At the end of August, when the news came out of the assignment of the first Michelin star to a gelato shop, Minimal in Taiwan, the media echo was vast. First of all, there was astonishment that the Guide had crossed the threshold into a gelato shop; then there was the unprecedented choice of having nominated a restaurant in Asia; added to this was regret of a missed opportunity in Italy, the historical cradle of gelato. Minimal, however, is a gelato shop that differs from the Italian model.
The establishment, a spin-off of the gourmet restaurant Sur in Thaichung, opened its doors in 2021 offering exclusively desserts and gelato made by the pastry chef Arwin Wan. The refined creations are served at the table, following a seven-course tasting menu that varies according to the seasons and the availability of ingredients. Gelato thus becomes a dish, the result of an extreme study of flavours, textures, temperatures. Taste is accompanied by sight, thanks to refined consideration of the aesthetic aspect of each composition.
Not just fine dining
The 2024 Taiwan Michelin Guide reviewed 343 establishments, 22 more than the previous edition. “The selection – explains Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the guides – reflects Taiwan’s remarkable ability to honour the roots of cuisine while embracing new trends, showing a harmonious mix of innovation and tradition which sets no boundaries”.
The affinity with the world of fine dining is also revealed in the attention paid to pairing with non-alcoholic drinks, sake and tea. In an environment of frozen essentiality, the high-level service along with the innovative approach to batch-freezing based on modern techniques while interpreting simplicity won over the guide’s inspectors who promoted Minimal from Bib Gourmand to One Michelin Star.
Beyond the tasting menu, which is seven courses and lasts two and half hours, the establishment also offers gelato from the counter, six flavours a day and one flavour of the week. It also delivers gift boxes. The gelato cups are enclosed in an elegant box, allowing you indulge in the pleasure of a cold treat directly at home.
