USA Rice Courts Canadian Foodservice Professionals at Annual Chef Conference

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA – To strengthen ties with key Canadian foodservice contacts, USA Rice recently sponsored the Annual Chef Conference of Canada’s Culinary Federation, an association of chefs and hotel, restaurant, and hospitality industry professionals across the country.  The event, held here in May, served as a central hub for networking and exchanging knowledge among culinary professionals and industry leaders.
 
At the conference, USA Rice partnered with Karla Luna, a celebrated chef at local Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, El Cortez, to endorse the quality and versatility of U.S.-grown rice in foodservice establishments.  

“Chef Luna created and served 200 mouthwatering samples of her unique take on Arroz con Leche, a visually stunning layered dulce de leche rice pudding made with U.S.-grown long-grain white rice and enhanced with raspberry compote, cookie crumble, and whipped cream,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere.

The conference was replete with USA Rice branded aprons and banners emphasizing the industry’s commitment to quality and sustainability.  USA Rice also distributed resource kits offering information about the organization and the U.S. rice industry.
 
“Our partnership with Chef Karla Luna and our presence at the Culinary Federation’s Annual Chef Conference underscores our dedication to showcasing the superior quality and versatility of U.S.-grown rice to key players in the Canadian foodservice industry,” said Grigsby.
 
USA Rice has plans to expand the partnership with Chef Karla and her restaurant with a collaboration on a U.S. rice menu promotion this fall.  

USA Rice also will be featured in upcoming Culinary Federation social media posts this summer, and an e-newsletter in September sharing key benefits and features of U.S.-grown rice with the organization’s audience of foodservice and restaurant professionals.