Cathay Pacific Airways, the home carrier of Hong Kong and a renowned purveyor of noodles in-flight and at select airport lounges worldwide, has announced its first-ever Noodles of Asia campaign in celebration of National Noodle Month. The airline and its guest judges, Mijune Pak, creator of Follow me Foodie, one of Canada’s most recognized food and travel blogs; chef-restaurateurs Martin Yan of “Yan Can Cook” television fame and San Francisco’s new M.Y. China restaurant, and Sang Yoon, chef and proprietor of Father’s Office gastropubs and Lukshon Restaurant in Culver City, CA, are on a mission to find the best noodle dish to serve customers in-flight and have turned to the public for assistance and inspiration.
From March 20 – April 19, 2013, foodies and noodle aficionados are encouraged to enter their contact details on Cathay Pacific’s Facebook page; visit the “Noodles of Asia” board and re-pin the official contest pin; then create and upload photos of an original, Asian-inspired noodle recipe to Pinterest and hashtag #CXnoodles.
The winner, whose noodle entrée will feature prominently on Cathay Pacific’s in-flight menu on North American flights to Hong Kong, will receive two round-trip Premium Economy tickets from one of Cathay Pacific’s six North American gateways (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver) to Hong Kong – plus a tour of Asia’s World City, sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board – where a culinary cornucopia awaits.
After the close of the contest on April 19, 2013, judging will take place in three stages: (1) the top 10 entries with the most Pinterest likes will be selected; (2) Cathay Pacific will review and shortlist the top five; (3) the top five recipes will be judged at a tasting in M.Y. China’s Temple Room by Pak, Yan, Yoon, Cathay Pacific’s very own Peter Ho, Regional Catering Manager, North America and Satomi Aoki, Senior Flight Purser. The recipe must meet Cathay Pacific’s rigorous culinary standards, and judges will score based on presentation, appeal, taste, and ease of transportation / practicality for an in-flight entrée.
“Noodles are beloved by Cathay Pacific’s loyal customers. Nothing unites people like food … and noodles are a pan-Asian delicacy enjoyed by people around the world,” said Ho. “Cathay Pacific flies to over 70 destinations in Asia and over 20 in mainland China – where you will find a multitude of noodles in different shapes, sizes and styles. We look forward to working with aspiring chefs to bring the perfect noodle dish to our customers.”
Cathay Pacific Airways, www.cathaypacific.com/us