Food delivery is serious business in Taiwan. Although the government’s superb handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed most restaurants to remain open across the island, the National Credit Card Center reported that in April 2020, 6 million transactions were logged on Online Food Delivery (OFD) platforms, a sevenfold increase from the same month a…
When you go, eat like the locals. Tuck into big portions, don’t waste time standing in line, and enjoy the freshest beef soup in Taiwan. Soft-shell turtle, freshly slaughtered beef scalded in broth, hearty portions, and sugar, sugar, sugar. That’s some of what you’ll encounter when dining in the southern city of Tainan, a prime…
Taiwan’s capital offers some of the best, most affordably priced Japanese food outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. Taipei may have the best Japanese food in the world outside of Japan. The range and quality of the city’s authentic Japanese restaurants are exceptional. In the days before 24/7 mobile internet connectivity, this was…
The mass market is growing fast, driven by Prosecco and Cava, while Champagne still dominates the high end. Red wine has long dominated Taiwan’s wine market, buoyed by the brand power of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Most white and rosé wines have struggled by comparison. Sparkling wine is an exception. Champagne has a strong brand here,…
When winter weather arrives, a soak at one of Taiwan’s many hot springs is an attractive way to ward off the chill. Certain foods are also said to help achieve the same purpose. “Cold” is, of course, a relative term. For those coming from overseas locations with harsh winter climates, Taiwan’s cold season might seem…
The Michelin Guide Taiwan ventured outside of Taipei for the first time in 2020 and explored Taichung. Four restaurants earned Michelin stars – JL Studio, Fleur de Sel, Forchetta, and Oretachi No Nikuya – and the choices revealed the stark differences between the Taipei and Taichung culinary scenes. By Sunny Wu, CommonWealth Magazine Founded in…
In the nearly year-long absence of international travelers, Taipei’s hotels have begun shifting some of their focus to their food and beverage business, offering attractive package deals and coming up with new, delicious ways to draw in the island’s domestic travelers. As international travel to Taiwan ground to a complete halt last spring following the…
It is hard to know what 2021 will bring us, but it appears that travel will not be a big part of the agenda, at least in the first half of the year! As per tradition (Don Shapiro informs me this goes back to 2003), the Wine & Dine edition of TOPICS will help provide you…
By Steven Crook and Katy Hui-wen Hung Families across Taiwan continue to engage in an ancient tradition of offering up ritual feasts to their ancestors. One clan has been performing these rites in the northern city of Taoyuan for over two centuries. Ancestor worship is an ancient and persistent custom among Han Chinese. Traditionally, deceased…
Joseph Ho, a native of Hong Kong and recent Taiwan transplant, brings a wealth of sales, marketing, and brand experience to his current role as Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Taiwan. This experience has led him to prioritize relationships throughout his career, and he emphasizes that trust and communication are central to maintaining…
