Steven Crook – författare

There is a compelling story behind Taiwan’s recent emergence as a food destination of international significance. A Culinary History of Taipei is the first comprehensive English-language examination of what Taiwan’s people eat and why they eat those foods, as well as the role and perception of particular foods.Distinctive culinary traditions have not merely survived the travails of recent centuries, but grown more complex and enticing. Taipei is a city where people still buy fresh produce almost every morning of the year; where weddings are celebrated with streetside bando banquets; and where baristas craft cups of world-class coffee. Wherever there are chopsticks, there is curiosity and adventurousness regarding food. Like every great city, Taipei is the sum of its people: Hard-working and talented, for sure, but also eager to enjoy every bite they take.Drawing on in-depth interviews with the leading lights of Taiwan’s food scene, meticulously sifted English- and Chinese-language materials published in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, and rich personal experience, the authors have assembled a unique book about a place that has added all kinds of outside influences to its own robust, if little understood, foundations.

This new, thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt's Taiwan - written by a Taiwan expert, locally resident since 1991 - is the consummate travel companion for exploring a fascinating destination that has been transformed from an agriculturally focussed dictatorship into perhaps Asia's freest and most tolerant society - a cultural mash-up with a vibrant folk religion, surprising food scene and wildlife-rich landscapes ranging from beguiling islands to 4,000-m-high mountains.Although often described as 'more Chinese than China', Taiwan is actually a complex blend of 18th-century China, ancient Austronesia and 20th-century Japan, with dabs of post-war Americana. More than 58% is covered by forest, making the country as interesting for its wildlife (much of which occurs nowhere else in the world) and outdoor activities as for its cities and cultural offerings. Outdoors, there is much to choose from. Kenting, Taiwan's first national park, boasts superb beaches and excellent birdwatching. With 51 mountain peaks topping 3,000m, Shei-Pa features some of Taiwan's finest alpine scenery. Islands include Xiao Liuqiu (a coral jewel surrounded by clean seas), Penghu (where green turtles nest on windswept beaches) and Green Island (where you can snorkel before soaking in one of the world's three saltwater hot springs). Despite earthquake damage, Taroko Gorge remains an unmissable geological wonder, while East Longitudinal Valley excels for hiking and white-water rafting.Of urban highlights, the vibrant capital of Taipei offers much delight, the world-class National Palace Museum being the undisputed jewel in its crown. The former capital, Tainan, is renowned for culinary delicacies and ornate temples. Lukang is crammed with antiquity. In Sanyi, Taiwan's foremost woodcarving centre, watch local artisans at work.New elements for this edition include the Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum; the reopened Southern Cross-Island Highway; and updated travel details to reflect impacts of the 2024 earthquake and Typhoon Gaemi. Written by Steven Crook, who has travelled to every corner of the main island and each outlying archipelago, and keenly understands what international visitors are likely to enjoy and what they need help with to appreciate, Bradt's Taiwan is the perfect guidebook for your visit.