Article by Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported
The “2011 Changhua Q" Rice Ball Festival” will take place on December 21 at the Changhua County Gymnasium. The event will feature 18 of the area’s hottest Q" rice ball vendors, and 1,200 members of the public will act as judges. After tasting three delicious Q" rice balls, they’ll vote for their top three favorites. The event will use a points-based voting system to determine the winners of the “Golden Praise Award,” “Golden Delicious Award,” and “Golden Q Q" Rice Ball Award.” Judges will also be eligible to enter lucky draws for great prizes such as electric scooters and iPad2s.
In early Changhua, agriculture was the main industry, and Q" rice balls were a morning energy booster for many. (Photo by Traveler Wei Ruyu)
Judges in the audience section will be grouped in units of 10 people, and registration is mainly via phone reservation. If all 90 tables (for 900 people) are reserved, you may join the waiting list or register on-site on the day of the event. Reserved audience judges must check in at the “Reserved Audience Judge Registration Area” by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the event. Those who fail to check in by 3:00 p.m. will have their reservations canceled.
For those queuing on-site, tickets will be distributed starting at 2:30 p.m. at the “On-site Audience Judge Queue Area,” with a total of 30 tables (for 300 people) available. Entry will begin at 3:00 p.m.
Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan (pictured left) promotes the Q" Rice Ball Festival and has earned strong recognition from locals. (Photo by Traveler Wei Ruyu)
Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan said, “Changhua has 26 townships and cities, with over 200 Q" rice ball shops. Some open in the morning, while others serve lunch, dinner, or even late-night meals. That means you can enjoy Q" rice balls any time of day in Changhua. Paired with the county’s award-winning rice, it’s one of the most beloved everyday dishes among locals. We welcome everyone from across Taiwan to come enjoy the food and join the fun!”
On the day of the event, there will also be a student creative Q" rice ball dish exhibition area, where Datong Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School, Mingdao University, and Tatung Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School will present traditional Q" rice balls with innovative twists. In addition, seven rice ball vendors will offer 2,500 tastings of delicious rice balls.
Student groups are also getting creative with Q" rice balls. This photo shows Tatung Commercial & Industrial Vocational High School’s “Prosperity in Bloom Crispy Dongpo Pork,” which uses almond slices to give the Q" rice its crunchy texture. (Photo by Traveler Wei Ruyu)
Q" Rice Ball audience judge group reservation hotline: 02-2735-8778, ext. 11, 18, or 25 (Ms. Xie, Ms. Liu, or Ms. Dong). Reservations are open until December 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On holidays, please download the registration form from the Changhua County Government website, then send it back via fax to 02-2735-9855 or e-mail to trust801@gmail.com to make a reservation.
This year’s participating Q" rice ball vendors include: Sandun Rice King, Chimei Highway Restaurant, Yongcheng Keng Rice Ball, Aqin Rice Ball, Datong Rice Ball, Night Market Rice Ball, Old-Fashioned Rice Ball, Aquan Rice Ball, Auntie’s Pig Trotter Rice Ball, Ahe Rice Ball, Beimen Rice Ball, Laoxin Rice Ball, Azan Pig Trotter Rice Ball, Ahong Pork & Pig Trotter Specialty Shop, Tian Shifu Braised Pork Rice, Jinjin Folk Snacks, Grandma’s Secret Recipe, and AQV Q" Rice Ball.