‘Taste Taiwan’ tantalizes North American chefs

2014-10-08

The second edition of “Taste Taiwan,” a 30-minute culinary program featuring three award-winning chefs from Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively, was launched Oct. 5 by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

Jared Case, executive chef of Park Grill and a regular on Food Network in Chicago, Stuart Cameron, executive chef of Icon Legacy Group in Toronto and Anthony Jacquet, executive chef of Caruso Dining Group in Los Angeles, were introduced at an event held by the bureau at Ritz Taipei Hotel. The trio also unveiled their Taiwan-inspired signature dishes.

Case produced an indigenous-inspired perch dressed with king oyster mushrooms; Cameron turned out a lobster with lotus seeds flavored with creamy white sauce; and Jacquet prepared a special three-cup chicken cooked with Chinese herbs.

Cheng Chih-hong, section chief of international affairs at the bureau, said the chefs discovered Taiwan’s food and incorporated what they learned into new dishes at their restaurants. “We hope ‘Taste Taiwan’ and their efforts will enhance the country’s image and generate more publicity in North America.”

The chefs, who embarked on a seven-day culinary trip around Taiwan in late September, started their journey at Taipei 101—the tallest green-certified building in the world. They enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the city and felt hustle and bustle of the busiest metropolis in Taiwan.

Hilly Jioufen in New Taipei City was the next stop for the triumvirate. They sampled and learned how to make the local delicacy of taro and egg yolk balls at the area’s most famous eatery, Apo Taro Balls.

But the highlight of the tour was a visit to Cidal Hunter School in Hualien. The chefs cooked in a pot with water heated by a hot stone. This is one of the techniques of the indigenous Amis, the largest tribe in the eastern Taiwan county.

The trio went on to Nantou County in central Taiwan where they visited Chung Tai Chan Monastery and Sun Moon Lake—home to one of CNN’s top 10 cycling trails in the world. They were also taken to Tainan City in southern Taiwan to sample sumptuous night market fare.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=222617&CtNode=413)