Washington, DC – Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) announced today that it will hold the first-ever MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge in the United States on February 3 and 4, 2008 in Washington, DC. At this event, professional chefs face off against one another using high-quality Australian red meat products and other secret (black box) ingredients to produce a meal for a panel of hand-selected judges and invited guests.

Established in 1996, the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge has been staged in countries across the world in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. However, this marks the first time that the event will take place in the United States. Winners of this event will represent the United States at the 4th Global Final held in conjunction with the World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in Dubai in May 2008.

MLA’s Black Box Culinary Challenge is supported by the Washington, DC Chapter of the American Culinary Federation and will take place at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC. Competing teams will be announced at a later date.

“We’re excited to bring this event to the United States so chefs can compete in the nation’s capitol, and then go on to represent the US when they compete globally against chefs from around the world later this year,” said Michelle Gorman, MLA Regional Manager.

Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA) is a rancher-owned company that undertakes research and marketing activities for the Australian red meat and livestock industry. For more information on MLA, please visit www.australian-lamb.com or www.australian-beef.com.