Ginger & Cuisine: A Perfect Match – Savor Taizhou’s “Spicy & Hot” Delights!

This March, Luqiao, Taizhou, welcomed a unique culinary event—the first “Spicy & Warming” Banquet, held along the historic Ten-Mile Long Street, attracted nearly a thousand eager participants who gathered to savor an array of ginger-infused specialties.

At 10 a.m. March 2, under bright sunshine, Ten-Mile Long Street bustled with energy, filled with the rich, pungent aroma of ginger. Dish by dish, local chefs prepared traditional “Spicy & Hot” delicacies right on site, serving up everything from Steamed Yellow Croaker with Ginger Paste to Ginger-Steamed Hairy Crab, and even sweet treats like Ginger-Walnut Steamed Egg. Each of the more than ten dishes showcased ginger—a timeless ingredient—in creative and flavorful ways.

“Cheers!”

Among the participants was Qi Fan, an international student from Uzbekistan, who signed up with seven or eight friends. For her, the ginger-rich Luqiao cuisine was both novel and exciting.

“I’ve been in China for four years, but this was my first time trying jellyfish tossed with shredded ginger—it was delicious. I also tried ginger tea for the first time. It tasted great, and I heard it’s really good for health,” she shared. “I’d heard that people in Taizhou love ginger, and joining this event let me really experience Luqiao’s ginger culture. It was fascinating.”

Chen Long, another international student who arrived in Taizhou just last year, tried Steamed Yellow Croaker with Ginger Paste and Ginger Noodles with Mudskipper Fish. “It felt like stepping into a whole new world,” he said. “I really like yellow croaker. The food culture here is so different from my home country—I love Taizhou.”

The “Spicy & Hot” Banquet not only celebrated the rich culinary traditions of Luqiao but also served as a vibrant showcase of local flavors, adding a unique culinary landmark to the city. The venue was packed with diners eager to taste the warm, spicy, and savory ginger-infused dishes—the lively atmosphere as lasting and intense as the ginger’s kick.

For locals, dishes like Ginger-Steamed Egg are nostalgic childhood favorites. “I’ve recommended Ginger-Steamed Egg to friends from other cities,” said Wang Xinyi, a Taizhou local. “It’s exciting to join a thousand-person banquet and share our local ginger-inspired foods with people from all over.”

In addition to the feast, the event featured an immersive “Ten-Mile Traditional Wedding” experience—a series of interactive performances showcasing Song Dynasty wedding customs, including a bride’s departure ceremony and a festive palanquin parade, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience the charm of classical Chinese culture.

Looking ahead, Luqiao plans to launch the “Spicy & Hot” culinary industry initiative—the “Ten Key Projects”—aimed at nurturing renowned ginger-themed enterprises, restaurants, chefs, and signature dishes. The goal is to establish “Spicy & Hot” as another iconic Taizhou food brand, following the success of “Soft and Chewy ,” “Fresh & Savory,” and “Sweet & Delightful” specialties. Through these efforts, Luqiao aims to further strengthen the growth of Taizhou cuisine, elevate its culinary reputation, and support Taizhou’s bid to become a “World City of Gastronomy”.

Translator：Jiayang Lin