TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Curious Table, a vegetarian fine-dining restaurant in Taipei, is closing its doors after offering a unique culinary experience inspired by classic films, featuring dishes that recreate iconic scenes from movies like "Snow White" and "The Graduate."
Nestled in the basement of Taipei’s Regent Hotel, the eatery is set to close its doors at the end of August. Conceived by Jeffrey Liu (劉千瑞), founder of the Michelin-star vegetarian restaurant Little Tree Food (小小樹食), this culinary haven has been pushing the boundaries of plant-based cuisine.
Each seasonal menu at Curious Table is a meticulously crafted gastronomic experience. Past themes have included "Flowers" and "Artisans," but it is the final chapter, "The Edible Films," that truly takes the dining experience to new heights.
Before the main event, diners are treated to miniature popcorn, tacos, and churros, setting the stage for a cinematic feast. Curated by director Arvin Chen (陳駿霖), this 2-3 hour dining experience features seven courses.
The first course draws inspiration from the world's first science fiction film, "A Trip to the Moon." The chef ingeniously uses potato cream soup to represent the lunar surface, topped with freshly shaved black truffle, and a base of burnt vanilla to echo the film's black-and-white aesthetic.
As diners scoop into the soup, they recreate the iconic scene of an astronomer planting a telescope on the moon.
The silent film "City Lights" is represented by a dish featuring a contrast of expensive mushrooms like porcini and more affordable vegetables like radish and yam, mirroring the stark contrast between the protagonist, a tramp, and a wealthy heiress. A sauce made with Matsu aged liquor symbolizes the wealthy character's debauchery, while a flower represents the homeless man's love for the blind flower seller.
From the silent era to the golden age of Hollywood, the musical "Singin' in the Rain" is transformed into a vibrant dish. The crisp textures of white and green asparagus, combined with colorful sauces, recreate the iconic scene of the protagonists joyfully dancing in the rain.
Even the world of fairy tales finds its way onto the plate. Disney's first animated feature, "Snow White," is reimagined as an elegant apple quiche. A crown made from thinly sliced apples graces a glass plate, and the dish is accompanied by ice cream for a refreshing touch.
Dustin Hoffman's "The Graduate" is also given a culinary interpretation. Vibrant green beans symbolize the young graduate, while a translucent crystal dumpling hints at the seductive Mrs. Robinson, perfectly capturing the film's themes of youth and temptation.
The final course, inspired by Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita," is a decadent dessert featuring tiramisu with zabaglione ice cream, topped with white smoke and gold flakes, symbolizing the film's theme of indulgent living.
Additionally, the restaurant bar is offering an extended Happy Hour with an all-you-can-drink "The Drinkable Films" promotion until Aug. 31. Enjoy a 2-hour free-flow experience from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for NT$1,680 (US$53) per person.
The highlight is the gin-based cocktail with jasmine notes inspired by "Our Times" (我的少女時代). Other classic film-inspired cocktails like "The Godfather" and "Moulin Rouge" are also available.
As Curious Table's Taipei location prepares to close its doors, this cinematic culinary journey serves as a fitting tribute to both food and film. While diners may be disappointed to see it go, the restaurant is set to open new locations in Paris and Japan.
For those who enjoy plant-based cuisine, a new Little Tree Food location is set to open in Taipei’s Breeze Nan Shan, providing further opportunities for those seeking sustainable and delectable plant-based cuisine.
(Taiwan News, Lyla Liu video)
