Contemporary Cuisine in Taipei

by Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng
February 5, 2009

Forchetta
An Ho Rd. Section 1
Lane 127, No. 4
+886-2-2707-7776
Taipei, Taiwan

The streets of Taipei are filled with hidden gems — shops and restaurants tucked inside the lanes of residential neighborhoods. The Mediterranean-inspired Forchetta right off of An Ho Road is one of them. I knew it would be good when, within a week, two of my favorite food companions, my uncle Fred and my childhood friend, Stephanie, both made reservations to take me there.

I was there more than just those two times on this trip, and on two occasions, i got to taste two different sashimi specials. The Amberjack was sweet, fresh fish with layers of citrus flavors and the added texture of celery strips, caper berries, and crunchy fresh roe. An unexpected dish that captivates both the eyes and the stomach.

Chef-owner Max Tseng sources local ingredients like pickled Chinese mustard vegetable in one of his signature pasta dishes. In a completely new interpretation of a vegetable typically found in a traditional soup noodle dish, here it yields a spicy chicken spaghetti ($480 N.T. ~ $15). I enjoyed it with a fabulous 2004 Grüner from F.X. Pichler that I brought myself.