Hualien Int’l Exchange Lecture: Land, Industry & Culture Through Food

(中央社訊息服務20250902 10:17:17)Hualien, with its long coastline and abundant natural resources, is a land where agriculture and seafood flourish. Local ingredients from this region often appear on state banquet menus. When food speaks not just of flavor but of land, culture, and values, the chef’s role naturally extends beyond the kitchen into the heart of community and identity. The third session of the Hualien County Government’s International Exchange Lecture Series will be held on Sunday, September 14, at the Hualien County Government Auditorium. The featured speaker, Chef Lin Jen-Chung of Escoffier Private Kitchen, will deliver a talk titled “State Banquet Craft Meets Hualien Flavors.” Drawing inspiration from Hualien’s mountains and seas, he will explore how food can serve as a medium for cultural dialogue and culinary diplomacy.

According to the Hualien County Government, Chef Lin is known for turning local ingredients into a global culinary language. In 2023, he was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Community Affairs Council, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand to participate in the Oceania Culinary Arts Challenge, where he earned a silver medal. He was also selected as one of ten top Taiwanese chefs to prepare the gala dinner, introducing international audiences to Taiwan’s traditional outdoor community banquet culture (bento). Chef Lin founded Escoffier Private Kitchen in Hualien, where he combines classical French techniques with the distinct character of eastern Taiwanese ingredients. His cuisine distills the forest aromas and coastal rhythms of Hualien into dishes that are both refined and deeply personal. In the lecture, he will share his creative process—from field research and sourcing, to constructing flavor profiles and designing cultural context. He will also illustrate how ingredients like Chike daylily, Ruisui pomelo, and Guangfu red quinoa can be reinterpreted into a flavor language that resonates internationally.

His signature dishes, such as Wine-Scented Bread & Steak and Golden Brick, reflect not only flavor innovation but also the intersection of Hualien’s natural bounty, cultural memory, and culinary philosophy. The lecture will also address a broader question: as local governments promote agriculture, encourage young people to return to rural communities, and pursue local revitalization, can food serve as a practical pathway to change? Drawing from years of collaboration with small-scale farmers, Lin will present an agri-food model unique to eastern Taiwan. This approach integrates procurement strategies, farming principles, agri-food education, and communication at the table. It offers valuable insights for public institutions, young entrepreneurs, and professionals in the culinary field.

To help participants experience the transformation of ingredients and culture firsthand, the event will include a live cooking demonstration and limited tasting session. Using seasonal ingredients from Hualien, Chef Lin will prepare a creative dish on site while explaining the thought process and cultural translation behind it. This is more than a lecture. It is an experience that brings all five senses to life. All are welcome to register online.

Event Information
Title｜State Banquet Craft Meets Hualien Flavors
Date｜Sunday, September 14, 2025, 14:00-16:00 (Doors open at 13:30)
Venue｜Hualien County Government Auditorium (No. 17, Fuqian Road, Hualien City)
Registration｜Online registration; successful applicants will be notified by email
Registration Link｜[https://shorturl.at/DkVft]
Contact｜Director Liu, 0933-257163