Say Yes to Taiwanese Pork at the Love Taiwan Pork Festival Roadshow 2024

Who doesn't love Taiwanese pork sausages, braised pork rice, pork bone soup, pork floss, ham, pork belly and meatballs? Like the Philippines, pork is the undisputed meat of choice in Taiwan rendered in a wide array of popular and traditional culinary staples that have defined Taiwanese cuisine. It's time to say yes to Taiwanese pork at the Love Taiwan Pork Festival 2024...

Fall in love with pork all over again with the rich culinary tradition of Taiwan, and just in time for the holidays too. The Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture recently showcased the country's wide array of premium pork products at the recent Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024 at the BGC Amphitheater last September 6 to 9 culminating in a lavish Four-Hands Tasting Dinner by Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco in Flame Restaurant at Discovery Primea. The four-day roadshow highlighted Taiwanese pork renowned the world over for its flavorful richness. Ready to rediscover your love for premium Taiwanese pork? Then, read on for a virtual taste and bite of Taiwanese pork...

Taiwanese pork sausages in a variety of flavors, comforting pork rib soup, pork bone soup, tender and savory Jinhua hams, braised pork rice, pork floss & jerky, crisp pork paper, bbq bacon jerky and pork belly, just how many ways can you express pure pork love? At the recent Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024, the full range and depth of pork based dishes were celebrated in grand style reflecting the rich diversity of Taiwanese cuisine. Taiwanese pork is known for its fork-tender texture and rich taste driven by the country's uncompromising commitment to high farming standards and sustainable practices. The quality of Taiwanese pork has long been the flavorful base of Taiwan's rich culinary heritage, and this was celebrated during the Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024 roadshow. 

Pork Love at a Taiwanese Night Market Recreated in the BGC Amphitheater

Recreating the vibrant and festive atmosphere of the Taiwanese night market scene, the Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024 kicked off its four-day run at the BGC Amphitheater with both traditional presentations as well as a cool vibe with a live DJ performance. It was a party of sights, sounds and of course, flavors for a memorable experience. The festival was also supported by the Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI) tasked with promoting Taiwanese pork in the global market. Festivals like these offer an insightful glimpse and taste of a country's culture, and food is the best way to experience any culture. 

At the Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024, Taiwan's leading brands presented a rich and diverse tapestry of flavors anchored on a rich culinary tradition in its second edition. This year's festival featured top pork manufacturers representing the country's finest:

• Bassotto: Founded in 2021, the brand has grown into one of Taiwan's premium European style sausage producers with products like Salsiccia and Chorizo (my personal picks). Bassotto offers a full range of Spanish and Italian gourmet style products aimed at the global market. 
• Black Ridge: Known for its unique 12-hour marination process, its line of Taiwanese style sausages have become popular street food staples like the Original Taiwanese Pork Sausage, Original Taiwanese Black Hog Sausage, Garlic Taiwanese Pork Sausage and Cocktail Taiwanese Pork Sausage. 
• Cha I Shan Foods: Bannered by its premium offerings of hams and Chilled Frozen Pork selections, the company is committed to the highest standards of quality pork and ethical practices with its ISO22000, TAP and HACCP certifications. 
• Du Hsiao Yueh: One of Taiwan's enduring brands founded way back in 1895, the manufacturer is known for its noodle offerings specifically Dan Zai Noodles and traditional Minced Pork line. 
• Food Lee: The brand's inspiring story from its origins as a food cart and now a restaurant, it continues to serve its famous braised pork rice and crispy sparerib soup also commercially available in retort pouch meals for a satisfying feast anytime and anywhere. Other popular offerings include the Champion Braised Ground Pork and Pork Rib Soup.
• Hairei: Backed by 70 years of tradition, the company is well known for its Hsinchu style meatballs made from fresh hind leg pork for rich flavors. Must-tries are the Original Flavor Meatballs and Shiitake Meatballs. 
• Jin Tian Foods: A family-run business, the brand focuses on local Taiwanese pork prioritizing health and quality for its product line led by Smoked Pork Tripe, Hot & Spicy Pork Haslet Soup, Pork Balls with Mushroom and Pork Balls with Taro. 
• ODIVA: Genetic purity is the name of the game for the brand using only Taiwanese Pinpu black pigs through an extensive decade-long breeding and purification process preserving a culinary legacy. 
• Pure Food Asia: Its wide range of pork offerings from livestock extracts, seasonings and meat products like Frozen Chashu Pork Belly, Concentrated Spicy Soup, Health Soup and Seasoned Pork Bone Soup are produced in the highest international standards for a guarantee of quality. 
• Taiwan Farm Industry Co.: The company founded as T-Ham blazed the trail for frozen meat exports with an emphasis on food safety, health and sustainability creating a model for ecological livestock production. Popular products include the Black Pork Meat Balls and Taiwanese Mini Sausages. 
• Wayfong Food: The company specializes in world class high-quality and top grade pork floss, jerky and slices using only premium Taiwanese pork for a taste of Taiwan in every bite.

Many of the premium Taiwanese products are distributed by local importer Hightower, Inc. supplying hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and food processors nationwide. 

Shopping for a haul of Taiwanese pork products with its exciting Taiwan night market atmosphere becomes unique layer threaded by the richness and diversity of pork products at the Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024. And yes, you can enjoy samples and tastings before making that purchase. And when you do purchase, you get a chance to win some awesome raffle prizes too. Now how cool is that? 

At the opening run, representatives from the different Taiwanese manufacturers graced the stage reflecting Taiwan's finest. Curated and selected by the Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture, the event was formally celebrated with the arrival of Ambassador Wallace Chow from the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in the Philippines. 

The four-day run recreated the sights, sounds and flavors of the enduring Taiwanese night market scene offering shoppers a unique and authentic taste of the Beautiful Island. 

Two Chefs, Four Hands, One Amazing Dinner

The final day of Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024 was capped by an exquisite Four Hands Tasting Dinner by Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco in Flame Restaurant at Discovery Primea. The event revealed yet another layer in the flavorful weave of Taiwanese pork with the creative renditions of Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco for the Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI). 

Chef Carlo Miguel is currently the Culinary Director at CloudEats, the largest Cloud Restaurant Group in Southeast Asia while Chef Luis Chikiamco has led the food and beverage operations at Discovery Primea since the opening. The wealth of experience and depth of expertise from the two chefs promised an evening of pure pork love with the finest Taiwanese pork. 

Hosted by Valerie Tan, Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco shared their culinary stories reinterpreted in the various courses served that evening... 

...starting with a trio of tasty appetizers highlighting Taiwanese pork. Inspired by Taiwan's traditional flavors, Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco weaved their own modern and inventive take for a elegant feast. The dinner also provided a sneak peek at the infinite culinary possibilities with Taiwanese pork and various pork products.

The culinary journey with Taiwanese pork began with T-Ham Pork Shoulder Adobo Rillettes paired with black garlic and balsamic ketchup draping the palate with comfortingly familiar yet refreshingly new and unique flavors. The T-Ham Pork Shoulder brings a flavorful depth with its delicate savory notes enhanced by the nutty hints of black garlic and the sharpness of balsamic ketchup for that elegantly balanced finish. 

Is there anything better than bacon? Grab a piece. And grab another...

The Smoked Bacon with Kimchi Apple on a soft Mantou bun brings a savory richness to the palate with the T-Ham Smoked Bacon complemented by the subtle sharpness of the sweet and tart kimchi apple. Each contrasting note comes together perfectly enhancing the blend of flavors. 

No Taiwanese feast is complete without sausages, and the Black Ridge Pork Sausage with rice sausage, pickled cucumber and raw garlic brings bold notes inspired by Taiwanese street food. 

The flavorful parade of flavors continue with even more tasty courses by Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco at Flame Restaurant...

...followed by the Crispy ODIVA Black Pork Belly with Sambal matti, soft egg, cilantro, baby greens and crispy shallots. Beautifully plated, the juicy pork belly with its layer of delicately crisp crackling brings a delectable play on textural contrasts with each bite.

The clean flavors of the ODIVA Black Pork Belly comes through followed by a gentle hint of nutty sweetness perfectly complemented the sambal, egg and shallots. The soothing and mild whisper of heat from the sambal lingers on the palate, tempering the savory richness of the pork. Each unique note comes together seamlessly in a masterfully executed pork rendition by Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco highlighting the qualities of Taiwanese pork. 

And this is just the first of four savory main courses for the evening...

The Pork Ravioli "Danzai" with Du Hsiao Yueh minced pork ravioli, Cha I Shan pork neck chashu and pork trotter broth, prawn and beansprouts is another elegant interpretation by Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco incorporating traditional elements with a contemporary twist. 

The multiple layers of richness from the ravioli filling of minced pork, the pork neck chashu and pork trotter broth combine for an indulgent medley of pure pork goodness in one dish. The briny sweetness of the succulent prawn with its fresh snap adds yet another layer of flavor and texture to the dish. 

The Lapu-Lapu with Black Ridge Dried Sausage XO Sauce, Brussels sprouts and celeriac purée teased the palate with its exquisite subtle and even nuanced notes from the buttery grouper. The Black Ridge Dried Sausage XO Sauce adds that flavorful punch without overwhelming the fish smoothened by the celeriac. The play on flavors is both elegant yet unrestrained with the Black Ridge Dried Sausage XO Sauce for the perfect finishing touch. 

Finally, the Roasted ODIVA Black Pork Belly "Charsiu" paired with matchang, chestnuts, spare ribs ragu, salted egg and pork floss becomes a nostalgic ode to classic Taiwanese culinary traditions with its nostalgic flavors. The flavors of the tender pork belly are clean and more pronounced delivering a savory burst followed by the distinct notes and textures from the other components of the dish. It was the perfect ending to an all Taiwan pork feast. 

For dessert, Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco draw inspiration from Taiwan's famous pineapple pies with the aptly named Pineapple with 5 Spice caramel, pork fat puff pastry and Don Papa Rum vanilla ice cream sprinkled with crunchy chicharon dust. The use of Taiwanese pork from starters to dessert not only captured the versatility of pork but the culinary artistry and creativity of Chefs Carlo Miguel and Luis Chikiamco. A fitting ending to the four-day Love Taiwan: Taiwanese Pork Festival 2024 roadshow, and timely too with the holidays just around the corner. 

Guests at the special 4-Hands Dinner collab were also presented with the unique Hakka-style Tangerine Cake with chocolate for the picture-perfect sweet ending. 

The love for pork may be universal, but Taiwan Pork and the traditional Taiwanese dishes associated with pork makes a serious case for being on any pork lover's list. Ready to fall in love with pork all over again? It's time to say yes to Taiwanese pork...

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