Spanish State Banquet Chef Makes a Pop-Up Appearance at Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei

Photos & Text / Yu Tian

To celebrate Spain’s National Day, the Spanish Trade Office specially invited Sergio Garrido Cantero, Executive Chef of the five-star Spanish resort hotel Hotel Vincci Seleccion Posada del Pati, to Taiwan to prepare a state banquet. In collaboration with Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei, they held the “Autumn Appetite—A Taste of Spain” food event. Such rare opportunities are always fleeting—Chef Sergio only made a pop-up visit to Taipei for 10 days, guest-cheffing at the “Far Eastern Café” and “Marco Polo Restaurant,” authentically presenting the distinctive regional flavors of Spain to Taiwanese gourmets.

▲State Banquet Chef: Sergio Garrido Cantero.

▲Left: Mr. Rodrigo, Secretary-General of the Spanish Trade Office.

The state banquet chef chatted with a warm smile about his passion for traveling the world to share Spain’s vibrant food culture. He aimed to present the authentic flavors of Spain’s 2,500-year-old, multicultural cuisine, while also exchanging knowledge with Taiwanese chefs, allowing diners to journey through his homeland via the flavors of the dishes.

▲The Far Eastern Café was decorated with various passionate Spanish elements.

▲A sugar-coated flamenco dress, adorable and nestled among small national flags.

▲Of course, a state banquet must feature a national dish: Paella, Spanish seafood rice, was a must-have.

▲You can locate Spanish dishes by finding the national flags.

▲Loin of pork stuffed with vegetables.

▲Poached egg with vegetables and tomato sauce.

▲A whole row of Spanish dishes, colorful and tempting—you’ll want to try every single one.

One of my favorite pasta dishes, “Garlic Egg Sauce Fish Noodles,” doesn’t it look a bit like Cantonese chow mein? Or stir-fried rice noodles? Or even shredded chicken noodles? The noodles are fragrant, paired with mint leaves and topped with a white sauce, offering a very unique and layered taste.

▲Andalusian Chicken and Pork Soup with Mint.

▲This is a dish especially loved by the Secretary-General—the “Slow-Roasted Suckling Pig,” with its crispy skin and tender meat, is exquisitely refined and made me miss Spain so much.

▲Jamón with tomato bread.

▲Cod with spinach and chickpea stew.

▲Potato and bacon aspic.

▲Catalan fish cakes. (They’re filled with tuna, and you can even find these in local supermarkets.)

▲Bread with potatoes, omelet with garlic sauce.

▲The eye-catching sugar-coated flamenco dress—the folds of the skirt are just too adorable.

▲Almond cake is a very traditional Western dessert, and almost every restaurant in Spain serves this sweet treat.

▲Fried milk is also a classic among Spanish desserts.

▲Find the little Spanish flags in the dessert section—almost all of them are traditional and classic representative treats.

During this tasting, I tried many regional dishes not found in Spanish restaurants in Taipei. The chef also mentioned that although the dishes he prepared may not be overly complex, most are home-style or casual fare from Spanish households and neighborhood eateries. Bringing the most authentic local Spanish culinary culture into a five-star hotel and presenting it realistically made me deeply nostalgic for the regions these dishes represent.

Friends interested in Spanish cuisine can take this opportunity to get a taste of the highlights, and those planning to travel there soon can also use this to preview Spanish dishes—so you’ll know what to order when you arrive. Up！

During Chef Sergio’s guest appearance, from October 9 to 18, lunch at the Far Eastern Café starts at NT$1,020+10% per person, and dinner at NT$1,050+10% per person. On October 16 and 17, the Marco Polo Restaurant offers an evening wine banquet set menu at NT$3,680+10% per person.

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