Israeli team to compete in Texan 'Meat Up' with kosher Wagyu shawarma – with all the fixings

A 14-member Israeli team will debut at the Texas Open Fire Meat Up in October, presenting a 200-kilogram kosher Wagyu beef shawarma cooked over open flames. The team, led by meat blogger Ruben E. Maislos, aims to distinguish its entry and accommodate kosher team members. Maislos stated, "This is a great opportunity to represent Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine. Our twist is kosher Wagyu, because they're not familiar with that there." The menu will feature Israeli street-food flavors like tahini and zhug, with the team planning to display Israeli flags and campaign among Jewish communities in the US to draw support. The competition, held at Quail Crossing Ranch in Hondo, Texas, will evaluate presentation, technique, and flavor.