To promote the Taitung white shrimp industry, a dashing chef interacted with the audience on-site, teaching them how to cook Taitung white shrimp.

▲The Taitung County Government held a press conference titled "Chefs Invite You to Taste Premium Shrimp," where celebrity chef Guo Zhiyi recommended large, fresh Taitung white shrimp. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government; same below)

Reported by Wang Zhaolin, Taitung

To promote Taitung’s white shrimp industry and highlight the use of pristine Pacific seawater along with improved farming techniques, the Taitung County Government organized the "2017 Taitung White Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Plan – Chefs Invite You to Taste Premium Shrimp" press conference on the afternoon of the 28th. The event attracted participants from the Fisheries Agency, the Aquaculture Research Institute, local restaurant operators, fishing associations, and the county government’s Agriculture Department. County Magistrate Huang Jian-tang and guest celebrity chef Guo Zhiyi strongly endorsed the large, fresh Taitung white shrimp and encouraged locals and tourists to enjoy them.

In his speech, Huang Jian-tang stated that over the past two years, the county government has worked with the Eastern Marine Biology Research Center of the Fisheries Research Institute to promote locally farmed white shrimp. By tapping into deep-sea water resources, they facilitated a joint investment by five farmers' associations (Taitung, Chihshang, Guanshan, Luye, and Changbin) in deep-sea shrimp farming. The shrimp are raised in seawater 57 meters deep, taking about four months to harvest with one month of preparation. After harvesting, the shrimp undergo vibration to expel sand, followed by freezing at minus 35 degrees Celsius for three hours to preserve their sweet and fresh taste, then stored at minus 24 degrees Celsius. The shrimp are flavorful, meaty, and suitable for various cooking methods. Currently, the local price is around NT$250 to NT$380 per catty. He emphasized that improved breeding and farming techniques will help the white shrimp industry achieve new success and become a signature product of Taitung.

At the event, celebrity chef Guo Zhiyi interacted with the audience and demonstrated two shrimp dishes, showcasing the natural flavors of the ingredients with less oil, salt, and guilt—highlighting the best ways to prepare white shrimp in dishes like "Crispy Garlic Shrimp" and "Beer-Flavored Shrimp." Local Taitung restaurants, including Zhonghua Japanese-Chinese Fusion Cuisine and Maruhachi Restaurant, also presented their signature shrimp dishes, such as Golden Shrimp Tartare, Black Rice Shrimp Balls, Romance Papaya Squid Shrimp, Yuzu Vegetable Shrimp Vinaigrette, Phoenix Lychee Shrimp Fried Rice, Red Quinoa Pan-Fried Shrimp Patties, Japanese-Style Health Shrimp, and Terra Cotta Rosemary Shrimp. The delicious, succulent shrimp left everyone wanting more, and shrimp farmers joined together to celebrate this "Taitung Premium Shrimp" feast.

The county’s Agriculture Department noted that the Taitung County Government is actively promoting an integrated concept for the white shrimp industry, using the themes of "farm-to-table," "slow food," and "slow city" to drive in-depth tourism that respects Taitung’s land and culture. This event also featured 4,000 brochures with featured shrimp dishes, printed by the Eastern Marine Biology Research Center of the Fisheries Research Institute, available for visitors at tourist centers. For those wanting to explore the exquisite flavors of shrimp dishes while experiencing the local emotions and warmth of Taitung, they are welcome to visit.

The originally scheduled "2017 Taitung White Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Plan" – "Taitung Premium Shrimp Tasting Event" on Sunday, October 8, 2017, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Kaohsiung Hanshin Dome Plaza, has been rescheduled to Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Kaohsiung Big City Mall Plaza. Everyone is welcome to attend.