Guangxi border town holds ASEAN food competition
(ECNS) -- 2024 ASEAN Fruit Consumption Season and Culinary Competition was hosted in Pingxiang City in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday. More than ten teams delighted attendees with a vibrant showcase of Southeast Asian delicacies.
Awards such as “Best creative ASEAN cuisine banquet" and “ASEAN specialty fruit feast” were set up, with judges tasting and scoring each dish sequentially.
Contestant Gan Yuanli, the manager of a restaurant in Pingxiang, produced the featured banquet including Malaysian-style pan-fried fish and Tom Yum soup, all showcasing distinctive Southeast Asian flavors. She said that these dishes are popular among diners at the restaurant all year round.
Wu Dongdong, secretary-general of the Guangxi Cuisine Industry Association, said that incorporating fruits into dishes not only helps create a distinctive local culinary brand but also allows visitors to experience the rich food culture of ASEAN countries. This authentic experience of exotic flavors contributes to the promotion of local cultural tourism, he added.
Known as “China’s southern gateway,” Pingxiang, bordering Vietnam, serves as the largest hub for China-ASEAN fruit trade. Through Pingxiang, tropical favorites like Thai durians and Vietnamese dragon fruits enter the Chinese market.
The event, hosted by the Communist Party of China Pingxiang Committee and the Pingxiang Government, aims to expand the sales channels for ASEAN fruits through a culinary competition as well as to deepen economic, trade and cultural exchanges with ASEAN countries.