Named after legendary 19th-century French chef Auguste Escoffier, Les Amis D'Escoffier Society, Asia Pacific is dedicated to enjoying, appreciating and promoting excellence in food. Naturally, its gala dinners are exacting for those who host them, and traditionally the Society has chosen top five-star hotels for its dinner venues. For 2007, however, the Society for the first time ever selected an exhibition centre for this honour, based on the HKCEC's reputation for fine food and its splendid dining atmosphere.

Around 500 guests congregated in the Centre's Grand Hall on the evening of 18 March. Pre-dinner snacks were in genuine Tunisian style, and two top Tunisian chefs flew to Hong Kong to direct the preparation, bringing with them authentic Tunisian ingredients such as Merguez sausage and fresh dates. The multi-course meal continued with exquisite fare such as Confit Scampi Polynaise, Dikoncress and Black Truffle and Roasted Dutch Veal Tenderloin, concluding with a "dessert extravaganza" which satisfied the sweetest taste.

The main theme of the dinner was "Rose of the Desert - a night in Tunisia". Amongst the guests were important personages who knew what genuine North African food should taste like, including the Ambassadors of Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan. Other significant guests were Hong Kong government representatives and chairpersons from the Federation of Restaurants and Hotels.