On the evening of 30 October 2019, Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata co-hosted an inaugural ASEAN food festival “Taste of ASEAN” with the ASEAN London Committee in London. Collaborated by the Westminster Kingsway College, this event is the first time that Embassies/High Commissions of the ten ASEAN countries joined hands in promoting 10 best national dishes of ASEAN among the food gurus and culinary experts in London and the UK. On the menu were grilled glutinous rice stuffed with shrimp from Brunei, steamed fish custard from Cambodia, beef soup from the Philippines, Malaysian net pancake served with curry, Singapore chicken rice, turmeric fish served with vermicelli from Vietnam, and the famous Pad Thai from Thailand.  The event was aimed at promoting an awareness of ASEAN foods and beverages, supporting learning experience of student chefs of the College who are looking forward to mastering in Asian cuisines, as well as to promoting ASEAN food products and ingredients which are core components for ASEAN foods authenticity.

The “Taste of ASEAN” was hosted by Westminster Kingsway College at their restaurant, The Brasserie, with over 250 guests from various circles, such as media, culinary experts, food and travel bloggers, and authors from London and the UK.

The event was graced by the presence of Mrs. Heather Wheeler, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who welcomed this initiative by the ASEAN London Committee to use ASEAN foods culture as an approach to bridge the UK and ASEAN and the respective members, as well as new partnership between ASEAN missions in London with the Westminster Kingsway College, a world-class culinary college who has produced numerous great chefs for global culinary business.    

To make the “Taste of ASEAN” a truly cultural event, there were also traditional performances by Myanmar harpist, Thai hammered dulcimer player, Malaysian dancers, and an award-winning Filipino band, to keep guests entertained throughout the evening.  Guests also enjoyed delicious snacks and refreshing ASEAN beverages such as aromatic rum from Lao PDR, Vietnam beer, Thai wines, freshly-brewed Indonesian coffee, hot chocolate drinks and dried mangoes from the Philippines, Brunei prawn crackers, Malaysian banana chips, cookies and cashew nuts from Cambodia, etc.