Renowned foodie paradise Taichung City in central Taiwan will grace the pages of the 2020 Michelin Guide Taipei, further raising the country’s profile on the global gourmet stage.
The announcement, made by the publisher at a news conference Nov. 14 in Taipei City, was welcomed by attendees Lin Chia-lung, minister of transportation and communications; Chou Yung-hui, director-general of the Tourism Bureau under the MOTC; and Nicolas Achard, managing director of Michelin Food and Beverage Asia.
Lin said the inclusion of Taichung alongside Taipei in the guide will pay handsome dividends for Taiwan in the domestic and international tourism stakes. Overseas visitors are certain to recognize the country has more than one card to play when it comes to homegrown culinary culture, he added.
Going forward, Lin said, it is hoped additional Taiwan cities and towns will join Taichung and Taipei in the flying the flag for the country via the pages of what many consider to be the bible of cuisine.
According to Chou, Taichung’s addition to the guide augurs well for the bottom lines of local eateries and suppliers. Taipei restaurant revenues for 2019 increased 5 percent year on year, he said, citing statistics compiled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
This healthy state of affairs illustrates the power of the guide in encouraging travelers to experience star-rated eating establishments, as well as Taiwan’s signature street food, Chou added.
Echoing Lin’s and Chou’s remarks, Achard said the presence of Taichung in the 2020 edition gives gourmands the world over an excellent reason to visit Taiwan. It is also a valuable opportunity for local chefs to showcase their skill, talent and flair, he added.
Achard said Michelin-approved experts from Taiwan and abroad are hard at work carrying out the review and selection process in Taichung. This is an exhaustive process, and it will take time to settle on the final lineup, he added.
The inaugural Michelin Guide Taipei was launched in March 2018 to much fanfare. A total of 110 local establishments were recommended, including 36 eateries in the Bib Gourmand selection. (Ray-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw