aeeble

The Fantastic Drift of a Five-Star Hotel Indian Chef Why did an Indian chef who once worked at a five-star hotel in Hsinchu open a restaurant in Chiayi? According to the proprietress, he had originally looked for a location in Taipei, but after a trip to Chiayi he happened to see a rental notice on the right wing of the old house at the Tile Museum, thought it looked good, and signed the lease. Drifting south to Chiayi, unfamiliar with both people and place, he was at a loss… when the proprietress’s Facebook suddenly showed the friend of a friend who happened to run a donburi shop in Chiayi. After contacting him, that person generously shared every source for ingredients—an unbelievable stroke of luck. Even more amazing, on opening day, without any promotion, a group of tourists from Tainan was already waiting at the door. Asked how they knew about the restaurant, they answered, “We just walked by!” The proprietress says it all feels like a dream: a woman raised in Taipei ending up running a restaurant in Chiayi, daring to introduce the most authentic Indian cuisine straight on. Fortunately, since opening, different curries and naans have each found their fans, while the masala grilled-chicken salad, Goan shrimp curry, and spice-yogurt grilled chicken have won the hearts of most guests. Image source: Tourism News Division, Chiayi City Government | Photography: Marg