Local cuisine is one of the quickest and best ways to introduce Taiwan to the world. In line with its mission to discover Taiwan’s beauty and uniqueness and then to share these with friends around the world, the iSee Taiwan Foundation in 2016 sponsored the DonAmigo “Quest for Unique Culinary Stories” campaign.

The campaign encouraged people from all walks of life to share their personal experiences and stories related to the iconic Taiwanese dish DonAmigo (rice tube pudding). Highlighting its nostalgic appeal and piquing international interest, the campaign manifested the foundation’s strong and focused efforts to promote the best of Taiwan to the international community.

DonAmigo is deeply entwined with Taiwanese culture. The main ingredients of the dish include glutinous rice, mushrooms, pork, soy sauce, and other locally sourced items. The Quest for Unique Culinary Stories campaign, issued an open call for stories about the Taiwanese cultural dish.

Not only did the campaign request the public to recommend their favorite DonAmigo restaurants but also to narrate in words and pictures their perspectives on the culinary, cultural, and aesthetic importance of this iconic Taiwanese delicacy. Each of the 10 award-winning entries tells a distinctly interesting and emotive story related to DonAmigo. These stories were published online and are readily available to the public.  

Altogether, the campaign received 1,280 story entries and 202 restaurant recommendations, which were vetted and incorporated into a DonAmigo guide map showing the way to the best DonAmigo eateries nationwide. Fans of DonAmigo and great Taiwanese cuisine are welcome to navigate the online map and click on any county or municipality to get complete information on the DonAmigo restaurants there. Please visit the official DonAmigo Quest for Unique Culinary Stories campaign website (http://donamigo.com.tw/) to access the culinary map and other related information.

DonAmigo Award Winner submitted by the Move-Together Café & Hostel