Michelin this year selected 126 restaurants and street food stalls in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung for its Bib Gourmand list, with 16 of them chosen for the first time, the French culinary publication said yesterday.
As per tradition, the list was announced before this year’s complete Michelin selection for Taiwan is unveiled on Tuesday next week.
The Bib Gourmand list includes 126 eateries in the four special municipalities, down from 139 last year, with 43 in Taipei, 27 in Taichung, 31 in Tainan and 25 in Kaohsiung.
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Among them, 16 were chosen for the first time — six in Taipei, two in Taichung, three in Tainan and five in Kaohsiung.
More than half of newly awarded establishments produce Taiwanese specialties and small local treats, such as rolled egg crepes, thick duck soup and pork belly steamed buns, also known as guo bao (割包).
Last year, 26 establishments were chosen for the first time.
“In a destination where delicacies, street food and small eats have always been a major part of the local lifestyle, we believe our Bib Gourmand selection is one of the best ways to explore Taiwan and its incredibly rich culinary scene,” Michelin Guide international director Gwendal Poullennec said in a statement.
“Our Bib Gourmand recommendations are not only made for international travelers looking to explore authentic food heritage, but also for local gourmets seeking affordable yet delicious experiences,” Poullennec said.
This year’s Bib Gourmand selection is “a nice collection of restaurants and street food stalls that combines the most traditional eats together with some international tastes,” he added.
Michelin inspectors also recommended eight culinary treats from the newly selected eateries that impressed them: braised pork rice from Huang Chi Lu Rou Fan (黃記魯肉飯) and taro rice noodles from Soup Noodle House (麵鋪) in Taipei; shio koji-marinated corn-fed chicken from Li Xiao Lou (裡小樓) in Taichung; and Tainan-bred shrimp, homemade sambal sauce and peeled chili peppers from Bue Mi.Lab (麥謎食驗室), stir-fried pork neck with green onions from Eat to Fat (添厚), and stir-fried chicken thighs with aged ginger from Mai Yen Shun (賣?順) in Tainan.
Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) told the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) that the agency was happy with the number of eateries chosen this year.
“They used international standards to evaluate Taiwanese snacks. Some popular restaurants might not be selected this time, but that should not discourage them from continuing to present high-quality food,” Chou said. “We hope more Taiwanese eateries can be added each year, and the Michelin Guide can expand its food reviews to include restaurants in other localities.”
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