Summertime, holiday time, how about a trip to the splendid east coast of Taiwan?

Nice thought but what can be done if we are all busy here in town and can only dream.

Lucky for us Maître Rôtisseur Pippen Lin, at the Eslite Hotel knew exactly how to create the very journey at the hotel’s “Penthouse” long table.

Beginning with a refreshing summer beer ideal in the mid-30s temperature and enticing appetizers we had the first hints that our journey to the coast, one of the most beautiful part of the Ilha Formosa, had begun.

Appetizers:
- Taitung bonito flakes on shrimp and cucumber salsa tart
- Yilan Samsung spring onion pork cake
- Organic vegetables Taitung chicken roll
- Burdock Hualien sweet potato

Once seated one after another surprises were served, paying tribute to the wide varieties of great ingredients. The dishes were paired with excellent wines from the hotel's own cellar.

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Home-made Taitung red quinoa bread

Squid flying fish roe, crab cake, sesame swordfish, ocean sunfish
2014 Coteaux Bourguignons ‘Les Deux Loups’

Wuhe honey scented black tea consommé

Yilan cherry duck, purple plum puree, scallion sauce

Sous-vide Hualien lotus pork
roasted mahi mahi, litsea cubeba pork jus
2016 Tempranillo from sustainably grown vineyards

White chocolate 34%, guava-passionfruit mousse

Coffee or tea

The evening, as often when on holiday, passed too quickly. However, everyone really felt that they had been out of town for a while.

Thanks to Chef Pippen and his team for a great trip!

Paul Wyss
Bailli Délégué