Kaohsiung’s Playful New Wave of International Cuisine: Tender and Chewy Red Wine Cherry Duck Breast

Text and photos byKaohsiung Food Map
(Photography: Ryan / Writing: Xiao Zhu, Kaohsiung Food Map. All rights reserved.)

With its lofty, high-quality design façade, this dining venue seamlessly blends food and wine into everyday life, offering guests the comfort of being at home.
Oval mini pizzas loaded with seafood resemble little boats, while Southeast Asian-style red curry meets Italian risotto in a bold fusion of cross-border international cuisine.

The deep blue interior, wooden-toned tables and chairs, lofty space design, and cozy, casual bar area — all set the mood with warm lighting. “Herdone Lifestyle Bistro” incorporates the lifestyle modern people yearn for into its décor. Moreover, “lifestyle” and “gastronomy” go hand in hand. Once you have a comfortable dining environment, the delicious dishes served must also strike a visual balance. Herdone brings people closer to food, expressing a charming attitude toward life within this understated yet stylish wine bistro.

The story behind the “Lifestyle Bistro” runs deep. Herdone offers a comfortable, spacious space with quality interiors, allowing guests to enjoy great food and fine wine as if in their own living room. Herdone specializes in Western cuisine, and the young head chef, A-Song, who runs the kitchen, has his own ideas and principles about cooking. He started in Japanese cuisine, learning from Japanese chefs their meticulous approach to ingredients. Later, shifting from Japanese to Western cuisine, he gained greater flexibility in techniques and seasoning. In addition to continuously refining various dishes, Chef A-Song also studies recipes in their original languages. Speaking of sauces and ingredients, Chef A-Song says many of his creations come from sudden bursts of inspiration — these fresh ideas often result in unexpectedly delightful flavors. If you ask him why he pairs certain elements together, he might not even have an answer, because cooking is just that playful.

“Yilan Haoye Duck Breast with Roselle Red Wine Sauce” is one of the chef’s favorite dishes. It uses Yilan cherry duck breast, pan-seared without oil, then rested to retain juices, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior cooked to the perfect degree. “Line-Caught Squid and Homemade Bacon Garlic Spicy Tomato Spaghetti” features thick, meaty squid, while the bacon is smoked with Chinese medicinal ingredients and sugarcane, bringing land and sea together with a tomato base that balances sweet and sour flavors. The handmade “Assorted Seafood Pizza” has a uniquely oval shape that adds a playful touch, topped with eye-catching fresh clams. “Southeast Asian-Style Red Curry Seafood Risotto” is a fusion creation, where Southeast Asian spices blend into Italian risotto, and a variety of distinctive ingredients create an exotic flair.

Every dish at Herdone showcases the chef’s attention to the connections between flavors, expertly paired together. Sauces and broths are all homemade and custom-blended, using natural, original tastes. The sauces also become a surprise with every dip.

[Handmade Pizzas]

The chef places great emphasis on dough fermentation — all doughs undergo double fermentation to achieve a chewy and elastic crust. The crust is stretched by hand to develop its gluten structure, and the pressing motion in the middle ensures the outer edge is slightly thicker than the center. The chef explains that insufficient gluten affects texture, so any underperforming dough is discarded.

The crust maintains consistent thickness without significant variations.

[Flagship Assorted Seafood Pizza]

The oval pizza has a slightly raised tail, resembling a little boat laden with harvest-fresh seafood. This seafood medley pizza combines fresh clams, salmon, squid, and white shrimp, topped with homemade pesto and tomato sauce. The crust absorbs the tangy and savory sauces, becoming moist and flavorful, with a thick outer edge that is crispy and lightly charred.

The seafood and sauce complement each other perfectly.

[Yilan Haoye Duck Breast with Roselle Red Wine Sauce]

Featuring Yilan cherry duck breast, the dish is cooked using a complex method: first seared dry, then baked in the oven to medium-rare, followed by resting until the residual heat gently raises it to medium. When sliced, the duck breast reveals a rosy hue and is juicy inside. The roselle red wine sauce is made by infusing dried roselle flowers into red wine, then adding spices to let the flavor fully develop.

The flavor is rich yet not greasy, balancing sweet and savory notes. The succulent meat pairs exquisitely with the rich sauce.

The duck breast has a substantial texture and juicy mouthfeel, balanced by a refined taste.

[Southeast Asian-Style Red Curry Seafood Risotto]

Italian cuisine excels at showcasing an array of seafood, paired with enticing sauces to reflect the bold and carefree style of Italian dining. This Southeast Asian-style red curry seafood risotto presents scallops, white shrimp, squid, and clams generously spread atop. It uses a Southeast Asian ingredient — red curry with the aroma of coconut milk — as the sauce. The risotto stays true to tradition, using Italian rice cooked to a firmness that retains a slight bite.

The various ingredients are layered with care, and the curry sauce, rich in umami, enhances the overall taste. The rice remains al dente, harmonizing beautifully with the aromatic curry.

[Line-Caught Squid and Homemade Bacon Garlic Spicy Tomato Spaghetti]

The ingredients and sauce complement each other perfectly. Herdone selects Indonesian squid, prioritizing weight and thickness over size for a crisp, firm texture. The star of the dish — homemade bacon — is smoked using natural Chinese medicinal ingredients, sugarcane, and no salt, preserving its natural flavor without heavy smokiness. The key tomato sauce is simmered for four hours with imported Italian peeled tomatoes, onions, and spices. Cooking the bacon in this sauce makes the flavors even richer.

The squid is tender and crisp, delivering a satisfying bite.

Different from typical pasta, this dish uses selected ingredients. Finally, a drizzle of olive oil enhances the flavors, balancing richness and freshness.

Herdone has set up a dedicated bar area, reflecting its focus on beverages. In addition to the drink menu, there are non-alcoholic options such as “Strawberry Oolong Koobli Fresh Milk Tea,” made with homemade strawberry jam and honey oolong tea, using milk ice cubes instead of plain water ice — offering a sweet and tangy flavor loved by women for its soft pink hue. “Iced Red Berry Tea” uses yellow lemon juice, berry juice, and soda water layered for a gradient effect. A sip reveals a refreshing tartness, cool and invigorating. Moreover, the mint leaves garnishing the drinks are homegrown, and whipped cream is freshly prepared upon order — showing great care put into every beverage.

Also try the Oreo Chocolate Slushie — Oreo cookies blended with fresh milk into a slush, topped with freshly whipped cream and cocoa powder. The crunchy bits burst with intense chocolate flavor.

% With its authentic environment, it's a great place to observe and feel the pulse of local life. It's also suitable for corporate gatherings, family dinners, and friendly meetups. The portions are generous, offering great value for money.

Heritage Life Bistro
Address: No. 575, Chengqing Road, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-3987658
Business Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00–23:00, Friday 11:00–02:00, Saturday 09:00–02:00, Sunday 09:00–23:00 (brunch served on weekends)

Kaohsiung Food Map
Author Introduction: Kaohsiung Food Map is run by Ah Hsiung and Xiao Gao, who share southern Taiwan’s local cuisine and cultural flavors. They also frequently introduce travel spots around the region, sample signature dishes, capture beautiful scenery, and share Taiwan’s food and unique human touch with everyone.
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