Trailblazing chef among the highlights of Vancouver's TaiwanFest 2026

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“If you look at most restaurants here, so many of the foods served are from other places using imported ingredients,” he said. “You ask people when they last ate Hakka cuisine and the answer might be sometime last year, because it’s considered old-fashioned. But this is a very Taiwanese style of cooking that celebrates local ingredients and flavours, and I think if it changes to become more healthy and future-forward, it will blossom.”

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One of the ways that Liao believes he can expand the taste for his “New Hakka” flavours is by telling the stories behind dishes and how he keeps them alive and vital in his own creations. One look at the Monsoon menu and it becomes very clear that the chef has a particular affinity for beverages, which include such delightfully sounding tipples as a tea made with Taiwan olives, olive leaves and lemongrass, or a red dragon fruit, wild blueberry and banana smoothie.

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In his TaiwanFest workshops, the chef will discuss using Canadian ingredients with Taiwanese products to create his custom cola drinks. These limited-attendance events will be held Sept. 5-7 on the 600 block of Granville Street.

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“In Taiwan, Hakka have a traditional drink cincau, which is a dark black tea or cola-style drink made with grass jelly and other ingredients,” he said. “So for Vancouver, I created a special workshop on how to make a variation of this using Canadian ingredients like maple syrup to make a custom mix to serve with soda water. It’s like a healthy, plant-based, Hakka-style take on Western cola that will leave you thinking about this cuisine and Taiwan.”

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5 events to check out at TaiwanFest 2026

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TaiwanFest 2026 runs Sept. 5 to 7 at various locations in Vancouver and includes a wide assortment of Tawainese arts and culture on display via performance and interactive events. There will also be a range of family-oriented activities taking place in the downtown area around the Vancouver Art Gallery and along the 600 and 700 blocks of Granville Street. Full program information is available at taiwanfest.ca.

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Here are five events not to miss at this year’s festival.

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Taiwanese author Natalie Chang Photo by Credit: Courtesy of Taiwanfest 2 /Submitted: ASEA

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Hot Potato: A Review of Trauma Literature in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea

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When: Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m.

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Where: Montalbano Family Theatre, L8, Central Library

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Taiwanese novelist Nathalie Chang leads a discussion with Japanese author Toson Shimaaki and South Korean writer Kim Sun on the current discourse around everything from familial sexual assault to wartime abuse, women’s histories and more.

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Houshan Rice Inspection Station

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When: Sept. 5-7, noon to 6 p.m.

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Where: 600 block Granville Street.

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Join members of the rice-growing Fan family to learn about integrating sustainability into food and agricultural education and learn about how rice goes from paddy to your plate.

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Funking Up The World with Kristin Fung

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When: Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m.

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Where: Pancouver Stage, šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square, Vancouver Art Gallery

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Vancouver-born musician Kristin Fung lays down a set of CantoFunk and MandoJazz with her ace local quartet.

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When Mountains Sing with Nanwang Sisters and ZiXuan & Slow Train

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When: Sept. 5, 6 p.m.

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Where: Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St.

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