freelance writing: TAIPEI summer 2019 Cover story

SO PROUD to have my recent article about Taipei Michelin restaurants for @taipeitravel to be the COVER STORY of the Summer 2019 issue. 

It’s been amazing to see the changes in Taipei’s culinary landscape the last 10-15 years, as well as be a part of highlighting it and helping people discover it! Still something magical about seeing your words in print

Everyone always asks me what other restaurants to go to beyond RAW and Mume (both which are amazing and definitely worth trying), so it was a chance to share a few other places. 

Many of you have asked me how to get a copy or read the article since I shared it on instagram. You can find the article here- 

From Street Eats to Tasting Menus, Michelin Guide Showcases Taipei's Thriving Culinary Scene

It also was reprinted in China Post.

As for where to find a copy in real life, locations listed include Taipei City Hall, Tourist Center in the arrival lobby at Taoyuan airport, AIT, TAS, MOCA, Taipei artist Village. Let me know if you guys have seen it!

Michelin Starred places to try in Taipei: 

Shoun Ryugin, Impromptu by Paul Lee, L'Atelier Robuchon Taipei 

My kitchen: EASY BANANA BREAD WITH YOGURT

I had the best mini loaf of banana bread from Tamed Fox a few weeks ago and since then I’ve been craving it. I actually went back a few times but they didn’t have it or ran out and sometimes you just can’t wait. I had some ripe bananas but only had two, so I adjusted this Recipe that used 2 bananas and I had some walnuts on hand, but pecans would work too. I also need to find some whole wheat flour since I really loved it in Tamed Fox’s version and it makes it slightly healthier. Putting this down for the next time I need it. 

Easy Banana bread with yogurt

(This recipe made 12 muffins) 

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I used salted butter so I omitted)
• 1/2 cup yogurt 
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips 
• 2 medium bananas, mashed 

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). 

2- In a large bowl, stir together 1/2 cup melted butter and 1/2 cup sugar. 

3- Add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla, mix well. 
4- Add 1.5 cup flour and 1 tsp baking soda, stir into the liquid mixture until smooth. Then, fold in the 1/2 cup yogurt, and 2 mashed bananas. 

5- Finally add walnuts and chocolate chips with some to sprinkle on top. 

6- Spoon into muffin tin so it’s 80 percent full.

7- Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and top is browned. 

This is the previous recipe I used- http://hungryintaipei.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-kitchen-easy-banana-bread-muffins.html?m=1

news: 2019 TAIPEI MICHELIN GUIDE STARS REVEALED

If you didn't make your reservations at one of the 24 newly minted Michelin starred restaurants before they were awarded stars today for the 2019 Michelin Guide Taipei, then good luck getting a seat the next few weeks! I remember last year going to L'Atelier Robuchon a week or so after the inaugural awards and it was a packed and busy house. 

After screenshotting and cropping the Michelin Guide announcements like a madwoman, I've compiled a list of every Taipei Michelin starred chef and their restaurants on Instagram (and updated my previous post of Taipei chefs to watch with instagram handles as well!)

New to the Taipei Michelin Guide list are Sushi Amamoto with 2 stars, while RAW and Tarroir both moved up to two stars (!!), joining neighbor Shoun Ryugin, taking the number of 2 starred restaurants in Taipei from two to five. RAW and Shoun Ryugin are in the same building in Neihu, while Tarroir is right next door, so there are six Michelin stars just in that one block. 

I'm surprised by the some of the 1 starred restaurants that have remained on the list (there are a few I think that I personally wouldn't recommend), but happy that Impromptu by Paul Lee and Logy earned a star. Both were very buzzed about since they opened, and well deserved honors. 

Out of nine Chinese restaurants awarded stars, four are Taiwanese restaurants - Golden Formosa, Ming Fu, Mountain Sea House and Tainan Tantsumien Seafood Restaurant. Personally I think Din Tai Fung and Shin Yeh also deserve to be honored, but I think their multiple branches works against them.

Five sushi bars make the list, but Michelin still might not have been able to get seats to Adachi, one of the hardest sushi bars to book in Taipei (and one of the best imho). Le Palais remains the lone three star restaurant. 

If you prefer street food to fine dining, check out the 2019 Michelin Guide Taipei Bib Gourmand Street Food list here  and the new entrants to Taipei Bib Gourmand selections here. Also, last fall I wrote an article about Gastromonth for Taiwan Scene that featured Sushi Ryu and Guest House. I've linked it here!

Congrats to all the chefs and teams! 

TAIPEI MICHELIN THREE STARS

• Le Palais / @palaisdechinhotel

TAIPEI MICHELIN TWO STARS

• RAW / Chef Alain Huang & Andre Chiang @raw_taipei @alainh001 @andrechiang_sg
• TaÏrroir / Chef Kai Ho and pastry chef Angela Sy  @tarroir @kaiho1011 @angela_sy
• Sushi Amamoto / Chef Shogo Amamoto 
• Shoun RyuGin / Chef Ryohei Hieda @hiedaryohei
• The Guest House / @sheratongrandtaipei 

TAIPEI MICHELIN ONE STAR 

• Da San Yuan
• Da-Wan
• Danny’s Steakhouse
• Golden Formosa 
• Impromptu by Paul Lee / Chef Paul Lee @impromptu_tw @paulhwlee
• Ken An Ho 
• Kitcho  (I don't recommend Kitcho, it's one of my least fave sushi bars in Taipei)
• L’ATELIER de Joël Robuchon / Chef Olivier Jean @olivierjean_23
• Logy  / Chef Ryogo Tahara @logy.tw @ryogotahara
• Longtail / Chef Lam Ming Kin @longtail.taipei @kin.cooks
• Ming Fu
• Mountain and Sea House
• MUME / Chefs Richie Lin and Long Xiong @mume_taiwan @richie_lin 
• Sushi Nomura / @sushinomura
• Sushi Ryu 
• Tainan Tantsumien Seafood Restaurant
• Tien Hsiang Lo
• Ya Ge / Chef Tse Man @mo_tpe