Mandarin Oriental's new executive chef Xie Wen takes the helm at Arcadia — formerly served at Fook Lam Moon for over 10 years

▲ The new executive chef of Arcadia Chinese Restaurant at Taipei Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Chef Xie Wen. (Photo/Taipei Mandarin Oriental)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

The new executive chef of Arcadia Chinese Restaurant on the third floor of Taipei Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Chef Xie Wen, has officially taken office. Chef Xie trained under Hong Kong’s famed “Fook Lam Moon,” often referred to as the “canteen of the wealthy,” where he worked for 10 years. His specialty lies in traditional-style Cantonese cuisine, with his honey-glazed char siu being a standout dish. Other popular offerings include osmanthus-fried dried scallops, scallion-braised grouper fillet, and shrimp roe stir-fried Liaoning sea cucumber.

Chef Xie Wen, the new head of Arcadia, was trained at the prestigious Fook Lam Moon. He once studied under the master of Cantonese cuisine, Lau On, and served as the deputy executive chef before leaving. In 1985, he moved to several well-known restaurants in Hong Kong, and in 1989, he returned to “Fook Lam Moon” as executive chef, a position he held until 1992. During his tenure as executive chef at “Fook Lam Moon,” Chef Xie placed great emphasis on food quality, ensuring that every dish met strict standards before being served. Regardless of when guests visited, they could always enjoy the signature, consistently familiar taste of “Fook Lam Moon.”


▲ Chef Xie Wen’s signature honey-glazed char siu. (Photo/Taipei Mandarin Oriental)

After 1992, Chef Xie worked at various high-end hotels and restaurants in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and mainland China. He has served notable guests including prominent Hong Kong entrepreneur Lau Wong-fat, former English football star David Beckham, and celebrities such as Carina Lau, Eric Tsang, Nicholas Tse, Kenny Bee, and Jenny Tseng.

Before joining Taipei Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he served as the Chinese executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen. During his four-year tenure at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant “Zhuo Yue Xuan,” its performance saw exponential growth. The former English football star David Beckham was once his guest and spoke highly of Chef Xie’s signature honey-glazed char siu and spicy chicken cubes.