Hong Kong Michelin two-star restaurant comes to Taiwan!"Celebrity Cuisine" to open in Kaohsiung at Han Lai in June

Reported and photographed by Yu Ruru / Taipei

The renowned "reclusive culinary master" can now be easily savored in Taiwan as well. Hong Kong's Michelin two-star restaurant "Celebrity Cuisine" will open in Kaohsiung in late June. About 80% of its menu will be the same as in Hong Kong, while 20% will feature carefully selected high-end local Taiwanese ingredients. Executive Chef of Celebrity Cuisine, Cheng Kam Fu, said that Taiwan has many beloved elements that make people not want to leave once they arrive.


▲ Executive Chef Cheng Kam Fu (left) of Celebrity Cuisine and General Manager Lin Shu-ting of Han Lai Food Group during the signing ceremony.

Hong Kong's Michelin two-star restaurant "Celebrity Cuisine," which specializes in private-dining Cantonese cuisine and offers an upscale dining menu, will officially open on the 12th floor of the Han Lai Hotel in Kaohsiung in late June. Around 80% of its menu will be the same as in Hong Kong, with 20% featuring carefully selected high-end local Taiwanese ingredients. Cheng Kam Fu said that they will adhere to the authentic flavors of Cantonese cuisine without making any compromises to cater to Taiwanese tastes, hoping to offer Taiwanese gourmets the true taste of Cantonese food.

Han Lai Food Group has secured the Asian agency rights for Michelin-starred restaurants and plans to launch an initial public offering in the second quarter of 2015, with plans to list on the emerging stock market by the end of 2015, moving toward the broader goal of going public. This move is expected to send a major shockwave through Taiwan and Asia’s dining markets, and also signals its advance into Shanghai in 2016. Lin Shu-ting, General Manager of Han Lai Food Group, expressed hope that Celebrity Cuisine will also expand into Taipei and overseas markets in the future.

The 12th floor of the Kaohsiung Han Lai Hotel will be redesigned as "Celebrity Cuisine." After opening in late June, it will maintain its upscale Cantonese style, offering both set meals and à la carte options. Prices will start from NT$980+10% per person for lunch, and NT$1,500+10% per person for dinner, making it arguably the best value Michelin-starred meal in Taiwan. Lin Shu-ting stated that Executive Chef Cheng Kam Fu will come to Taiwan personally every month to design the dishes.