West Point Market > The Finest Cut

The 2nd annual Finest Cut Steak Cook-Off was held on Thursday evening at Akron's Hardesty Park during the City of Akron's "Taste of Akron" celebration. 8 finalists cooked their steak recipes over charcoal while competing for $1,000 in West Point Market gift certificates at the featured event. Stephanie Yost's Peppercorn filet mignon with a port cherry reduction took first place after a tasting by a panel of judges...real judges representing 3 area courts.

Yost's winning entry was the result of a busy week of competition. The previous weekend she walked away with 1st Place in the city of Akron's "National Hamburger Festival" cook-off. She went into the Finest Cut finals on a hot streak with karma in her favor.

It was a perfect summer evening for the event with sunshine and temperatures hovering in the high 80's…"fast track" conditions for a steak cook-off. Each of the finalists drew a presentation time in which their finished steak recipe had to be plated and presented to the judges. The evening for the competitors began with receipt of their steaks - hand selected and carefully trimmed USDA Prime cuts provided for the competition by West Point Market's custom cut meat shop. Then they each lit the charcoal and the competition was on. Teams of finalists, each allowed one trusted assistant, began the task of prepping and mixing ingredients. Contestants carefully timed each recipe step so that the finished steak would be ready to present to the judges at precisely the appointed time slot.

Of the 8 finalists, 4 were veterans, having competed in the previous year's inaugural 'Finest Cut" steak cook-off. But the 4 newcomers were just as hungry to walk away with bragging rights. Steaks were judged on a 10-point scale for 3 dimensions; appearance, taste, and texture. The maximum possible points any steak could earn from the panel of judges was 180. As a tie-breaker, a 4th dimension, "originality" was also scored.

Akron’s Stephanie Yost walked away as grand champion scoring 167 points. Second place went to Julie Harmon of Medina (163 points), third to Alan Charek, also of Medina (158 points), and Jack Hart of Copley took fourth (154 points). It was Yost and Charek's second year in the steak finals. In 2009, Charek took 2nd Place and Yost was 4th.

The judges for the event included Judge Carla Moore (Ohio 9th District Court of Appeals), Judges Elinore Marsh Stormer and Mary Margaret Rowlands, both of Summit County Court of Common Pleas, and Judge Jerry Larson from Akron Municipal Court.

2010 Finest Cut Steak Cook-Off Final Standings

1.Stephanie Yost, Akron OH 167 points

Peppercorn filet mignon with a port cherry reduction

2.Julie Harmon, Medina OH 163 points

Garlic steak with grilled onions in a port reduction sauce

3.Alan Charek, Medina OH 158 points

Filet mignon with grilled portabella mushrooms and Asian port sauce

4.Jack Hart, Copley OH 154 points

Steak Newburg

5.Katy Deneke, Akron OH

Grilled Ribeye with asparagus and Portobello mushrooms

6.Mike Vrobel, Copley OH

Grilled Ribeye with chipotle lime butter

7.Bill Moll, Kent OH

Ribeye steak with Rick’s compound butter

8.John Kusinski, Akron OH

Steak Bourguignon

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2009 Finest Cut Steak Cook-Off Final Standings

1.Mike Vrobel, Copley OH 175 points

Grilled T-bone steaks with Mediterranean herb butter

2.Alan Charek, Medina OH 174.7 points

Bourbon marinated beef tenderloin with cabernet mushroom ragout and blue cheese

3.Eric Helmstedter, Akron, OH 171.5 points

Pistachio crusted bone-in filet with fig & peppercorn port wine reduction
and white asparagus puree

4.Stephanie Yost, Akron, OH 171 points

Stuffed filets with mushroom and cheese sauce

5.Matt Naska, Akron, OH

Fat Clemenza’s steak pizzaiola

6.Katie Deneke, Akron, OH

Crusted filet mignon with chipotle butter

7.Judith Spearing, Akron, OH

Steak with pepper and mushroom medley

8.Jim Mahon, Vienna, OH

Buckwheat pretzel wrapped top sirloin with spicy-mustard lager sauce