Pasta West East 7, An He (An Ho) Rd., section 1 Tel: (02) 2721-0029¡]reservations recommended¡^ Hours: 12 noon-2:30 pm lunch; 6-10:30 pm dinner

Creating a Unique Gourmet Experience at Pasta West East
By Ken Lin Translated by Cheryl Robbins

What happens when Eastern and Western cuisine are fused together? The answer is delicious food if it is prepared at Pasta West East. This restaurant serves Italian-style pasta dishes tailored to Taiwanese taste buds. However, its food is also popular with foreigners who enjoy the exotic twist on their Italian favorites. I went to this restaurant with several foreign friends who consider themselves gourmets. They looked over the menu and asked detailed questions about the ingredients and how the dishes were cooked. The server patiently answered their questions and finally suggested several items that were not on the menu. We were equally impressed when the chef came to our table to ask how we liked the food.

Pasta West East is unique in that it willingly offers food to please a variety of tastes. The key person at Pasta West East is Chef Mao, who has had 40 years of experience in the food service industry. He is from Hong Kong but was born in Shanghai, and has worked in kitchens all over the world, gaining a good understanding of different cuisines. Added to all of this is a great service attitude. All this makes it no wonder that Pasta West East is very popular and has a loyal clientele.

One of the first things you will see when entering this restaurant is the open kitchen, manned by chefs who enthusiastically greet customers as they walk in the door. These chefs treat their creations as artistic masterpieces. Some regular customers don¡¦t order, being completely confident that Chef Mao will create something special for them.

The menu features items commonly seen in Italian restaurants in addition to a list of ingredients that can be used to custom-make various pasta dishes. The purpose of this list is to allow diners to choose dishes to suit their tastes, and to create a feeling of participation in the food preparation process. For customers attempting to decide on an order, the well-trained service staff is able to give valuable suggestions, including one of the chef¡¦s specials. Either way, you won¡¦t be disappointed.

The lobster pasta is not on the menu, but is a favorite of this restaurant¡¦s regular customers. People come from far away just for this dish. A really good appetizer is the Antipasto Di Pasta West East. I personally felt that this dish was what Italian food should be like. Another good choice is the Italian-style steak tartar, made from premium strips of beef.

Unique dishes include Avocado Ai Forno, Patate and eggplant. A highly recommended dish is the Insalata Di Pollo Amaifitana. The veal marinated in red wine is sure to please even the pickiest gourmet. My personal favorite was the squid ink pasta. This item is not on the menu, so you will have to ask for it. Entrees are served with freshly-baked bread. A good dessert option is the tiramisu and a good wine selection rounds out the meal.

We left Pasta West East feeling very satisfied, having learned about the benefits of combining East and West. Overall, I appreciated the professional and courteous service and the opportunity to create some unique dishes with an outstanding chef.

(Expect to pay from NT$500 per person for lunch and from NT$700 per person for dinner. This restaurant is conveniently located near the Chunghsio Tunhua MRT station. Paid parking is available in the lot across the street.)