Written/Compiled and reported by Chen Guan-hsin, MOOK Travel Life Network
Taiwanese culinary talent takes the global stage — Chef Lin Hsuan-chu of Le Mout (Le Moût), a French restaurant in Taichung, has been selected as the Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef 2014, and Le Mout has also been ranked 24th on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. This honor is part of a series of awards hosted by "Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants," sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna and organized by William Reed Business Media.
Le Mout Chef Lin Hsuan-chu is named the 2014 Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef. (Photo provided by Ruichuang Communications)
Chef Lin Hsuan-chu received the award at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony held on February 24, 2014, at Capella Hotel in Singapore. The results were determined by votes from over 200 experts in the Asian food and beverage industry, selected from the Diners Club World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.
After graduating from the École Supérieure de Cuisine Française Ferrandi (ESCF-Ferrandi) in Paris, Chef Lin worked with several renowned French chefs, including Pierre Hermé. She also gained experience and honed her culinary skills at Michelin-starred restaurants such as les Ambassadeurs, Relais d’Auteuil, and The French Laundry in California, USA, founded by Thomas Keller.
Upon returning to her hometown of Taiwan, Chef Lin opened Le Mout, a French restaurant in Taichung, in 2008, dedicated to offering top-tier cuisine that blends authentic French cooking techniques with modern creativity. By applying the expertise she gained from various French culinary masters, she has successfully created an extraordinary European dining experience for food lovers in Taiwan.
Le Mout, the French restaurant in Taichung founded by Chef Lin Hsuan-chu, ranks 24th on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. (Photo provided by Ruichuang Communications)
Chef Lin Hsuan-chu infuses her profound knowledge of local Taiwanese ingredients and characteristics into her French dishes. This not only proves her skill in preparing authentic French cuisine but also showcases her exceptional creativity. Her innovative dishes are endless, blending her personal touch into the logic and intricate processes of French cooking, resulting in each dish offering a multicultural gastronomic experience.
Jean-Marc Lacave, CEO of Veuve Clicquot, said: “The Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef Award celebrates the achievements and talents of women in Asia’s culinary scene, and Chef Lin Hsuan-chu is truly a worthy recipient. Madame Clicquot set an example for women, and Chef Lin, with her passion for French cuisine, skillfully integrates local Taiwanese ingredients into French cooking, adding an Asian twist, while also possessing the gift of creating exquisitely presented dishes. This fully embodies Veuve Clicquot’s symbols of modernity, perfection, and courage. Her win encourages other female chefs to pursue limitless creativity and also redefines the pinnacle of fine dining experiences in Asia.”
After receiving the award, Chef Lin Hsuan-chu said: “As a chef who strives for perfection, I am incredibly excited and honored to be named Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef. Food has been an essential part of my life growing up in Taiwan. I’ve loved cooking since I was young and have always enjoyed the joy of sharing meals. To receive recognition from every expert on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy is truly an extraordinary achievement for me.”
● Further Reading:
[Monday Food Feature] S.T.A.Y. — The Sexiest Three-Star Dining Experience
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