Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

news: 2025 RESTAURANT ROUNDUP - TAIPEI MICHELIN EDITION

Hello friends!

I received a thoughtful gift package from Tairroir yesterday (thank you, Tairroir!), and it got me reflecting on how much has changed in the Taipei culinary scene over the past few years. I figured it was a good time to update the blog. Not sure who's still out there reading (hello if you're still with me!), but here's a little post to kick off the new year.

When Michelin first began awarding stars in Taipei, there was a fascinating cluster of three neighboring restaurants that collectively earned a total of 6 stars at its peak. These restaurants were at the forefront of Taiwan's fine dining scene being recognized:

  1. RAW – Founded by renowned chef Andre Chiang, RAW quickly became a sensation with its innovative approach, blending local ingredients with French and international techniques.

  2. Ryugin – This was a Japanese restaurant that set itself apart by focusing on traditional Japanese techniques with chef Ryohei Hieda incorporating uniquely Taiwanese ingredients, offering a cross-cultural dining experience unlike anything else in Taipei.

  3. Tairroir – Headed by Chef Kai Ho, Tairroir reinterpreted Taiwanese dishes and flavors, such as tea eggs or oysters cooked in black bean sauce.

In 2018, both Tairroir and RAW jumped from one Michelin star to two, a significant achievement for the Taiwan dining scene. Then, in 2023, Tairroir was awarded the ultimate recognition with three Michelin stars—a rare and prestigious honor that made it the first restaurant focused on modern Taiwanese food to do so.

RAW closed its doors in December 2024 with a "Last Dance" menu after 10 incredible years. Chef Andre Chiang decided it was time to focus on new projects and ventures, leaving behind a legacy that helped put Taipei on the map for fine dining and redefined the way the world saw Taiwanese flavors and ingredients. Ryugin never reopened after a temporary closure in 2022, marking the end of its unique fusion approach to dining in Taiwan.

But fans of RAW and Ryugin can try the new ventures of the chefs behind these influential establishments. In 2023, Chef Alain Huang, who was the "hands" of RAW for many years, opened Restaurant A, and Chef Ryohei Hieda, who had led the two-starred Ryugin, opened Eika. Both earned their own Michelin Star in 2024, and are on my list to try. 

And the Michelin landscape in Taiwan keeps growing. There are now over 50 Michelin starred restaurants in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, but as a list, it can be hit or miss- there are a few places on there that I am not a fan of.

Speaking of evolution, MUME, another leader in the Taipei casual fine dining scene, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Chefs Richie Lin, Long Xiong and Kai Ward reunited for a special anniversary dinner, bringing back OG dishes and it was a delicious walk down memory lane. The team’s dedication to both Taiwanese ingredients and sustainability has made it a favorite for those looking for a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience. I can't believe it's been ten years since Mume opened, and it's been amazing to see the empire of restaurants the chefs have each created since 2014 - from modern Australian (Canvas) to tacos (Masa) to modern Thai (Coast) and yakitori (Fumee). 

And some new and notable spots to try before Michelin blows them up

  • Chef Kin Ming Lam has been busy- he opened Golden and Afterglo after a quick renovation in the space that previously was Curious. He also opened casual noodle spot Little Lam and heads up Akin
  • Chef Florence Dalia is one of the few French female chefs in Taipei and opened 16 by Flo after leading Robuchon to two stars. She also has a casual concept Le Cep in the same space. 
  • Speaking of French restaurants, there's Clover by Jean Francois Piege at Bellavita, Season by Olivier Elzer at W Hotel 
  • There are a handful of Taiwanese female chefs recognized in the fine dining space- chef Vanessa Huang of Ephernite, chef Dana Yu of D Place, Asia's 50 Best Female Chef Lanshu Chen of Le Cote in Taichung and Le Beajour and Gubami Social in Taipei, chef Justine Li of Michelin Starred Fleur de Sel in Taichung
  • Tipsy Sparrow at Le Meridien and Bar by Impromptu opened by Michelin starred chef Paul Lee 
  • Recent faves this past year- Frassi (Italian by chef Iacapo Frassi), Orchid (modern Japanese with new chef Sato Kiyoshi), Fumee (chicken yakitori with Japanese chef Ryu Shunsuke), Canvas (modern Australian by chef Kai Ward), Zea (Argentinian by chef Joaquin Elizondo) and Inita (chef Kunihiro Hagimoto) (which is the only one I haven't been to, but I loved the dishes by chef Kuni at the collaboration dinner with Fumee). And of course, the usual JL Studio, logy and Mume. 

Looking ahead, I’m curious to see what comes next. As we say goodbye to some of these iconic places, there are always new spots to explore and revisit, and I’m excited to continue sharing those with you all. Happy New Year again, and here’s to another delicious year ahead!

2024 TAIWAN MICHELIN 

Three Michelin Stars 

  • Le Palais (Taipei)
  • Taïrroir (Taipei)
  • JL Studio (Taichung)

Two Michelin Stars 

  • L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon  (Taipei)
  • logy (Taipei)
  • Molino de Urdániz (Taipei)
  • Mudan (Taipei)
  • RAW (Taipei)

One Michelin Star (There are 41 in 2024!)


TAIPEI

  • (NEW)
  • A Cut 
  • Ad Astra 
  • Ban Bo 
  • Circum- (NEW)
  • de nuit 
  • Eika (NEW) 
  • Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne (Songshan) 
  • Golden Formosa 
  • Impromptu by Paul Lee 
  • INITA 
  • Ken Anhe 
  • Kitcho 
  • Ming Fu 
  • Mipon 
  • Mountain and Sea House 
  • NOBUO (NEW)
  • Paris 1930 de Hideki Takayama 
  • Sens (PROMOTED)
  • Shin Yeh Taiwanese Signature 
  • Sushi Akira 
  • Sushi Ryu 
  • Sushiyoshi 
  • T+T 
  • The Guest House 
  • Tien Hsiang Lo 
  • Wok by O'BOND (NEW)
  • Ya Ge 
  • Yu Kapo 
  • Zea


TAICHUNG


KAOHSIUNG


6 MICHELIN Green Star Restaurants


TAIPEI

  • EMBERS 
  • Hosu
  • Little Tree Food (Da'an Road)
  • Mountain and Sea House
  • Yangming Spring (Shilin)


KAOHSIUNG

  • Thomas Chien 

Thursday, March 21, 2024

news: 2024 TATLER DINING AWARDS - TAIWAN

2024 Tatler Taiwan Dining Awards



The last few years haven't slowed down restaurant openings in Taiwan, nor the awards ceremonies.  You might have heard of newer awards popping up, like 500 Plates (or Wu Bai Pan) with 100 judges from different industries each choosing 5 faves and then a tally to see which ones got the most votes. 

Another is Tatler Dining Awards, which started a few years ago for Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau.

Held at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Taipei, today was the inaugural Tatler Dining awards for Taiwan, with 3 categories- 15 Tatler Recommended restaurants, Tatler Top 20 and then Best of 2024.  Most of the restaurants are in Taipei, with a few from Taichung, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

Quite of a few of these restaurants are on my to do list- restaurants to eat at and restaurants to latergram. Which ones are you looking most foward to? 

15 TATLER RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS 

1. A Cut
2. Akin
4. Inita
5. le beaujour
6. Sinsera 24 (Taitung)
7. Mipon
8. Meowvelous
9. Ding Wang 
10. Ji Jia Zhuang
11. Danny's Steakhouse
12. Xiang Se
13. Le Palais
14. Molino de Urdaniz
15. Yonshin 

I've been to 11 of the 15 restaurants, and I really need to try Inita this year! 



2024 TATLER TOP 20 RESTAURANTS 

1. Akame (Pingtung)
2. Coast
3. de Nuit
4. Embers
5. Ephernite
6. Frassi
7. JL Studio (Taichung)
8. La Vie Thomas Buhner
9. Le Cote (Taichung)
10. logy
11. Longyue
12. Mingfu 
13. Mountain and Sea House
14. Oretachi No Nikuya (Taichung)
15. RAW
16. Restaurant A
17. Sho (Kaohsiung)
18. Silks House
19. Tairroir
20. Zea


2024 BEST OF THE YEAR by Tatler Dining


Best New Chef
L'Atelier Par Yao

Best New Restaurant
Restaurant A 
Chef Alain Huang

Best Interior Design
Inflorescence

Best Sommelier 
logy

Best Pastry Chef
Yu Chocolatier

Chef of the Year
Chef Max Wo
Silks House at Regent Taipei

Most Influential 
Chef Andre Chiang RAW

Best Service
Sens

Best Restaurant of the Year
logy 
Chef Ryogo Tahara 










Tuesday, August 30, 2022

news/michelin: 2022 TAIPEI TAICHUNG KAOHSIUNG MICHELIN STARS ⭐️



I spotted some friends posting from the 2022 Taipei Michelin Guide Awards, so I hopped onto Facebook to watch the livestream and screencap some highlights for you guys! 

The Michelin Guide now has four cities in Taiwan in their guide- adding Tainan and Kaohsiung for the first time this year to Taipei and Taichung



Michelin awarded 38 restaurants with stars for 2022, along with Michelin Green Stars, Bib Gourmand and Michelin selected restaurants (which confuses me a little bit- it's not a star, but I guess like an honorary mention. I'm not sure if the previous Plate category is still included also, or if this mention replaces Plate). 



Kaohsiung's Liberte and Sho managed to catch new stars, but none for Tainan. 




Five of the seven restaurants who were newly starred were in Taipei- Holt, Paris 1930 de Hideki Takayama (at Landis Hotel), Shin Yeh (yay!), Sushiyoshi and Yu Kapo. 




Chef Hiroki from Sushiyoshi seemed to be having the most fun with the mandatory photo ops onstage, making silly faces and heart signs with the Michelin Man and head of Michelin Taiwan. 




It was also a sweet moment when host Alex Niu made sure that Shin Yeh's founder Mrs. Lee got a photo of her chef receiving their first star. 


Le Palais remains the only 3 starred restaurant in the Taipei Michelin Guide, for the fifth year in a row, while JL Studio, Logy, Tairroir, Raw, Shoun Ryugin, Guest House and Robuchon kept their 2 star status. 




Highlighting Chef Justine Li of Fleur de Sel in Taichung and the wife owner of Ming Fu in the sea of male dominated chefs onstage. 



Congrats to all the chefs and restaurants that were honored this year. What do you guys think of the list this year? Any surprise inclusions or snubs? Comment below or DM me! 

2022 TAIPEI TAICHUNG KAOHSIUNG MICHELIN STARS 

1 MICHELIN STAR TAIPEI ⭐️ 
1 MICHELIN STAR TAICHUNG ⭐️ 
1 MICHELIN STAR KAOHSIUNG ⭐️ 
2 MICHELIN STARS ⭐️ ⭐️ 
3 MICHELIN STARS ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 
  • Le Palais (Taipei)

Sommelier Award 
Paris 1930 de Hideki Takayama
Lin Yun Shu

Welcome and Service Award
Fleur de Sel 
Pauline Pei-Ling Yu

Young Chef Award 2022
T+T 
Kei Koo and Johnny Tsai

Green Star 2022 for sustainable gastronomy
Mountain and Sea House
Yangming Spring
Embers 
Little Tree Food 



READ ABOUT PREVIOUS YEARS

Monday, May 30, 2022

#hungrylist/news: 10 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI + HSINCHU, MAY 2022

I'm always getting asked if I have any recent finds and I finally had time to put together a short list of places I've either really enjoyed and look forward to going back to (and haven't mentioned yet on IG), or places that are on my list to try! Will try to do this monthly because Taipei is always changing and opening new things, even during a pandemic! Congrats to all the new restaurant openings, I already have a few to mention for next month's list! 

10 BEST NEW-ISH RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI, MAY 2022 #HUNGRYLIST

1. ZEA
2. AT EASE
3. ANTIPODEAN FUJIN
4. POKEWORKS
5. FONDA MEXICO
6. ACME CAFE
7. CHEF MARKET 
8. BE GOOD
9. LILLA (HSINCHU)
10. HSINCHUKU (HSINCHU)

1. Zea

TAIPEI's NEWEST RESTAURANT IS A MODERN LATIN AMERICAN TASTING MENU WITH HEART, OPENED THIS MONTH BY HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM- ARGENTINIAN CHEF ELIZONDO JOAQUIN & DI HARN, @zea.tpe @elizondo_joaquin

106台北市大安區仁愛路四段300巷20弄5號 



2. At Ease

OPENED LAST FALL, IT'S IF IMPROMPTU  WAS A SPORTS BAR. CHEF PAUL LEE DREAMS OF STUFFED FRIED CHICKEN WINGS, BONE MARROW RICE, GOOSE FAT FRIES, BEER AND BASEBALL GAMES. @at_ease_tw




3. Antipodean Fujin

BRINGING AUSSIE BRUNCH + AVOCADO TOAST TO FUJIN ST IN BIGGER AND BRIGHTER DIGS. NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO NEIHU FOR QUEEN's BREAKFAST. @theantipodean

松山區民生東路五段27巷10號 / No. 10, Lane 27, Section 5, Minsheng E Rd, Songshan District

photo from @theantipodean

4.  Pokeworks

BUILD YOUR OWN POKE BOWL, FIRST BRANCH OUTSIDE OF THE MAINLAND. FINALLY REAL CALI-STYLE POKE BOWLS IN TAIPEI. THREE SCOOPS FOR ME PLUS AVOCADO AND LOTUS CHIPS. Read my review + more photos, click here!  @pokeworks.tw  

大安區復興南路一段107巷45號 / No. 45, Lane 107, Section 1, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District



5. Fonda Mexico

FLAUTAS, TACOS, GRINGAS AND ENCHILADAS, OH MY. I'VE BEEN GOING BACK ON REPEAT SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO SHARE MY LATEST FAVORITE MEXICAN IN TAIPEI. DON'T FORGET TO ORDER GUACAMOLE AND FIND OUT THEIR SPECIAL OF THE DAY. @fondamexico

台北市中正區羅斯福路一段123號 / No. 123, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District (02) 2351-5181



6. Acme Cafe 

AIRY GORGEOUS BRUNCH WITH A SHILIN VIEW. SO THAT'S WHAT's INSIDE THAT BUILDING. @acme.taipei

士林區劍潭路1號7樓 / No. Jiantan Rd 7FShilin District, 


photo from @acme.taipei



7. Chef Market at Chun Place


TAKE YOUR PICK AT DAZHI's NEWEST + FANCIEST FOOD HALL - FROM WOOLOMOOLOO TO WAGYU LAB, SUSHI BAR TO SAKE BAR, IT'S LIKE SOMEONE PUT ALL THEIR GOURMET FAVORITES IN ONE PLACE. NOW YOU KNOW WHERE TO GET BANANA CREAM PIE AND CHIRASHI BOWLS FOR LUNCH. @chefmarket_tw

台北市中山區樂群三路303號/ No. 303 Lewinsky 3rd Rd, Zhongshan District 




8. Be Good

NEWLY OPENED HUMBLE HOUSE NANJING's CAFE, MENU BY CHEF KIN MING LAM. CHICKEN AND EGG WAFFLES ANYONE? @begood.tpe

10491台北市中山區松江路116號2樓 / No. 116 Songjiang Rd, 2F Zhongshan District


9. Lilla

LA VIBES IN HSINCHU, BAKERY AND MENU BY TEAMS FROM GEN CREATIVE, BOTTLESS + SALT & STONE. @lillaeats

新竹縣竹北市莊敬南路29號 / No. 29, Zhuangjing S Rd, Zhubei City, Hsinchu 


10. Hsinchuku

OOH CHA CHA"s SISTER CAFE, ASIAN FUSION VEGAN IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE BUILDING IN HSINCHU. SOUTHEAST ASIAN FLAVORS SPICE UP THE PLANT FORWARD MENU, WHILE THE COCKTAILS REFRESH THE PALATE. @hsinchuku

No. 166, 南大路東區新竹市300 / No. 166, Nanda Rd, East District, Hsinchu 



Wednesday, March 30, 2022

news: 2022 ASIA’s 50 BEST


Team Taiwan 🇹🇼 chefs celebrated the 2022 #Asias50Best yesterday in Taipei in an unofficial gathering, along with chefs in Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Macau. Two restaurants - Logy and JL Studio made it to the Asia’s 50 Best list- and an additional five restaurants in the top 100, with Mume and Ryugin, and new entries Adachi, Liberte and Le Côté. Mume also was honored with the 2022 Sustainable restaurant award.

 It’s been a continued unpredictable few years for restaurants, but great to see chefs coming out to support each other. Congrats to all of chefs in Asia’s 50 Best and their teams- hope to be able to (re)visit again someday soon. 

🇹🇼 2022 Asia’s 50 Best 
#38 LOGY @logy.tw @ryogotahara_logy 
#45 JL STUDIO @jlstudio_tw @jimmy_jlstudio 
#52 ADACHI (new entry)
#54 MUME @mume_taiwan @richie_lin (also 2022 Sustainable Restaurant award)
#57 SHOUN RYUGIN @shounryugintaiwan @ryohei_hieda 
#72 LIBERTE @liberte_taiwan @kenji.liberte 
#99 LE COTE @lecotelm @lanshuchen (new entry) 

1 Den Tokyo 
2 Sorn Bangkok 
3 Florilege Tokyo 
4 Le Du Bangkok 
5 Chairman Hong Kong 
6 La Cime Osaka
7 Suhring Bangkok 
8 Odette Singapore 
9 Neighborhood HK 
10 Nusara Bangkok 
11 Sazenka Tokyo 
12 Fu He Hui Shanghai 
13 Ode Tokyo (highest climber) 
14 Villa Aida (highest new entry) Wakayama
15 Narisawa Tokyo 
16 Mingles Seoul 
17 Sezanne Tokyo (new) 
18 Joo Ok Seoul (new)
19 Ensue Shenzhen (new)
20 Meta Singapore (new)
21 Masque Mumbai 
22 Indian Accent New Delhi 
23 Les Amis Singapore 
24 Caprice Hong Kong 
25 Blue by Alain Ducasse (new)
26 7th door Seoul 
27 Mosu Seoul (new) 
28 Da Vittorio Shanghai (new)
29 Sushi Masato Bangkok (new)
30 Onjium Seoul (new)
31 Samrub Samrub Thai Bangkok (new)
32 Mono Hong Kong 
33 Gaa Bangkok
34 Wing Hong Kong (new) 
35 Ministry of Crab Sri Lanka
36 La Maison de La nature Goh Fukuoka 
37 Zen Singapore 
38 Logy Taipei 
39 Ultraviolet Shanghai 
40 Labyrinth Singapore
41 Burnt Ends Singapore 
42 Ete Japan (new) 
43 Cenci Kyoto (new) 
44 Cloudstreet Singapore 
45 JL Studio Taichung 
46 Raan Jay Fai Bangkok (new) 
47 Wynn Lei Palace Macau 
48 Otto E Mezzo Shanghai 
49 Megu New Delhi (new) 
50 Dewakan Kuala Lumpur 











:)