STORY: Italian chef gains culinary inspiration from Chinese museums
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Jan. 5, 2025
LENGTH: 00:07:01
LOCATION: NANJING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Italian chef in Nanjing
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"My name is Nino, I was born into a family of chefs in Italy and started learning to cook at the age of seven.
Our ancestor, Marco Polo, visited China over 700 years ago and brought back some Chinese culinary delights to Italy. This heritage has fueled my curiosity about China and my love for Chinese cuisine.
I have always had a wish: to combine Chinese culture with Western cuisine and create fusion dishes that everyone will love. I learned that Nanjing has over 150 museums, rich with Chinese culture. So, my colleague, Sun Qiyuan and I go to visit the museums.
We delved into China's historical and cultural heritage, and then researched and developed innovative fusion dishes. With these visits, we turned our inspirations into reality."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"Nanjing, an oriental metropolis, is often referred to as the 'Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties.'"

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"Through the museum I saw diverse terracotta figurines, various (ancient) tableware, and I seemed to glimpse the daily lives of people back then."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"I was amazed to discover that Nanjing citizens love ducks a lot and for a long history. Because duck is a flag of Nanjing, we decide to create some different dishes with ducks.
Very delicious. One is deep-fried and one is baked, then served with the vegetables.
This time, I use Nanjing's very famous dish 'roast duck,' and we make the duck in two different flavors. And we put in the dish some very special food from Nanjing, which is called 'Shijin.' For the tableware, I chose rough pottery plates similar in texture to ancient tableware to present a touch of 'Jinling roast duck.'
I went to Fuzi Temple area. We visited the Nanjing Imperial Examination Museum of China, which was once the largest imperial examination hall in ancient China, known as the Jiangnan Examination Hall."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"The ancient Chinese imperial examination system revolutionized talent selection and had a profound impact on many countries around the world."

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"Over 700 bricks were arranged in a way that resembles books in a library. Each brick bears the mark of its time, all highlighting the immortal wisdom of the ancients. The museum's creative exhibits also brought me many surprises. Modern technology not only rejuvenates the ancient Nanjing City Wall, but also bridges the gap between history and contemporary people.
Every time I come here, I have a different feeling, something like emotional things. I can feel the power of the people to make this wall. This is a really important part of Nanjing. A flag of Nanjing.
We discussed how to express the beauty of the Nanjing City Wall in a dish. I found a piece of broken brick to use as a base, symbolizing the city wall brick. You know in Nanjing we have the famous dish, salted duck. And I make a salted duck tart with red bell pepper (which resembles the color of maple leaves) to make people understand the important flavor just in one bite. I hope that guests will enjoy it and will also take a stroll along the Nanjing City Wall.
My colleague also took me to the Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum. It's also recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage."

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): ANTONINO, Chef, Pacific Restaurant of Jinling Hotel, Nanjing
"The beauty of Yunjin Brocade is simply amazing! It's hard to imagine such intricate craftsmanship, created by hand.
Under the guidance of a professional craftsman, I experienced the skill of 'Picking Flowers and Knotting Patterns.' Based on the designed patterns, a bamboo hook is used to pick a certain number of silk threads. This task requires great care. Otherwise, a single mistake could mean starting all over again.
When we are in the kitchen, cooking, for example, making biscuit, we spend a lot of time. Realizing a good idea or achieving something good would be impossible without passion.
Sun Qiyuan, my colleague, explained to me that there is a Chinese term called 'Jiangxin,' which refers to the craftsmanship of dedication in pursuit of perfection. The craftsmanship also inspires me as a chef. Every ingredient and every step must be treated with care. Food is made by heart, by soul.
I find a bowl, and I put inside some silk. So this perfectly matched the Yunjin Brocade. This moment presented the perfect opportunity to use it. I hope everyone will enjoy this dish, dedicated to Nanjing Yunjin Brocade.
We also created different other dishes. We decided to officially launch this set of dishes in the Pacific Grill, allowing guests from around the world to find a unique connection to China through food. Recently, I returned to Italy, bringing back cultural and creative products from several museums in Nanjing as gifts. My family and friends loved them.
Nanjing! Ciao, Nanjing! This journey to the museums was really incredible. Although I only visited a small number of exhibitions, this tour has already opened the door to a new world. I will continue to use my culinary skills to serve as a 'cultural ambassador' for grassroots exchanges between the two countries. May the friendship between China and Italy last forever."

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