More Than Just Boba: Explore Taiwan's Unique Food Culture Through Streaming Platform TaiwanPlus
TaiwanPlus, a new streaming platform from Taiwan, is meeting this interest with an array of free programming that offers an education on the history, culture, and diversity of Taiwan through the lens of food.
From boba tea to popcorn chicken to bao, Taiwanese food is becoming more popular and more visible in the United States. Meanwhile, as geopolitical wrangling over Taiwan’s status has increased, so has overall interest in Taiwanese culture. TaiwanPlus, a new streaming platform from Taiwan, is meeting this interest with an array of free programming that offers an education on the history, culture, and diversity of Taiwan through the lens of food.
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More Than Just Boba: Explore Taiwan's Unique Food Culture Through Streaming Platform TaiwanPlus (Photo: Business Wire)
“Food is an incredible way to connect with other cultures and to learn about the many influences that have shaped Taiwan and its unique food traditions,” says TaiwanPlus Acting CEO Michael Yu. “We hope that through our free programming, viewers will come away not only excited to eat a tasty Taiwanese meal, but with a deeper understanding of this thriving and dynamic nation.”
On “Chez Jorge Taiwanese Vegan Cuisine,” 20-year-old George Lee, whose vegan take on Taiwanese dishes went viral during the pandemic, demonstrates some of the recipes that have earned him hundreds of thousands of followers and a cookbook deal with an American publisher.
On “Cooking with Ahma,” Asian-American journalist and cookbook author Clarissa Wei demonstrates the intergenerational bonding power of food, as she learns to cook from a local Taiwanese grandmother.
On “Jason’s Table: Shocked and Surprised,” MasterChef runner-up Jason Wang introduces Taiwanese dishes to guests from around the world. In the most recent episode, they taste different versions of vegetarian dishes and guess which one was recommended by the Michelin guide — a nod to Taiwan being named a top vegetarian food destination by CNN. “I consider myself a food educator as well as a chef, and TaiwanPlus is an ideal forum to introduce more people to the flavors that shaped me, growing up in Massachusetts with immigrant parents from Taiwan,” says Wang.
In “Taiwan’s Food Delights,” viewers get a deep dive into everything from Taiwan’s famed exotic fruits; to the nostalgic cuisine of military dependents’ villages, where families from across China shared their cooking; to the Japanese colonial history of Taiwanese bento boxes, or “bian dang.” One episode about pineapple cake — the treat presented to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her recent visit — shows how the food industry sparked a revival in wild pineapple farming.
“Cooking with Ahma,” “Chez Jorge Taiwanese Vegan Cuisine,” “Jason’s Table: Shocked and Surprised,” and “Taiwan’s Food Delights” — along with many other food and culture shows— are available at www.TaiwanPlus.com.
- Chez Jorge Taiwanese Vegan Cuisine is a 30-episode series featuring George Lee, a popular Instagram influencer with a global following, and his quick tips on cooking Taiwanese vegan delicacies.
- Cooking With Ahma is a program in which Clarissa Wei, a Taiwanese American working on her own cookbook, learns how to make a dough knot soup (mian-ge-da) from YouTube influencer Wang Pei-jen. At the age of 70, Wang is a feisty online personality with over 200,000 subscribers, whose channel is dedicated to vegan recipes inspired by her late mother's cooking.
- Jason’s Table: Shocked and Surprised: MasterChef co-runner-up Jason Wang introduces influencers from different countries to some of Taiwan’s most authentic and unusual dishes. Through games, Jason introduces international audiences to Taiwanese cuisine and explores the context behind the nation’s rich food culture.
- Taiwan’s Food Delights is a 38-episode program showcasing the diverse cuisines and food cultures in Taiwan. Through interviews with chefs, restaurant owners, and foodies, audiences can explore the stories and histories under the Taiwanese dining tables.
About TaiwanPlus
Based in a thriving democracy at the heart of the most dynamic and fastest-growing region on earth, we are the first and only English language, global news and entertainment media platform from Taiwan. TaiwanPlus delivers independent and impartial daily news by international journalists focused on global and local events, bringing you the stories from Taiwan that will resonate across the world. With our unique position in geopolitics and international trade, TaiwanPlus also provides an inside look at Taiwan-China relations with in-depth reporting and analysis.
We showcase Taiwan’s uniqueness in culture and lifestyle – as well as the best from Taiwan’s food, travel, music, and entertainment – and what binds us together as part of a global community. TaiwanPlus produces three daily newscasts five days a week, develops long and short-form features, curates movies and other entertainment programming, creates engaging social media content, and much more. Wherever you are, on whatever device, TaiwanPlus delivers world-class content from Taiwan’s perspective.
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