Feeling about the value of Hanoi culinary heritage

Kinhtedothi - Different from the simplicity of everyday meals, the Tet dishes of Hanoi people are sophisticated in form, elaborate in preparation, containing the feelings and hearts of descendants offering to their ancestors in the first days of the new year and wishing for a full life.

On January 11, at the Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center (50 Dao Duy Tu, Hang Buom Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi), the culinary heritage performance program and talk show "Home-cooked meals and Tet feasts" attracted a large number of cultural figures, culinary and tourism experts and the public.

This is a continuing event in the series of activities under the Project "Developing and promoting culinary cultural heritage of Hoan Kiem district to serve tourism development, until 2025, orientation to 2030". The program is organized by the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district in coordination with the Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage Values (CCH), to honor artisans and spread the value of culinary heritage of Hoan Kiem district.

According to culinary expert Pham Thi Anh Tuyet, home-cooked meals are often simple, familiar dishes but contain a lot of love. For Vietnamese people in general and Hanoians in particular, family meals are a time for all members to gather together. It is the bridge to connect the family, the motivation to return.

"Different from the simplicity of everyday meals, the Tet tray of Hanoi people is sophisticated in form, elaborate in preparation and contains the feelings and hearts of descendants to offer to their ancestors in the first days of the new year, with gratitude and wishes for a full life. The Tet tray of Hanoi people is elaborate with 4 bowls and 6 plates or 4 bowls and 8 plates, depending on the conditions of each family. To prepare a Tet tray is both elaborate and elaborate.

Not simply cuisine, each dish on the Tet meal tray contains memories, reminiscences and feelings that each family member has for each other. The traditional flavors and the way each dish is presented also show the housework skills of women in the past. The Tet meal tray also brings the flavor of reunion and warmth..." - artist Anh Tuyet confided.

Women, through each meal, each feast, not only demonstrate their skill in cooking but also preserve and convey stories and cultural beauty from generation to generation. In each meal, women are not only the ones who create flavors but also the ones who connect the emotions between family members, creating a warm, loving and cozy atmosphere.

Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly - Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, consultant for the Project emphasized the traditional cultural values in the Tet meal tray. "The profound thing that each of us feels here is the foundation of family culture. In modern life, preserving the warmth of the kitchen in each family means preserving family traditions, preserving cultural values, and heritage..." - Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly emphasized.

The event is not only an opportunity for the audience to enjoy the art of cooking but also a journey to feel the value of Hanoi's culinary heritage, an indispensable part of the national culture. Through this, artisan Anh Tuyet hopes to inspire and arouse pride in traditional values, while sending a message about preserving and promoting cultural beauty in contemporary life.

At the event, artisan Anh Tuyet shared her skills and family secrets to create unique flavors, preserving the essence of traditional cuisine. According to her, each dish and flavor contains profound cultural meanings and messages. These are stories and messages about abundance, happiness, and wishes for a prosperous and peaceful new year.

"The old people used to say, you are hungry all year round but full during the 3 days of Tet. Therefore, the Tet feast is very full, colorful, and has unforgettable flavors. The Tet feast in the past often had the gathering of three or four generations under one roof, so it was extremely warm" - artisan Anh Tuyet added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly shared about old memories through culinary culture: "Each dish is an intangible cultural heritage value, where we can hear stories of memories, look back at the images of grandmothers and mothers and feel the warmth from the care and preservation of family traditions."

Expressing his impression of the slogan of the Project "Flavors from Memory", expert Nguyen Thuong Quan said that, delving into the cultural aspect, we see that food is a memory, a land of old flavors. In teaching and training about cuisine, experts not only teach how to make dishes but also teach about culture, the quintessence in each flavor.

According to Vice Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee Le Anh Thu, preserving family traditions is more necessary than ever in today's modern life. Teaching about cuisine does not require luxury, but the core is the values of traditional culture. More than just food, we can feel the value of family traditions and the warmth of family life.

Experts emphasized the importance of the connection between research and development of culinary heritage, considering culinary heritage as the foundation in developing and serving tourism. "Through research projects to more clearly identify the values of culinary culture, see valuable dishes, and the story of heritage. Besides the existing potential, the project also needs to seriously consider issues of introducing, promoting, preserving and transmitting the core values of culture - cuisine, especially the core factors for tourism development such as behavior, business culture..." - Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly noted.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/com-nha-va-co-tet-cam-nhan-ve-gia-tri-di-san-am-thuc-ha-noi.html