Coronavirus outbreak sees two major Asian food events cancelled
- The Great Chefs of Hong Kong fundraiser, which showcases the variety of cuisine served in the city’s restaurants and hotels, has been shelved
- Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in Kyushu, Japan, which highlights the top chefs and restaurateurs in the region, has also been scrapped
Two more big food events, one local and one international, have been called off due to the spread of the coronavirus, which now has over 82,000 confirmed cases globally.
In the last few days there has been a surge in Covid-19 cases in South Korea, Italy and Iran that has caused international concern the epidemic could develop into a pandemic.
Great Chefs of Hong Kong raises money for the Heep Hong Society, and was supposed to hold its annual gastronomic event at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on May 18, but is now cancelled. An email was sent out on February 25 to members of the organising committee.
“The hospitality industry is being hit so hard, they have supported us for 30 years and so we want to give them a break,” explains Kim Murphy, chair of the working group for Great Chefs of Hong Kong, on a phone interview from Melbourne.
The fundraiser features some 35 cooking stations in the hotel, showcasing a variety of restaurants and hotels in the city, and patrons can directly interact with chefs as they prepare their food, as well as sample wines from select wine suppliers.