A

• BanBo: Culinary Journey as a Taiwanese Cultural Ceremony
  BanBo offers a unique dining experience where entering the restaurant feels like participating in a small ceremony that immerses guests in Taiwanese culture. The tasting menu is creatively inspired by a local traditional game called the "paper fortune teller," with each face representing one of the eight courses. The plating is described as landscape paintings, elevating the visual artistry to a next-level fine dining experience. Notably, some dishes like the "bloody clams" and sesame oil steamed egg present untraditional flavors that highlight Taiwanese hospitality and culture.

• 3927: Fusion of Taiwanese Tradition and European Techniques
  The Michelin-starred restaurant 3927 blends modern Taiwanese fusion cuisine with European influences. Its signature dish, Bread-wrapped Truffle Chicken, combines local Taiwanese cooking methods with French baking techniques. The bread wrapping mimics the traditional Taiwanese earthen coal-fired kiln cooking style, symbolizing a fusion of Chef Wang’s rural Taiwanese roots and his international culinary training in Italian cuisine. The restaurant’s ambiance also mixes industrial design with traditional Chinese banquet elements, creating an eclectic and inviting atmosphere.

• T+T: Elevating Taiwanese Street Food to Michelin Standards
  T+T is a Michelin 1-star restaurant in Taipei known for its casual style and exceptional Asian flavors. The chef’s approach stands out by seamlessly blending Taiwanese influences into every dish while elevating traditional street food fare to Michelin-level refinement. The tasting menu features nine dishes with options to upgrade to premium ingredients like Japanese A5 Wagyu, showcasing a creative reinterpretation of familiar flavors in a fine dining context.

The Michelin-starred restaurant A, Taipei is known for its refined Taiwanese cuisine that emphasizes local, sustainable ingredients. Based on the context of Taiwanese Michelin-starred dining and signature ingredients commonly honored in such establishments, the key ingredients at A, Taipei likely include:

• Taiwan Black Boar: A prized local pork variety known for its rich flavor and tenderness, often used in braised or slow-cooked dishes that highlight Taiwanese culinary heritage.

• Free-range Mountain Chicken: Valued for its natural, robust taste, this ingredient is typically prepared in traditional methods such as steaming or sautéing to preserve its texture and flavor.

• Fresh Seafood: Given Taiwan’s island geography, fresh seafood is a cornerstone ingredient, often featured in steamed or braised signature dishes, showcasing the island’s maritime bounty.

• Organic Vegetables: Sourced from local farms, these vegetables are integral to balancing flavors and textures in dishes, reflecting the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability and seasonality.

• Aged Rice: Used in some signature dishes, rice aged for over two years is ground into a fine paste and paired with braised pork, demonstrating a deep respect for tradition and meticulous ingredient preparation.

These ingredients are significant as they represent the essence of Taiwanese culinary identity, emphasizing sustainability, local sourcing, and traditional techniques elevated to fine dining standards. Signature dishes often involve slow braising, steaming, or careful sautéing to bring out the natural flavors of these honored ingredients.

Restaurant A Menu Summary

Tasting Menu (Lunch)

• 8 Courses: NT$10,670 ($337.81) per person

Drink Pairing

• Included in the lunch set menu

Dinner Tasting Menu

• More expensive than lunch tasting menu, but includes more courses (12 vs lunch's 8)