The second annual European Food Festival kicks off in Yangon this weekend, and it looks like the tastiest affair this town has seen this year. At least 14 restaurants representing nearly 20 cuisines are coming together to give the people of Yangon the opportunity to experience the diversity of European cuisines for a tiny fraction of what it would normally cost.
How is this possible?
The festival is supported by local and European companies, and all of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Myitar Yaung Chi Orphanage in Thanlyin, and to Myanmar Deaf Chefs – an organization that offers culinary training to deaf students.
The festival is the brainchild of Magnus Scherr, the Myanmar representative of the international gastronomy association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and general manager at Atlas Rooftop Bar & Lounge. He says the idea for the festival came from a similar event held in Laos.
“I said to myself, if Laos can do five food festivals in a row, we should be able to do it here in Myanmar,” he told Coconuts.
While planning the first festival last year, Scherr decided to make it a charity event. He proposed the idea to L’Opera and to 57 Below – the parent company of Union Bar, Gekko, and Parami Pizza – and they were all on board.
Scherr says he expects this year’s festival to attract between 1,200 and 1,500 people, and he hopes this will be a mixture of locals and immigrants.
“The purpose is to show the people of Myanmar who can’t afford to visit the hotels and restaurants in Yangon the variety of European food and wine culture. We hope this will be educational, and maybe it will make them a bit curious,” he said.
What’s the best way to enjoy the festival?
Scherr says: “Just come and enjoy the musical acts and the variety of European dishes. Talk to the people running the stands about the countries they represent, and help us by promoting the charities.”
The second European Food festival will be held at the Rose Garden Hotel on June 24 from 3pm to midnight.
Each all-inclusive ticket is just K20,000. Tickets are on sale at all of the participating restaurants.
Here’s a list of the participating restaurants and the cuisines they’ll represent:
Mahlzeit – Germany / Russia / Switzerland
Pun+Projects – Ireland
L’Opera – Italy
57Below – Sweden/United Kingdom
Le Planteur – France
The Penthouse – Greece
The Melia Hotel – Spain
The Yangon Restaurant – Portugal
The Strand Hotel – England
The Savoy Hotel – Norway
Shangri- La Hotel – Belgium
The Rose Garden Hotel – Denmark
Shwe Sa Bwe – Finland
Ibis Yangon Style – Austria
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