A group of about 60 connoisseurs, both food and beverage professionals and amateur gourmets, is devoted to upholding the highest gastronomic standards.

by Brian Asmus
PHOTOS: courtesy of Chaine des Rotisseurs

Last year's credit-card crunch and weak consumer spending brought fewer restaurant openings than usual. Aside from a smattering of offerings by brave new restaurateurs, the major news is therefore about upgrades at two of Taipei's premier food-beverage establishments: the Grand Hyatt Taipei and Shangrila's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel.

BY BRIAN ASMUS

Advertorial: The Devil Eats Ribeye

Fashionistas take note! That famed Smith & Wollensky steak that the much-abused intern was buying for terror boss Miranda Priestley in this year's hit movie The Devil Wears Prada can now be had in Taipei. The Sherwood Taipei's Toscana restaurant sent its executive chef to the United States to learn the secrets of how to cook a mean piece of meat, and the results "moo" for themselves.

Gan Bei! Have a Drink of Taiwan Wine

Taiwan has a wide variety of wines and spirits, ranging from the cool and refreshing aborigine millet wine, to the mild and flavorful Shaosing (Shaoxing) wine that is often served at banquets, to the fiery kaoliang liquor, brewed from sorghum on Kinmen island, that is often a feature of late-night drinking in local establishments. Many Chinese wines also find their way into food preparation, lending a special character to some dishes. The opportunity to develop an appreciation for the local wines and spirits is one of the benefits of any visit to Taiwan.