20 Year Veteran Demetrio Jurado of Los Angeles, California Wins Top Honors.

COSTA MESA, Calif. (July 7, 2010) – Bringing a sizzling finish to months of regional competitions, El Pollo Loco awarded Demetrio Jurado from Los Angeles, CA, the esteemed title of Top Grill Master at its 16th Annual Grill Master Challenge held June 16, 2010 in Los Angeles.

The event paid tribute to the grilling expertise that put El Pollo Loco on the map and brought together the top six finalists representing more than 1,200 cooks across the 400 plus unit chain. Jurado and the remaining five finalists fired up the grills in hopes of winning the coveted title of Top Grill Master for El Pollo Loco, along with cash and prizes. More than $10,000 in cash was awarded to the top cooks and the support teams that helped place them in the finals.

Jurado wowed the judges with his perfect pollo and expertly grilled Carne Asada-style Sirloin steak. With 20 years of grilling experience at El Pollo Loco, Jurado is no stranger to the Grill Master event. He competed in two previous challenges, placing fourth in his first competition and second in his second competition. Jurado, who works at a franchised El Pollo Loco location in Los Angeles owned by Peg-Lion, LLC, was awarded a cash prize of $2,500, a trophy, a competition jacket, a personalized grilling fork and the prestige of being named El Pollo Loco’s 2010 Grand Grill Master.

Second place went to Ramon Cano of Pomona, CA and third place went to Ricardo Montez of North Las Vegas, NV. Runners-up included Eduardo Hernandez of Sparks, NV; Pedro Nolasco of Sunland, CA and Saul Sifuentes of Rialto, CA.