About
Taiwanese Hakka chef, Ted Liao, presents a series of immersive workshops exploring the relationship between food, land, sound and cultural memory.
Inspired by this year’s curatorial theme, “Islands in the Wind,” the experience examines how flavour can carry stories of migration, colonial history, terroir and evolving cultural identity through the lens of Taiwanese Hakka cuisine and island botanicals.
Using Canadian ingredients such as maple syrup, seasonal fruits and spices alongside Taiwanese elements including Grass Jelly Herb, Shiso, Lei Cha and Shell Ginger, participants will create handcrafted cola beverages inspired by the flavours of Taiwan. Through aroma, sound, storytelling and sensory interaction, the workshops trace the connections between colonial sugar culture, modern soda drinks and the landscapes that shape our tastes and memories.
More than a cooking class, “Collective Island” is a shared exploration of memory, place and the future of food. Drawing from Ted’s ongoing work in sustainable cuisine, Hakka culture and plant-based gastronomy, the workshops invite participants to experience Taiwan through flavour, conversation and collective discovery.
About Ted Liao
Ted Liao is a Taiwanese Hakka Chef, television host and sustainable food innovator, best known as the co-founder and Chef of Monsoon, a Michelin-selected restaurant in Taiwan known for its contemporary plant-based Neo-Hakkanese cuisine.
Born into a Hakka family, Liao’s work explores the relationship between land, memory, migration and flavour. Rather than replicating tradition, he reimagines Hakka food culture through a contemporary lens. He uses fermentation, wild mountain botanicals, local agriculture and storytelling to create immersive dining experiences rooted in Taiwan’s cultural landscape.
With a background in food science and brewing technology, Liao has developed a distinctive culinary language that combines sustainability, terroir and cultural identity. Under his direction, Monsoon was selected in the Michelin Guide Taiwan for three years and received the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023 for its ingredient-driven philosophy and sustainability-focused approach.
Beyond the restaurant, his practice extends into interdisciplinary collaborations spanning art residencies, educational initiatives, cultural exchange projects and television. His award-winning show on Hakka TV, “A Meal & A Meet,” received the Best Lifestyle Program award at the Asian Television Awards.
Dates & Times
Tickets
Venue
235 Queens Quay West