Local Flavors Take Center Stage! Huangyan Snacks Become the "Star Attraction" at the Taizhou Premium Food Week

On October 5th(2025), the fifth day of the Automobile Culture Week at the Future Auto City in Southeast Zhejiang and the 4th Taizhou Premium Food Week, the enthusiasm at the scene remained undiminished even though the holiday was halfway through. Among the more than 80 specialty stalls, local Huangyan snacks, featuring sweet potato steamed cakes, Maigutou (fried stuffed dough), and Ningxi steamed buns, captivated the taste buds of countless diners.

"I specifically asked for ice cubes to be added; it's cool and refreshingly delicious!" said Pan Jiali, holding a bowl of handcrafted fermented rice taro balls from Tianwaitian Hotel. Barely finishing the last sip, she couldn't help smacking her lips in praise. This autumn specialty is exquisite from ingredient selection to serving style—chewy taro balls paired with sweet fermented rice, dotted with plump red dates. Pan Jiali's preferred "iced version" added a refreshing twist to the originally mild flavor, with the coolness carrying the aroma of rice wine spreading on the tongue—sweet but not cloying. "I want to pack another portion to take home after finishing this!"

The sweet potato steamed cakes and Ningxi fresh pork Maigutou brought by Wang Dacui Catering are quintessential representatives of flavors from Huangyan's western mountainous areas. The golden, enticing sweet potato cakes exude a natural, subtle potato fragrance and have a soft, dense texture. The filling of Ningxi fresh pork Maigutou is a classic combination of minced fresh meat and preserved vegetables, creating a savory and deeply flavorful blend. Chefs skillfully flipped the cakes on the iron griddle; as they heated, the Maigutou gradually puffed up like small, round "bundles," their rich aroma whetting appetites from a distance. Many foodies made special trips just for this taste. "I'm buying some to share with my family. We can reheat them at home in an air fryer, and they'll taste just as good," said Xie Qing, a visitor who drove all the way from Jiaojiang,packed three of them in one to go.

The steamed buns at the Ningxi local specialty stall offered another kind of "homely taste." Bags of buns were neatly stacked on the table, the pumpkin, purple sweet potato, and plain wheat colors intermingling, looking especially appealing. Picking a bag and opening it, one could still feel the warmth of just-steamed buns through the packaging. "The buns are still warm! You can eat them right here!" staff enthusiastically greeted passersby. Local resident Ying Zhi bought three bags on the spot and immediately tore off a piece to taste. Chewing thoughtfully, she nodded in approval: "They're really chewy, just like the old-fashioned sourdough buns I ate as a kid. They'd be perfect as breakfast at home." She added with a smile, "Don't think I bought too much; our family can easily finish half a bag in one morning!"

From sweet soups to Maigutou, from sweet potato steamed cakes to handmade buns... these flavors hidden within the bustling city life not only captivated diners with their exquisite taste but also quietly awakened warm memories of hometowns and childhoods in people's hearts. They also allowed more visitors to genuinely appreciate the profound heritage and unique charm of Taizhou's food culture.

Translator：Jiayang Lin