Asian Chefs Gear up for Culinary March Madness

PR-1316E | Date: 03/21/2013

The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) of the American Institute in Taiwan invites the media to observe the preliminary competition of the inaugural United Tastes of America - Asian Chef Challenge on March 26 at the Taipei Kaiping Culinary School.  The chef challenge is rolling out across Asia, exciting many culinary talents.  It begins with preliminary competitions in four metropolitan cities - Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei - this March.  The winning team from each city will be eligible for the final competition at the Taipei International Food Show’s USA Pavilion this June.  The winning team of the final competition will be invited to receive a continuing education program organized by The Culinary Institute of America, the USA's premier culinary education institution.

Preliminary competition, United Tastes of America - Asian Chef Challenge

• Date: March 26 (Tue.), 2013
• Time: 10:00 am (Opening) - 4:00 pm (Award Presentation)
• Address:  No. 15, lane 148, sec. 2, Fuxing S. Rd, Taipei City
• Point of Contact: Ms. Tseng 0955-417-366 (Byte-in Integrated Marketing Company)

Sixteen teams from renowned hotels, restaurants, and culinary institutes across Taiwan will compete at Taipei's preliminary competition, including chefs from the American Club, Ambassador Hotel Taipei, Bite 2 Eat, Crescent Phoenix Hospitality Group, Fresh and Aged, Fortune University, Grand Hotel, Grand Hi-Lai, Grand Hyatt, Kaiping Culinary School, Regent Taipei, Sherwood, Shin Yeh Restaurants, Sowieso, and the Taiwan Chefs Association - Young Chefs Club.

At Taipei's preliminary competition, the contestants are required to fully utilize an assortment of mandatory high-quality U.S. ingredients with limited common ingredients to come up with a creative four-course menu.  There will be more than sixty unique dishes showcased by thirty-two competitive chefs of diversified backgrounds in either Asian or Western culinary practices.

AIT's Agriculture Trade Office supports The United Tastes of America - Asian Chef Challenge, coordinated by the U.S. Meat Export Association and sponsored by other U.S. agricultural producer associations.  This challenge will culminate with the winning teams from Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan facing off at the regional grand finale to be held in the USA Pavilion at the Taipei International Food Show on June 27, 2013.  The launch of the regional chef challenge underscores the significance of the Asia market for U.S. agricultural exports.  The participating markets hold a significant market share (32%) of the 2012 U.S. agricultural exports.  

Official web site: www.utasteamerica.org