HOT and spicy food from China has been warming up Londoners on an overcast winter day, as “Exploring Yummy Chongqing in London,” part of the 2023 U.K. “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations, officially kicked off Feb. 2.

The event is aimed to share Chinese culture by introducing authentic Chinese food to the locals. As people swarmed into Mr. Meng, a Chongqing-cuisine restaurant near Covent Garden in central London, a big screen showed a live feed of people in Chongqing enjoying the same delicacies. Meanwhile, presenters in both Chongqing and London explained the dishes.

Amira Arasteh, a food journalist working in London, said the maoxuewang (assorted meats in hot sauce) and laziji (chicken with chilies) dishes she tried were “very spicy,” but had “lots of flavors.”

The famous dishes from the city of Chongqing, Southwest China, are known for their ability to fight the adverse physiological effects of humidity. They also have a mood-lifting effect, since spicy food is believed to boost the production of serotonin, the “feel-good hormone.”

“We want to use food to attract people’s attention to Chongqing. We hope that one day they can travel to Chongqing ... and taste the great food in China,” said Tang Shi, organizer of the London event.

In the run-up to the food-tasting event at Mr. Meng, local foodies and food bloggers were invited to explore Chongqing food in London and share their experiences on social media, Tang said.

Meihua, a food blogger, showed the enthusiastic comments on a video of her eating maoxuewang on Instagram six days ago. “I’m definitely going to Chongqing,” said user “ramyinocencio,” while “outandaboutlondon” said, “I love some spicy vibes.”

However, for seasoned foodies, Chinese cuisine is not just about pleasure for the palate; it also signifies sharing and companionship. Daniel, a Londoner who has been a food blogger for 10 years and has more than 43,000 followers on Instagram, said Sichuan Province was his favorite stop when he visited China a few years ago.

“I love Chinese New Year because you get to share a big table with dumplings, noodles and meat,” he said. “It’s good to introduce new food and different cuisines to followers.”

Daniel said that exploring different cuisines available in London has allowed him to meet other like-minded people. “Food always brings people together,” said Matija, a Croatian food blogger living in London. (Xinhua)