Chef’s Excellence workshop elevates Aussie Beef in North America

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has recently partnered with Marriott Hotels to deliver a Chef’s Excellence workshop at Marriott’s headquarters in Maryland, United States of America (USA). The immersive event brought together 19 executive chefs from across the Marriott network to explore the quality, versatility, and provenance of Australian beef.

The workshop is part of MLA’s broader plan to develop long-term relationships with influential foodservice partners and drive demand for Australian red meat in premium hospitality settings in North America.

Culinary collaboration with impact

The Chef’s Excellence workshop included a presentation on the key ‘Why Australia?’ messages from Sabina Kindler, MLA’s Market Development Manager for North America. This was followed by a rump break down by MLA Corporate Chef, Sam Burke.

The Marriott chefs then ran a cooking challenge based on the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) cut-by-cook model for muscles within the rump - a cut the chefs had not yet worked with.

Chefs had the opportunity to work hands-on with the rump, learning how to translate their unique skills into elevated dining experiences for Marriott guests. The event also included a collaborative cooking session where chefs developed new menu concepts using Australian beef.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and two chefs sought Australian beef for their menu just days after the workshop.

The Marriott’s Senior Director of Culinary for the US and Canada, Diego Fernandez, said

“Thank you for being such an integral part of an amazing experience for all of us.

“Chef Sam Burke was the star of the show - delivering a masterclass in every sense of the word. Sabina’s planning, creativity, and execution was flawless. Can’t wait to see what we do next.”

Product value and market growth

Doug McNicholl, MLA’s Regional Manager – North America, emphasised the value of the initiative. “Partnering with Marriott through the Chef’s Excellence workshop is a powerful way to connect Australian products with high-impact foodservice channels.

“These chefs are gatekeepers to millions of meals served annually. By equipping them with knowledge and inspiration we’re creating real commercial opportunities for Aussie red meat.”

MLA encourages exporters to leverage the momentum from this workshop by engaging with our North America team.

Opportunities exist to co-invest in future foodservice activations, participate in menu development trials, and support chef education initiatives across the foodservice sector and beyond.

Exporters interested in getting involved should contact MLA (see below) to explore tailored partnership opportunities that align with their commercial goals.

MLA Corporate Chef Sam Burke breaks down a Rump