'Cha chaan teng' culture arrives at France's Grand Palais

A "Cha Chaan Teng" has been set up at the prestigious Grand Palais in France to promote authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine like pineapple bun, as well as to showcase the essence of Hong Kong's East-meets-West cultural fusion.

The tea restaurant is the maiden project under the Hong Kong Tourism Board's (HKTB) three-year strategic partnership with renowned Art Basel to celebrate local art and culture at all worldwide fairs.

The "Cha chaan teng" at the Art Basel Paris fair, which took place from October 16 to 20, effectively showcases the city's distinctive cultural fusion through its cuisine and decor. Attendees are presented with a diverse selection of local dishes, including char siu rice, Hong Kong-style milk tea, egg tarts, and mango pudding.

The restaurant also features a light installation by local artist Trevor Yeung Pui-hang, including works from his "Chaotic Suns" series.

Dane Cheng Ting-yat, the executive director for the HKTB, expressed pride in being the first tourism organization to partner with Art Basel globally, looking forward to showcasing unique Hong Kong experiences at future exhibitions. 

Angelle Siyang-Le, director of Art Basel Hong Kong, noted the exhibition highlights the city's culinary culture in addition to its rich cultural diversity, hoping that art lovers from around the world will visit Hong Kong for the Art Basel event in March next year.