culture

The 12th National Culinary Skill Contest took place at the Pyongyang Noodle House from February 5 to 7 under the sponsorship of the Central Committee of the Cooks Association of Korea on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of Chairman Kim Jong Il.

The contest brought together 70 units including those belonging to ministries, national agencies, the Guidance Bureau of Public Catering Service, the external service sector and the sectors of public catering service in Pyongyang and every province. 

There were a culinary skill competition for making compulsory foods and beverages according to sectors, a demonstration by excellent cooks, waiters and waitresses, a special skill competition of good cooks, a cooking competition of housewives and a famous dish show. 

The contest was enlivened by large numbers of visitors who came at the news that dishes presented by relevant units were put on sale.

At the culinary skill competition held according to sectors, competitors skilfully made fried rainbow trout, steamed pork meatballs, steamed bok choy and crab, rabbit and radish soup and fruit punch as set by the jury with the same materials, under the same conditions and at a fixed time.

Waiters and waitresses deftly used various tools to present rose yogurt, vitamin drinks, strawberry and orange cocktail and others in the presence of visitors at the beverage-making skill competition.

Kim Jong Son, a waitress from the Pyongyang Hotel, came first in the beverage competition by presenting the strawberry and orange cocktail in a glass in unique shape.

The meat dish, soup and broth competitions of cooks held in the kitchen were displayed on screen in real time.

The venue of the famous dish show was a sight to behold for over 600 exhibits.

Visitors were filled with deep admiration at the sight of famous dishes presented by catering establishments in Pyongyang and local areas. Not only the participants in the show but also visitors were busy learning from each other and sharing experience.

Choe Yon Mi living in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, said the fried catfish with pinecone was very distinctive, adding she would make it herself to serve her family members with the dish.

Jon Un Hui from Myongsung Restaurant of the Songdowon Pleasure Ground Public Catering Agency in Wonsan City said that she came to know more about the methods of preserving the aesthetic value of foods along with excellent culinary skills at the contest.

The contest became more conspicuous thanks to the special skill competition of cooks, waiters and waitresses who had shown off their unique skills in the past cooking festivals and contests and the cooking competition of housewives.