Shangri-La Hotel Changchun and wine importer Torres China organized a "Spanish Gastronomy Festival" in Changchun from July 10 to 16, part of a promotional campaign to introduce traditional and modern Spanish cuisine and wines to China through one of Asia's best-known hotel groups.

Spanish guest chef Joaquin Campos took over the kitchen of the Coffee Garden at Shangri-La Hotel Changchun to create a wide variety of authentic Spanish delicacies, including Spain's national dish, paella de mariscos (seafood and rice), various tapas delicacies, appetizers, other traditional dishes and desserts.

As part of the gastronomy festival a wine tasting and dinner was held at the hotel on July 11 during which dinner guests enjoyed Chef Joaquin's specially prepared five-course menu complemented by five Spanish wines - the white Vina Sol Peneds and Vina Esmeralda Peneds, red Sangre de Toro Catalunya and Jean Leon Terrasola Tempranillo Peneds and Moscatel Oro dessert wine.

Self-taught Joaquin has worked and learned in the most exclusive restaurants and hotels in Spain. He traveled across the country to master as many styles of cuisine as possible. He said he "loves Mediterranean cooking", especially "market cuisine" - using only ingredients available each day at the local market. He is also very knowledgeable about wine and cooking with it.

The festival enjoyed great success in Fuzhou last month, and in Changchun was again a memorable experience for patrons. The promotion will continue on to Shangri-La hotels in Shanghai, Harbin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hohhot, Shenzhen, Dalian, Beijing, Wuhan, Qingdao, Zhongshan and Shenyang.

The Hong Kong-based hotelier owns or manages 55 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a total of more than 28,000 rooms.