《TAIPEI TIMES》Culinary exhibition starts in Taipei

Staff writer, with CNA

The 2023 Taiwan Culinary Exhibition, which opened yesterday in Taipei and is to close on Monday, showcases a variety of home-cooked dishes made using ingredients sourced from different rural areas in Taiwan in an effort to revive “food memories,” the Ministry of Agriculture （MOA） said on Thursday.

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During the four-day exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center, a total of 12 regional cooks, who have excelled in local competitions, are collaborating with four French and Taiwanese chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants to present roadside banquet-style dishes at the MOA pavilion, the ministry said in a press release.

The roadside banquet is more common in rural areas and involves participants seated at round tables under large tents set up at the side of a street, often to celebrate weddings.

The dishes served during the exhibition are crafted using local ingredients, including free-range chickens, wild ginger flowers, bamboo shoots and pickled melons, it said.

Meanwhile, the Hakka Affairs Council is to present “Hakka pizza,” a fusion of two to three iconic cuisines from the community, including Hakka stir-fry and stewed pork belly with preserved vegetables.

The agricultural products featured at the MOA pavilion include organic and eco-friendly tea from Pinglin District （坪林） in New Taipei City, which received three-star recognition at the Great Taste Awards in the UK last year.

Other highlights include champion coffee from Chiayi County, which won the Taiwan Fine Coffee Competition last year, and award-winning mangoes from Tainan.

In addition to cuisine, visitors can also explore and purchase agricultural products and specialty souvenirs from different parts of Taiwan, the MOA said.

The event also presents an opportunity for participants to engage with farmers and learn about the origins of the produce they grow, promoting the concept of sustainable agriculture, the MOA said.

In addition, the MOA pavilion also includes sustainable agricultural tourism, presenting more than 700 farm-to-table dining experiences. Experts in food and agriculture are participating to discuss with the public the advantages of adopting sustainable agriculture.

The exhibition is organized into four sections: the “Golden Selection Area” showcasing award-winning cuisine, the “Taste of Taiwan Area” introducing the culinary landscape of Taiwan, the “Exotic Cuisine Area” featuring delicacies from Japan, South Korea and Nigeria, and the “Food Art Gallery,” the event’s Web site said.

With a total of 600 booths, the organizers are hoping to attract 140,000 visitors and match the attendance in 2019.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES