On June 10, 2025, the fifth installment of the "A Bite of Shanghai: Chinese Cuisine, Global Expression—Celebrating Chinese Culinary Excellence in London, 2025" series, jointly organized by the Shanghai International Cultural Exchange Association, Shanghai Media Group, and Le Cordon Bleu International, took place at The CORD by Le Cordon Bleu in London. This event bridged Chinese intangible culinary heritage with Western dining spaces through two themed culinary exchanges and cultural activities, showcasing the profound legacy and contemporary innovation of Chinese cuisine, particularly Shanghai-style gastronomy. It delivered a transcendent feast that transcended borders, languages, and cultures.

June 10 also coincides with the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. As President Xi Jinping has articulated on multiple important occasions, civilizations become enriched through exchange and flourish through mutual learning. From the broader perspective of human progress and global peace, he has put forward China’s vision of civilization and called for deepening exchanges and mutual understanding between cultures.

The London edition of “Chinese Cuisine, Global Expression” is not only a cultural and gastronomic celebration, but also a concrete practice of this principle. By bringing Shanghai-style cuisine to an international stage, the event underscores the role of Chinese gastronomy as a cultural bridge—connecting diverse civilizations and fostering greater global understanding.

As a flagship cultural initiative under the Belt and Road framework, the “Chinese Cuisine, Global Expression” series has been successfully held in major global cities such as Paris and Shanghai since its launch in 2018. The London chapter also forms a key part of ” OUR WATER Season 2 | The London Series,” which aims to strengthen cultural connectivity and promote mutual appreciation across regions. Through culinary dialogue and cultural encounters, guests from around the world experienced the depth, vitality, and contemporary interpretation of Chinese culture.



Shanghai-Style Cuisine Meets East-West Culinary Artistry

Led by Le Cordon Bleu Shanghai and supported by Le Cordon Bleu London, the gala dinner will be held at The CORD by Le Cordon Bleu, a flagship concept restaurant located in London's financial district near the British Museum. This venue serves as a global hub for culinary excellence and cross-cultural dialogue.  





The dinner was helmed by Ren Defeng, a National Culinary Master and inheritor of Shanghai Benbang Cuisine's intangible cultural heritage, alongside Le Cordon Bleu London's top chefs and sommeliers. 



The menu blended tradition and modernity, with dishes like “Floral Splendor of Shanghai” and “Phoenix Dawn in Crimson Glow,” which delighted the palate and embodied Eastern aesthetics through poetic names and artful tableware. This collaboration highlighted a multidimensional fusion of Eastern and Western techniques, philosophies, and artistry. 


Multisensory Showcase of Chinese Intangible Heritage

The event also featured live demonstrations of national-level intangible cultural heritage, including pipa and erhu performances, traditional food carving, dough sculpting, and more—offering a rich, multidimensional narrative of Chinese culture. The flowing melodies of the erhu and the crisp tones of the pipa intertwined, creating a vivid musical tapestry that transported guests across time and cultures. 


These traditional sounds resonated deeply, forging a cultural bridge between East and West. Meanwhile, meticulously selected Chinese tableware and décor brought Eastern aesthetics into dialogue with Western dining etiquette, reflecting the importance of ritual and detail in Chinese culinary tradition and expressing cultural confidence in a contemporary international context.







Global Guests Gather for Cross-Cultural Dialogue

The event welcomed a distinguished gathering of international guests. In her remarks, Ms. Chen Yiqun, Director of the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, noted that London, with its inclusive spirit, brings together the essence of global civilizations, while Shanghai expresses its openness and international character through the East-West fusion of Shanghai-style cuisine. Each dish told a story—elegantly plated and artfully named, these creations, along with the refined tableware that journeyed across continents, carried the aesthetic and cultural essence of Shanghai. In this cultural encounter, the two cities moved forward together toward a shared vision for the future of human civilization.


Mr. André J. Cointreau, President of Le Cordon Bleu and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals, emphasized in his speech that with 130 years of history, Le Cordon Bleu has always been at the forefront of global culinary education and cultural exchange. As a key bridge for Sino-British cultural dialogue, Le Cordon Bleu transforms millennia of Chinese culinary wisdom into perceptible cultural experiences. Through professional culinary education and immersive cultural encounters, it allows international audiences to understand China in the aromas of the kitchen and to experience the warmth of Eastern civilization in every bite. The event served as a vivid moment of convergence between Chinese gastronomy and the enduring spirit of Le Cordon Bleu. 

With a long-standing history of cultural exchange between Shanghai and London, the arrival of Shanghai-style cuisine in the British capital once again renewed a meaningful dialogue across time and languages.

Le Cordon Bleu Pioneers Global Chinese Culinary Education 

As a world-leading culinary institution, Le Cordon Bleu plans to launch dedicated Chinese cuisine courses at its Shanghai campus, systematically teaching Chinese culinary techniques and cultural values. Leveraging its global network, the school will integrate online and offline learning models to bring Chinese gastronomy to classrooms worldwide. This initiative shifts Chinese cuisine from cultural showcase to inheritance, ensuring its sustained global influence. 

A Long-Term Vision Beyond the Table

"Chinese Cuisine, Global Expression— Celebrating Chinese Culinary Excellence in London, 2025" is not merely a culinary event but a forward-looking strategy. Future editions will expand to more international cities, driven by cultural diplomacy and gastronomic outreach, to share China's and Shanghai's stories with the world. 

Le Cordon Bleu's 130th Anniversary: Legacy and Exchange

2025 marks Le Cordon Bleu's 130th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of its Shanghai campus. Founded in Paris in 1895, Le Cordon Bleu has dedicated itself to spreading French culinary arts, now operating 37 campuses in over 20 countries and training 20,000+ students annually from 100+ nations. 


A decade of work in China has fostered East-West culinary exchange, and the London event honors Le Cordon Bleu's heritage while celebrating the cultural resonance of Chinese cuisine's global journey.  


About CORD by Le Cordon Bleu

CORD offers an exquisite fine dining experience in the heart of the city, with its expertly crafted menus, exceptional wine offering, meetings and events spaces for all occasions, cooking classes and corporate events. Located in a grade II listed Lutyens designed building, on Fleet Street, CORD is a perfect combination of timeless elegance, innovative menus, and excellent service. In 2025, the restaurant was awarded the prestigious AA 3-Rosette Award, recognising our commitment to culinary excellence.

Chef Karl O'Dell, who joined CORD in 2023 has previously held the esteemed role of Executive Chef at the Monarch Theatre at Park Row in London. Prior to that, he was Head Chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Texture and was also a valued member of the team as Senior Sous Chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin-starred restaurant Petrus. 

Cord restaurant by Le Cordon Bleu in video : https://youtu.be/fUQTEJfNo6c 
Visit our website at cordrestaurant.co.uk 

About Le Cordon Bleu

Le Cordon Bleu is the leading global network of culinary arts and hospitality management institutes steeped in history with a rich heritage spanning 130 years. The school maintains its global presence with over 35 schools in more than 20 countries, training over 20,000 students of more than 100 different nationalities every year. Traditional French culinary techniques remain at the heart of Le Cordon Bleu, but its academic programmes are constantly adapted to include new, innovative technologies required to suit the growing needs of the hospitality industry. The London institute offers a large range of programmes from short courses, certificates and professional diplomas covering cuisine, pâtisserie, wine, nutrition and management, to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in culinary arts and hospitality management.

Le Cordon Bleu around the world: https://youtu.be/NCmzYJVo4EU  
Le Cordon Bleu history and evolution: https://youtu.be/CD_syytBL9I  
Visit our website at Cordonbleu.edu