A celebration of Italian cuisine in Britain marked the end of a fantastic International Dining Week, which has highlighted the amazing diversity of cuisine styles available here in the UK. This first International Dining Week grew out of the continuing success of National Curry Week, now in its 19th year and organised by the same team. “We are absolutely thrilled with the response to the new event, which suggests an annual repeat for some years to come,” said press spokesperson, Colleen Grove.
Social media was a big factor in the event's success with an ever growing Twitter page and a Facebook link that tested fans knowledge with an online quiz. People from all over the world joined in via the website, including customers at Rohall's Corner, a restaurant and bar in Buffalo NY, who celebrated 'Casserole Day' with a casserole competition, won by a very tasty spicy tomato tamale casserole.
Even the media had fun with the event with publications such as the Birmingham Mail, Derby Telegraph and Glasgow News naming their own favourite restaurants in a wide variety of cuisines, showing how you can 'Eat around the world' without leaving your home city nowadays. Owen Hughes from the Buckingham News even produced his own YouTube video celebrating Chicken Tikka Masala Day.
“One of the activities during the Week,” said Colleen, “was to get people to name their favourite dish and nominate a dish they think others should try at least once in their lifetime. We will be collating these suggestions into a 'List of 50 foods you should try before you die', which will be published just before the next International Dining Week next April. So far some of the dishes include abalone, chitlins and Moreton Bay Bugs.”
