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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), Berlin, organised a memorable Chinese cuisine cooking demonstration and tasting dinner on October 15 (Berlin time) at the Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin, with chefs from the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI). The guests embarked on a flavourful journey through the different tastes and regions of China and the food was paired with fine German wines.
In his dinner speech, the Director of the HKETO, Berlin, Mr Ivan Lee, spoke of the diversity and excellent quality Hong Kong has to offer as a culinary paradise.
"Hong Kong is home to 11 000 restaurants, whose chefs will always continue to tantalise your taste buds by combining local uniqueness and freshness of ingredients with international flair. We are delighted to transfer the distinctive aromas of different kinds of Chinese cuisines to Europe by hosting this dinner together with some of the most gifted chefs of the CCTI," he said.
Mr Lee also highlighted the development of Hong Kong as a wine marketing and distribution hub and opportunities for German wine businesses.
Over 50 guests attended the dinner, including senior federal and city government officials of Germany as well as leading figures from the media, cultural and business sector. They indulged in the Chinese art of cooking and enjoyed delicacies such as shrimp dumplings, sautéed prawns, garoupa and osmanthus pudding. The award-winning chef Mr Tim Raue and his team provided an excellent location and service to make this event an unforgettable experience. The CCTI chefs pampered the guests with creative courses that represented the whole range of Chinese cuisines.
Established in 2000, the CCTI is one of the HKSAR Government's millennium projects. The head of the CCTI delegation to Europe, Mr Andraw Tang, said that the institute has contributed to strengthening Hong Kong's reputation as the "Food Capital of the East".
"As a member of the Vocational Training Institute we aim to nurture Chinese catering talents systematically and to elevate the professional standard of Chinese chefs, so as to establish Hong Kong as an internationally recognised regional training and accreditation centre," he said. Many of the CCTI's alumni are now serving in some of the best Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong.
With the support of the German Wine Institute all of the dinner courses were paired with fine German wines, and Mr Lee highlighted the opportunities in Hong Kong for German wine growers and exporters. "Since 2008 Hong Kong has removed all wine duties. Since then, total wine imports have increased by more than 500 per cent, amounting to 903 million euros in 2011. I encourage German wine businesses to enjoy the advantages of preferential customs clearance and use Hong Kong as the gateway to the ever-growing Mainland China market."
The signing of a Declaration of Intent on Co-operation in Wine-related Businesses between Hong Kong and Germany in May 2012 will help meet the aspirations of the wine industry in both places.
After the successful event in Berlin their European tour will lead the CCTI chefs to Hungary and Austria before returning to Germany for an event in the city of Wiesbaden on October 24.
Ends/Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:42
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