Cooking Workshop Series Scheduled for Streaming in August

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Filming for a new, USA Rice-sponsored, online chef workshop seminar series is underway in Mexico City with renowned Executive Chef Giuseppe de Pasquale of Il Gusto d’ Italia Ristorante, who has 40 years’ experience as a chef.  The live workshops, originally scheduled for March, were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Restrictions in Mexico for in-person gatherings challenged the USA Rice Mexico team to ‘think outside the box’ and reinvent these important promotions in the foodservice sector,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere.  “Thus, the Virtual Chef Workshops were born!”

These innovative activities will be guided by Chef de Pasquale and consist of five, one-hour sessions highlighting three recipes made with U.S.-origin rice for a total of 15 original rice recipes.  Nutritionist, Dr. Guadalupe Esquivel, former president of the Mexican Association of Nutriology, will provide nutritional information about the ingredients that the chefs can use to enhance the recipes and also share with their consumers.  Participants will receive guidance on the proper way of utilizing rice in foodservice preparation, creating dishes that highlight rice as a star on their menus.

“The workshop series is accredited by El Superior de Gastronomia, one of the most prestigious culinary schools in Mexico, and CANIRAC, the association of restaurant groups,” said Grigsby.  “All student chefs that complete the workshops also receive a certificate of participation sponsored by USA Rice.”

The chef workshop seminars will be available next month, streaming on the USA Rice Mexico Facebook page.