TAINAN (TVBS News)—The state banquet for the presidential inauguration was held at Formosa Yacht Resort in Tainan on Monday (May 20), marking the first time a state banquet was held outside Taipei, the country's capital.
In his speech, President Lai Ching-te thanked the visiting dignitaries for attending his and Vice President Hsiao's inauguration ceremony earlier in the day in Taipei and for their firm friendship with the Taiwanese people.
Lai also explained that Tainan was selected to host the state banquet to encourage regional revitalization. After serving as Tainan's mayor for seven years, the newly elected president gave the guests a tour of the Tainan Science Park and highlighted that Taiwan's most cutting-edge TSMC semiconductor industry was located there.
Cuisine was a focal point of a state banquet. This time, dishes on the inauguration menu showcased the diverse society of Taiwan, which combines the unique features of Hoklo, Hakka, Chinese, indigenous, and Southeast Asian cultures.
Among other highlights, the first course, seasonal vegetables with sauces of five cultures, included a Hoklo-style Dongquan chili sauce, a tangy and sweet kumquat sauce perfect for any Hakka dish, soy cheese brought over by Chinese settlers, te'nas as a nod to indigenous cuisine, and Southeast Asian immigrants’ favorite satay sauce.
The banquet took place at Tainan's Formosa Yacht Resort, where guests were surrounded by Taiwan orchids decorated with various designs, including the national flag.