Foreign Representatives Join Cooking Event to Promote Culture Through Food

Gastronomy can really excite everyone including diplomats as they spend time having meals with friends and family; no matter what occasion, food helps connect everyone from everywhere, despite their different backgrounds or races.
October 31, 2022 | 07:10
Honorary chairwoman of the ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi Vu Thi Bich Ngoc at the event. Source: baoquocte.vn
Honorary chairwoman of the ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi Vu Thi Bich Ngoc at the event. Source: baoquocte.vn

The Consular Delegation and foreign agencies of Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces cooperated with the Service Company to Foreign Missions (FOSCO) to organize the 4th edition of “Diplomats can cook IV - 2022” competition under the patronage of Honorary chairwoman of the ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, who is also the spouse of Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

The event has the participation of 20 teams, including Consulates General of countries: Cambodia, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand; Consular Club in HCM City and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Can Tho, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, HCM City, Kien Giang, Tien Giang and Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, the honorary chairwoman of the ASEAN Women Community in Hanoi Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, appreciated the event that promotes foreign affairs, creating a useful playground for members of the consular delegation, officials working in foreign affairs in the Southern Departments of Foreign Affairs and agencies under the Foreign Ministry to participate and introduce the culinary culture of their homeland to international friends.

The event is not only a place to exchange and introduce the culinary culture of countries, but also to send a message about a future of peace, friendship and cooperation among countries around the world, she said.

Diplomats in the Kitchen
In the competition, each team cooks 3 dishes: appetizer, main course and traditional dessert. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

On behalf of the organizing committee, FOSCO Deputy General Director Le Thi Kim Chi affirmed that the annual culinary event is a useful playground for foreign affairs agencies to compete, exchange, and understand each other better through culinary culture. This year's event has the participation of 20 teams from consular offices of countries and foreign affairs agencies throughout the southern provinces.

According to Tri Agus Sofjan, spouse of Consul General of Indonesia in Vietnam, the event is an opportunity for 20 teams to share the culinary culture of each country and region, through which, the relations between the countries will be improved.

On this occasion, Tri Agus Sofjan also informed that Consular Club in HCM City will hold a charity fair on November 12. Profits from this fair will be used to provide scholarships for students with difficult circumstances or children with special circumstances; medical assistance or school renovations impacted by natural disasters.

Diplomats in the Kitchen
Officials working at agencies of the Consular Delegation, leaders of the Departments of Foreign Affairs in 20 southern provinces, agencies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the competition. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Tri Agus Sofjan, vice president of the Consular Club in Ho Chi Minh City, shows off her culinary skills at the competition. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
The Consular Club HCMC team consisted of 3 members, representing Indonesia, France and Germany. Their Indonesian dish “Beef Tongseng” even took home the “Best meat dish” prize. Source: Consular Club in Ho Chi Minh City
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Ho Thi Thanh Bach, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Can Tho, said that she is very enthusiastic about Snails Stuffed With Pork, a specialty dish of the Mekong Delta. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Traveling to Can Tho, you should once enjoy a dish of Snails Stuffed With Pork, a dish with a bold flavor of the Southwest region. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Team from the French Consulate won the first prize in the main dish at the competition. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Special dishes are completed in 90 minutes. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Bui Thi Suong, Culinary artisan, Vice Director of Vietnam Culinary Conservation, Research and Development Centre - Chief judge of the competition tries a dish. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper
Diplomats in the Kitchen
Delegates and competition judges pose for a group photo. Source: Consular Club in Ho Chi Minh City
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