2015 Taiwan Baking & Gourmet Food Exhibition: A Grand Collection of Creative Desserts and Souvenirs

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

 
The “2015 Taiwan Baking & Gourmet Food Exhibition” kicked off sweetly on July 31 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 3. Organized by the Taipei Pastry & Biscuit Industry Association and in partnership with the Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism, the exhibition was themed “Creative Dessert Carnival and Taipei Pineapple Cake Culture Festival.” It brought together well-known baking businesses from Taipei to showcase their creativity and ingenuity. On the opening day, awards were presented to winning shops in the “Pineapple Cake” and “Nougat” competitions. This year, both the “Pineapple Cake” and “Nougat” contests featured traditional and creative categories, with particular attention drawn to the Creative Nougat Competition, which serves as a representation of “Taipei Pastry.”

On the opening day, Friday, July 31 at 2:00 PM, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je will personally attend the event along with Kuan-Te Wu, Chairman of the Taipei Pastry & Biscuit Industry Association, and Yi-Yu Yen, Director of the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism. They will dress up as bakers and use different types of flour pastry crusts or dessert exteriors paired with nougat to handcraft “Taipei Pastry.” The “Pineapple Cake” and “Nougat” competitions will kick off that day, with hundreds of entries competing for the championship. Who will take home the prize? Find out at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 3 on the afternoon of July 31, as Mayor Ko reveals the winners himself.

The “2015 Taiwan Baking & Gourmet Food Exhibition” will be held from July 31 to August 2 for three consecutive days at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 3. The event combines multiple themes including the Taipei Pineapple Cake Culture Festival and the Creative Dessert Carnival, aiming to let visitors savor Taipei’s diverse and delightful flavors of happiness. During the exhibition, four major themed competitions will be held, including “Pineapple Cake,” “Nougat,” “Souvenir Packaging & Gift Box Design,” and the newly introduced “Creative Dessert” category. The first 1,000 visitors each day will receive a free pineapple cake.

At the pre-event press conference for the “2015 Taiwan Baking & Gourmet Food Exhibition,” Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism Director Yi-Yu Yen said that “Taipei Pastry” is a flour-based product filled with nougat, with an exterior that leaves plenty of room for imagination. Through the creative ideas of baking businesses, more diverse, fusion-style products have been developed, representing the multicultural and old-meets-new atmosphere of Taipei. In the future, it will officially launch under the name “Taipei Sweetheart” (Honey Taipei), innovating Taipei’s souvenir offerings. This year, the Department of Information and Tourism actively assisted the association in organizing the event to further promote Taipei’s baked goods and creative desserts, hoping to win the hearts of many and let everyone discover Taipei’s sweet flavors. At the inaugural Creative Dessert Carnival, some businesses even introduced innovative products that mix traditional mung bean cake with rich chocolate, blending Chinese pastries with Western desserts to showcase a fusion of old and new—a true testament to the creativity of Taipei’s baking industry.

In addition to exciting competition activities, the three-day Taiwan Baking & Gourmet Food Exhibition also offers numerous giveaways from the organizers and exhibitors. For example, the first 1,000 visitors each day can receive one free pineapple cake. Additionally, the popular DIY experience classes—known for selling out every year—are expanding this year. Renowned baking businesses, including Wei-Ge Cake Shop, will demonstrate how to make handmade pineapple cakes, while Tommy’s Bakery will offer a nougat-making experience. Creative desserts will feature special DIY sessions where renowned bakers from De-Mai Foods teach participants how to decorate cupcakes with fondant. These hands-on baking experiences are limited in number, so sign up quickly. The stage area will also host several limited-time bonus activities—don’t miss out.