Refreshing Fuzhou’s Culinary Rankings “Fujian Cuisine 100” Award Ceremony Series Events Kick Off
Refreshing Fuzhou’s Culinary Rankings
The “Fujian Cuisine 100” Award Ceremony Series Events Kick Off, Announcing the Winners of Three Prestigious Awards: “Jasmine Restaurant,” “Banyan Brand,” and “Benyang Eatery”
On December 28, the “Fujian Cuisine 100 -- 2024 Mountain and Sea Fujian Cuisine Awards Selection and Award Ceremony & Cangshan District Fujian Food Carnival” (hereinafter referred to as the “Fujian Cuisine 100” event) grandly kicked off at Fuzhou Rivercity. The event featured a series of sub-events, including the “Fujian Cuisine 100 Annual Award Ceremony,” the “Fujian Province Catering Industry Development Conference,” and the “Fujian Food Carnival.” It aimed to establish an authoritative culinary certification system, create high-quality dining experiences, promote the development of the Fujian cuisine industry, and foster a first-class, authoritative brand image for new Fujian cuisine.
Three Prestigious Awards Announced
At the award ceremony on December 28, the winners of the much-anticipated “Fujian Cuisine 100” 2024 Mountain and Sea Fujian Cuisine Awards were officially announced. After a rigorous evaluation based on multiple factors such as ingredients, environment, services, culinary skills, and culinary culture, a total of 69 restaurants were honored with the prestigious titles of “Jasmine Restaurant,” “Banyan Brand,” and “Benyang Eatery.”
“Jasmine Restaurant” Award Ceremony
The “Jasmine Restaurant” award was presented to 47 Fujian cuisine restaurant brands that have preserved and promoted the culinary culture and traditions of Fujian cuisine. Wenru No. 9 · Fujian Cuisine Restaurant received the award. Its Chairman Guo Kewen said, “In my heart, Fujian cuisine is not only delicious and visually stunning but also adds a little spice to life. Our vision for Wenru No. 9 is to transform it into a ‘grand garden of Fujian cuisine,’ bringing to life the experience of prominent families in the old neighborhoods of Fuzhou. This has been my unwavering commitment for over 30 years in the industry.”
“Banyan Brand” Award Ceremony
The “Banyan Brand” award was presented to 12 small restaurant chains which, much like banyan trees, have firmly rooted themselves in the thriving city of Fuzhou. Zhang Wanhe, the founder of one of the award-winning brands, Share My Way, expressed his vision for the brand’s future development: “We aim to strengthen our brand and bring the more authentic and traditional Shaxian snacks to the world.”
“Benyang Eatery” Award Ceremony
The “Benyang Eatery” award was presented to 10 restaurants that focus on traditional Fujian culinary customs. These establishments enjoy a wide and stable customer base in Fuzhou. Their offerings are “affordable yet delicious,” which is the reason why people choose them.
In addition, the Huawei Xiyingli Agricultural Products Trading Center and the Fujian Cuisine Culture Museum were awarded the “Best Source Ingredient Market of the Year” and the “Fujian Cuisine Cultural Study Contribution Award” respectively for their outstanding performance in their fields.
The “Fujian Cuisine 100” 2024 Mountain and Sea Fujian Cuisine Awards offer food lovers a comprehensive guide to the unique flavors of Fujian, while also enhancing the strength and credibility of the brands. With its professionalism and authority, the awards are poised to become one of the most prestigious evaluation systems within the Fujian catering industry.
Over 100,000 Citizens Participated in the Award Selection
Since the launch of the selection of the “Fujian Cuisine 100” 2024 Mountain and Sea Fujian Cuisine Awards, there has been a strong response from all sectors of society, with many catering businesses enthusiastically registering to participate. During the evaluation and selection, 85 brands were shortlisted for the “Jasmine Restaurant” award, 25 brands were shortlisted for the “Banyan Brand” award, and 54 businesses were shortlisted for the “Benyang Eatery” award, bringing the total number of shortlisted brands and businesses to 164.
The voting for the “Benyang Eatery” award attracted over 100,000 citizens. Following the selection process, the event organizers held a random draw among the voters. The lucky winner was awarded the grand prize of the “Benyang Eatery” public voting -- a gold bar worth 4,999 yuan.
Citizens highly praised the authentic “Fuzhou flavors” at the Fujian Food Carnival.
The “Fujian Cuisine Circle” Has Been Expanded Once Again
The “Fujian Cuisine 100” event has once again expanded its “Fujian Cuisine Circle,” welcoming new members such as China’s father of Western cuisine Hou Decheng, food columnist Xing Na, and the famous Xiamen food influencer “Uncle Seafood,” among others. By creating new platforms for promoting Fujian cuisine culture and leveraging the reach and influence of its members, the “Fujian Cuisine Circle” has promoted the spread of Fujian cuisine, further enhancing the visibility of Fujian cuisine culture.
Hou Decheng, China’s father of Western cuisine, spoke highly of Fujian tea culture: “Fujian boasts a long and vibrant tea culture. The connection between dining and tea is gaining increasing attention. Many fine dining establishments have incorporated tea elements into their offerings. This shift has enhanced the dining experience for consumers and boosted restaurant revenue, making it a valuable opportunity for both Fujian tea and cuisine to make their mark on the global stage.”
Industry leaders shared their experiences in the catering business on December 28.
On the afternoon of December 28, as part of the “Fujian Cuisine 100” event series, the 4th Fujian Province Catering Industry Development Conference was held at Fuzhou Rivercity. Industry leaders, including Tang Jie, Head of Fuzhou CKA at Meituan’s In-store Regional Brand Customer Division, and Xu Anxin, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Fujiang Restaurant Industry Association (FJRIA), gathered at the conference to discuss hot topics such as brand marketing, product strategies, and supply chain optimization, and share valuable experiences and forward-thinking insights into the future of the catering industry.
At the conference, Tang Jie, Head of Fuzhou CKA at Meituan’s In-store Regional Brand Customer Division, offered an in-depth analysis of industry data and shared insights on future trends in the catering sector. He highlighted that “delicious, affordable, and freshly prepared” continue to be the three main factors driving consumers’ restaurant choices. Looking ahead, managing costs and improving operational efficiency will be key to the profitability of restaurant brands.
Zheng Fei, Deputy General Manager of Yue Gang Qin Wan Catering Group, pointed out that the future of fine dining will hinge on how effectively businesses can understand and enhance the consumer experience, particularly in terms of key aspects of brand development.
Enjoy the Finest Fuzhou Delicacies at the Event
The Cangshan District Fujian Food Carnival, as part of the “Fujian Cuisine 100” event series, has been held at Fuzhou Rivercity since December 28, and continues until today.
At the event, numerous time-honored brands, high-end hotels, quality restaurants, and popular food stalls have gathered, creating a trendy Fujian food market and high-quality dining experience, offering the public a chance to enjoy the finest Fuzhou delicacies.
Among them, well-known dining brands such as Juchunyuan, Antailou, Tipang Restaurant, Wang Zhuang A Mi, and Uncle Mai present authentic Fujian flavors; luxury hotels like Shangri-La and Sheraton Fuzhou Hotel offer a variety of exquisite dishes; snack stalls like Share My Way, Mei Ya Bo Hua Sheng Tang, Chen Chongye Fujian Cuisine Studio, Tongli Pork Wonton, and Yonghe Fish Balls showcase traditional Fujian snacks; while Haier and Zeekr display their home appliances and electric vehicles.
Additionally, a limited-edition “Fujian Cuisine 100” early bird package worth 88.8 yuan was launched in the early stage of the event. The package included a food blind box voucher for the Fujian Food Carnival market. Those who purchased the “Fujian Cuisine 100” early bird package could redeem the voucher at the carnival for a delightful surprise of Fujian flavors. (Reporter: Quan Yiyue/Text, Yuan Hao/Photo)