The fourth Hometown Market Carnival, jointly organized by 30 provincial hometown associations across HK, opened at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay yesterday (June 3) and will run for five consecutive days.
This year's event is the largest in its history, featuring four major sections: specialty product exhibitions and sales, hometown cuisine, cultural performances, and innovation and technology experiences. More than 370 themed stalls are taking part in the carnival.
Visitors began entering the venue at 5:30 p.m. on the opening day, with crowds steadily increasing by around 7 p.m. Many local residents as well as visitors from the Mainland and overseas were drawn to the event by its wide range of specialty foods.
Speaking to Wen Wei Po, several vendors in the cooked-food section said they were optimistic about visitor numbers and sales this year. Some exhibitors reported doubling their inventory compared with previous editions, while others expressed confidence that their authentic regional delicacies would offer visitors a memorable culinary experience.
The carnival features more than 370 stalls showcasing approximately 1.1 million specialty products from provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country, making it the largest edition to date.
One of this year's highlights is the introduction of agricultural products linked to China's rural revitalization initiative. Selected products include organic brown rice, indigenous grains, wild mushrooms and a variety of regional dried specialties, allowing visitors to sample traditional flavors while gaining a closer look at the achievements of rural development across the country.
40 gourmet food stalls featured at the carnival
The popular cooked-food section has expanded to include 40 premium food stalls this year. Large tents and seating areas have also been installed to provide visitors with a more comfortable dining experience.
The food street remained lively throughout the opening day. Despite the early summer heat, vendors enthusiastically introduced visitors to specialties from their hometowns.
A culinary team from Jilin Province in Northeast China, operating under the name "omomo," is participating in the carnival for the first time. Invited specifically to promote regional cuisine, the team hopes to introduce more HK residents to northeastern food culture and the unique products of the Changbai Mountain region through authentic local flavors.
To suit HK's hot weather, the team launched several specialty frozen desserts. Their signature "Ice Slush Cold Noodles" features chilled pear broth as its base, while the "Classic Frozen Pear Juice," made from 100% pure juice, and the creamy "Snowflake Frozen Pear Dessert" have also proven popular.
A team representative said around 300 servings had been prepared for the first day and projected overall sales would exceed expectations. The team hopes its innovative take on local specialties will help bring people from the two places closer together.
Inner Mongolia specialty "meat stuffed in tripe" debuts
The Federation of Hong Kong Inner Mongolia Associations, returning to the carnival this year, introduced authentic grassland flavors, including a new specialty dish, "meat stuffed in tripe," made by wrapping fresh mutton in sheep tripe and cooking it to preserve its original flavor.
Staff member Baolige said inventory had been doubled compared with previous years to meet anticipated demand from visitors.
Meanwhile, locally operated restaurant "Mohuan Yunnan Bistro" is participating as a cooked-food vendor for the first time after previously focusing solely on gift products. Its manager, Max, said the team hopes that on-site preparation and immediate tasting opportunities will help HK residents gain a more direct understanding of Yunnan's culinary culture and distinctive flavors.
He emphasized that all ingredients are sourced directly from Yunnan to ensure authenticity, adding that sufficient stock has been prepared to meet demand from visitors eager to try the products.
The Hong Kong Hainan Association is supporting the event for the fourth consecutive year. Deputy Secretary-General Fu Xiaoyan said the team spent around two months preparing for the carnival and had also doubled its inventory this year.
The association's stall is highlighting Hainan volcanic lychees known for their abundant flesh, while also introducing premium black-haired pork products. Other offerings include Hainan rice noodles, sweet potato noodles, specialty coffee and tea products.
Fu said all items on display are locally produced agricultural products from Hainan, aimed at promoting quality brands from the Hainan Free Trade Port while supporting mainland farmers. She expressed confidence in the sales performance of the products during the event.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
Related News:
OMG | Taste of home: Foreigners share hometown flavours ahead of HK hometown markets
Comment