TORONTO, CANADA – USA Rice proudly sponsored
Yes Shef, a premier culinary event held here on March 9. The first of its kind in Toronto, the event celebrated women in the foodservice industry, bringing together leading chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary influencers from across Canada.
Aligned with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month and held in conjunction with the Restaurants Canada (RC) Show, Canada’s largest foodservice event, the evening welcomed more than 400 attendees, including 40 hosted media and influencers, and some of Toronto’s most influential women in food and beverage.
As part of the sponsorship, USA Rice teamed up with the renowned Chef Eva Chin of Yan Dining Room to create a signature dish featuring U.S.-grown rice. A long-time user of U.S.-grown rice, Chef Eva was an ideal collaborator to showcase its quality, versatility, and performance in professional kitchens.
Exclusively for the event, Chef Eva developed and served a
rice congee using U.S. Calrose, flavored with braised Bresse chicken and wild mushrooms, and topped with fresh herbs, chili oil, and crispy garnishes. A total of 230 samples were distributed, achieving a 100 percent consumption rate. The dish was exceptionally well received, with many guests returning for additional servings, and was ultimately awarded “Best Dish” of the evening.
“Events like Yes Shef provide valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships and build new connections with influential culinary leaders across Canada,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion. “As Canada does not produce rice domestically, these moments allow us to demonstrate why U.S.-grown rice is the best, high-quality choice for Canadian kitchens.”
Beyond sampling, USA Rice leveraged the event to deepen industry engagement and expand its network within the Canadian market. QR codes at Chef Eva’s tasting station encouraged attendees to subscribe to the USA Rice trade newsletter, fostering ongoing communication with key foodservice decision-makers and opening the door for future collaboration in Canada.
USA Rice also benefited from prominent logo placement across on-site and digital materials designed for the event, further reinforcing visibility among a highly targeted audience.
“USA Rice continues to strengthen its position as a trusted, credible, and community-driven partner within Canada’s foodservice industry,” Grigsby added. “And with ‘Bite Into Brilliance’ as its motto, the evening with Yes Shef was focused on the positive; no negative comments were made regarding U.S. origin products or U.S. trade.”