During the Paris Olympics, on the afternoon of August 7th local time, a unique gourmet cultural exchange feast – the “China House Appreciation Day” and Sino-French Gourmet Cultural Exchange Event was held. The event was graced by a galaxy of guests who came together to witness the exchange and collision of culinary cultures between China and France.
From spicy chicken with chili peppers, Peking duck, and panda-themed colorful leaf ice powder to French classics like confit de canard (duck preserved in its own fat), escargots (snails), and gratin dauphinois (potato and cheese bake with sausage), what flavors would emerge when the “Dongpo Taste” met “French Cuisine”?
Paris, the City of Love, boasts world-renowned landmarks and profound cultural heritage. French cuisine, known for its intricate preparation and culinary finesse, is hailed as the “King of Western Cuisine.” Meanwhile, the “Dongpo Taste,” with a history spanning nearly a thousand years, is equally rich in variety, history, and distinctive style. During this Olympic Games, “Meizhou Dongpo,” the official catering service provider for the “China House” and the Chinese National Team, assembled a “Chef Dream Team” to actively provide catering services for the official support team of the Chinese National Team.
At the event, the chef team from Meizhou Dongpo, hailing from the hometown of Su Dongpo (a renowned poet and gourmet in the Song Dynasty), and the French CHEZ PAPA chef team took the stage to deliver fascinating introductions to the culinary cultures of China and France and demonstrated live cooking.
Classic French dishes such as confit de canard, escargots, gratin dauphinois, tarte Tatin (apple tart), and foie gras with black cherries were skillfully presented by the French chefs, each dish imbued with profound cultural significance. Meanwhile, Meizhou Dongpo, with a 24-member chef support team as the official catering service provider for the China House, set up shop in Paris, blending Chinese flavors with French ingredients to create delicious dishes. During this Sino-French gourmet cultural exchange, they presented classic Chinese delicacies including spicy chicken with chili peppers (one of China’s top ten famous dishes), world-renowned Peking duck, innovative traditional snacks like panda-themed colorful leaf ice powder, Chinese-style pan-fried dumplings, Sichuan-style pickled vegetables, and adorable panda-shaped mooncakes. In particular, the Sichuan spicy chicken, with its unique Chinese cooking techniques, spicy and numbing flavors, and crispy texture, garnered praise and accolades from the guests, allowing both Chinese and French attendees to savor the charm of Chinese culinary culture.