2024 Int'l Food Festival: When cuisine becomes 'ingredient' for cultural diplomacy

Discovering the mystical Middle East

According to H.E Mr. Ali Akbar Nazari, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Vietnam, The Embassy of Iran has participated in the International Food Festival organized by the Service Department for the Diplomatic Corps for many years.

The Iranian booth at the 2023 International Food Festival. (Photo: The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vietnam)

They will also join the 2024 International Food Festival to celebrate and promote the rich culinary heritage of their country. The event provides a unique platform for cultural exchange, allowing the friendly people of Vietnam and international friends to experience the diverse flavors and traditions that make Persian national cuisine very special and well-known in the world.

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“We hope to not only share our traditional dishes but also to highlight the stories and history behind them,creating a deeper appreciation and understanding among festival-goers,” he said.

This year, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vietnam will introduce kebab koobideh (lamb barbecue), one of the best dishes in Iran to Vietnamese friends.

Kebab koobideh is a quintessential dish in Iranian cuisine, known for its mouth-watering flavors and simplicity. It's made from ground lamb or beef, mixed with finely chopped onions and spices, and then grilled on flat metal skewers. The result is juicy, flavorful kebabs that are often served with rice, grilled tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

Another food is tahchin, a delightful and unique Iranian dish that is as visually stunning as it is delicious. It’s a saffron-infused rice cake that is typically layered with succulent chicken, yogurt, and egg. The dish is known for its golden, crispy crust, which is achieved by baking or cooking the rice in a non-stick pot. It is a perfect combination of texture, flavor, and aroma, making it a favorite at Iranian gatherings and special occasions.

Nurturing a "culinary strategy"

HE Mr. Marcos A. Bednarski, Ambassador of the Republic of Argentina to Vietnam, introduced The World and Vietnam Report to Argentina's signature dishes, including the renowned empanadas, which are a very typical dish from Argentina and each region has its own special recipe.

The culinary booth of The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Vietnam at the 2023 International Food Festival. (Photo: The Embassy of the Republic of Argentina in Vietnam)

According to Ambassador Bednarski, at this year’s Festival, the Embassy will present empanadas criolla from the Jujuy region. These crescent-shaped baked pastries are made of meat and another filled with cheese. Empanadas are crescent-shaped, savory pastries made of dough and filled with a variety of ingredients.

Another street food dish featured at the 2024 Culinary Festival is choripan, which consists of a chorizo ​​sandwiched between two pieces of bread served with a chimichurri sauce. This dish is very popular at sporting events, such as soccer games, and is cooked on a metal or iron grill grate situated over a heat source of hot coals or wood embers.

In addition, the Embassy will showcase a selection of Argentine wines, with a special focus on the globally acclaimed Malbec.

Looking ahead, Mr. Bednarski shared that the Argentine Embassy in Vietnam is planning to organize culinary weeks at various hotels. These events will provide the Vietnamese public with an opportunity to explore and savor the distinctive flavors of Argentina's rich culinary tradition.

Connecting cultures across the globe

Meanwhile, Mr. Redha Oucher, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Algeria in Vietnam, expects, as usual, that the International Food Festival will gather different countries to present their culinary culture diversity in order to strengthen mutual intercultural understanding between peoples.

The culinary booth of the Embassy of Algeria in Vietnam in Vietnam at the 2020 International Food Festival. (Photo: The Embassy of Algeria in Vietnam in Vietnam)

As part of the Festival, the Embassy of Algeria will showcase the country’s signature dishes, including couscous (steamed semolina with vegetables and meat), chakhchoukha (broken semolina dough soaked in tomato sauce), tlitli (traditional pasta), bourek (kind of Nem made with pastry sheets filled with vegetables and minced meat), as well as distinctive sweets like baklawa (layered pastry dessert) and tcharek (crescent-shaped cookies filled with almond paste).

“These dishes are not only culinary delights but also embody countless historical and cultural stories of Algeria,” affirmed Mr. Oucher.

Mr. Oucher also expressed confidence that this year’s International Food Festival will be even more impressive than last year, with greater participation from various countries, highlighting the richness and diversity of global culinary cultures.

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