Hundreds of food enthusiasts gather at a gourmet festival in China to experience a communal banquet featuring a rich red broth and fresh ingredients such as beef, tripe, and tofu.
‘At the gourmet festival organised by China ’s Zouchuan Hotpot brand, hundreds of food enthusiasts gather around a communal banquet . The rich aroma of red broth – simmered with chilli peppers, fermented bean paste, beef tallow, Sichuan peppercorn, ginger, sugar, salt, soy sauce and spices – fills the air.
Participants savour fresh ingredients, such as beef, tripe, luncheon meat and tofu, or lift their phones to livestream, focusing on the bubbling pot. ’ ‘I wanted to create a unique image of candied fruit, and I have always been fascinated by the transparency of colours revealed through the process. I began by slicing a pear very thinly and boiling the slices in a mixture of sugar and water.
Once the slices became transparent, I laid them out to dry on paper. The image was created using sugar water and a pear slice placed on a glass sheet, along with coloured plastic in front of a table lamp. I photographed the setup multiple times from different angles, and finally I used Photoshop to combine the various images. ’‘I had planned this image for six to seven years but kept postponing it, feeling unworthy of capturing them.
Now, because of their age, I couldn’t wait. Grandma went to the hairdresser, Grandpa shaved, and I filled their kitchen with studio gear. When she saw the photograph, my grandmother called me an artist. ’ ‘During Chhath Puja, food offerings are held by devotees, who stand in bodies of water as they pray to the sun god, Surya.
This Puja is predominantly performed by women, and is always vibrant and colourful, particularly when observed in a rural setting, such as this in West Bengal, India. ’‘During the cleaning of the underground tanks, Pedro goes down and cleans the walls and floor of the remains of the previous wine with pressurised water. Once clean, his partner lowers a small bucket with a sponge inside to collect the remains that are left in the lower corner.
’‘An open-air restaurant owner serves food to her customers. She sells at a low price so that daily labourers who work at Gabtoli coal station can afford it. The photograph was taken in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ’is unlike any other: round, dense, with a thick, chewy crust, and always marked in its centre with black sesame seeds.
’‘I feel this image portrays the power of friendship. Four women having a fun day out, enjoying a sneaky bag of chips. The image was not constructed, just a spontaneous capture of a joyous moment, which they were happy to share. Taken at Beamish open-air museum, County Durham.
’ ‘Every morning, hundreds of sheep arrive in the village from the high pastures of Mount Nemrut for milking. After the milking is completed, at sunset the sheep set out once again toward Mount Nemrut, and their dusty journey begins. ’ ‘Shot in Kyoto, Japan, in September 2025, this image was taken in a split second as I moved through the packed, sweaty crowd at Nishiki market.
With barely any space to stop, I raised the camera and captured a brief, unfiltered moment of the energy and intensity of the market at its busiest. ’‘At sunrise beneath Howrah Bridge, a small crew hauls in their nets on the Hooghly River. River fish remain everyday food and income here: catches from boats like this are sold in nearby markets and prepared that very morning in Bengali kitchens. A quiet, collective harvest beneath the city’s busiest crossing.
’‘Twin bridesmaids enjoy canapés of “Proper crisps” at Jess & Tom’s wedding. They are pictured in the gardens at The Grain Store in Devon, UK, May 2025. ’ ‘Portrait of a female miller after processing grains into cornmeal. At Vocational Training Center Irebero, single women are trained as millers.
’ ‘A moment of respite from the line at Hadja Marley, an authentic Senegalese eatery in Brooklyn. This portrait captures the daily rhythm of life on Fulton Street, focusing on the steady presence of the staff and the traditional West African flavours that bring the local community together. A study of neighbourhood service. ’ ‘A group of friends at a wedding at the Royal Crescent Hotel enact their traditional race to eat dessert without using hands or cutlery.
The winner, who inhaled his in no time at all, celebrated emphatically while the others attempted to finish with various degrees of success and decorum. ’‘The Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium , Tajikistan, is a brutalist concrete monstrosity built on hot radon gas-infused springs in the mountains. During Soviet times, communist workers were given two weeks’ annual holiday here.
Today its low price – $28 per day including full board and treatments – attracts ordinary Tajiks plus tourists from the neighbouring “Stans” and the odd backpacker. Treatments include hot pools and steam rooms, wax wraps and tanning barrels, plus hearty, healthy meals. ’
Gourmet Festival China Food Enthusiasts Communal Banquet
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Good Food guide to Melbourne’s top 10 hatted Italian restaurantsFrom inner-city power lunch powerhouses to a wine-diner on the city’s fringe.
Read more »
‘Worst I’ve seen’: Bakery fined after faeces found on breadFresh food was also stored next to personal items such as reading glasses, money and a ‘faecal specimen collection jar’.
Read more »
Our food editor’s guide to the 2026 Queensland Day Awards“All the Best” might be a 75,000-vote popularity contest, but of Brisbane’s food and beverage winners, these are the ones worth your attention.
Read more »
Americans should be reassured by high prices, apparently. Does Trump's team really think we're that stupidAccording to chief economic adviser Kevin Hassett, living in the world’s richest superpower and witnessing food, electricity and housing become luxury items is a good thing
Read more »