Li says she gets homesick when she goes abroad but feels much better when she takes out her chopsticks. It makes her feel she is having Chinese food even when she eats Western food with chopsticks.

"I am the best spokeswoman for Chinese food and I'd like to have it wherever I am. My favorite food in summer is hotpot and beer," she says jokingly.

"When I was in the Untied Stated learning English, I shared with my American friends the Chinese cuisine culture and how to make healthy porridges."

Shen notices that, compared with more than a decade ago, many Chinese people have tasted many delicious foods due to rising incomes, and now they tend to eat some traditional things that are rooted in their culture, such as foods they used to eat during childhood.

"Many awards talk about food itself, but we focus on the food experience, which is not only about food, but also about context, and design and the story about the restaurant," says Alexander Lambrecht, director of global brands, Anheuser-Busch InBev Asia Pacific.

"Chinese dining culture is evolving very quickly. We're committed to help shape the Chinese dining landscape step by step, through creating the best experience that incorporates food, culture and design," he says.