A Taste Tour of Taiwan

Join us for a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience truly authentic Taiwanese cuisine created by highly regarded master chefs. A night of cultural and culinary exploration in a social setting awaits the select few who attend this event. Learn more about the history of the night markets, try famous taiwanese dishes and watch celebrity chefs demonstrate their skills as they cook their dishes and carve artworks from ingredients, right in front of you.

About Taiwanese Culture (Night Markets)

Your taste of taiwan will not only be satisfied by your tastebuds but also by way of culture. Learn more about the famous Taiwanese night markets and how they have changed over the years.

Night markets in Taiwan have become famous for their xiaochi foods (xiaochi roughly translates as "small eats" or finger foods). Served in portions much like Spanish tapas, these dishes are often taken as carry-out, though some sellers provide a few small folding tables with stools. These dishes are offered at low prices, usually around 30 to 50NTD (around $1 to $1.75). If visitors expect to be full from a trip to the night market, they'll usually spend around 250 to 300 NTD ($ 7 to $10). Most night markets also have small restaurants providing simple courses that allow people to finish an entire meal without making their way through the market.

Though some of the xiaochi foods available will change from year to year with passing fads, certain xiaochi foods such as oyster omelets (蚵仔煎 ô-á-chian), chicken shawarma (沙威馬 shāwēimǎ), and stinky tofu (pronounced tso-dofu) (臭豆腐 chhàu tāu-hū) persist and have become staples in many night markets. Sometimes, the night markets of a city, or even just one particular market within that city, become well known for a certain type of food that is unique to the area, or done particularly well there. For example, Tainan has become known for its noodles (擔仔麵 tàⁿ-á-mī) and "coffin cakes" (棺材板 guāncáibǎn), bread baked into the shape of a coffin, hollowed out, and then stuffed. In Taipei, the Shilin night market features a particular store which is well known for serving tasty fried chicken breast, in large portions, and for a low price. There is also tei-egg (steel egg) from Danshui.

In recent years, many of the night markets have become popular tourist destinations among sightseeing foreign travelers. It’s common to see many travelers with cameras, snapping photographs amidst the crowds (and of the crowds) within the streets. Some of the night markets, such as the Shilin (at Yuanshan, Taipei) and Shida night markets (next to National Taiwan Normal University) are among the first places that Taiwanese students will bring international students for a cultural experience.

In addition to food, night markets feature various forms of entertainment and a lot of shopping. Numerous products for sale include clothes, bags, shoes, trinkets, kitchen items, etc. Carnival-style games are typically available to play for the price of a few coins. The night market in Dan-shui is especially well known for featuring traditional carnival games such as balloon shooting, net fish, shooting marbles, and an assortment of mini games that could only have otherwise been seen many years ago. The price to play is often really low, and prizes are given out to the kids.

About Ironchef Restaurant

"A Taste Tour of Taiwan" coincides with the grand opening of Ironchef Chinese Seafood Restaurant. Discover for yourself:

• A beautifully balanced menu of over 200 dishes, drawing influence from Cantonese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisines.
• A 4-tiered live seafood tank with cascading water. The first of its kind in Australia.
• Luxury private dining rooms each with their own theme and style.
• Open style kitchens in the BBQ and noodle areas - watch as chefs prepare your favourite dishes.
• The latest in audio and visual technology catering for any event.

About Celebrity Chef Lo

Celebrity Chef Lo, Vice Chairman of Taiwanese Gourmet Association, and the Champion team leader of 2009 the World Culinary Contest, is leading his team to Sydney to present the delicious Taiwanese food and aims to promote the multicultural understanding and appreciation in Australia. Celebrity Chef Lo is well known throughout Taiwan and Asia and being one of top 3 chefs in Taiwan, is constantly being invited onto cooking shows and to cook for special events. Click here to see his own personal blog!

 

 

About Carving Master Chiu

Carving Master Chiu is not only a master chef in his own right, but he also specialises in the art of carving fruit and vegetables. Throughout his career, Master Chiu has won several awards, including the 2008 Singapore Royal Kitchen Grand Final Golden Award and in 2000 he won the 1st Annual Taipei Food Carving Golden Kitchen Award.