Free-range chicken

Free-range chicken

　　Free-range chicken

　　If you head to a farm in the suburbs, you’re bound to find free-range chickens to catch. There’s a wide variety of breeds, but the highlight is that you can have them cooked and served on the spot. Huatian Town has many Taiwanese businesses, and one of the most “popular” ways to prepare the chicken is “sake chicken.” Just take a look at how it’s served, and you’ll immediately understand why it’s so popular: this dish uses 1.5 kilograms of 20° pure Taiwanese rice wine as the broth base, with ingredients like American ginseng, codonopsis root, angelica root, ginger slices, and red dates added in, along with a whole free-range chicken. It’s first simmered for half an hour, but even after uncovering the pot, you still can’t eat yet. First, the rice wine in the pot is ignited — with a “whoosh,” flames leap up across the surface of the pot, instantly filling the room with the aroma of alcohol. The flames last for about 10 minutes. Only once the flames die down is it time to dig in. By then, the flavor of the chicken is infused with a rich, boozy aroma, and the heat hits you right in the face. Nowadays, it’s best to have the air conditioning on full blast when eating this, though it’s most delightful in winter.

　　Taiwan’s Huaguo Orchard goes even further, featuring rustic villas where you can fish, barbecue, and admire fruits and flowers in the orchard. Later on, you can even play golf. The facilities at Furong Resort Area are even more comprehensive, offering activities such as hiking, swimming, and rafting. You can also sample local specialties like mountain snails, mountain fish, and free-range chicken there. A side trip to Furongzhang Holiday Village for some relaxation is also a real treat.