A rotary cutter assembly (11) includes a rotary cutter (74) rotated by a motor (76) through a drive including pulleys (250, 264) and a belt (326) inside of a combination guard and belt tensioner assembly (260). The rotary cutter (74) includes a cutter head (82) having integral blade holders (92) which slideably receive knives (90) in a channel (230) each having a detent (236) which is received in an aperture (91) in the knife (90) so that no fasteners or moveable parts are provided for holding the knives (90) and adjustment of the knives (90) is not needed or allowed. Guard quarters (266, 314) and a guard half (268) are moveable between closed and open positions and are held in the closed position by a single latch (325). The guard half (268) includes an idler (300) which tensions the belt (326) in the closed position. The second guard quarter (314) is mounted upon a pivotable cover (306) which together with the mount (262) for the motor (76) defines an enclosure for the rotary cutter (74) and the food products cut thereby and abuts with the guard half (268) in their closed positions.