Authentic Chinese cuisine at the NRA show in Chicago

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With countless attendees visiting the Chinese Exhibition Section at the 99th National Restaurant Association (NRA) show, which lasted from May 19 to 22 at McCormick Place in Chicago, the Chinese restaurant industry showed a type of Chinese cuisine that is high in quality, authentic and made for upscale dining.

The NRA show, as the largest – as well as the oldest – catering and hotel supplies exhibition in North America, attracted more than 67,000 restaurants and hotel supply representatives from all over the world this year.

The 2018 National Restaurant Association (NRA) show is held from May 19 to May 22 in Chicago, attracting over 2,000 exhibitors in the exhibition this year. /Xinhua

This is second time the Chinese restaurant industry has attended the world-class exhibition, and restaurants from Beijing, Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Hong Kong showed up.

Tony Li, deputy manager of Juhao Flavor (Hong Kong) Co.,Ltd told Xinhua that during the NRA show, many restaurant industry professionals have visited his exhibition booth and some of them expressed an interest in cooperation.

The booth of Juhao Flavor (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd at the NRA show in Chicago, US, May 19, 2018. /Xinhua

"We found more and more American customers are loving more authentic regional Chinese food, which is our expertise, keeping an overseas kitchen outside China that can keep its original flavor and taste," Li said.

Chinese Consul General in Chicago, Hong Lei, addressed the opening ceremony of the Chinese Exhibition Section on May 19 and highlighted the remarkable innovations expected at the Chinese Exhibition Section this year.

Hong Lei, Chinese Consul General in Chicago, addressed the opening ceremony of Chinese Exhibition Section at the NRA show in Chicago, US, May 19, 2018. /Xinhua

The Chinese Exhibition Section is hosted by the American Chinese Culinary Federation, American Chinese Restaurant Institute, North American Restaurant Association and Juhao Flavor (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.

"What Chinese cuisine shows is not only color, flavor and good taste, but it embodies traditional Chinese culture and our pursuit of good life. I hope the Chinese restaurant industry could be a cultural tie to bridge China and the United States," Hong said.

The changing faces performance of Sichuan opera at the Chinese Exhibition Section in Chicago, US, May 19, 2018. /Xinhua

One of the innovations is the first US International Chinese Cuisine Forum, which was held on the sidelines of the 99th NRA show.

Chinese cuisine practitioners from the United States, China, Canada, and European countries gathered at the forum, discussing the nutrition, promotion, and further development of Chinese cuisine in the United States.

A staff member distributes food samples at the 2018 National Restaurant Association (NRA) show in Chicago, US, May 21, 2018. /Xinhua

Chinese Deputy Consul General in Chicago Yu Peng delivered a keynote speech at the forum, saying Chinese cuisine has made important contributions to economic development in the United States.

Chinese cuisine has evolved for more than 100 years in the United States. Yu expressed the hope that the forum may act as a platform for Chinese cuisine in the the country, to help the industry's transformation and improvement.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

(Cover photo: American consumers taste Chinese cuisine at the Chinese Exhibition Section on the 2018 NRA show held from May 19 to May 22 in Chicago, US. /Xinhua)