"Taiwan is the kingdom of fine food," said Chao Yung-chuan, president and chief executive officer of Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), at yesterday’s press conference to launch the festival. "This is where you can find almost any kind of cuisine — Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, western-style. We launched the festival to let more international friends and local people enjoy the variety of Taiwan cuisine."

TAITRA is the main organizer of the Taste of Taiwan Cuisine 2009, which runs from June 1 to June 30. The first festival was held in 2006.

The "Taiwan Gourmet Passport," a pocket-sized booklet, features information on the 220 participating restaurants that are well experienced in catering to international guests.

"The participating hotels and restaurants will offer exclusive discounts for those who visit the restaurants with the 偲aiwan Gourmet Passport,’" he said. "Restaurants will provide free drinks or desserts with every meal." The "Taiwan Gourmet Passport" is available at venues frequently visited by international business travelers, such as the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall, Nangang Exhibition Hall, and the Tourism Bureau’s Tourist Service Center at Taoyuan International Airport.

June in Taipei is usually the busiest show period with more than 40,000 foreign visitors at shows like COMPUTEX Taipei, DISPLAY Taiwan, Photonics Festival and FOOD Taipei. This is one reason why TAITRA decided to hold the Taste of Taiwan Cuisine this month.

With this booklet in hand, local and international visitors can savor the most genuine Taiwanese cuisines at affordable prices, said Chao.

Food festival to showcase diversity of Taiwan cuisine