New Zealand barbecue champion takes his grill skills to global competition – Stuff

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Cantabrian Dean Davis will be heading to Fort Worth, Texas next week to compete in the Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) World Championship.

Well done is not a phrase in Dean Davis vocabulary at least not when it comes to steak.

Cantabrian Davis is heading to Fort Worth, Texas to fly the New Zealand flag in the Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) World Championship from Thursday to Sunday.

He is one of two Kiwis that will be representing Aotearoa on the world stage against some of the worlds top barbecuing talent, after qualifying by winning two New Zealand based competitions and receiving a golden ticket invitation to compete.

This is the eighth year of the competition and the SCAs largest World Championship to date.

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Being able to cook a perfectly medium-rare steak is the bare minimum by the competition's judging criteria, which assesses marble, flavour, final appearance, texture and more to decide which steak is the best cooked steak in the world.

Davis began competing in barbecue just two years ago after discovering the New Zealand steak-cooking community on Facebook.

He came dead last in his first ever steak-cooking competition, but refused to be deterred.

I was gutted... it gave me a boot up the arse.

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Grill or sear marks are an important part of the steak-cooking judging criteria.

His next steak-cooking event resulted in him earning a solid second place, before securing two first places and thereby guaranteeing his invitation to the United States for the world champs.

Youve got to back yourself. If you come last, you come last.

Davis has been barbecuing over hot coals since he was seven years old.

This will be his first time in the States. He said he was looking forward to exploring Texas, the home of barbecue, during any downtime he has around the competition.

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Davis was given his golden ticket to attend the World Championships after winning a local competition.

He was also so cautious of becoming infected with Covid-19 (he needed to return a negative test before leaving) that he took his children out of school a week out from his departure.

He isolated himself for weeks leading up to his flight.

Ive been so paranoid... Ive tested myself twice a day for the past week.

While Covid-19 had made things difficult, Davis was still grateful to be able to attend the competition, and noted that many other New Zealand cooks, who wouldve travelled in normal times, were unable to go.

Returning his final negative test before departing would turn all the feelings of nerves into excitement, he said.

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A first place at a New Zealand Steak Cookoff Association competition earns one a golden ticket.

Davis raised money to get himself to Texas, including by running a barbecue masterclass at the Woodend Tavern in North Canterbury and selling branded caps and hoodies.

Hes also sponsored by Silver Fern Farms, who donated ribeye steaks for Davis to practice with, the same variety that will be cooked at the competition.

I couldnt do it without the support, he said.

Its the 2nd best feeling after winning Lotto.

New Zealands two representatives at the World Championships are both from Canterbury.

Davis and Troy Bilbrough of popular fast food joint Bacon Brothers will represent New Zealand.

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New Zealand barbecue champion takes his grill skills to global competition - Stuff