Successful 2018 Chinese Food Festival Celebrates International Culture and Development at United Nations

---

New York, NY, November 9, 2018 – The 2018 Chinese Food Festival at the United Nations concluded successfully last Friday inside the Delegates Dining Room of New York’s United Nations Headquarters. Thousands of UN officials, socialites, celebrities and New Yorkers enjoyed performances, demonstrations and a distinguished dining experience with authentic food and exquisite wine from China.  

The week-long food and wine festival opened with a cocktail reception, attended by 300 VIP guests.  Actor, Juan Carlos Espinosa of Narcos, commented “This is an incredible experience, getting to experience the culture, food and wine of Ningxia. I am so impressed with the food and richness of the wine”. Other guests included Under-Secretaries-General, from the UN system and international organizations, UN-DPI, UN-DESA, UN-WOMEN, UNKO, UNEP, FAO, UNDP, IOM, WHO, International Red Cross, EU, CARICOM, and OIC; ambassadors or diplomats from over 30 countries including the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America; representatives from US  government, New York State Government; corporate executives; and socialites.

The five-day Festival blended traditional Chinese flavors, like Gongting dishes, with regional cuisine from Ningxia, highlighting a healthy variety for food lovers. The Festival’s wine exhibition and tasting featured 20 brands of award-winning wines exclusively from the Helan Mountain East Region of Ningxia, China.

Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd UN General Assembly, joined guests at the Festival and learned about the Ningxia wine region from vineyard representatives. She spoke highly of the wines and was eager to visit the region after receiving an invitation from Mr. Cao Kailong, Director of the wine region, to experience Ningxia first hand.

During the festival, a high-level luncheon was hosted for ambassadors and senior diplomats from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Macedonia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Paraguay, and other countries, current and former officials from the United Nations and intergovernmental organizations. UN diplomats praised Ningxia’s intelligent decision to develop the agricultural industry with emphasis on the grape and wine industry. Guests were interested to learn more about Ningxia and discussed prospects of developing economic and social cooperation between countries.    

The Festival is organized by Human Health Organization and Ningxia Grape Industry Development Bureau, China, in collaboration with the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations.

Source:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114005297/en/Successful-2018-Chinese-Food-Festival-Celebrates-International-Culture-and-Development-at-United-Nations

Peruvian Gastronomic Event Held at UN Headquarters

---

New York (US), May 27, 2017. The Permanent Mission of Peru to the United Nations (UN) is holding a gastronomic festival as part of a campaign to promote Peru’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2018-2019 term.

Miguel Alonso Hernandez —executive chef at La Nacional restaurant— and a talented team of Peruvian cooks are responsible for pleasing palates of thousands of attendees who eat in the UN cafeteria every day.

Quinoa, different species of potato, aji amarillo (yellow pepper), corn, rocoto (spicy pepper), avocado, custard apple and lucuma stand out among the most representative ingredients available at the event.

The activity showcases the originality and variety of Peruvian food, and emphasizes the major gastronomic revolution experienced by the Andean nation.

This culinary transformation is the result of the hard work and creativity of a new generation of chefs, who got inspired in ancient culinary traditions, heritage and history, while fully committed to sustainable development.

The event was opened with a reception given by Peru’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, in the presence of permanent representatives, ambassadors, accredited delegates, Secretariat senior officials and the media.

Also attending the event were UN General Assembly President Amb. Peter Thomson, Chef de Cabinet to UN Secretary General Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Miguel de Serpa Soares, as well as permanent representatives to various regional groups. 

This article uses material from the https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peruvian-gastronomic-event-held-at-un-headquarters-668514.aspx

Thai Food Festival At United Nations Headquarter NYC

---

Venue: United Nations Head Quarter, Delegates Dining Room, from 11-15 April 2016.

The Bangkok Bold Cooking Studio group had the opportunity to be honored from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cook food at a Thai food festival on Songkran Day at the United Nations, New York, USA. The group traveled from 6-19 April 2016.

The food is divided into a buffet line, which will have hot food, cold food, and various desserts, including a Chef’s Table, where we will arrange a set menu to attendees, including the Gala Dinner, including Pass Around food served.

This event was a success thanks to the warm welcome of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all of its staff. And the most important thing is the teamwork of Bangkok Bold people: “We are all in this together!”

This time the food was prepared using local ingredients that were available. And the taste is typical of traditional Thai flavors. We are proud to be a part of presenting our good culture to the eyes of foreigners through the charm of our Thai food chefs.

Article source: https://boldbangkok.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/thai-food-festival-at-united-nations-headquarter-nyc/

Hundreds Attend Kazakh Food Festival in New York City

---

The Festival of Kazakh Cuisine took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York March 7-11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported.

Five well-known chefs from Kazakhstan visited New York to take part in the festival and presentKazakh dishes, sweets and drinks to the public.

President of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, UN and Kazakh diplomats, high-level officials and staff of the UN Secretariat attended the festival. Besides the national dishes, the guests became acquainted with the rich historical traditions of Kazakh culture, art, national costumes, household items and utensils. Musical compositions and songs by Kazakh composers were also played at the opening ceremony and a string quartet of Kazakh and U.S. students performed famous Kazakh compositions.

Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Kairat Abdrakhmanov welcomed guests and thanked them for their interest in the culture and traditions of Kazakhs. The culinary culture of Kazakhstan absorbed the flavours and culinary features of the Great Steppe and its population over the centuries, he said, adding that it is a kind of a symbiosis of the culture of food of the nomads and the rich gastronomic recipes of the ancient Silk Road.

A daily lunch buffet was also offered, including cold meat and fish dishes, salads, karyn and hot dishes, including beshbarmak, kuyrdak, lamb on a spit, plov, manty, koktal, baked sturgeon, baursaks and samosas. There was a range of sour-milk drinks, including ayran, kumys, shubat, as well as Kazakh desserts, such as zhent, kospa, chak-chak, kurt, irimshik and other delicacies. 

The festival attracted more than 700 people wishing to try the Kazakh cuisine.

This article uses material from the https://astanatimes.com/2016/03/hundreds-attend-kazakh-food-festival-in-new-york-city/#:~:text=The%20Festival%20of%20Kazakh%20Cuisine,and%20drinks%20to%20the%20public.

Five days to celebrate the best of Italian cuisine at the UN Headquarters on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Italy’s entry into the United Nations.

---

Come and rediscover the Italian Culture and Cuisine at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room from 7-11 December 2015, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations.  

The lunch buffet will feature menus designed and prepared by a select group of Italy’s top Michelin Star Rated Executive chefs. The Italian Food Festival is entirely devoted to Italian food and wines of the highest quality. It is launched by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, taking place from the 7th to the 11th of December in the Delegates Dining Room of the UN Headquarters.

It is an occasion to promote the best of Italian food production in the year that marks the 60th Anniversary of Italy’s joining the United Nations.

The Italian Food Festival will feature a detailed presentation of food and wines through very high quality offerings of 5 well-known Italian chefs (among which primarily Filippo La Mantia from Sicily, then Sonia Balacchi and Michele Biagiola).

These chefs were chosen by Italia di Gusto – a franchise selling the best gourmet food products Italy can offer – which was designated by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN to organize the event.

During the five-day Festival, delegates, guests and members of the press will have the opportunity to taste and enjoy food and wines that represent the highest level of Italian culinary culture of the different Regions of Italy – the result of centuries-old traditions and customs, handed down from one generation to the other.

Indeed Italy’s culinary culture, epitomized by the Mediterranean diet, based on healthy and well-balanced food, was inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. It is an appropriate fit for the UN Goals of healthy and sustainable nourishment, as announced in the Charter of Milan, which was presented to the UN Secretary-General during EXPO Milano 2015 on the occasion of World Food Day.

This article uses material from http://www.iitaly.org/magazine/dining-in-out/articles-reviews/article/italian-food-festival-delegates-dining-room-7-11

“Flavors of Monaco”: Spotlight on Monegasque Cuisine at United Nations Headquarters in New York

---

From left to right: Chef Philippe Joannes, H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the UN; Chef Christian Garcia; and Mr Guillaume Rose, Director of the Tourist and Convention Authority© Rick Bajornas

Monaco’s Permanent Representation to the UN, in partnership with the Tourist and Convention Authority and the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, organised a culinary week on theme “Flavors of Monaco”. The event was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7 to 10 October.

Chefs Christian Garcia (Chef to H.S.H. Prince Albert II) and Philippe Joannes (Executive Chef at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo and winner of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title) loaned their talents to the UN Delegates Dining Room, offering a taste of Monegasque cuisine every lunchtime.

Over the course of the week, the highest echelons of the international diplomatic community, as well as New Yorkers and visitors to the city, had the opportunity to find out more about the Principality and its potential as a tourist destination through its most traditional dishes.

The promotional week began on Tuesday with a gourmet lunch inspired by official dinners held in Monaco, which was arranged for representatives of the big names in international media.

On Wednesday evening, more than 400 people attended a special reception which showcased the Principality through the main specialities of Monegasque and Mediterranean cuisine, which were much enjoyed by the guests.

At the opening of “Flavors of Monaco” week, the chefs presented Monegasque specialities, emphasising the quality of the products that form the basis of the cuisine, principal among which is olive oil, appropriately given pride of place in the logo for this exceptional event.

Chefs Garcia and Joannes declared themselves proud to be taking part in such an event and to share the flavours of southern French cooking, an integral part of Monaco’s cultural heritage.

This article uses material from https://en.gouv.mc/Policy-Practice/Monaco-Worldwide/Diplomacy-and-International-Presence/News/Flavors-of-Monaco-spotlight-on-Monegasque-cuisine-at-United-Nations-Headquarters-in-New-York

Chinese Food Fest at UN Delegates’ Dining Room

By Amy Langfeld • Published October 24, 2008 • Updated on October 28, 2008 

The United Nations Delegates’ Dining Room is still accepting reservations for the second week of its Chinese Food Festival – but not for long.

The dining room, which overlooks the East River , is open to the public for weekday lunches only. And indeed it is used by the delegates as well.

During food festivals, the sponsoring country usually flies in its own chefs who bring in special ingredients. The all-you-can-eat buffet is priced just like the regular all-you-can-eat buffet: $26 per person, plus the cost of beverage and tip.

The current festival runs through October 31, but reservations are now limited to the 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. seatings.

Reservations are required, and the dress code dictates jackets for men; jeans and tennis shoes are prohibited. You’ll need to clear regular U.N. security, and then show identification to get a special pass to reach the dining room.

Sources: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/chinese_food_fest_at_un_delegates_dining_room_/2112534/

https://news.ifeng.com/world/2/200810/1021_2591_839990.shtml