Bluefin tuna cooking contests planned

Taiwanese businessmen in Shanghai said yesterday they and the Pingtung County government would hold simultaneous bluefin tuna cooking contests on June 16 on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, linked through a video conference.

Lin Chih-hung (林志鴻), one of the businessmen, said his company would bring in a 200kg bluefin, worth more than NT$2 million (US$60,105) for the contest in Shanghai, and that Taiwanese cooks in Shanghai who specialize in Japanese cuisine will be invited to show off their skills.

The contest in Pingtung County is being organized by the county's fishermen's association, Lin said.

He said renowned chefs from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and other gourmets would be invited as guests to observe the contests and that they would be treated to delicious bluefin dishes prepared by the contestants.

The contests will be held as part of Pingtung County's annual bluefin festival that takes place this month and next month at Tungkang (東港)fishing harbor.

Tungkang held its first bluefin festival in 2001. Since then, domestic demand for bluefin has continued to rise, while bluefin cuisine has also diversified beyond simple sashimi.

The bluefin tuna is probably the world's most expensive fish, with its top quality meat easily fetching US$200 per kilogram. It is also under very heavy pressure from overfishing.