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Debut of the "Golden Kapok" Awards Sets New Benchmarks for Innovation
Quanzhou, September 2 – The 2025 Quanzhou Mountain & Sea Culinary King Competition—the city's flagship professional skills contest for the restaurant industry—was officially launched this week, running from September to November. Alongside it, the inaugural "Golden Kapok" Gastronomy Innovation Awards made their debut, marking a milestone for Quanzhou's culinary scene.
Framed as both a skills contest and an innovation showcase, the event introduces a "1+N" competition model, the first-ever local authoritative food ranking (Golden Kapok List), and a multidimensional evaluation system. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen Quanzhou's culinary identity, amplify its UNESCO-recognised heritage, and chart a forward-looking path for Fujian cuisine on the global stage.
The 2024 Quanzhou Mountain & Sea Culinary King Competition
Highlight 1: The Golden Kapok Awards – Raising the Bar for Innovation
For the first time, Quanzhou has established its own culinary honours system—the Golden Kapok Awards. Covering chefs, restaurants, signature dishes, and creative snacks, the awards will recognise:
10 "Special Gold Kapok Chefs" and 20 "Gold Kapok Chefs", highlighting craftsmanship.
30 "Creative Restaurants", spanning hotel dining, fine dining, and popular eateries.
30 "Innovative Dishes" and 30 "Innovative Snacks", reinterpreting tradition for contemporary palates.
The selection process balances expert jury reviews, consumer reputation, and public voting. To widen participation, the organising committee will partner with China Post to distribute tens of thousands of "culinary theme" postcards, encouraging citizens to cast their votes.
Highlight 2: The "1+N" Model – Culinary Contest Across the Region
The main finals will be complemented by regional preliminaries across 13 counties and districts, ensuring wide participation. Competitors must prepare three dishes within 70 minutes:
A designated traditional Quanzhou classic (e.g., braised noodles or oyster omelette).
Two original creations showcasing innovation and artistry.
Each dish is introduced through a "chef's storytelling segment", inviting contestants to explain cultural references and ingredient choices—turning food into a vessel for heritage storytelling.
Top winners will be eligible for prestigious local honours, including Quanzhou Technical Master, the May 1st Labour Medal, and the May 4th Youth Medal (for chefs under 40).
Highlight 3: Government–Industry Collaboration and Green Commitments
The competition is jointly organised by six municipal departments and supported by leading culinary associations, creating a multi-layered governance model. A panel of master chefs, food-safety experts, and academic specialists will ensure fair, transparent judging.
The event also underscores sustainability: all participants are urged to follow China's Anti-Food Waste Law, reduce single-use plastics, and adopt eco-friendly practices.
Path to the Future
By combining tradition with creativity, professional excellence with cultural storytelling, Quanzhou is positioning its food culture as a "living heritage brand" for the world. From ginger duck and oyster omelettes to newly imagined snacks, the city's "mountains-and-sea flavours" are poised to reach a global audience—serving as one of Quanzhou's most vibrant calling cards as a UNESCO World Heritage City.
Registration Deadlines:
Golden Kapok Creative Restaurant Awards: 15 September 2025
Mountain & Sea Culinary King Competition and Golden Kapok Innovative Snack Awards: 10 October 2025
For details, follow the Quanzhou Flavours WeChat account and register via the "Chef King Competition" portal.
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