STORY: A taste of nostalgia: Tai Ping Koon's century-old blend of Chinese and Western flavors in Hong Kong
SHOOTING DATE: July 19, 2024
DATELINE: July 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:52
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Tai Ping Koon
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ANDREW CHUI, Managing director of Tai Ping Koon restaurant
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ANDREW CHUI, Managing director of Tai Ping Koon restaurant
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Cantonese): WILLIAM SZETO, Customer
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer

STORYLINE:

The Tai Ping Koon restaurant on Stanley Street in China's Hong Kong has a rustic and elegant ambiance. Although it is a Western restaurant, the dishes here have a strong Chinese flavor.

Stepping through the door is like opening a door to the past.

Albert Wong is a regular diner here, and his connection with Tai Ping Koon dates back to the 1970s.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer
"I first came to Tai Ping Koon when I was 5 or 6 years old, as my parents really enjoyed the cuisine. Back then, they would take us to the Tai Ping Koon branch in Causeway Bay to try the so-called 'Hong Kong-style Western food.'"

Now Wong has come here to dine almost every one or two weeks.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer
"I really enjoy their signature dishes, and they have a wide variety of menu items. I would like to try different combinations each time I come."

Tai Ping Koon is the first Western-style restaurant in Hong Kong operated by the Chinese. It was originally founded in Guangzhou in 1860 and relocated to Hong Kong in 1938. To this day, it has been passed down through five generations.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ANDREW CHUI, Managing director of Tai Ping Koon restaurant
"At that time, the Chinese didn't have much understanding of Western cuisine. In order to attract Chinese customers to Western food, we decided to add some Chinese seasonings. It is against this background that we came up with a fusion of Chinese and Western cooking styles for the dishes."

Chinese-style Western food has always been the restaurant's signature. Due to its unique flavors, Tai Ping Koon was once a famous eatery in the Cantonese neighborhood.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): ANDREW CHUI, Managing director of Tai Ping Koon restaurant
"Our restaurant's decor, our dishes and even the outfits of our staff have all maintained a traditional style and flavor. Many long-time customers really enjoy the atmosphere when they dine here."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Cantonese): WILLIAM SZETO, Customer
"I find the decor here quite unique. When you walk in, you feel you are stepping into a time tunnel. The scenario is very reminiscent of those days, as this kind of restaurant is quite rare these days. The signature dishes have remained unchanged for over a century, becoming a collective memory for Hong Kong food connoisseurs. We come here specifically for the consistent flavors. If the taste changed, there would be no point in coming back."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Cantonese): ALBERT WONG, Customer
"I believe that besides the delicious food here, it also holds memories and flavors of the past. It reminds me of my parents taking me to enjoy a great meal when I was a child and brings back fond memories of the happy days spent with my parents and siblings."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)