Corporate Bits | MGM holds Wagyumafia competition

MGM and Tokyo-based wagyu enterprise Wagyumafia recently co-presented the first Wagyumafia World Championship, a contest in which six world-renowned Japanese chefs showcased their culinary skills in creating some of the best wagyu beef dishes.

The inaugural Wagyumafia World Championship kicked off as Macau celebrated its official designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in early November.

According to a press release issued by MGM, the contest introduces new ideas, embracing Macau’s international culinary legacy by blending the essence of different gastronomic fields.

Following the success of the inaugural edition, the championship will become an annual event in Macau, featuring international chefs creating wagyu dishes. This will also raise awareness of this meat, which is famously found in Japanese cuisine.

The first Wagyumafia World Championship edition featured a top-notch Japanese chef lineup, where they reinvented the presentation, fragrance and flavor of dishes with A5 Kobe beef.

Chef Hitoshi Yamanobe, chef of Tokyo-style contemporary Chinese cuisine restuarant Ginza Yamanobe in Tokyo won the Championship with his creation: Kobe Beef “Mabo –Tofu” Edo-Chuuka Style. His prize was the full beef portion from an exclusive Kobe cattle, handpicked by Mr. Hisato Hamada, co-founder of Wagyumafia, worth USD50,000, with one year expiry period.

This is a particularly exciting prize because few chefs can buy the whole wagyu –usually only specific cuts are available. Other winners’ prizes included a Wagyumafia World Championship 2017 trophy and two nights’ suite accommodation and breakfast at MGM Macau.

Hamada commented, “Wagyumafia World Championship is a collaboration reflecting the common vision in culinary art and cultural exchange shared by MGM and Wagyumafia.”

Hamada added that Wagyumafia is looking forward to engaging in more culinary exchanges with Macau in the future.”

Pansy Ho, co-chairperson & executive director of MGM China said that “it is especially meaningful for the city to inject fresh culinary ideas like the inaugural Wagyumafia World Championship. We are also delighted that Wagyumafia has expressed its appreciation for Macau and MGM in pursuing gastronomic excellence.”