27 September 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Vienna reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that in the effort to promote ASEAN cuisine and gustatory delights in Vienna,  the ASEAN Ambassadors personally whipped up popular Southeast Asian dishes at a cooking demonstration held during the ASEAN Ladies' Circle-Vienna (ALCV)-sponsored ASEAN Food Festival and Cultural Show on 21 September 2005 at the Radisson SAS Palais Hotel.

Donning chefs' hats and aprons, the Ambassadors of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - the only five ASEAN countries currently maintaining diplomatic missions in Austria — took turns at the stove, as they instructed a visibly delighted crop of Austrian and diplomatic guests at the preparation of their chosen recipes.

Opening the cooking demonstration was Philippine Ambassador Victor G. Garcia III, who expertly prepared a mean "Chicken Adobo" (Filipino chicken stew) and shared the steps and secrets of preparing this Filipino treat, touted by some international cookbooks to be "the best chicken dish in the world". Taking the stage after Ambassador Garcia were Indonesian Ambassador Thomas Aquino Samodra Sriwidjaja ("Spicy Fish''); Vietnamese Ambassador Truong Giang Nguyen ("Nem" or Spring Rolls); Thai Ambassador Adisak Panupong ("Gang Kaew Wan Kai" or Chicken Green Curry); and Malaysian Political Counsellor Jojie Samuel ("Mee Mamar" or Fried Indian Noodles).
Dr. Elisabeth Vitouch, member of the City Council of Vienna and herself a former Austrian television celebrity, helped draw out the finer points of Asian cooking from each Ambassador, as she ably played the role of moderator. Their appetites amply whetted by the "diplomatic cooking lessons", guests were later treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner featuring popular Southeast Asian dishes, including those based on the recipes demonstrated by the Ambassadors. The evening, closed with performances of indigenous dances from the ASEAN countries.

The highly successful ASEAN Food Festival and Cultural Show, the first event of its kind held by ASEAN Embassies in Austria, was a project of the ALCV and the brainchild of Madame Concepcion G. Garcia, spouse of H.E. Ambassador Victor G. Garcia III.  It is part of a two-phase project that will also see the publication in October 2005 of an ASEAN cookbook especially targeted at Austrian and European audiences. The proceeds of this and other ACLV projects are earmarked for charitable organizations and causes in Southeast Asia.

The ACLV was established last 14 June, on the initiative of Madame Garcia and the Philippine Embassy in Vienna. Like its counterpart organizations in other national capitals, the ACLV seeks to assist in the task of promoting the culture, peoples and attractions of the individual ASEAN member countries. END