Speaker of New Zealand's house relishes Vietnamese culinary delights in Hanoi
During his official visit to Vietnam from August 24-31, New Zealand's Speaker of the House, Gerry Brownlee, had the opportunity to immerse himself in Vietnamese culture. One of the highlights of his visit was a cooking session, where he learned to prepare the authentic Vietnamese dish thit bo cuon la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves).
The cooking session took place at a restaurant in Hanoi, and the chef who instructed Brownlee was from the social enterprise KOTO. KOTO, along with three other Vietnamese social enterprises - HopeBox, Tòhe, and KymViet - were the focus of Brownlee's meetings during his visit. These enterprises are dedicated to supporting disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities.
As Brownlee and his delegation participated in the cooking session, they expressed delight at the distinctive and flavorful taste of the dish. The KOTO chef remarked that the combination of New Zealand beef, Vietnamese fish sauce, and betel leaves symbolizes the close and enduring ties between the two countries. Gerry Brownlee personally seasoned and rolled the beef parcels during the demonstration, showing enthusiasm and engaging with the trainees.
After the demonstration, Gerry Brownlee and the accompanying New Zealand parliamentary delegation tasted the dish prepared by the restaurant. The delegation highlighted that the dish reflected the essence of Vietnamese cuisine while also resonating with the premium agricultural products of New Zealand.
In addition to the cooking session, the visit also included a New Zealand art exhibition aimed at strengthening cultural links between the two countries. However, specific details about the exhibition were not provided.
The visit also marked Vietnam as the heart of Fonterra's ASEAN expansion, although the details of this expansion were not disclosed. Furthermore, Young ASEAN business leaders were scheduled to meet their New Zealand counterparts, but the details of these meetings were not available.
On a separate note, BeauEver gained the backing of the New Zealand Prime Minister at a China summit, although no further details were provided. Lastly, Gerry Brownlee's visit also aimed to soothe non-tariff barriers to improve regional trade, but the specific location or parties involved were not specified.
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