When Taizhou Cuisine Meets Italian Pasta, Xindongrong Academy Hosts a China-Italy Gastronomic Dialogue

The glutinous texture of Chuiyuan (glutinous rice dumplings) and the umami of home-style braised red shrimps interweave with the aroma of Italian pasta in the air, as a vivid cross-border culinary and cultural exchange unfolds in the training room of XinRongJi Academy.

On the afternoon of October 24th, the training room of XinRongJi Academy was filled with aroma . Dozens of international students from Italy and teachers of the academy held a unique food and cultural exchange activity. These Italian young people are members of an exchange camp that recently visited Taizhou. They walked into XinRongJi Academy and conducted in-depth interactions with Chinese teachers through food, the universal language.

Italian Flair Blends into the Chinese Kitchen

Inside the training room, a culinary collision between Chinese and Italian flavors is unfolding. The international students demonstrated their cooking skills in groups: some prepared Kung Pao Chicken, while others focused on making Chinese-style noodles.

The most eye-catching part was the students who made Italian pasta with their own hands, bringing traditional pasta-making techniques to Taizhou. "Making Italian pasta is really different from making Chinese-style noodles," one Italian student shared. "This time, I tried making pasta with Chinese kitchen tools—it was an interesting challenge."

Meanwhile, teachers from XinRongJi Academy also demonstrated their exquisite cooking skills, preparing Sour Cabbage Fish, Taizhou's signature home-style braised red shrimps, and Chuiyuan (Taizhou's specialty glutinous rice dumplings).

Culinary and cultural exchange begins with mutual learning and mutual appreciation.

This event was not only an exchange of culinary skills, but also a dialogue between cultures. During their stay in Taizhou, the Italian students had visited Jiazhi  Street to experience the local intangible cultural heritage, toured Xinhai Tiandi, and felt the unique charm of Taizhou cuisine there.

"When in Taizhou, people are good at using ginger to remove fishy smells and enhance freshness. This is quite different from how we usually use lemons and herbs to handle seafood in Italy, but both aim to highlight the ingredients' natural freshness," one international student commented while tasting the home-style braised red shrimps.

Teachers from XinRongJi Academy introduced to the Italian students Taizhou's culinary philosophy of "pursuing authenticity in food" during the event, as well as the characteristics of Taizhou cuisine—prioritizing the original flavor of ingredients and following the laws of nature.

A Sweet Finale: The Perfect Fusion of Eastern and Western Flavors

The highlight of the event is undoubtedly the presentation of Matcha Raw Chocolate Rice Pudding. This dessert not only retains the delicate texture of Western-style desserts, but also subtly incorporates Eastern elements — the fresh bitterness of matcha and the rich silkiness of raw chocolate achieve a perfect balance in the warm and smooth base of rice pudding.

A touch of elegant Eastern tea aroma quietly blends into the rich embrace of Western chocolate. The unique tea fragrance of matcha and the rich undertone of chocolate form a harmonious and layered flavor combination, making these two distinct taste profiles a successful example of the fusion of Eastern and Western flavors.

When sharing the creative inspiration, a teacher from XinRongJi Academy said, "We aim to innovate boldly while preserving the essence of tradition. This Matcha Raw Chocolate Rice Pudding is exactly a reflection of XinRongJi Academy's consistent spirit of exploration — respecting tradition, yet not confined by it."

Food is a universal language that transcends national borders.

This China-Italy Food Exchange Event not only allowed Italian students to experience the unique charm of Taizhou cuisine, but also enabled teachers from XinRongJi Academy to appreciate the essence of Italian food culture.

"Whether from the East or the West, people’s love and pursuit of food are universal," a teacher from XinRongJi Academy stated. "Through exchanges like this, we not only showcase the profound heritage of Taizhou’s food culture, but also draw creativity and inspiration from Italian cuisine, bringing new ideas to our future teaching and dish development."

At the conclusion of the event, participants from China and Italy exchanged their culinary insights and agreed to jointly explore more possibilities for food and cultural exchanges, ensuring the ongoing dialogue between Taizhou cuisine and Italian cuisine.

It is reported that the visiting Italian teachers and students will continue their tour in Taizhou, gain an in-depth experience of the local culture, and build more bridges for cultural exchanges between Taizhou and Italy.

Translator：庞世杰Amber