Taiwan tastes raise funds for YSU students

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN

The top-rated cooking- show reality series “Iron Chef” has honored Taiwan chefs Stone Hsu and Stanley Lee, and on Sept. 5, they will create a fundraiser feast for Youngstown State University.

The duo travels to select U.S. cities to increase cultural awareness. They will host guests Sept. 5 in Stambaugh Auditorium. A cocktail hour is set for 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

The event aims to raise funds for student scholarships in the hospitality management program.

Sponsorship deadline is Aug. 26, and $100 individual event tickets will be sold until Aug. 30. For more information, call 330-941-2139. Individual tickets start at $100. To purchase a sponsorship or tickets, visit www.ysu.edu/traveling-chefs-taiwan.

The event, called “The Traveling Chefs from Taiwan,” is presented by the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. YT Chiu, a retired doctor, a former member of the YSU Board of Trustees and a current member of the YSU Foundation Board of Trustees, says the event is an opportunity to learn about another culture through its cuisine.

“The Chinese cooking will far surpass what people in America typically experience, but it’s really more about people exchanging ideas as they share a meal,” said Chiu.

Hsu and Lee have been coming to the United States for years as part of the People to People diplomacy program. They typically visit five major cities. Chiu credits Florence Wang and her family for persuading the government of Taiwan to choose Youngstown for one of the stops.

The celebration will involve cooking demonstrations, entertainment and an exchange of cultural traditions. The chefs will prepare a multicourse dinner that will include theses menu items:

Crispy prawn with wasabi mayo

Egg tofu emerald vegetable fish roll

Big cucumber fish paste soup

Typhoon shelter sauce fillet with fried garlic

Chicken roll with green onion sauce

Fresh mango pudding

Wildflower parrot swan

The dinner offers hands-on learning opportunities for YSU students in Hospitality Management, Food and Nutrition, and Dietetics. Students and alumni will assist in planning and setting up for the event, managing food services logistics and helping serve dinner to guests.

Hsu has 20 years of experience in the Taipei restaurant industry.

Lee has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management and a master’s degree in catering management. Both chefs have experience teaching the culinary arts and have received several awards.

Checks payable to Youngstown State University can also be mailed to Bitonte College of Health and Human Service, c/o Steve Katros, administrative assistant to the dean, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555