226 Taipei, Taichung eateries feature in 2020 Michelin Guide
2020/08/27
A total of 226 eateries in Taipei and Taichung cities feature in the 2020 Michelin Guide, according to the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Aug. 24.
Taipei boasts 170 venues, while Taichung in central Taiwan accounts for 56. Among them 26 star restaurants, 54 Bib Gourmand restaurants, 79 plate restaurants and 11plate street food stalls are in Taipei; 4 star restaurants, 21 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 31 plate restaurants are in Taichung.
The MOTC attributed the strong result to years of concerted efforts to promote the country’s distinctive cuisine in the international arena. This is supported by the results of a bureau-conducted survey indicating that food is one of the main reasons for overseas visitors to travel to Taiwan, the ministry added.
Of Taipei’s 26 starred restaurants, four are new additions. These are A Cut, Logy, Molino de Urdaniz and Sushi Akira.
A Cut in Zhongshan District is a one star steakhouse of A-grade cuts of beef from Australia and the U. S. grilled to perfection in the open kitchen; Logy in Daan District is a two star restaurant, a sister edition of two star Florilège in Tokyo, Japan; Molino de Urdaniz in Zhongshan District is a one star restaurant, the first branch outside Spain of this famous name; and Sushi Akira also in Zhongshan District is a one star Japanese restaurant offering Edomae sushi made with the blend of red vinegars and the finest fish.
In Taichung, Fleur de Sel in Xitun District is one star French restaurant; Forchetta also in Xitun District is a one star establishment of East-meets-West fusions created almost entirely from local produce; JL Studio in Nantun District is a two star venue reinventing Singaporean and South East Asian cuisine; and Oretachi No Nikuya in West District is a one star restaurant specializing in Wagyu barbecue.
The Michelin Guide has its three-star ranking system published since 1936 via the assessments from its inspectors—anonymous reviewers visiting restaurants. Five criteria, including quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in his cuisine, value for money and consistency between visits, are judged.
Objectively, the Michelin star is a sign of quality.
Not quite a star, the Bib Gourmand—named after Bibendum, the official company mascot for the Michelin Group—is a just-as-esteemed rating that recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.
Venues in the category assessed on the menu’s authenticity, quality and value for money. The bill for a three-course meal, excluding drinks, was capped at NT$1,000 (US$35).
Taipei and Taichung also made Michelin headlines Aug. 24, with 75 venues featuring in this selection. Taipei’s lineup comprises 31 restaurants and 23 street food stalls, while Taichung—incorporated for the first time in the internationally acclaimed foodie bible—owns 21.
The Michelin plate is the symbol for those restaurants that have neither a star nor a Bib Gourmand. For restaurants, being in the selection is the sign of very good food.
Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)
