“EXPLORING YUMMY CHONGQING IN LONDON” Chongqing Food & Culture Experience Concludes

A foods-tasting celebration, as a section of the “Checking out Yummy Chongqing in London” Chongqing Food items & Culture Working experience, was held on February 2 at Mr. Meng Chongqing Gourmet in London and Taoran Grande Check out Yard in Chongqing. It introduced together the learn cooks of Chongqing’s signature dishes. By producing Chongqing delicacies on internet site in the two towns, the occasion authorized friends existing and men and women on the internet at dwelling and overseas to get to know various facets of Chongqing.

Anchor Eiko and British journalist James from the Chongqing Worldwide Communication Centre described at Taoran Grande See Backyard garden in Chongqing, when Daihao reported at Mr. Meng Chongqing Gourmand in London. They tasted the very same dishes, celebrating the Chinese New Calendar year jointly.

International journalist at Chongqing International Interaction Center James and international visitor Julija talked to Dai Hao in London by using a movie backlink. (Screenshot from the live streaming)

“Discovering Yummy Chongqing in London” Chongqing Food & Society Knowledge was the only food-themed activity of the 2023 United kingdom “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations. 

Thirty friends from media outlets attended this party. They integrated Ms. Xue Ling, director of the China Nationwide Tourism Office in London, Ms. Wong Hoi Ling, deputy director-basic of the Hong Kong Financial and Trade Business office in London, and Dong Kerong and Dong Mei, secretaries of the Cultural Business of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Kingdom.

Ms. Xue Ling explained in her speech, “‘Exploring Yummy Chongqing in London’ Chongqing Foods & Culture Practical experience is 1 of the crucial functions in the Uk to celebrate the Chinese New Year. As the Lantern Competition is around the corner, it is significant to share Chongqing delicacies with buddies in London and Chongqing. Chongqing is prosperous in scrumptious meals, amongst which very hot pot is not only a way of cooking but also a way of dining, as nicely as a way of having and tradition. I hope that in the around upcoming, you can vacation to Chongqing and take pleasure in regional food.”

Four rounds of dishes amaze diners

The party invited cooks from 4 Chongqing dining places in London to make Chongqing signature dishes for members. 4 rounds of dishes were served. The contributors viewed the cooking closely and tasted the freshly-produced mouth watering foodstuff.

The antique Taoran Grand Check out Back garden cooks offered the same delicacies in buy. Ms. Yan Qi, deputy to the Countrywide People’s Congress, vice chairman of Chongqing Federation of Business and Commerce, and chairman of Chongqing Taoranju F&B Society (Team) Co., Ltd., savored the Chinese fashion functionality when feasting on the delicacies exact as the kinds served in London at the Taoran Grand View Backyard garden with James and Julija. Dressed in Hanfu, Ms. Yan Qi released Chongqing’s food stuff tradition to overseas audiences and explained, “Welcome to Chongqing for authentic food items.”

Ms. Yan Qi (correct), chairman of Chongqing Taoranju F&B Society (Group) Co., Ltd., and James (left), a British anchor at iChongqing, for the duration of the stay streaming. (Image/Yue Xingchen)

The very first round of dishes was very carefully cooked by the chef of Barshu, a time-honored Sichuan delicacies brand name that has been in London for 12 a long time. The restaurant presented two typical Chongqing dishes: Aromatic Rooster in a Pile of Chillies and Assorted Meats in Fiery Sauce. As for the former, tiny items of crispy and delicate hen are buried in a pile of chilies. As a typical example of Chongqing Jianghucai, the latter is a savory blend of duck blood, honeycomb beef tripe, pig’s intestine, luncheon pork, etcetera., in a fiery sauce. Just after tasting the dish, Dai Hao, the anchor in Britain, exclaimed, “The fun of taking pleasure in Aromatic Chicken in a Pile of Chillies lies in on the lookout for chicken in a pile of chilies, just like searching for treasure. Duck blood is the essence of Assorted Meats in Fiery Sauce. The event has permitted me to appreciate tender duck blood in Britain.”

Fragrant Rooster in a Pile of Chillies, one of Chongqing’s signature dishes, is presented by Barshu, a London-primarily based time-honored Sichuan delicacies brand, at the London Location of the occasion. (Photo/Xinhua News Company reporter Li Ying)

The chef of Er Mei ready the next round of dishes. Er Mei is the initially Sichuan delicacies cafe opened in Chinatown, London. The operator and chefs are from Sichuan and Chongqing, ensuring the authenticity of the dishes. At the London Location, Chongqing-model Boiled Grouper Fish Fillet with Bean Sprouts and Chongqing Hen Warm Pot shocked the attendees as the appealing aroma burst out with the crackling audio of incredibly hot oil. The British gourmets @freshmikeeats and @tranvfood, well-known on social media, claimed, “We ended up satisfied to participate in the lively celebration. We relished the spicy Chongqing dishes right now, even though we drank a great deal of h2o.”

At the London Venue, a British gourmand is tasting the just-ready Chongqing-design and style Boiled Grouper Fish Fillet with Bean Sprouts. (Picture/Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying)

At the very same time, the chef of Chongqing Taoranju also introduced the restaurant’s most well-liked dishes. “Chinese well known dish” Rooster Braised with Taro was manufactured of cost-free-vary roosters, contemporary taro, pickled pepper, Pixian chili bean paste, and pickled ginger. The tender rooster was accompanied by sweet glutinous taro. Fish Fillet in Warm Chili Oil was well prepared with fresh new fillets rapidly poached in boiling h2o, as perfectly as pepper, Sichuan pepper, and boiling oil sprinkled on major. The tender fish is spicy but not dry. James savored the two specialties.

James (right), a British anchor of iChongqing, and Julija (left), a overseas visitor, are tasting the dishes made available by Chongqing’s Taoranju. (Photo/Yue Xingchen)

Ba Dao Tang organized the authentic Chongqing hot pot in the third round. Chongqing sizzling pot originated from the straightforward food of boatmen and boat trackers on the banking institutions of the Jialing River and this sort of wharves as Chaotianmen in Chongqing in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. After about 100 years, it has become the identify card of the mountain town. Chongqing is an web-famed city that is the most well-known between overseas travelers. Chongqing warm pot not only signifies the city’s having habits but also is the soul habitat of each individual era of Chongqing men and women. James, a British journalist, has lived in Chongqing for additional than 20 a long time and has a unique insight into Chongqing cuisine. He said that when he 1st arrived to China, very hot pot and many other prime dishes were pretty much unheard of exterior China, but now it is very fascinating to see more persons coming to knowledge Chongqing from overseas. “My greatest hope is that additional persons all over the world can practical experience the miracles of Chongqing cuisine,” James extra.

Chongqing British anchor James (remaining) and Chongqing’s Taoranju introduce Chongqing meals society to abroad viewers. (Photograph/Yue Xingchen)

The past dish is the signature dish of Chongqing delicacies by Mr. Meng Chongqing Gourmet—Chongqing Spicy Noodles. Sold just about everywhere in Chongqing’s streets and lanes, the reeky noodles stand for Chongqing people’s angle in direction of everyday living. A bowl of delicious Brown Sugar Amazing Cake after the noodles will carry us an ice-chilly, snug feeling to the heart.

The host of the “Exploring Yummy Chongqing in London” London Venue who holds a plate with bowls of Chongqing Spicy Noodles normally takes a photo with the poster of the function. ((Picture/Xinhua Information Company reporter Li Ying)

Foodstuff promotes cultural exchanges

Food stuff is a bridge for cultural exchanges. James, a foreign anchor at iChongqing, believes, “Aside from the delights of striving well-known dishes, it is also appealing to learn about specific ingredients made use of in Chongqing, these as the prickly ash, unique chili versions, the flower-formed aniseed recognized as ‘Bajiao’, and even some regular medicinal herbs. Their choice and use have connections to the area climate and customs.” In the Sichuan and Chongqing spots, where by the local climate is humid all calendar year spherical, ingesting the prickly ash and chilies—both of which have the function of dehumidification—is a perfect way to respond to the all-natural atmosphere.

International guest Julija also explained, “Food is one particular of the most important options of any cultural identity, so this occasion was a great way to promote Sichuan delicacies. I was taken again by the complexity, richness, and medicinal element of distinctive spices and substances. In our lifestyle, we don’t have regular beliefs about the value of food items for hot-cold balance and health influence everyday food items techniques. So this was an eye-opening expertise.”

Daihao, the anchor in Britain, explained, “As a Chinese person who just came to Britain extra than a yr ago, I feel very content now to have the opportunity to flavor genuine Chongqing meals. At the exact time, it is also very meaningful to share Chongqing delicacies with buddies at residence and overseas by means of dwell streaming. “

iChongqing anchor Eiko concluded, “As a native of Chongqing, I am happy to see that anchors from each locations like Chongqing’s featured foods. Chongqing is an open up and inclusive metropolis. These usual Chongqing foods clearly show unique regional attributes and reflect modifications in people’s way of everyday living from era to era. Abroad pals are welcome to find out more about Chongqing and arrive to Chongqing to flavor the most authentic Chongqing food.”

Greater trade prospects expect additional visits to Chongqing

“I hope you will get pleasure from this special Chongqing foods expertise celebration and learn extra about Chongqing’s special elements, remarkable chefs, and the cityscape.” At final, James additional that the COVID-19 pandemic had posed fantastic worries to the cultural tourism sector in the previous two many years. With the optimization of China’s anti-epidemic policies, he sincerely hoped that “a lot more pals overseas could experience this for them selves and that much more Chongqing food can broaden into far more countries all over the world and deliver folks closer with each other.” “We glimpse forward to your pay a visit to to Chongqing to examine the miracles of Chongqing and Chongqing delicacies.”

The two-hour international twin-town dwell stream has been viewed nearly a million occasions on abroad platforms these as Chongqing Global Communication Center’s Bridging Information application and the Fb, Twitter, YouTube, and other overseas accounts of iChongqing. Lots of overseas viewers commented through the stay stream: “I sense hungry wanting at the food items!”, “I ought to go to Chongqing as soon as in the potential mainly because Chongqing food stuff seems so tasty!”