Chiayi County Milkfish Carnival Kicks Off with Great Fanfare

September to November is the milkfish harvest season. To let the public experience and enjoy the freshest milkfish, Chiayi County held the 2019 Milkfish Carnival on October 6 at Xinwen Sports Park in Budai Township, offering free tastings of various milkfish dishes. The highlight, the "Milkfish King Championship," saw Chen Shui-qian win the champion title in the delicious category. County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang pointed out that milkfish produced in Budai supplies 60 percent of Taiwan's total output, and Chiayi's agricultural and fishery products are both excellent and fresh, so everyone is welcome to buy them.

The Milkfish Carnival kicked off with great fanfare on the 6th. The county government rolled out activities including a deliciousness competition, fish ball DIY, a super killer exhibition match, creative cuisine demonstrations, specialty dish tastings, and sales of premium milkfish products. Crowds lined up in long queues to enjoy milkfish balls, milkfish steaks, milkfish rolls, milkfish congee and crispy fried milkfish fins, making the scene bustle with excitement.

In the "Milkfish King Championship" deliciousness contest, the panel of judges selected 7 "best-tasting" milkfish (one champion fish and six merit-award fish). The "Super Killer Exhibition Match," in which quick-handed chefs prepare milkfish, was fiercely competitive, and visitors could watch up close as skilled members of the production and marketing group deftly and nimbly deboned boneless milkfish belly in the shortest time.

County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, Legislator Tsai Yi-yu, Acting Director-General of the Fisheries Agency Chang Chih-sheng, Budai Township Mayor Chen Feng-mei and County Councilor Tsai Wei-chieh also joined in a DIY milkfish ball contest. County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang rolled out 12 milkfish balls in 1 minute, and the appearance of the fish balls made it obvious at a glance that he had not been practicing, making everyone present nearly die laughing.

Now is exactly the season when milkfish are harvested and at their most delicious, making it a perfect time for the public to take an autumn outing to Xinwen and enjoy the most authentic and highest-quality taste of milkfish.