German tourist delighted by affordability of Taiwanese food

German tourist delighted by affordability of Taiwanese food

2024-11-07

Now for a look at the cost of living. A media platform recently invited a German tourist to comment on the affordability of food here, and she was amazed by the good value for money of Taiwanese hospitality. A spectacular surf and turf feast at a teppanyaki restaurant cost her just NT$730, around 20 euros. She says she would never get such a good deal back in her homeland. Although inflation has risen recently, stories like this illustrate how the cost of living is even harsher in many other countries.

Chunks of steak fry with onions and black pepper. Taiwanese teppanyaki is a very popular dish – not just with locals, but with foreign tourists too.

All the way from Germany, Jasmin is visiting Taiwan, and had her socks knocked off by a bite of affordable and delicious teppanyaki.

Pan-fried flounder, four black tiger prawns, steak, a mix of shrimp with crab and cuttlefish, teppanyaki tofu, scallion omelette, two dishes of greens, white rice, soup and drinks on the side. This surf and turf banquet for two is brimming with dishes. How much would you guess it cost?

Jasmin
German tourist
730… 20 euros, kind of? Wow! I mean, for this amount of food, this is very affordable. Probably in Germany you get one shrimp!

Happily showing us the receipt, Jasmin is amazed. Taiwanese teppanyaki is famous for its good value. Jasmin jokes that 20 euros could hardly get more than a shrimp in Germany. Although salaries in Taiwan are much lower, goods are high quality and more affordable here, compared to in Europe, North America, Japan or South Korea.

Member of public
It’s a very cheap meal for two. It’s got a bit of everything.

Inflation has been high in Taiwan recently, causing many to bemoan financial pressures. However, compared to the inflation in many other countries, the cost of many goods in Taiwan is several times lower. Some of life’s pleasures are still well within reach.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

德國妹吃台式鐵板燒超驚嚇！雙人海陸套餐在德只能買一隻蝦

2024-11-07

台灣美食聞名全球，不少外國旅客慕名而來，知名影音平台邀請一名德國女子Jasmin來台旅遊，還帶她品嚐平價鐵板燒，大嗑’’雙人海陸套餐’’，菜色非常澎湃，吃完一看到帳單730元，讓她驚呼說，這個價位在德國只能買一隻蝦，直呼台灣俗擱大碗。

大塊菲力牛，加上洋蔥、黑胡椒，不少人特愛台式鐵板燒，現在連外國人都讚不絕口。

德國女子Jasmin來台旅遊，品嚐平價鐵板燒，沒想到這一吃，讓她超驚艷。

乾煎比目魚、4隻草蝦、菲力牛，還有蝦仁、蟳肉、花枝三鮮、鐵板豆腐、2顆蔥蛋、兩樣青菜、附白飯，還有湯、飲料，雙人海陸套餐，超級澎湃，但這樣價格猜一猜要多少錢？

[[德國客 Jasmin]]
“730元，大概是20歐元左右，哇這麼多食物，價錢很合理，今天付的錢在德國，大概只能吃一隻蝦吧”

大方秀出發票，Jasmin一陣驚呼，因為台灣鐵板燒「俗擱大碗」，換算下來，20歐元，在德國只能買得起一隻蝦。雖然薪資所得大不同，不過比起歐美、日韓，台灣還是物美價廉。

[[民眾]]
“2個人吃這樣是很便宜，它什麼都有啊”

不少人抱怨，國內物價通膨高漲，壓力不小，但實際跟其他國家相比，台灣物價便宜好幾倍，CP值又高。

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The Australian Firefighters Calendar has been raising funds for charities since 1993. The firefighters visited Taiwan between late October and early November to introduce their new calendars, during which they traveled to Pingtung County Animal Shelter to donate NT$200,000 to the sanctuary. Besides charity events, they also tried various Taiwanese delicacies. FTV reporter Stephany Yang met the firefighters.

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Mickey Galanos
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The Australian Firefighter Calendar firefighters visited Taiwan to unveil the 2025 calendars and donate to Pingtung County Animal Shelter. One of the editions included the first special edition of the Australian/Taiwanese Firefighters Calendar, which was shot back in March. Six Taiwanese firefighters flew to Australia to participate in the collab between the Australian Firefighters Calendar and the Taiwanese National Fire Agency. Proceeds from the special edition will go to support the Pingtung County Animal Shelter.

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The energy of that particular shoot was something special. Everybody was high-fiving. Everybody had a great time. You can see from the end product that everybody shot really well and have came out with a really good calendar.

Mitchell Brunello
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Getting a chance to see the whole length of the country from the south to north has been an awesome experience. Just seeing all the variety that Taiwan has to offer. All the food and especially the people have been so welcoming and friendly. Just non-stop food and drinks. The hospitality is off the charts. It has been really good and I will definitely come back.

Paddy Stevenson
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The hospitality we received and care we have received is just absolutely amazing. I have never felt experienced anything like it anywhere else in the world.

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The Australian Firefighter Calendar is released annually to support a variety of charitable causes. The firefighters have visited Taiwan twice this year and say they are looking forward to visiting Taiwan again next year.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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President sees off Taiwan’s team to APEC summit

The APEC Leaders’ Summit this year is scheduled for Nov. 15 in Peru. The special representative for Taiwan’s president will be Lin Hsin-I, a former economics minister. On Thursday morning, the Presidential Office held a ceremony to send off Lin’s team. President Lai Ching-te expressed confidence in Lin to deepen relations with APEC members, only shortly after the US elected its next president.

For the APEC Leaders’ Summit this year, President Lai-Ching-te appointed former Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-i as special representative. The president said he’s confident in Lin’s capabilities to deepen co-operations in this trip.

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I believe with Representative Lin’s professional skills, diverse experience and experience attending APEC-related meetings, Taiwan’s voice and perspective will be accurately delivered to other economies in APEC.

Lin Hsin-i
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I and everyone on the representative team will do our best. We’ll show how Taiwan is a good, trustworthy and responsible member of the international community, and garner support for Taiwan from more international friends.

Lin said he hopes to gain more international support for Taiwan at APEC. The ceremony, which is on Nov. 15 in the morning, comes on the heels of the US’ presidential election. On Wednesday evening, Lai tweeted a message of congratulations to the US President-elect Donald Trump. In the same post, he expressed confidence in the Taiwan-US partnership to continue being built on shared values and interests and safeguard regional peace and stability. Robert C. O’Brien, said to be a favorite for the next US secretary of state replied to the post, writing “It was a great night for America and our partners.”

Earlier reports circulated that Lai was planning to make a phone call to congratulate Trump, which the Presidential Office denied.

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Yesterday, President Lai had already at the first moment he could, extended congratulations through our representative office in the US. For now he has no other plans to do that again in a phone call.

The rumor came at a sensitive time: just before Taiwan’s representative team is heading off to Lima.

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America can’t be great again without Taiwan: Foreign minister

The future of Taiwan-US relations has become a hot topic of debate in Taiwan, with a second Trump presidency on the horizon. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on Thursday went to the Legislative Yuan to speak on the matter. He reiterated that the US’ support for Taiwan was bipartisan, adding that America couldn’t be great again without Taiwan.

Foreign minister Lin Chia-lung on Thursday headed to the Legislative Yuan, to speak on the outcome of the US presidential election. Lin said he was confident about the future of Taiwan-US ties under a second Trump administration.

Lin Chia-lung
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What do ice-cream, pickles and toothpaste have in common? All three are considered liquids at airport security checks. As such passengers carrying these items must follow strict carry-on rules, or have their items thrown away. The issue has recently caused much debate online. One netizen says that their heart broke when they were forced to throw away eight boxes of crème brûlée ice-cream from Japan.

A netizen once tried to bring eight boxes of crème brûlée ice-cream from Japan to Taiwan as carry-on. But they were all dumped into the trash at security. It’s a familiar experience for many.

Member of public
I ate mine right there and then. At the border check the officer said it’s not allowed. I asked, “Isn’t pudding solid?” But they still said no.

There are many restrictions regarding liquids on planes. Ice-cream is considered a liquid food product, so it won’t pass border check.

Lin Yung-chi
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It’s not just the pudding ice-cream. Even jelly, like the one I’m holding, can’t be brought onto the plane.

Some tourist favorites like yokan, pudding, kimchi, jelly, and even a popular brand of liquor candies from Hokkaido, are all treated as liquids. They can’t be brought on-flight if the volume exceeds 100ml. Same with toiletries, such as toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel. If you’re still bringing them in carry-on, make sure each product is packed in a container not exceeding 100ml in volume, and place all liquid containers in a clear plastic bag. In total, the capacity of the containers must not exceed 1,000ml.

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For liquids, they should not exceed 100ml, doesn’t matter if it’s a gel or paste. Even the cream in cream puffs, because they might get squashed accidentally. If you want to bring them back, you must put them in check-in luggage.

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At this popular mutton stew shop in Changhua’s Huatan Market, workers are working full steam to pack takeout boxes.

Thursday is Lidong, the first day of winter in the traditional lunisolar calendar. It’s customary to eat certain meals as a tonic on this day, and they sell out fast.

Member of public
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We expect to sell 600 to 700 servings, triple the usual amount.

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A lot of people have chronic diseases, and problems with high blood pressure, sugar and lipids. Or they have kidney disease. Patients like this can have some of these Lidong tonics when winter comes, provided that they have been evaluated by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. But when taking the tonic, it’s important to keep its fat and salt content in check, and to not have too much starch. That makes the tonics more beneficial, and won’t come with drawbacks.

Chinese medicine practitioners suggest alternatives such as four herbs soup, snow fungus, goji berries and lotus seeds, which can be taken regularly to achieve the same effects as a traditional tonic. They say that moderation is key, as too much of a good thing can have harmful effects.

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