Not satisfied with catering just to Asian diners, some Taiwanese restaurants in the region are seeking to expand their customer base. While many would hail the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California as the Mecca of Taiwanese cuisine in the United States, the southern half of the San Francisco Bay Area stands as a…
Baking classes have become a fresh source of entertainment for many millennials, while healthy eating and do-it-yourself dining are driving demand for cooking courses. Cooking isn’t just about eating, it’s also entertainment, which is why boutique-style baking courses and cooking classes are becoming a feature of life in Taipei. Housewives with time and money on…
The concept of food tours is new to Taiwan, but the potential is high, especially in conjunction with business conferences. If there’s one thing on earth that connects people from different backgrounds and gets them talking, it’s food. And there’s always something to talk about, from indulging in a dish that’s an old favorite, to…
Energetic Italian chefs are introducing one of the world’s great cuisines to the Taiwanese capital. Botega del Vin belies its posh East Taipei location. The restaurant may be situated amid luxury residences a stone’s throw from ZhongXiao East Road, but it feels like a trattoria – a rustic Italian eating establishment that usually caters to…
Publication is expected to help Taiwan’s outstanding restaurants achieve a higher profile internationally and boost tourism. Epicureans with an affinity for Chinese food have long appreciated Taipei’s culinary offerings. The Taiwanese capital has a rich variety of Chinese eateries, from no-frills street stalls specializing in scallion pancake to elegant Cantonese hotel restaurants. Compared to neighboring…
As consumer interest in organic foods grows, major food companies are entering this market segment. Around the world, consumers are expressing greater interest in healthier diets that include more natural and organic ingredients without artificial additives and preservatives. Global sales of organic food have surged 200% over the last decade, according to research institutes, and…
On the morning of July 28, Wei Ying-chung, former chairman of Wei Chuan Foods Corp., reported to the Taipei Prosecutors Office to begin a two-year prison sentence for his involvement in the 2013 edible-oil scandal that dealt a fatal blow to his company, once one of Taiwan’s leading foodstuff manufacturers. In late April, the appellate…
The recent incident of large numbers of eggs contaminated by pesticide use is but the most recent of a series of food scandals in recent years that have shaken consumer confidence. The government has instituted a number of regulatory reforms in an effort to deal with the issue, but it remains uncertain whether the current…
Head Chef Ko Kang-fei is taking the menu at The Sherwood’s Yi Yuan Chinese Restaurant south to Sichuan and Southeast Asia to deliver bold, sweet and spicy, and tart flavors. Fusing ingredients and cooking techniques from both East and West, Cantonese, Sichuan, and Thai cuisines, Chef Ko hopes that you will enjoy these daring flavors…
After spending around two decades in Taiwan, three years ago TOPICS contributor Mark Caltonhill returned to live in the UK. Within weeks, he was missing “three-cups” slow cooking, kongxin cai (空心菜), and perhaps most of all, stinky tofu (臭豆腐). Here is his report. Arriving at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in the 1990s after each annual…
