Celebrated Culinary Experts to Lead Country's First Annual Asian Food Symposium in San Francisco

San Francisco's historic Ferry Building is the backdrop for Asian Food Beyond Borders, a weekend celebration of Asian food and culture that takes place October 10 - 12. World-renowned food experts, such as author Madhur Jaffrey and celebrated chef, teacher, and TV show host Martin Yan, will lead a series of provocative conversations, special tastings, and engaging demonstrations.

The events are open to the public, and organizers expect a diverse turnout of 1,000 attendees ranging from home cooks and professional chefs to farmers and distributors. Prices vary by event. More information is available at http://www.asianculinaryforum.org/.

The first of its kind in the nation, Asian Food Beyond Borders includes tastings, educational sessions, guided tours, pairing courses, and discussion forums. The program lineup is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of Asian cuisines, both traditional and modern, by examining the ingredients, techniques, history, innovations, and regional flavors that define Asian food culture around the globe.

"Asian food captivates Americans now more than ever, yet it's as misunderstood as it is popular," said Asian Culinary Forum (ACF) cofounder Thy Tran. "There's a need for events where both the public and food professionals can explore what Asian food truly means across diverse communities. People who attended our first, sold-out event have been asking for more."

The San Francisco Ferry Building is the culinary landmark of the Bay Area and the home base for the weekend's events, with additional cooking classes, wine tastings, and culinary tours at Sur La Table, Le Colonial, and various locations in Chinatown. Participants can choose from a selection of a la carte activities on Friday and Saturday, and attend an all-day discussion forum on Sunday. In conjunction with ACF's events and symposium, Ferry Building Marketplace merchants will feature special Asian ingredients and items throughout the weekend for 50,000 shoppers.

Event highlights include:

Friday, October 10
• The Six Asian Flavors - Walk-Around Tasting

Saturday, October 11
• Chinatown Culinary Walk - Neighborhood Food Tour

• Delights of South India - Demonstration Cooking Class

• Chutney, Kimchi, and Sambal: 3 Experts on 3 Cuisines - Demonstration

Cooking Class
• The Politics and Practicalities of Rice - Panel Discussion and Tasting

• Master Wine and Food Pairing -Tasting Class

• Meals, Meaning, and Memory in Asian Diasporas - Panel discussion

• "What is This?": Let Experts Help You Decipher the Unfamiliar - Culinary Clinic

Sunday, October 12
• ACF 2008 Symposium (all day)

Asian Food Beyond Borders events will be held October 10 - 12, 2008.

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