To Years of Friendship
by CWA
@ 16 Nov 2018
Earlier this week, Food & Hotel China (FHC) held its 22nd International Exhibition for international companies looking to introduce their products to the Chinese market. The tradeshow was also a reunion for long-term friends who met more than 30 years ago at Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) Culinary Challenge in Singapore.
It all started in 1985, when Chef Yu Wen Shen, then a 34-year-old executive chef from Taipei met Chef Peter Knipp, who suggested forming a regional team in order to raise awareness about international culinary competitions. The two were supported by then-Landis Taipei President Stanley Yen, and gathered Chef Lee Yu Cheng, Pastry Chef Tom Wu of Landis Taipei, Chef Jimmy Chang of Sheraton Taipei, Chef Lee Loong Sheng and Pastry Chef Bakel Wu of Taipei Hilton to form a team.
A year later, the team won a gold medal in FHA, after Chef Yu settled on a theme inspired by the five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal, and everyone worked harmoniously together.
Fast forward to this year, the team met again at FHC and were greeted by many other young chefs too. Although the team went their separate ways since then, an occasional reunion once in a while still brings back several fond memories.
