An Irish Chef's Unlikely Love Affair with Anhui

In the latest episode of "Trending in China", Irish chef Curt Evans reveals his unexpected journey in Anhui with host Yolanda Lu in Beijing and Zhao Jinzheng in Hefei.  Arriving in Hefei seven years ago for a university exchange program, he planned to stay 10 months but fell for the province’s authenticity: "Anhui is super real--the people are genuine, and it feels like the real China. I didn’t choose Anhui; it chose me."With Michelin kitchen experience, Curt now runs food consulting ventures and restaurants bridging Irish and Huizhou cuisines. He delves into iconic dishes like stinky mandarin fish (臭鳜鱼), born from ancient merchants’ preservation techniques, and hairy tofu (毛豆腐), a frugality-driven innovation. These stories show how food conveys love when words fail.He finds deep parallels between Anhui and Irish food culture: "Both turned scarcity into creativity—fermenting, curing, and sharing meals as acts of resilience." For travelers, he urges: "Head south to Huangshan! Its architecture, mountains, and Hui cuisine create a harmony found nowhere else."最新一期 "Trending in China" 播客中，爱尔兰主厨Curt Evans（小红书@Curt闻香识中国）与主播Yolanda Lu和Zhao Jinzheng分享了他与安徽的奇妙缘分。七年前，他因大学合作项目从爱尔兰来到合肥，原计划停留10个月，却被这座城市的真实与活力深深吸引："不是我选择了安徽，是安徽选择了我。这里的人们友善真诚，让我感受到最真实的中国。"Curt拥有米其林餐厅背景，如今在合肥经营餐饮咨询公司，并开设融合爱尔兰与徽菜元素的餐厅。他深入探索徽州饮食文化，尤其着迷于臭鳜鱼和毛豆腐背后的智慧：前者源于徽商远行时保存鱼鲜的巧思，后者诞生于古人节俭创新的发酵工艺。这些菜肴印证了美食如何连接情感——当人们不擅口头表达爱时，食物成了分享关怀的媒介。他为何选择成为一名厨师？餐饮咨询又是怎样的新兴行业？教育和餐饮如何实现跨界融合？订阅"Trending in China"（潮动中国），收听中国经济/文化最新趋势。Highlights:3：50:   Chef, Teacher, Consultant: Who is Kurt?5：48:   First Impressions of Anhui8：49： Cultural Shock: Car Horns as "Hellos"?10：20：Hefei: A Tale of Two Cities12：40：High-Speed Rail: China vs. Europe14：25:  Borderless Cuisine Philosophy18：30：Teaching: The Energy Multiplier19：30：MBTI & Career Paths23：15:  Food Consulting: China’s Untapped Market25：28：Social Media Food Quest29：39:  Anhui Cuisine: North-South Divide31：18：First Encounter: Stinky Mandarin Fish（臭鳜鱼）35：23:  Tales Behind Iconic Dishes38：18：Ireland-Anhui: Kindred Food Spirits43：05：Joy-Centric Learning Revolution46：58: Why Cooking Chose Kurt50：57：Vision: Irish Food Beacon in Asia53：15：Travel advice for visiting AnhuiThis podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube, among many platforms.You are also more than welcome to check our newsletter where you can find more in-depth sharings around Chinese economy: pekingensight.substack.com