European Restaurants in Taipei

One of the great things about living in Taipei has been the explosion in recent years of available cuisine from around the world. The streets are brimming with food from across the seas and, this month in Taiwan Fun, we introduce you to just a few of the Europeans who have made their homes here, and are tantalizing our taste buds. We ask them, why Taiwan? And, of course, what is it that makes their food just so special?

---By Cat Thomas　Translated by Wynnce Weng

Flavor - Ola Kronkvist

13, Alley 26, Lane 300, RenAi Rd, Sec. 4
(02) 2709-6525
www.flavors.com.tw

Just over a year ago husband and wife Ola and Stephanie introduced Swedish food to Taipei. The two met while training in Switzerland and, after working around the world, came to Taiwan - Stephanie's home and a place Ola fell in love with. His passion for Taiwan and good food is infectious, and spills into every mouth-watering meal. The menu is changed regularly to keep things fresh, and they also celebrate the spirit of Sweden with special Swedish festival menus.

What makes Swedish food so good? Being true and simple, clean flavours, quality ingredients and, at Flavor, traditional home cooked food like his mum makes!

Flavor was a means for the two to spend more time together, and Ola says many people see a visit more like coming to a friend's home than a restaurant, with having a great time being paramount.

Recommendation: Traditional Swedish Meatballs, with brown sauce, lingonberry jam, and honey glazed potatoes; Skane apple cake with vanilla sauce (set meal with soup, salad, tea/coffee NT$550). Try the unique Elderflower juice/shot.

Truva - Tim Ozcan

3, Lane 181, AnHe Rd, Sec 2
Truva - Tim Ozcan
(02) 2737-0037
www.truva.com

The beauty of Turkish food, Tim tells me, is that due to an historically nomadic lifestyle and Turkey being the only "Eurasian" country, its cuisine is the richest and most varied in the world. It doesn't hide under heavy sauces. And with fresh ingredients, simple cooking techniques, and the wonderful flavours of, for example, dill, mint, parsley, yoghurt and olive oil, it never fails to delight!

Tim first came here seven years ago as a Marketing Manager, but just over a year ago opened Truva to fill the absence of Turkish food. He provided Taipei with a slice of his home, in the restaurant atmosphere and stylish decor as well as the special food of a country where dinner is still an evening's entertainment.

Recommendation: Meze, a selection of tasty traditional appetizers to arouse the appetite; Donner Kebab - beef marinated for one day in yoghurt and herbs, and slices served in a herby pita bread with homemade yoghurt. Try Turkish Raki liquor, or famous Turkish coffee. Average price of A La Carte meal around NT$500

Olala! - Paco

371, RenAi Rd, Sec 4.
(02) 2773-9577

Paco has owned restaurants in Taipei for thirteen years. He is originally from France, a country he describes as "obsessed with food and the quality of it", but grew up between France and Spain. He was traveling around Asia and came to Taiwan to visit a friend. He loved it so much that he decided to stay. In his own words, "Cooking has always been a passion. Ever since I was a kid I have liked it. Owning a restaurant came as a natural step." Currently Paco owns Olala!, where he draws on his wealth of experience in both France and Spain to produce mouth-wateringly good dishes from both countries. House specialities include Duck Confit (France) and Paella (Spain). Both of these are very popular with Taiwanese customers. However, Paco stresses that they try to keep their food authentic and don't compromise on trying to please the local palette. The pan-fried goose liver also comes highly recommended. Local speciality drinks, Pastis and Kir are also available (NT$ 200). Olala is currently running very popular Salsa nights on Thursday and Saturday--call the restaurant for details.

Mamm Goz - Stephane and Frederick

12, Lane 112, AnHe R., Sec 1
Mamm Goz (02) 2709-6636

Adding a very different French, home-cooked style to Taipei, brothers Stephane and Frederick are especially excited about sharing the distinct food and culture of Bretagne, northwest France. "Cooking and sharing dishes has always been an important moment of happiness in our family in Bretagne," Stephane says, "And it is the same feeling that makes our restaurant so unique and engaging to customers."

He finds the Taiwanese open-minded to foreign culture, and keen to try all kinds of quality cooking.Cultural exchange is certainly key to Stephane, and he enthusiastically says Taiwan is a great place to explore it. Flavours you will find at Mamm Goz are also fresh to Taipei, many of the tastes finding their routes back in the region's Celtic traditions. None more so that the wonderful Chouchen (honey alcohol), and the imported Bretagne ciders and beers.

Recommendation: Bretagne tradition, "Mamm Goz" or "Gargantua" wholesome buckwheat Galettes, with ham, tomato sauce, onions, egg and mushroom; Crepe filled with homemade chocolate sauce. Average meal price NT$600. Lunch and dinner specials set menus available.

Gasthaus Zum Adler - Bernard Soffner

142, XinSheng S Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2351-8767

Having spent many years in Canada, where he met his Taiwanese wife, Bernie moved to Taipei in 2001 to set up his business. Within two months of arriving, Gasthaus was born. In doing so, Bernie returned to his German roots, providing us with the culinary delights of southern Germany. Taking favourites from his home state and neighbouring Bavaria, a quick glance at the menu shows the German passion for good, honest meat dishes. The dishes are generally slow-baked, a tasty, and less oily method.

Bernie is always to be found in the kitchen, painstakingly creating the quality, generous-sized offerings. The great family meals provide a combination of the popular pig leg, sausages, meatballs, goulash and more. Wash it down German style with top German beers like Erdinger, Warsteiner or Kostriker (NT$100-170).

Recommendation: Bavarian Meatloaf with sauerkraut and potato (NT$290); wonderful homemade ice-cream (NT$65/85).

Wendel's - Michael Wendel

5, DeXing W. Rd, TienMu
(02) 2831-4592

To enjoy another German tradition, head up to TienMu's bakery/bistro under the watchful eye of Michael Wendel. Coming from a line of bakers dating back to his grandparents' 1930s bakery, Wendel followed his father, too, by training as both a baker and pastry cook apprentice. He then took to the seas in the same profession, working on passenger ships, with his wanderlust eventually leading him to Taiwan.

Noticing the potential here, and chancing upon Taiwanese partners, the "Wendel" tradition branched out to Taipei and has now led to a popular German/international bistro as well as bakery and cakes. Bread-wise, authenticity is emphasized, and recipes handed down the generations ensure the quality of the 50 plus varieties.