‘East Meats West’ at showcase event in China

On Wednesday, 35 key influencers from the Chinese media were invited to a luncheon at the new West Bund Museum in the heart of the Xuhui Waterfront, to experience the charms of British pork.

Organised by AHDB, the ‘Chinese and Western Menu Cloud Duel, British Pork Chef Show’ showcased the exceptional taste of high-quality pork from the UK through the preparation of four innovative dishes from the East and West.

Attendees sampled two British dishes – pork belly and ham hock terrine – alongside Asian offerings of crispy pata style pork hock and Chinese garlic spareribs, before voting for their favourite dish.

During the tasting event, guests also had the opportunity to learn more about pork production in the UK through virtual presentations from AHDB’s Head of Asia Pacific Jonathan Eckley and Senior Exports Manager Susan Stewart.

Jonathan said: “China is a hugely important market for the UK pork sector as our products are valued and respected for their quality and flavour, as well as our high welfare standards and food safety credentials.

“While restrictions prevented us from travelling in person, we were delighted to be able to host this event with the help of the Department for International Trade’s Shanghai team. The luncheon was a huge success and we received positive feedback from our attendees.

“AHDB recognises the importance of export markets such as China and the value that overseas trade brings to our levy payers. We will continue flying the flag for UK pork and help support our exporters as they look to maximise on the potential opportunities this market presents.”