PARSIPPANY — Local Grill Master Hector Estrada was recently named one of the top steak masters in the country. The Parsippany LongHorn Steakhouse Grill Master took home the regional win after competing in the Steak Master Series, an epic culinary competition where the restaurant’s grilling experts are put to the test on their relentless execution of grilling quality steaks for each guest. Estrada is one of 60 team members from across the country to achieve this distinction, out of the more than 5,000 who were invited to participate in the competition. Parsippany LongHorn is located at 690 Route 46, and is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Every LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant in the country has a team of certified Grill Masters who are specially trained in the art of grilling,” said Thomas Hall, executive vice president of operations at LongHorn Steakhouse. “We’re all about quality, and Hector has proved day in and day out that he is passionate about serving great quality steaks to our guests. That passion and expertise really came to life during the competition.”
Estrada, a Hopatcong, resident who has worked at LongHorn for four years, says his favorite parts of the job are the atmosphere, learning new things every day and serving others.
Here are a few top things to know about Estrada:
- His No. 1 grilling tip is to stay clean and organized.
- He says the Steak Master Series was “challenging, exciting and nerve-wracking.”
- He says that the fact that he is “always happy at work” and “looking for things to learn every day” helped him in the competition.
The fourth annual Steak Master Series, which awards cash prizes totaling more than $200,000, celebrates LongHorn’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship on the grill. This year’s competition began at the restaurant level, where grill cooks across more than 510 LongHorn locations competed to move on to the regional round. Estrada will soon grill off at the semi-final rounds for the chance to become one of seven top contenders to battle in the finals at LongHorn’s headquarters in Orlando in May.
For more than three decades, these Grill Masters have perfected their craft of grilling legendary steaks – from selecting the right cut to boldly seasoning with the restaurant’s secret blends and grilling to perfection. For more information about LongHorn Steakhouse, or to find a nearby restaurant click here.
LongHorn Steakhouse is known for fresh, boldly seasoned and expertly grilled steaks – like the signature bone-in Outlaw Ribeye® – all served in a relaxed, warm atmosphere inspired by a rancher’s home. LongHorn has more than 510 restaurants across 41 states and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others in the community. As part of this commitment, LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants have donated nearly 19.4 million pounds of food to local non-profit organizations across the country.
