Chinatown London celebrated National Dumpling Day and 1800 years of dumplings by handing out over 1,800 free dumplings to visitors lunching in Chinatown.
The event, held on Wednesday 26 September, started at 12noon, with queues from 11.30am and all dumplings gone by 12.45pm…. that’s one dumpling every 1.5 seconds!
Seven restaurants participated in the campaign, and over 1,000 people queued for the chance to sample this Asian delicacy and experience the many varieties and flavours, from Sichuan inspired Spicy Chicken Dumplings at Plum Valley to Mushroom and Jicama Gyoza at Ichibuns.
Those visiting Chinatown were encouraged to post a picture of their dumplings on Instagram with the hashtag #1800YearsOfDumplings, also entering them into a competition to win a dumpling feast in Chinatown London.
The campaign aims to showcase Chinatown London’s melting pot of culinary diversity and educate on the variety of dumplings available, whether its traditional Cantonese dumplings or Korean Mandu.
Julia Wilkinson, Head of Group Restaurant Strategy at Shaftesbury, commented, “The response to National Dumpling Day was outstanding, and we are delighted to welcome so many hungry visitors to Chinatown London.
'The campaign showcased the vast array of East Asian flavours available in Chinatown London, from Vietnamese to Korean, and gave our visitors the chance to sample how the destination has one of the best food offerings in the West End.
'It’s incredible to think this Asian delicacy has been enjoyed since the Han Dynasty over 1800 years ago, and we are proud that so many of our operators continue this tradition and produce some of the best dumplings in the capital today.”
Chinatown London's National Dumpling Day celebrations follow the success of National Dim Sum Week launched in July by Shaftesbury to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions of the ancient culinary experience.
The campaign was supported by celebrity chef, Ken Hom OBE, and was a chance for some of Chinatown’s world-class restaurants to showcase their rich and traditional culture.