Livingston steakhouse earns top honors in Bama's Best Beef contest
A West Alabama steakhouse has earned statewide recognition for one of its signature dishes.
Diamond Jim's and Mrs. Donna's restaurant in Livingston, owned and operated by the Dial family, was named the winner of the 2023 Bama's Best Beef contest.
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The annual contest puts a spotlight on beef dishes available at local restaurants throughout Alabama. The Alabama Cattlemen's Association sponsors the contest and it's funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff program, a national marketing program designed to increase the demand for beef.
The winning dish was Diamond Jim's Famous Ribeye, a hand-cut, 16-ounce ribeye, marinated for hours and seasoned with a secret blend known only by the Dial family. The steak is grilled over charcoal until the perfect crust develops, according to a news release.
“Since October is Beef Month in Alabama, it was the perfect time to showcase Alabama restaurants and the vital role they play in providing delicious, high-quality beef to local consumers,” said Erin Beasley, executive vice president of the Alabama Cattleman's Association, in the release. “We are so thankful for the restaurants involved in this contest and the fans who supported it.”
Bama's Best Beef Contest began Sept. 25 on the Facebook page of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. During the nomination round, the page generated more than 200 entries from restaurants across Alabama.
The two most-nominated dishes from each of the contest’s four regions moved on to Facebook photo challenges that put competing dishes head-to-head, with nearly 7,000 fans voting for their favorite restaurant’s plated meal. The contest generated a digital reach of more than 394,000 Facebook users throughout October.
In the semi-final round. Diamond Jim's prevailed over Tabby D’s in Andalusia and their Southern Style Beef Roast by about 200 votes.
The final round consisted of an in-person tasting by a panel of judges on Oct. 25. Diamond Jim's was judged the winner over the Ole Gin Steakhouse in Section, which also entered with a ribeye dish.
For the win, Diamond Jim’s and Mrs. Donna’s received a plaque, additional Facebook advertising, roadside signage and coverage in the Alabama Cattleman magazine, which features a circulation of 10,000 readers.
The Dial family opened the doors of Diamond Jim’s and Mrs. Donna’s 18 years ago on Alabama State Route 28 in Livingston. Donna Dial said that many of the recipes used in the restaurant are family favorites that have been passed down through generations from Jim Dial to their grandson and grill master, JJ Dial.
“Jim taught JJ to cook from the time he was just a little boy,” Donna Dial said in the news release. “Now we have a great-grandson that comes into the restaurant, and we hope that he will learn the same way.”
Other competitors in the contest include the Greasy Spoon Kitchen in Gallant with its Big Daddy Don Burger, MaePop’s Barbecue in Tallassee with its brisket dish, BBQ Haven in Enterprise with its brisket dish, Lynnie Bo’s in Lineville with its hamburger steak plate and Mitchell’s Smoked Meats in Muscle Shoals with its brisket dinner.
Reach Ken Roberts at ken.roberts@tuscaloosanews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Livingston steakhouse wins Bama's Best Beef contest with ribeye dish
