NTD Television's Fifth International Chinese Culinary Competition In Times Square: World Class Master Chefs Vie for Top Prizes

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NTD Television's Fifth Annual International Chinese Culinary Competition with support from the James Beard Foundation and the Food Network, will culminate in the heart of Times Square on September 27^th and 28^th 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120905/DC68129LOGO )

Chinese master chefs from around the world will gather to compete during a live to web broadcast from NTD's mobile kitchen studios in Times Square -- designed to recreate the architecture of the ancient Chinese Tang Dynasty capital of Chang'an -- while creating authentic and traditional dishes in the five major categories of Chinese cuisines: Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese, Huaiyang and Northeastern.

The competition's aim is to revive traditional Chinese culinary techniques, present authentic Chinese culinary cuisines, while providing Chinese chefs the opportunity to showcase their talents internationally.

Prizes will be awarded to winners in each of the five cuisine categories ranging from a $10,000 gold award to a $3,000 silver award, and $1,000 bronze award.

Following the first day's preliminary competitions, the NTD Annual Benefit Gala will take place on site in Times Square. West will meet East in the Fire Up The Wok challenge, a culinary cultural exchange featuring celebrity chefs:

• Julietta Ballesteros
• Antoine Camin
• Maneet Chauhan
• Clark Frasier
• Malcolm Mitchell

Judging panelists for this event are Susie Fogelson from the Food Network and Yunqiang Qu, Head Judge from the NTD International Culinary Competition.

This challenge is a prelude to the Emperor's Banquet, the second part of NTD's Annual Benefit Gala, where patrons will have the chance to feast at the 8-course haute cuisine dinner prepared by winning Chinese chefs from previous years' competitions.

This year, some proceeds from the Gala will benefit The James Beard Foundation NTD Chinese Culinary Scholarship for the Underprivileged.

"The Times Square exhibition is going to be an exciting moment for New York City and the James Beard Foundation is really delighted to be a part of it," said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation.

"We are honored to be able to highlight this treasured culinary heritage passed down by our ancestors and present it to the world," said Zhong Lee, president of NTD.

"Chinese Cuisine has thousands of years of history. The dietary and culinary principles inherent in it, such as its quest for harmony between human beings and nature, are reflections of traditional Chinese philosophy," he added.

In keeping with the mission to promote traditional Chinese culture, NTD has hosted the annual International Chinese Culinary Competition for five years and has engaged more than 500 master chefs and food professionals. This year marks the third year the competition will be held in Times Square. The main competition is open to the public and tasting sessions are available. To reserve seats visit: http://register.ntdtv.com/events/ or call 646-752-4465.

About NTD Television 
NTD Television, established in 2001 and headquartered in New York City, is a leader in China news and cultural affairs. They provide uncensored information to viewers around the world in 16 languages.  NTD Television broadcasts via satellite, cable, online and on mobile platforms in all major domestic and global Chinese markets including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Canada, Europe and Asia with particular attention to China and Taiwan. The network reaches over 100 million global viewers.

For local channel listings visit: http://ntdtv.org/en/sch_us.html.  

Every year NTD Television organizes a wide range of competitions. NTD Television also sponsors the highly acclaimed Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information, please visit: http://www.NTDTV.org.

SOURCE New Tang Dynasty Television