Crossing 9,960 Kilometers! Taizhou "Hehe Flavor" Shines at Italian Prime Minister's Cabinet Dinner

On February 11,

at the Italian Prime Minister's Cabinet dinner,

the “mountain & sea” flavors of Taizhou, China, captivated guests.

Facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and invited by the Italian Prime Minister's Office, Lin Meijun—the founder of Linjiayi Catering Group and an expert advisor to Taizhou's UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy bid—led a delegation dedicated to promoting Taizhou cuisine overseas. Traveling 9,960 kilometers to Rome, Italy, the team overcame numerous challenges, including cross-border coordination and ingredient adaptation, to successfully introduce Chinese culinary culture and Taizhou's "Hehe (Harmony) Flavor" on the international stage, marking a remarkable debut for Taizhou cuisine at an international event.

In order to present the most authentic flavors of Taizhou while ensuring the quality met the high standards of an international high-end dinner, the delegation prepared meticulously. They worked closely with local Italian ingredient suppliers, rigorously screening ingredients against Taizhou culinary criteria. While preserving the original taste of the dishes, they flexibly adapted procurement strategies, tracing core ingredients to source and scientifically integrating local ingredients.

Lin Meijun, head of the delegation (second from right), introduces the "Sino-Italian Four-Delicacy Platter" to Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (first from left).

"A cross-regional menu requires strict attention to dish customization and cultural integration," explained Lin Meijun, head of the delegation. For this dinner, the team presented classic Taizhou dishes such as braised yellow croaker with rustic rice, smoked East China Sea pomfret, and handmade fish cakes. Collaborating with Master Chef Wang Haidong, they also created the "Sino-Italian Four-Delicacy Platter," which skillfully integrated Italian ingredients, culture, and customs. The dish combined elements of the traditional Chinese "Manchu-Han Imperial Feast" with the essence of Chinese Hehe culture, resulting in a feast of "Harmony and Diversity" that highlighted both Chinese and international characteristics.

As a significant birthplace of Chinese Hehe culture, Taizhou's cuisine serves as a vivid representation of its regional culture and a cornerstone of the city's bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The dinner not only marked a crucial step in the overseas promotion of Taizhou cuisine but also brought Hehe culture to global audiences through gastronomy. By spreading the Hehe flavors of Taizhou’s mountains and seas worldwide, this event lent strong momentum to the bid for the prestigious designation.

Translator：Jiayang Lin