UMass Dining to Host Famed Chefs, Food Service Leaders and Media from China

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AMHERST, Mass. – Award-winning UMass Dining will be one of six stops welcoming a team of famed chefs, food service leaders and media from China on Feb. 5-6 during their inaugural 2019 United States Food Forward Forum Tour.

The objective of this tour is to develop mutual opportunities for operational and cultural engagement related to plant forward food offerings, sustainability and wellness practices between universities in the United States and China.

The tour will include guest chef production, a campus facilities tour, student roundtable discussion, faculty tours and presentations.

The visit will coincide with the annual UMass Dining Lunar New Year Celebration held at all four dining commons. The guest chefs will prepare special entrees for the occasion, assisted by the UMass Dining culinary team. Entertainment will include a lion dance and UMass students preforming traditional songs and dances to welcome in the “Year of the Pig.”

Ken Toong, executive director of Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass Amherst, is looking forward to the visit saying, “We will be delighted to work along with some of the top chefs from China and show them how we focus on providing healthy, sustainable and delicious food, encompassing aspects of a number of world cuisines. And we can learn a few things from them as well, as they prepare plant forward food for our students. It should be a real treat.”

“We can also explore the opportunities to enhance healthy eating and lifestyle through cultural and research exchange opportunities between UMass and Chinese universities,” Toong added.

The public is welcome to the Lunar New Year event hosted at all dining commons from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6. The price is $15.75 per person.