HCM CITY — The head of the Institute of Vietnamese Gastronomic Research wants the 23rd of the 12th lunar month (which falls on next Wednesday) to be designated Ngay Bep Viet or Vietnamese Cuisine Day in honour of Ong Tao, the Kitchen Gods.
According to traditional belief, the Kitchen Gods return to heaven on that day every year to report to the creator about all households on earth during the past year.
The Institute, along with Saigontourist Hospitality College, MINT Culinary School, and others also has a programme to popularise Vietnamese cuisine globally called "Together Promote Vietnamese Cuisine in the World."
A meeting they held last weekend to discuss plans for the programme's second year attracted more than 100 gastronomy and nutrition professors, members of the Saigon Professional Chef Association, and heads of restaurants in HCM City.
"Using the Kitchen Gods Day to popularise Vietnamese food will remind everyone about their mission to develop Vietnamese cuisine as the nation's pride," Nguyen Nha, the head of the Institute, said.
Individuals and organisations who join the programme should help each other not only on Vietnamese Cuisine Day but also during the rest of the year to promote Vietnamese cuisine to food lovers around the world, he said.
"Tourist companies should be close fellow-travellers with Vietnamese restaurants in helping international tourist enjoy special local foods, " he said.
The Institute took the initiative to launch the "Together Promote Vietnamese Cuisine in the World" and apply to UNESCO for recognition of Vietnamese cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage.
Under the programme, it offers courses for foreigners who want to learn how to cook Vietnamese food and for Vietnamese who plan to go abroad to work or study.
It is also teaming up with local firms to export Vietnamese cooking utensils. — VNS