Annual food festival held in Vientiane

(KPL) The Lao Businesswomen’s Association in cooperation with the Lao Women’s Union opened the 4th annual Lao food festival last Friday at the National Culture Hall, Vientiane.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Chanthao Pathammavong, President of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association, said that the Lao Food and Gift Festival was one of the activities of the Lao Businesswomen’s Association and had been organised in February since 2006.
The festival was aimed at gathering and compiling culinary skills and recipes of Lao women and families from the northern to southern regions so as to boast to Lao and foreign gourmets. The festival was also aimed at encouraging interaction and interrelations between farmers and the tourism sector including restaurants and hotels, said Mrs. Chanthao.
Based on suggestions from guests and participants over the years, we have improved many things such as preparation and packaging of food. Many provinces have researched into local specific products and food for the display at the festival.
The festival also featured food from some friendly countries such as Malaysian and Japanese food prepared by students of the IV-Japan Vocational Training School and the N-O Sushi Restaurants. The occasion also attracted food vendors and producers from Thailand, that have been regular participants in the annual event for three years.
A special demonstration of fruit carving was performed by students of the Pakpasak Technical School, she said.
Specialists from the Health and Nutrition’s Division, Hygiene and Prevention Department, Ministry of Public Health, gave a lecture on food security and better nutrition for infants.
The Handicraft Association displayed and sold products made by their members in the provinces. Also on display were agricultural products from the Agricultural Product Processing Association.
Special at this Festival, were some specialised booths that demonstrated their products and achievements in waste disposal, know-how to turn food leftover into fertiliser and how to raise earthworms.
During the three-day event, local residents enjoyed the display of goods and products from more than 72 booths, mostly from Vientiane Capital, Vientiane province and the provinces of Savannakhet, Champassak, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhouang and Houaphanh.
The festival was a unique opportunity of women from different provinces, of all walks if life and all ages to meet, once a year, to exchange ideas and recipes and to cook together and to sample one another’s food.
The opening ceremony of the annual Lao food festival was attended by Mrs. Pany Yathotou, member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Vice-President of the National Assembly, Mrs. Sisay Luedethmounsone, LPRP CC member and President of the Lao Women’s Union.
Though the festival has been staged for some years, further improvements are unavoidable. Local food and products were still limited and outnumbered. Domestic food producers from the provinces face constraints in taking their products and goods on display in Vientiane. It is still a long way to go to further develop this festival as an event of culinary pride of the nation.

back