Sponsored Post: Taiwan’s Culinary Treasures

Are you on the lookout for a culinary hotspot? Try Taiwan, a great foodie destination whose turn in the spotlight is well deserved and long overdue.

The Taiwan Tourism Board and the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel are teaming up and tapping the expertise of award-winning chefs from Tainan, Taiwan to bring the gastronomic delights of Taiwanese food to New York City via a food festival entitled “Savoring Taiwan’s Cuisine.” The five-day food event will feature Taiwanese dishes from October 16th to October 20th at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel’s Brasserie Du Dragon Restaurant in Flushing, NY.

With its fresh and light natural flavors, Taiwanese food is a tasty treasure thanks in great part to its down-to-earth simplicity. The culinary diversity of Taiwanese cuisine will astound you with its strong and flavorful influences from China, the US, France, and Germany, among others. Taiwanese cuisine is deeply rooted in all the culinary styles of China’s different regions, including the spicy hot Sichuan and Hunan, the flavorful Hakka, the subtle Beijing, and the seafood-oriented Jiangzhe. Those looking for something new beyond elegant cuisine will find that street food is another gem of Taiwanese cuisine.

Taiwanese cuisine offers something for everybody. People with an adventurous palate will be sure to enjoy sampling unique dishes, such as mullet roe, pig’s knuckle, and, most especially, stinky tofu.

Taiwan may very well be an emerging star in the word of winemaking too, having won the Vinalies Internationales wine competition in 2014. It’s unsurprising, given the country’s long history of making wines, particularly the traditional Shaoxing wine. A shot (or two) of Gaoliang wine can get any celebration started–don’t forget to say “Gan bei!” (bottoms up) when you toast!

Dessert lovers are also in for a treat with Taiwan’s array of scrumptious desserts and sweets. Crushed ice dessert, peanut brittle, pineapple cake, candied fruits, mochi, sun cake, square biscuits, and brown sugar cake are an incredible departure from your usual cupcakes and ice cream. Even snacks are taken to a whole new level with oyster omelet, steamed sandwiches (guabao), meat rice dumplings (zongzi), and coffin board, which you’ll discover is a familiar treat–with a delightful Taiwanese twist.

If that’s not enough to convince you, the world-renowned Chef Chou from Tainan will be at the festival with his famous Shrimp Rolls. Chef Chou can make magic with high-quality ground pork, fish paste, celery, and green onion.

You are definitely in for a gastronomic treat at “Savoring Taiwan’s Cuisine.” Festival attendees can choose from three sets of street food, with Chef Chou’s Shrimp Rolls as the main dish.

If you are not familiar with Taiwanese cuisine, the festival is a great way to discover new tastes and flavors. If you are acquainted with Taiwanese food, this is a perfect opportunity to explore the cuisine further and have a great time. By the end of the festival, you just might be ready to book your flight to Taiwan and discover even more dishes. Bring your appetite and get ready to taste Taiwan’s culinary treasures.

Disclaimer: This sponsored post is brought to you by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.