Santa Rosa Beach resident Tasha Mayo is fired up to showcase her grilling expertise in the final round of LongHorn Steakhouse’s eighth annual Steak Master Series.

• Mayo, who works at the Destin LongHorn Steakhouse, has secured her spot as one of seven finalists from thousands of participants nationwide. She will compete for a $15,000 grand prize and the title of Steak Master Series Champion during a one-day grill-off in Orlando, Florida, on May 15.

“My team has a great deal of confidence in me,” Mayo said. “They tell me to go do my thing and bring that trophy home.”

A five-year veteran of the LongHorn Steakhouse team, Mayo names the Outlaw Ribeye and Crispy Brussels Sprouts as her favorite menu items. She values that “LongHorn takes pride in quality” as her favorite aspect of working at the restaurant.

For home grillers looking to improve their technique, Mayo offers this advice: “Never move a steak before your grill marks are set, and evenly cook on both sides.”