10 years and still going strong: Finga's and Dereke Bruce Finga's Italian Restaurant 17-1, JingCheng (Ching Cheng) Rd. (04) 2327-5450, 2327-5456 Hours:11:30 am-11 pm (closed Mondays) Credit cards accepted, public parking nearby on DongXing Rd.

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Anyone who's been around Taichung for any significant length of time will no doubt be familiar with Finga's, a quaint and casual Italian restaurant that has been serving happy customers since 1995. However, they might not be as familiar with the mind behind this successe. Dereke Bruce, Taichung's first foreign restaurateur, first came to Taiwan on a job offer 12 years ago. Here, he met his wife, Lily (whom he credits with much of his success), and together they opened up Finga's Deli, the predecessor to what would eventually became Finga's Italian 18 months later. They chose Italian food because they felt it would be the most popular among both local and foreign residents of Taichung.

Since Finga's started, Bruce has been at his restaurant every day. He used to do the majority of the cooking but, these days, opts to leave much of it to his talented band of chefs whom consistently whip up bi-weekly specials, crowd favorites (like the Home Smoked Salmon [NT$280], Deep Fried Calamari [NT$180], and Beef Lasagne [NT$310]), as well as refreshing fruit smoothies (NT$150). Thanks to the extensive menu, customers are sure to find a meal that suits their taste and budget (non-menu items can also be requested).

Bruce still assumes the responsibility of keeping the restaurant going, which is why he is still there every night, as always. Also staying consistent is the pleasant ambiance: his friend's art pieces still decorate the sponge-painted walls and the mood remains casual and relaxed, complimenting the delectable Italian fare, still served at affordable prices.
So what's next for a man whose passion for the culinary arts has remained undampened over the years since he started out? He says that that all depends on how the market changes, but he's got an idea or two in mind. As the years have shown, he's an ambitious man, always moving forward. Which means that Taichung diners can no doubt look forward to much more from Finga's and Dereke Bruce in the years ahead.

By Alice Wu Translated by Ann Li