Vietnamese-born 'King Chef' demonstrates cooking using American agricultural products

The US Barbecue Festival was organized to congratulate Vietnam and the United States on upgrading to a comprehensive strategic partnership, emphasizing agricultural trade relations. With the participation of many agricultural product suppliers from the United States.

The event introduced American food, beverages, agricultural products, and culture to importers, retailers, hotels, restaurants, and chefs in Vietnam.

The event has the cooperation of industry associations under the US Department of Agriculture across the US including the US Pork Export Association, US Chicken and Egg Export Council, US Potato Association, American Blueberry Association, Raisin Association, American Grain Council, Sorghum Association, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin and Texas Department of Agriculture.

Beverage partners include California wines from winemaker Robert Mondavi, E&J Gallo; and Budweiser beer. The festival featured a speech by US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and a cooking demonstration by US Master Chef Champion Christine Ha.

US Ambassador Marc Knapper said: "Last year's total bilateral trade turnover increased more than 300 times compared to 1995. Today's event is an example of effective trade relations between the United States and Vietnam, especially in the field of agricultural products. This vibrant two-way trade relationship benefits the manufacturers, exporters, importers and consumers of the two countries."

US Agriculture Counselor Ralph Bean shared: “This is a special opportunity for businesses in the Vietnamese food and beverage industry to meet with representatives of 16 US food, wine and beer associations in Hanoi, in order to strengthen and expand relationships, as well as learn more about the high quality and diverse agricultural products of the United States."

Vietnamese-American Master Chef Champion Christine Ha said: “I am very happy to participate in this American Barbecue Festival event in Hanoi. This is part of my visit to explore Vietnamese cuisine. In addition, I am also excited to explore Hanoi's culinary culture, as well as introduce beef products, grapefruit and BBQ sauce from Texas - my home state, in today's cooking demonstration. I hope sharing stories about the American barbeque tradition and that my trip will inspire me to create new menu items when I return to the United States.”

The guests also had the opportunity to enjoy an American-style barbecue with 20 diverse dishes made from 28 American ingredients including pork, chicken, potatoes, California cheese, Washington apples, blueberries, raisins, and Wisconsin ginseng, fresh tofu and cooking oil made from US soybeans; beef, rum, grapefruit, sorghum cereal, gluten-free sorghum flour and Texas BBQ sauce. The buffet dinner menu is individually designed and prepared by chefs from Moose and Roo Smokehouse.

US-Vietnam Agricultural Trade has grown rapidly in the last 5 years, with bilateral agricultural trade turnover reaching 9.8 billion USD in 2022. Vietnam is considered as the 9th-large importer for US agricultural products, while the US is the largest importer of Vietnamese agricultural products.