A culinary trip to France at Herbs Kitchen

By Lance Cyr

       Herbs Kitchen Provence is clean and bright, with white the dominant color, plenty of lighting and lots of windows. The music is what you would expect to hear in a French restaurant with jazz, classical and the stereotypical "French" music, complete with accordion.

      The restaurant offers a large selection of antipasti from Oysters Mornay (NT$95) to French Scalloped Potatoes (NT$110) and, of course, a Sautéed Frog Leg with garlic and tomato (NT$140). Their main entrees include Steak with Mushrooms (NT$298) and my choice, Roast Chicken Provencal (NT$250). There's also a nice pasta and risotto selection which includes Vegetables Penne with tomato sauce (NT$190), Saffron Seafood Risotto (NT$220) and Smoked Salmon Spaghetti (NT$250). There are two recommended meal upgrade options--soup and a salad for NT$80 extra, or soup, salad and dessert for NT$150.

      My meal started with some of the best bread I have had in Taiwan--a baguette sliced about an inch thick, lightly toasted but still warm and soft in the middle--with some great garlic butter. The soup was a delicious cream of mushroom, peppery so it had a little kick I was not expecting. The good salad used homemade white wine vinaigrette with fully-ripe red tomatoes.

      The main course was a half chicken with two pieces of broccoli and roasted red peppers. The chicken skin was generously seasoned and the meat was tender and juicy. I'm not used to carving half a bird for myself in a restaurant setting so I had some difficulty getting all the meat.

      Dessert, ah dessert! It was a peach tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was fantastic. I also tried their ice wine, a very fruity lavender white. The house red, a mix of not too sweet or dry Merlot and Cabernet, was okay. There is a good wine selection and I would recommend a bottle for the table.

      If you are looking for a great meal with fantastic service, away from the usual places and people, checking out Herbs Kitchen will make you glad you did.