AGP GRILL-OFF COMPETITION RULES + GUIDELINES

Presented in partnership with Kingsford


Presented in partnership with Kingsford

1. Eligibility

  • Participants must be 18 years or older.

  • Each team must be pre-approved by AGP and represent an organization or brand.

  • No members of the judging panel, AGP planning team, or the sponsoring brand may participate.

  • All team members must sign a code of conduct and safety acknowledgment prior to participation.

2. Competition Format

ROUND ONE: Qualifying Round

  • Participating teams will be given a thematic challenge (TBD, in alignment with “Pass the Tongs”).

  • All teams will prepare their dishes of choice on-site within the allotted cooking period.

  • Judges will evaluate each submission using the official criteria (see Section 3).

  • The top three (3) scoring teams from this round will advance to the Finalist Round.

FINALIST ROUND: Championship Cook-Off

  • Finalist round dishes will be judged live in front of the audience using the same scoring rubric.

  • The highest-scoring team in this round will be declared the Grill-Off Champion.

3. Judging Criteria

Each dish will be evaluated using a standardized 10-point scale in the following categories:

  • Taste

  • Creativity/Originality

  • Presentation

  • Theme Relevance (alignment with "Pass the Tongs" concept)

A standardized scoring sheet will be provided to all judges. In both rounds, the panel’s decisions are final.

4. Tie-Breaker Procedure

In case of a tie:

  • Round One: The tie will be broken by the highest Taste score. If still tied, the Creativity score will be considered.

  • Finalist Round: Judges will conduct a live deliberation to declare a winner, with transparency for the audience.

5. Prize and Disbursement

  • Grand Prize: $2,000 awarded to the winning team and $1,000 to first place team.

  • Prize will be issued by AGP within ten (10) business days of the event, pending required paperwork (e.g. W-9).

  • AGP will oversee all prize distribution and tax reporting compliance.

6. Conduct & Safety

  • All participants must follow AGP's event code of conduct and fire safety regulations.

  • Unsafe grilling techniques, use of prohibited equipment, or unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification.

7. Public Transparency

  • A copy of these rules and the judging rubric will be available at the judge’s tent and the event information table.

  • Any inquiries or scoring disputes must be raised within 30 minutes of the final announcement to the AGP Grill-Off Coordinator.

FOOD SAFETY & COMPLIANCE POLICY

Permits & Licensing

  • All teams will participate under AGP’s sanctioned temporary food permit.

  • All food handling must comply with local (Atlanta/Fulton County) health department regulations.

On-Site Protocol

  • Handwashing stations and food safety signage will be available.

  • All teams must use gloves and follow safe temperature and storage practices.

Insurance

  • The event carries general liability and food borne illness coverage.

  • Insurance documentation will be provided upon request once final approvals are confirmed.