The "International Tour of Taiwan Gourmet Cuisines" hosted by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) kicked off in May 2023, with nine routes planned, spanning 55 locations across 20 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. The European tour from May 15th to June 5th included Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Dublin, Ireland was the first stop of the European tour this year, making it the fifth tour in Ireland.
The chefs arrived in Dublin on the evening of May 15th. The first event of the Irish leg of the "International Tour of Taiwan Gourmet Cuisines" was held on May 16th at a popular traditional Dublin pub McGrattan's, featuring a party showcasing Taiwanese food with drink pairings. The following day on the 17th, the chefs held a second event of the fifth tour in Ireland, inviting the teachers and students of Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning in Ireland (TCML), Taiwanese expatriates, and other guests to take part in cooking demonstrations and tastings. This event was fully booked within days of opening registration, and limited by the capacity of the venue, only 45 lucky guests in total could attend the event.
At the start of the fifth Taiwan gourmet cuisine event, Evan Furlong, Director of TCML and Advisor of the OCAC, led a toast to world peace in recognition of the International Day of Living Together in Peace, designated by the United Nations. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the generous support provided by the OCAC and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland (TRO) towards the culinary events. Following this, she introduced the two distinguished masterchefs, Vick Chung (鍾易庭) and Bingo Chen (陳秉文), both of whom have won numerous awards for their culinary expertise.
Both Chung and Chen are not only renowned TV chefs but have also received numerous awards for their culinary skills. Chef Vick Chung has served as head chef at the Hilton and the Fullon Hotels and has a wealth of teaching experience. He never holds back and generously shares cooking tips and techniques without any reservation. Similarly, Chef Bingo Chen has dedicated over 18 years to the culinary field, displaying a deep passion for cooking and presenting food in creative and innovative ways.
The talent and expertise of these two masterchefs make them outstanding instructors for the “International Tour of Taiwan Gourmet Cuisines”. At the event, they demonstrated the preparation and cooking of five exquisite traditional dishes: the flavourful and rich “Nostalgic Braised Pork Rice”, the chewy and mildly spicy "Ants Climbing a Tree", the refreshing and tender “Floating Fish Thick Soup”, the savoury and unique “General Tso's Chicken”, and the colourful and sweet “Candied Fruit Kebab" (Tang Hulu). Guests were treated to a unique and captivating culinary experience and were engrossed, eagerly absorbing every moment of the masterchefs' demonstration.
The venue itself was filled with the aroma of the food and expats were immersed in the nostalgic flavours of their homeland. Meanwhile, the students of TCML were impressed with the irresistible charm of Taiwanese cuisine. The event ended in a pleasant atmosphere, leaving unforgettable memories and mouth-watering recollections for all.
