U.S. Dairy Export Council Brings ‘The Great American Cheese Road Trip’ to Melbourne

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) will take Australian food and beverage industry guests on a Great American Cheese Road Trip this September, showcasing the diversity, versatility and creativity of U.S. cheese and its place on Australian tables in immersive food venues such as a Laneway Bar, Fine Dining Restaurant, Wine Bar, Burger

and Melt station with Hugos Deli and a Retail Deli space. In attendance will be Jeremy Spradberry from Supercheese and Will Studd from SBS’s tv show: Cheese: Searching for a Taste of Place. Produced by VEE Agency.

Held during Fine Food Australia (31 August–3 September), this event is an invite-only trade reception taking place on Tuesday, 1 September at Quarterhouse in Docklands. The event will bring together Australian importers, distributors, retail buyers, foodservice leaders and food media for an immersive experience designed to demonstrate how U.S. cheese can travel from America’s heartland to Australian menus, retail shelves and entertaining occasions.

From America’s Heartland to Australia’s Tables

At the centre of the experience will be a winding, Route 66-inspired road featuring a curated display of more than 40 U.S. cheeses. Guests will be invited to travel the road, discovering and tasting cheeses along the way while exploring the breadth of styles, flavours and cheesemaking traditions represented by U.S. producers.

But the road trip doesn’t stop at the cheese.

Positioned along the route will be a series of culinary “districts”, each showcasing how U.S. cheese can be incorporated into familiar Australian food and beverage occasions. Rather than simply presenting more cheese, these destinations will bring its applications to life through food, pairings and serving ideas.

Across wine and deli, burgers, restaurants and cocktails, each stop will demonstrate a different way U.S. cheese can feature on Australian tables, bringing contemporary menus, deli offerings, casual dining, entertaining and drinks-led occasions to life.

The concept follows a simple journey: the road tells the story of the cheese; the districts tell the story of where that cheese can go.

A Taste of the U.S., Made for Australia

Throughout the evening, Australian industry guests will have the opportunity to meet participating U.S. cheese suppliers to learn about and taste their products in 20 different menu items which sit on Australian tables.

The reception will also create opportunities for importers, distributors, retailers and foodservice professionals to discover new products, exchange ideas and explore potential commercial partnerships with U.S. suppliers.

By combining discovery with practical applications, this event aims to demonstrate that American cheese is not simply something to discover – it is something to use, serve, pair and share across Australia’s evolving food culture.

Through The Great American Cheese Road Trip, USDEC will celebrate the journey of U.S. cheese from American cheesemakers to Australian tables, while strengthening connections between the two countries’ dairy and culinary industries.

EVENT DETAILS

● Event: The great American Cheese Road Trip to Australian Tables

● Experience: The Great American Cheese Road Trip to Australian Tables

● Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026

● Time: 5:30 PM–9:00 PM

● Location: Quarterhouse – The Hall, 693 Collins Street, Docklands, Melbourne

● Format: Invite-only trade reception and interactive tasting experience

● Held during: Fine Food Australia, 31 August–3 September 2026