Creative spin blends east and west at traditional banquets

Creative spin blends east and west at traditional banquets

2026-04-06

Southern Taiwan is known for its extravagant and luxurious banquet culture but that doesn’t mean that the master chefs involved aren’t looking for ways to innovate old traditions. A Po, a creative Tainan-based chef, serves up a deluxe sushi platter adorned with artistically-arranged cut apples and flowers. He also makes a mullet roe salad cup that fuses Eastern and Western cuisines. Let’s find out more.

This sashimi platter, adorned with intricate carved garnishes and floral decorations, is presented in a luxurious manner reminiscent of an emperor’s banquet. There’s also a mullet roe salad cup, featuring whole grilled mullet roe topped with apple slices and romaine lettuce. It’s a veritable fusion of East and West.

A Tainan-based banquet chef, A-po, with 13 years of experience, has even found creative ways to elevate post-meal fruit platters. His newly launched “Nine-Compartment Fruit Box” is presented like a bento box; each box contains nine kinds of seasonal fruit, arranged in an exquisite display that is truly eye-catching.

Member of the public
Commenting on new banquets
I’ve never received this kind of fruit gift box before. When I attended weddings in the past, it was usually just a single fruit tower, so I feel the host is extremely sincere and generous.

Member of the public
Commenting on new banquets
These days, banquets are getting more and more extravagant. If I received one, I would be very happy, it would feel like the host is showing great sincerity.

A-po
Banquet manager
We use relatively sweeter and fresher seasonal fruits, packaged in a nine-compartment fruit box. It’s bold yet refined. It also is a way for guests to take any leftovers home.

In the past, some master chefs have presented lobster cold dishes in gift boxes, packed whole abalone and fruit jelly into pull-top cans, and even showcased rows of giant prawns. Southern banquet culture is bold and extravagant, with each event posing a new creative challenge.

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

#Taiwancuisine #Taiwanbanquets #fusioncuisine

霸氣! 台南資深總鋪師秀創意精緻擺盤"九宮格水果盒"

2026-04-06

南部辦桌文化霸氣又豪華，每一次都是創新挑戰。台南擁有13年資歷的總鋪師發揮創意，推出豪華生魚片拼盤和中西合璧的烏魚子生菜沙拉，連飯後水果盤都玩出花樣，顛覆傳統水果塔，推出"九宮格水果盒"，精緻擺盤令人眼睛為之一亮。

生魚片切盤點綴華麗的雕花和花朵裝飾，彷彿宮廷饗宴般的豪華擺盤，澎拜又吸睛。還有烏魚子沙拉杯，整塊烤好的烏魚子擺上蘋果切片和蘿蔓生菜，中西合璧，美味兼顧創意。

台南擁有13年資歷的總鋪師阿博師，連飯後水果盤都玩出花樣，新推出的"九宮格水果盒"，提上桌時就像便當一樣，每一盒裡頭都有九種當季水果，精緻擺盤令人眼睛為之一亮。

[[民眾]]
“從來沒收過這種水果禮盒，之前參加喜宴都是一個的水果塔，所以覺得主家超有誠意”

[[民眾]]
“現在辦桌真的越來越誇張了，如果我拿到會覺得很開心，會覺得主人家誠意滿滿”

[[辦桌業者阿博師]]
“採用當季比較鮮甜，比較新鮮的水果，裝在九宮格水果餐盒裡面，提出去霸氣，又帶著精緻度的感覺，讓賓客吃不完也可以拿回家取用”

之前也有總鋪師將龍蝦冷盤用禮物盒方式呈現，還將整顆鮑魚和水果果凍裝進易拉罐裡，還有海大蝦排排吊登場。南部辦桌文化霸氣又豪華，每一次都是創新挑戰。

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Hung Kuo-chin
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It’s the first time Chiikawa mascots are to come to Taiwan, and we’ll hold Taiwan’s first meet-and-greet for Chiikawa. In addition, we will hold the world’s first Chiikawa-themed drone show here in Taitung on April 11.

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The Taiwan International Balloon Festival officially kicks off on July 4th. With Doraemon, Hello Kitty, and now also Chiikawa balloons to enjoy, this summer, everyone’s eyes will be on the skies over Taitung.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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A school of small gray fish swim energetically in the river. They may seem ordinary, but these are Formosan landlocked salmon, an endangered species endemic to Taiwan.

Liao Lin-yen
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Formosan landlocked salmon begin hatching in November. They rise to the surface after about 90 days at around 10 degrees Celsius, so these fish look to be about two months old.

These treasured baby fish were seen in February. The Taiwan Salmon Eco Center said it has waited a long time for this moment, as the species was on the verge of extinction with a population of only 200 in the 1980s. Over the past 30 years, the Shei-Pa National Park has restored habitats and released fish fry, helping the population to recover.

Liao Lin-yen
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Relax with a typical Taiwanese massage and enjoy a fried chicken larger than the face. You might think you’re at a Taiwanese night market, but no, this is actually Tokyo Skytree Town.

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Koah-pau, boba, and other Taiwanese classics can all be found in Tokyo, delighting the senses. Fried chicken cutlet seems to be a favorite in Tokyo. Even though one portion would set you back NT$240, multiple times more expensive than in Taiwan, the stall still sold 1,000 in a single day.

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As for the bus driver, he’s a Russian-born permanent resident in Taiwan, known in Mandarin as Lin Ya-li. He’s been in Taiwan for seven years now. He used to be a truck driver, but switched to buses four months ago. This was the first time he’s caught in a traffic dispute. Fortunately, he quickly resolved the issue by remaining calm, but even before this incident, he’s already developed mixed feelings toward Taiwan’s road traffic, especially in the south.

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He also says that it’s a lot more difficult to obtain a driver’s license in Russia than in Taiwan, and traffic law enforcement is also stricter.

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Coming from a country with stricter traffic rules, it’s no wonder passengers are satisfied with his careful and smooth driving.

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A large group of people wearing red walk side by side in twos with their hands clasped and praying as they move. But then…

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