The 2020 Michelin Guide to gourmet restaurants is out. This latest edition recognizes 30 restaurants in Taipei and, for the first time, in greater Taichung. Four restaurants in the central city won stars, and one Taichung chef was named young chef of the year. Over in Taipei, the Le Palais of the Palais de Chine Hotel held on to its three-star rating for the third year in a row. This Flaming Duck is a 28-day-old bird. The skin is crispy and the meat tender. It’s the signature dish of the Michelin three-star restaurant Le Palais. This is the aged vinegar ribs, prepared with Zhenjiang vinegar to impart a luscious richness. Then there’s the pan-fried radish cake, which uses only the choicest middle section of the radish to ensure a clear sweet taste. To celebrate another year of maintaining its three-star rating, Le Palais gave away cookies in its lobby. Lai Ying-ju Palais de Chine Hotel PR We’re so grateful to the judges for giving us a three-star rating for the past three years, and to our customers for their support. The credit is entirely due to the whole team at Le Palais. The 13-year-old A Cut steakhouse won a Michelin star for the first time. American rib eye is seared in sizzling butter until the surface is caramel brown. Then it’s sent into the oven to be finished at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. A single stroke of the knife reveals pale tender meat. Besides serving up U.S. beef, Chef William Ling seeks out the world’s most exquisite cuts for his table. William Ling A Cut chef We were awarded only the Michelin Plate recommendation the previous two years. So I was quite surprised this year. How am I feeling now…I think we’ve got to gear up to deliver a wonderful dining experience to each of our customers. Notably the 2020 Michelin Guide gave stars to four Taichung restaurants, cementing their place on the international culinary scene. JL Studio debuted on the Michelin list with two stars. It’s a modern Singaporean restaurant in Taichung. Jimmy Lim JL Studio chef Of course I’m very moved by this, very happy. The Michelin guide’s arrival in Taichung makes me very happy because it means that Taichung City has been seen. Fleur De Sel received one Michelin star. Its head chef Justine Li has worked in French cuisine for 36 years. Justine Li Fleur De Sel chef The fruits and vegetables of Taiwan are very much among the best. We use French techniques to present the food. Another Taichung restaurant with a star is the Forchetta, which serves European fusion. Jamie Forchetta manager We take Taiwanese flavors that everyone is familiar with – the tastes of Taiwan – and incorporate them in Western-style dishes. Flying high this year was a Taichung barbecue joint called Oretachi No Nikuya. Besides earning a Michelin star, its 30-year-old head chef Sam Chung won the inaugural Michelin Young Chef Award. Sam Chung Michelin Young Chef Award winner It’s really, it’s a bit of a shock. It’s a bit…my mind is blank. New stars are rising with the release of the 2020 Michelin list. But one establishment – the Tainan Tantsumien Seafood Restaurant – missed the cut this year. It’s the only Taiwan restaurant to lose a star in 2020.