TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Pingtung County Government on Sunday hosted a dumpling contest near the Victorystar, where contestant Ho Hsien-yung (何賢勇) won the top prize with a cilantro-flavored dumpling.
“I began making dumplings after retiring from factory work,” Ho said, according to Liberty Times. He said he switched from a planned peeled chili pepper dumpling to a cilantro version because his daughter liked the herb.
The county government said 10 finalists squared off and presented both classic and unexpected flavors, drawing long lines of visitors. Judges sampled each entry and said the competition was tight, with every dumpling standing out in its own way.
CNA reported that food writer Han Liang-yi (韓良憶), chefs, media hosts, and last year’s champion served as judges, alongside 150 preregistered members of the public who also voted. The top three winners were a cilantro pork dumpling, a cabbage dumpling, and a colorful vegetable dumpling.
“Dumplings are a must-have for Lunar New Year,” Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) said, per Yahoo News. She said the event was meant to encourage people to spend more time at the site, with spring couplet writing, holiday shopping stalls, and a lantern display adding to the festive mood.
The Victorystar is a restored former military dependents’ housing complex in Pingtung that has been turned into a cultural and tourism hub. The site now hosts markets, exhibitions, and seasonal events, making it a popular stop for both locals and visitors.
