Celebrity chef Yan cooks up a storm at US embassy residence

Chef Martin Yan, Mona Locke and US Ambassador Gary Locke in the kitchen of the embassy residence. Provided to China Daily

Longtime TV chef Martin Yan presented a showcase dinner of American ingredients in Chinese cooking last week at the residence of US Ambassador Gary Locke and his wife, Mona.

Using ingredients sourced from the US such as Washington State cherries, Florida oranges, Wisconsin ginseng and Alaskan seafood, Yan served up an elegant seven-course meal for members of the Chinese media, including prominent food bloggers.

One of the dishes, a pot sticker made with American turkey and minced pork wrap with US pork, was prepared by the Lockes. As dinner was served, Yan talked about the healthiness and beauty of US produce and how well it pairs with traditional Chinese cooking.

* * *

More than 50 technicians and managers recently took part in a five-day technical training program for small- and medium-size enterprises in Sichuan's bamboo industry. The European Union and the Beijing-based International Network for Bamboo and Rattan sponsored the training, held in Changning, just days before the fourth anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake.

The project aimed to harness the potential for bamboo to alleviate poverty, promote green production and provide jobs in post-disaster Sichuan. The province's 969,000-hectares of bamboo account for 17 percent of China's total bamboo forest cover in 2010.

More training courses on modern environment-friendly production technology and processing techniques will be presented throughout 2012 in various Sichuan communities.

* * *

Four colorful postage stamps designed by China Post's Shen Jianhong and featuring the tales of Hans Christian Andersen were feted at a May 25 party at the Danish embassy in Beijing. Chinese and Danish children drew and made paper cuttings in the spirit of Andersen's fairy tales. Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen also hosted a picnic lunch and a storytelling session for the children in the embassy garden.

Shen and colleagues from both countries' postal services will travel to Denmark for the stamps' first-day-of-issue ceremonies on June 1.

* * *

Javier Serra, economic and commercial counselor at the Spanish embassy in China, and celebrity sommelier Jeannie Choo Lee hosted a wine-tasting event for 25 wineries of different Spanish regions last week at the Beijing Peninsula Hotel. The winemakers are marketed together as Grandes Pagos de Espana, says GPE president Carlos Falco. "Some have been around since the 12th century, while others have only been around for a few years," he says.

* * *

Former Chinese ambassador to Chile Liu Yuqin (left)gets a tour of Chile's relocated Expo pavillion from Ambassador Luis Schmist Montes. Feng Yongbin/China Daily

Chilean Ambassador Luis Schmidt Montes hosted a tour of his country's reconstituted Expo 2010 pavilion at a demonstration farm and resort in Beijing's southern suburbs last week. Schmidt took a group of about 30 guests for a sneak preview of the building, which still needs finishing work before it formally re-opens as an event center in about a month. The visitors included two of China's former ambassadors to Chile, Liu Yuqin and Zhang Shaying, and the ambassador's sister, Luz, who was in China on a visit with other family members.

* * *

Greek Ambassador to China Theodore Georgakelos marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Greece, and the 15th anniversary of a cooperation program on journalism, by co-hosting a reception at the All-China Journalists Association headquarters in Beijing. Zhu Souchen, executive secretary of the ACJA Board of Leadership, also addressed the gathering of media professionals.

* * *

The cricket teams of Indian and Australian embassies participated in the inaugural edition of the 26 January cricket tournament on May 19 at Dulwich International School Grounds. The tournament has been christened as the 26 January Cup because both nations celebrate their National Day on that day.

Rahul Chhabra, India's deputy ambassador, handled the coin toss for this 20 over per team match and later presented team trophies.

The Australians batted first and scored 161 runs in their quota of 20 overs, a good start the Indians could not overcome. They were all out for 98 runs.