The aroma of salt and pepper chicken, the line in front of the gua bao and Taiwanese snack stalls, along with the music, dance, and cultural performances on stage, brought a strong “Taiwanese flavor” to Bridgewater, New Jersey on Sunday. The annual Taiwan-America cultural event “Taiwan Yes! Market Fair” took place on August 30 at an outdoor plaza in a shopping center, bringing Taiwanese night market, food, music, and cultural experiences all the way to New Jersey, attracting many non-Chinese families as well. From taste, performances to learning Mandarin, it was a chance for local communities of different ethnicities to participate.
This year, the event was larger in scale compared to last year. Wang Yiru, director of the New York Chinese Cultural and Education Service Center, stated that Taiwan Yes! was first held last year and this year it expanded to a total of 67 booths. She mentioned that the organizing team aimed to bring the success of Passport to Taiwan to New Jersey, “replicating Taiwan’s night market culture in New Jersey,” and encouraging participation from residents of different ethnic backgrounds.
The event featured a variety of Taiwanese food stands and creative marketplaces, with classic night market snacks such as pearl milk tea, salt and pepper chicken, braised pork rice, gua bao, and grilled squid lined up on one side. On the other side, there were Taiwanese cultural displays, children’s games, puppet shows, and student works. The event also integrated the “Big Apple Music Festival” and celebrations related to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, transforming a food-focused night market into a cultural carnival.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the “Taiwanese Good Food X Mandarin Good Learning” international lecture series organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council. Two professional chefs from Taiwan demonstrated Taiwanese cuisine on-site, combining food, culture, and Mandarin teaching, allowing people not only to line up for snacks but also to further understand the Taiwanese life and language behind each dish.
The event introduced various classic Taiwanese food recipes, including gua bao, sesame oil chicken, salt and pepper chicken, using dish names, ingredients, and preparation processes to facilitate Mandarin learning. The on-site demonstrations also covered these popular Taiwanese snacks.
Chef Zhang Keqin from Taiwan has been in the food industry for 30 years. He mentioned that this trip, representing the Overseas Community Affairs Council in promoting Taiwanese snacks and cuisine overseas, marked the start of a North American tour alongside Chef Lu Kaiyuan; and New Jersey was the first stop of this 32-day journey. Zhang Keqin described the crowd at the event as “much more than we imagined.”
Regarding the significance of this tour, Zhang Keqin stated that the team carries a “strong sense of mission,” hoping to “use food for diplomacy.”
Accompanying him, Lu Kaiyuan has been working in the food industry for 25 years and is currently the head chef of the Michelin-starred restaurant, Ten Xiang Lou, at the Taipei Landis Hotel. He expressed that gua bao and braised pork are among the Taiwanese dishes he excels at.
Wang Yiru mentioned that this year, two professional chefs were specially invited to provide demonstration lessons, not only introducing Taiwanese cuisine but also teaching simple Mandarin, aiming to “convey Taiwanese culture through food.”
The event also integrated resources for Mandarin education, such as the Princeton Chinese School’s Taiwan Chinese Learning Center (TCML), making “eating Taiwanese food” not just a taste experience but also an entry point for learning Taiwanese Mandarin and culture. The design of “Taiwanese Good Food X Mandarin Good Learning” brings together the separate aspects of food culture and language education into one living scenario: learning to cook a dish while also learning to say its name in Mandarin.
Li Zhijiang, the director of the New York Economic and Cultural Office, participated in the event for the second year. He noted that many Taiwanese living in New Jersey do not regularly participate in large overseas community activities. Taiwan Yes! provides an opportunity for everyone to gather and many people even bring along their American friends, making it a great platform for “citizen diplomacy.”
Li Zhijiang pointed out that the Taiwanese community in New Jersey comes from various backgrounds and possesses strong professional expertise. One of the significant meanings of this event is to allow Taiwanese individuals who are usually scattered across different places to have the chance to meet. He mentioned that Taiwanese night markets are “world-famous,” and for those who have not been to Taiwan, this is a great opportunity to get to know Taiwan.
After being held for two consecutive years, the event has gradually become an annual gathering for the Taiwanese community in New Jersey. Zhong Wenzhong, the chief planner of the event and commissioner of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, mentioned that there are many Taiwanese residents who have lived in New Jersey for decades. Every time he attends the event, he reunites with friends he has not seen in decades, creating a special emotional connection akin to a “Taiwanese reunion.”
Another notable feature at this year’s event was the increase in participation from non-Chinese attendees.
Mohan Chanduluru, an Indian IT professional living in New Jersey, attended for the first time with his son. He mentioned that he saw news about the Taiwan event on the shopping center’s website. Having been exposed to many Taiwan-manufactured toys in his childhood, he was impressed by the quality of Taiwanese products. Therefore, upon seeing the event, he decided to bring his child to learn about Taiwanese culture.
Chanduluru expressed his hope to engage in cultural exchange through this opportunity, allowing his son to try different foods and see what new experiences Taiwanese cuisine and culture can bring. Upon entering, he immediately tasted rice-based snacks and spring rolls, exclaiming “very delicious,” and expressing his wish for his family to visit Taiwan one day.
Christina Androulakis from Hillsborough was also a first-time attendee. A local coffee shop owner recommended the event to her; she already had a preference for Taiwanese food. Therefore, her biggest expectation upon arriving was to enjoy the food, watch dance performances, and interact with others. She mentioned being very open to new experiences and was eagerly looking forward to the event.
The stage performances also brought different ethnic families closer to Asian culture. Seth Horvath from Somerville brought his son Lucas. Lucas has been learning taekwondo for over five years and currently holds a second-degree black belt, winning two silver medals at the AAU National Championships in Florida this year. Seth praised the Taiwan Yes! event as “very exciting,” with delicious food and friendly people; Lucas mentioned that the greatest takeaway from martial arts has been “discipline and respect.”