Brightwater to Represent USA at Russia's Largest Event for Restaurant Market

Two Chefs to Participate in Megustro

(PRWEB) November 02, 2017

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, a division of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, is proudly sending two representatives, Chef Rob Nelson and Chef Michael Kuefner, to Russia's MEGUSTRO expo November 7-9, 2017. Chef Nelson, a Brightwater board member, is owner/executive chef of Tusk and Trotter. Chef Kuefner is a professional chef and lead culinary instructor at Brightwater.

Chef Nelson and Chef Kuefner will be highlighting their work on Zero Waste programs at the expo. Both chefs have worked with Zero Waste programs at the James Beard Foundation and implemented various techniques in their kitchens. As a matter of fact, Chef Kuefner established the Brightwater butchery program around the Zero Waste concept.

"Our participation in the MEGSTRO expo represents an unbelievable opportunity to gain global inspiration and insight to bring back to NWA for benefit of NWA's burgeoning culinary ecosystem," Chef Nelson says. "I am extremely honored and thankful to be a culinary ambassador at this event for the USDA, and hope to represent them, the United States, my home region, and Brightwater well."

MEGUSTRO is one of the largest events for the restaurant operators in Russia. The expo will include the latest trends, inspiration, new ideas, interesting communication, and creativity in the restaurant industry. It will allow chefs to showcase new knowledge, while highlighting professional speakers and speeches of experienced experts in the restaurant business. Brightwater was invited to attend MEGUSTRO through the USDA Trade Offices in Russia.

"We are living through a critical moment in U.S.-Russia relations. While there are many areas of profound disagreement that are compounded by trade sanctions, the MEGUSTRO event offers a great opportunity for positive and mutually beneficial engagement," David Leishman, Director of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Russia, says. "Russia's culinary community is developing rapidly, and we see great interest in American food and cuisine. As we invite Brightwater to Russia, we are helping to build bridges for the future. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is focused on developing market opportunities for U.S. products. Linking with importers, distributors and retailers, we are encouraging long-term relationships that will ultimately benefit American farmers and the U.S. economy as a whole. Prior to 2014, U.S. agricultural exports to Russia reached $1.5 billion, and every $1 billion in exports supports approximately 8,000 American jobs."

The key direction will be the inspiration unit, which will host the Chefs' Challenge – a gastronomic show from international chefs and the owners of Red Michelin Stars such as Paul Pairet, Tristan Brandt, and Claudio Sadler.
The expo will also be attended by chefs from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, China and Spain. Chef Nelson and Kuefner will also visit SwissAM, a culinary school there to explore potential partnerships with Brightwater.

ABOUT BRIGHTWATER
Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food is a division of NorthWest Arkansas Community College located in Bentonville, Arkansas, that approaches food as art, food as wellness, and food as business to offer an entirely unique methodology to the culinary arts. Their goal is to develop leaders who combine culinary skills with the ability to recognize and address complex food issues. In addition to artisanal food, culinary arts, butchery, pastry and baking, and beverage management, they offer exclusive courses focused on culinary nutrition, food waste reduction, and food security. For more information visit their website: http://www.brightwater.org.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/11/prweb14878667.htm