeley.
Revolorio said he’s enjoyed getting to travel to a variety of states for the finals over the years, including Texas and Florida. He’s also gotten to bond with his fellow Colorado meat cutters, since they get together to practice their meat cutting skills once a month.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time, so we work together as a team,” he said. “It’s a great time.”
As a frequent top 12 finisher in the finals, Revolorio has received $2,000 several times as a prize. If he places first next week, however, he’ll win $25,000 on top of the coveted title of “meat cutter of the year.” That, he said, would mean a lot to him.
“I want to grow up in this company, so maybe if I win, I can be a partner of a store one day,” Revolorio said.
Revolorio said the local community can support him by leaving encouraging comments on the Longmont Texas Roadhouse Facebook page at facebook.com/ txrhlongmontco2351cloverbasindrive.