Representing 13 cities and townships countywide, the dishes comprise signature local ingredients. They were designed by Chen Ying-chen and Chiu Wen-chi from NDHU’s Department of Arts and Design.
Examples include flying fish and braised pig’s feet, a well-known delicacy of Fengbin and Wanrong townships, respectively.
Since the ingredients all come from local suppliers, producing the dishes is an eco-friendly process involving a minimal carbon footprint, Chen said.
In addition to the dishes, the pair designed an array of bento wrappings and utensils to express their passion for the cultures of Hualien. The wrappings for Fenglin Township carry iconic images such as Lin Tien Shan Forest Farm and come in a variety of distinctive colors, Chiu said.
The design duo expressed a desire to sell bento dishes after graduation and have produced a promotional video to assist in this purpose.
Pan Sheau-shei, dean of NDHU’s College of the Arts, said the institution will seek help from the county government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau to initiate a collaboration between cultural product designers and local businesses to support more graduates like Chen and Chiu. (DF-JSM)
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