TOP 5 POPULAR FOOD TO TRY IN TAIWAN

Taiwan is a foodie’s paradise….do not miss these if you are travelling!

P.S Please notice everyone wears masks and handles food even otherwise in Taiwan.

SOUP DUMPLINGS AT DIN TAI FUNG

Founded in 1972, the original location of this Michelin starred dumping house is at xinyi store, Taipei 101. While they have a complete menu, the most widespread dish, and claim to fame is the Xiao long Bao aka the Taiwanese soup dumplings. Inspite of making tons of dumplings, they are hand-made, and one can really palate the difference. To savour the dumplings, one needs to dip it in a bowl of 1 part soy sauce to 3 parts vinegar sauce. Then spoon it and jab a hole in the cover to release the rich golden broth in the spoon. And lastly eat and enjoy. Interestingly each dumpling grips closely 21 grams of filling and is prepared with exactly 18 folds. 

ROASTED DUCK AT RED LANTERN

Chef Jeffery Lin has determined that seventy five-day old ducks weighing over 3.2 kilograms are best for a roast duck cuisine. This special variety of ducks were imported from China and reared in Cherry Valley, England, hence named after the Cherry Valley. Chefs deftly slice the ducks within 15 minutes of serving in a theatrical manner at the table, to ensure the duck is juicy and the skin is crisp. The duck cuisine is served in 5 ways as the Chef utilizes the whole duck for appetising cuisine. The hearty stew duck combination is full of rich flavours

FRENCH TAIWANESE AT RAW

Celebrity Taiwanese chef André Chiang gave Taiwan a big gift in 2014. He created RAW helmed by inborn chefs with an emphasis on indigenous produce. Here Parisian gastronomic panache is pigeon-holed by close by sourced, seasonal ingredients prepared using cooking techniques but presented in a bistro-like fashion. The gorgeous eight-course menu is an exploration of Taiwan’s exceptional topography and micro-seasons.

GRILLS AT SHILIN NIGHT MARKET 

This is one of the leading night markets in Taiwan with respect to food, and also one of the most prevalent points of Taipei’s nightlife among tourists. You would come across several grill stalls along the maze of alleyways. Go for the chicken wing, chicken drumsticks and much more. 

Recommendations go all out for the Sausage Wraps Duo which syndicates two dissimilar types of sausage in a roll. Look out for the U-shaped arena with live prawns and many flocking around to exhibit their prawning skills! One gets seven small rods and a container at the beginning of the session. By means of a modest wooden stick with a bit of thread and a tiny hook hanging off it, one has to challenge one’s catching skills! The prawns are delicious and hard work pays!

GREEN TEA ICE-CREAM IN YILAN 

At the Xing-Yuan Tea Garden, a holiday farm in Zhong Shan Village in the Dong Shan district, the owner Liu offers several Do It Yourself activities. One of them being making of the tea-flavoured ice cream. It is fun to measure out ingredients mainly milk, cream sugar and the green tea paste.  

Tighten the steel box and secure it in an ice box and then dance to the tunes of peppy music while continuously shaking the ice-cream container. 20 minutes of shaking and dancing, voila! Your ice cream is ready for consumption.

My story first published in ET Travel