THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN TAIPEI IN OF COMMERCE THE AMERICAN CHAMBER TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS TAIWAN January 2021 | Vol. 51 | Issue 1 Vol. January 2021 | 中 華 郵 政 北 台 字 第 5000 號 執 照 登 記 為 雜 誌 交 寄 Issue Sponsor 1_2021_Cover.indd 1 2021/1/4 1:23 AM MESSAGE FROM BAYER to begin diligently applying sustainable concepts to their everyday lives. Promoting Gender Equality Another SDG that Bayer Taiwan has made a priority is gender equality, launching its women’s empowerment initiative HerHeroes in September in 2020. The program saw Bayer partner with local NGO The Garden of Hope Foundation, as well as local gynecologists, to hold workshops and roundtables focused on women’s reproductive health. The event coincided with the Bayer Promotes Sustainable 60th anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Development to Achieve birth control pill, a significant milestone for women’s reproductive rights and a “Health for All, Hunger for None” fitting time for the company to promote the notion of “your body, your choice” hile the COVID-19 pandemic NGOs to push forward its commitment to among young women in Taiwan. has wreaked havoc on the sustainability and a better world for all. W lives and livelihoods of billions around the world, it has also presented Bayer Innovation Award: humankind with a unique opportunity Empowering Innovation on Campus to consider how the way we live impacts In 2018, Bayer Taiwan began offering the environment and the future of our its annual Innovation Award, an initiative planet. With humanity facing an aging that aims to spur innovation, especially and growing population, the fallout from among the island’s youth, in three major climate change, as well as water scarcity fields vital to both Taiwan and Bayer: and a loss of biodiversity, it is clear that Human Health, particularly as it relates to #TaiwanFoodHero : Sustainable Agriculture urgent and more rapid progress is needed. aging and Agriculture. Seeing Taiwan as an optimum As we make our way into the new year, At this year’s competition, which environment for promoting innovative it is important for societies, governments, took place in June, Bayer recognized sustainable agricultural practices, Bayer and businesses worldwide to reflect on four outstanding innovators whose ideas has also partnered with local farmers how to minimize the negative effects of targeted issues such as healthy aging and associations to introduce the “Prophet these circumstances more effectively. zero hunger. Recipients of the award will Rice (先知稻)” healthy seedling technology receive consultation from local biomedicine to the island’s rice growers. The system 2030 Sustainability Commitment in Health and accelerator/incubator H. Spectrum and works similar to a vaccine, boosting the Zero Hunger National Chung Hsing University’s “immunity” of rice crops to threats such Setting an example in this regard is Startup@NCHU Innovation Center on how as rice blast fungus, sheath blight, and multinational life science Bayer. Reflecting to turn their ideas into action. parasites like the leafroller and stem borer. its motto of “Health for all, hunger for Through use of Prophet Rice, farmers none,” the company has been actively 2020 Volunteer Day : Introduce UN Sustainable can reduce by half their pesticide use, working toward the United Nations’ Development Goals to Children saving them time, labor, and costs. This Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a Taking advantage of Taiwan’s relatively technology also opens a new chapter in set of 17 objectives that seek to provide a safe and virus-free status, Bayer Taiwan environmentally friendly agricultural shared blueprint for peace and prosperity also held its Volunteer Day at the Yu Le production, cementing Bayer’s commitment for people and the planet by 2030. Elementary School in Nantou County to a sustainable future. In countries across the globe, this year. A team of around 20 volunteers Bayer’s portfolio of leading businesses from the company traveled to the school in health and nutrition have helped in December, hosting a soccer competition contribute to disease prevention and and other games to help students treatment, food security, and sustainable understand the importance of working agricultural practices, among many other together to achieve the 17 SDGs. Through efforts beneficial to humanity and the the use of fun, interesting, and inclusive environment. In Taiwan, the company educational activities, Bayer hoped this has partnered with local governments and event would propel students and volunteers 2 TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS • JANUARY 2021 Bayer.indd 2 2021/1/4 1:24 AM ADVERTORIAL Authentic Italian Cuisine with a Taiwanese Touch at Marco Polo Recommended in particular is the New Zealand Premium Lamb Rack, grilled in the Marco Polo’s Josper brand charcoal oven and served with Jerusalem artichoke and truffle sauce on the side. The mouth- watering tenderness and strong flavors of iners at the Marco Polo, located the lamb are enhanced by the artichoke’s on the 38th floor of Shangri- rich nuttiness and buttery texture. D La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, will No true Italian meal is complete notice that there is something delectably without dessert, and when it comes unique about the dishes on offer from to sweets, Marco Polo never fails to specialties into his dishes. Influenced by the its current Black Truffle Set Menu. disappoint. Chocolate lovers will celebrate recent popularity of lavender flower tea at Concocted by head chef David Hsu, the the Tortino con Cuore Liquido di Taiwan’s tea stalls, for this season’s menu menu features a luxurious selection of Cioccolato, a classic lava cake made with he created the Ravioli alla Lavanda, which high-end traditional Italian fare with buckwheat and filled with viscous melted consists of lavender and parmesan ravioli modern flourishes and the incorporation chocolate that flows gently across the garnished with house-made semi-dried of local Taiwanese ingredients, allowing plate once the lucky diner cuts through its grapes and wild berries and topped with a customers to sample the full spectrum of solid outer shell. champagne foam. flavors in each successive dish. The quality of the Black Truffle Set As the meal begins, diners seeking to is already very high when the menu is get their palates up to speed may order launched each autumn, Hsu says, but the Culatello e Melone, Italian Culatello it reaches its peak in the cool winter ham served with lightly sweet Taiwan months as all the different components are cantaloupes and punctuated by the crisp tweaked to perfection over time. crunch of honeycombs and pungent kick Reserved and modest, Hsu attributes of Gorgonzola. Other appetizer options much of the creativity and success of his include the Carpaccio Di Salmone, which menus to his expertly trained, world- features vodka-cured salmon, cucumber, class kitchen staff. He also stresses his mini carrot, cream cheese mousse, roe, appreciation of Marco Polo’s customers, and mesclun field salad. Meanwhile, the whose support have helped carry the Capesante Scottate in Padella con Purea Chef Hsu is no newcomer to the restaurant through what has been a very di Cavolfiore e Tartufo boasts a powerful world of culinary arts. With well over a difficult year for the food and beverage blend of pan-seared scallops, sambuca decade of experience cooking in some of industry. cauliflower purée, sautéed baby spinach, Taipei’s finest restaurants alongside world- “Everywhere you go, you can find and Italian black truffles. It is sure to renowned Italian chefs, Hsu has worked Italian food,” says Hsu. “It’s a style that delight any connoisseur of fine Italian his way up from absolute novice to master everyone knows how to make. But Italian cuisine. chef. His tenure at the Marco Polo began food that is made well and with care – in 2014, and this year he was promoted to that is something that the customer can the position of chef de cuisine. definitely perceive, and it is the biggest Hsu says the key to crafting the Marco strength for me and my team at the Polo’s menu, which changes each season, Marco Polo.” is to adjust and improve upon time- honored Italian cuisine, modifying it to accommodate the local Taiwanese market while taking care to preserve its original flavor and style. He also enjoys using all of the different culinary elements from Entrées on the Black Truffle Set Menu Italy, from red and white meat to fresh span a wide range of high quality meats seafood and vegetables. and seafood, from U.S. and Japanese One of Hsu’s favorite practices is steak to Iberico pork and Boston lobster. thinking about how to integrate Taiwanese TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS • JANUARY 2021 3 Shangrila.indd 3 2021/1/4 1:25 AM CONTENTS 6 President’s View Despite COVID-19, Taiwan’s Food Scene Continues to JANUARY 2021 VOLUME 51, NUMBER 1 Flourish By Leo Seewald Publisher 發行人 8 Taiwan Wakes Up to Leo Seewald 李豪 Cruelty-Free Eating Senior Advisor 資深顧問 Cage-free eggs at supermarkets Don Shapiro 沙蕩 and vegan fare at restaurants Senior Editor 資深編輯 are just some of the changes Jeremy Olivier 歐嘉仁 taking place as part of a move- Art Director/ 美術主任/ ment spearheaded by local Production Coordinator 後製統籌 animal rights groups and con- Katia Chen 陳國梅 scientious businesses. Manager, Publications Sales & Marketing 廣告行銷經理 By Dinah Gardner Caroline Lee 李佳紋 American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan 129 MinSheng East Road, Section 3, 12 Experiencing Taipei’s 7F, Suite 706, Taipei 10596, Taiwan Authentic Japanese Cuisine P.O. Box 17-277, Taipei, 10419 Taiwan Tel: 2718-8226 Fax: 2718-8182 e-mail: [email protected] Taiwan’s capital offers some of website: http://www.amcham.com.tw the best, most affordably priced 名稱：台美商會工商雜誌 發行所：台灣美國商會 Japanese food outside of the 臺北市10596民生東路三段129號七樓706室 電話：2718-8226 傳真：2718-8182 Land of the Rising Sun.