The Taiwan market “TaiwanFest.NYC”, widely popular among New Yorkers, held its first event of the year on May 11th at the Culture Lab LIC in Long Island City, Queens. The event attracted many locals and tourists to stop by and taste delicious Taiwanese cuisine while enjoying performances. About 30 booths offered a variety of Taiwanese snacks such as bubble milk tea, stinky tofu, salt and pepper chicken, pan-fried buns, freshly squeezed sugarcane juice, and ai-yu jelly drinks. There was also a cultural performance area on-site, allowing New Yorkers to enjoy a weekend filled with “Taiwanese flavors” on Mother’s Day.
The organizer of the Taiwan market, Hsu Bo-Cheng, mentioned that they will continue to host market events until September to promote Taiwanese culture and cuisine. He said that new vendors and innovative elements will be introduced each year so that people can not only taste delicious food but also learn about the culture. This year, Taiwanese singer “Jillyeah” and tango dancer Mandy Chou were invited to elevate New Yorkers’ understanding of Taiwan.
Hsu Bo-Cheng encouraged Taiwanese Americans to start their own businesses and learn relevant commercial experiences through market activities. The market will continue to welcome vendors to participate, enriching the market with a variety of delicious Taiwanese snacks.
The Taiwan market will also participate in the “Passport to Taiwan Festival” on May 26th and subsequently hold monthly events at Culture Lab LIC. The next event will take place on June 8th (Saturday).