MINIMAL is a restaurant in Taichung, Taiwan which focuses on ice cream and other frozen dishes. They are the only Michelin starred ice cream parlor in the world.
MINIMAL was founded by Chef Arvin Wan. Wan is a native of Taichung who studied at the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT). Following time spent working at traditional restaurants and an ice cream parlor Wan opened a restaurant named Sur with his friend and fellow NKUHT graduate Lin Yi-hua where Wan managed the dessert side. In 2021 Wan opened MINIMAL although he continued to be active at Sur which was awarded a Michelin star in that year. [1]
According to CNN "The name refers to the nominal number of elements in ice cream — from sugars to proteins — that create its smooth texture, as well as the aesthetic style." [2]
The restaurant has a traditional take-away ice cream parlor on the first floor and a twenty-seat dining room on the second floor. [2]
The typical tasting menu at MINIMAL is seven courses. [3] The restaurant has struggled to make its tasting menu model profitable. [1]
In 2023 MINIMAL received a Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin. [1]
In 2024 MINIMAL was awarded a Michelin star, [4] making it the only ice cream parlor in the world to have one. [3] [2] [5]
Taiwanese cuisine is a popular style of food with several variations, including Chinese and that of Taiwanese indigenous peoples, with the earliest cuisines known of being the indigenous ones. With over a hundred years of historical development, southern Fujian cuisine has had the most profound impact on mainstream Taiwanese cuisine but it has also been influenced by Hakka cuisine, the cuisines of the waishengren, and Japanese cuisine.
Heston Marc Blumenthal is an English celebrity chef, TV personality and food writer. His restaurants include the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, a three-Michelin-star restaurant that was named the world's best by the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2005.
The Fat Duck is a fine dining restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, England, owned by the chef Heston Blumenthal. Housed in a 16th-century building, the Fat Duck opened on 16 August 1995. Although it originally served food similar to a French bistro, it soon acquired a reputation for precision and innovation, and has been at the forefront of many modern culinary developments, such as food pairing, flavour encapsulation and multi-sensory cooking.
The Michelin Guides are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few restaurants in certain geographic areas. Michelin also publishes the Green Guides, a series of general guides to cities, regions, and countries.
Ice cream parlors or ice cream parlours are places that sell ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and/or frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is typically sold as regular ice cream, and/or soft serve, which is usually dispensed by a machine with a limited number of flavors. Ice cream parlors generally offer a number of flavors and items. Parlors often serve ice cream and other frozen desserts in cones, cups or dishes, the latter two to be eaten with a spoon. Some ice cream parlors prepare ice cream desserts such as sundaes or milkshakes, or even a blend.
Alinea is a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, United States. In 2010, Alinea was awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide. Since the closing on December 20, 2017, of Grace, Alinea remains one of only two Chicago restaurants, with the other one being Smyth, added in 2023, with three Michelin stars. Alinea charges $175–225 for its second-floor salon menu, and $285–345 for its first floor gallery menu.
Le Bernardin is a three-Michelin star French seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Eric Ripert is the executive chef, and he is co-owner along with Maguy Le Coze.
Galvin at Windows is a restaurant located on the top floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane restaurant. Launched in May 2006 by Chef Patron Chris Galvin as the second restaurant from the Galvin Brothers, the restaurant was awarded its Michelin Star in 2007 and maintained it until 2020 when they lost the single star.
Bacon ice cream is an ice cream generally created by adding bacon to egg custard and freezing the mixture. The concept of bacon ice cream originated in a 1973 sketch on the British comedy series The Two Ronnies as a joke; it was eventually created for April Fools' Day by a New York ice cream parlour in 1982. In the 2000s, the English chef Heston Blumenthal experimented with ice cream, making a custard similar to scrambled eggs and adding bacon to create one of his signature dishes. It now appears on dessert menus in other restaurants.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a restaurant in London, England, created by Heston Blumenthal. Menu items are based on historical British dishes, which were researched by food historians and through the British Library. The restaurant's décor resembles antique British periods. Dinner's opening drew interest within the industry, and reviews have been positive. Particular dishes have received praise, including the Meat Fruit, a chicken liver mousse created to look like a mandarin orange.
Thierry Marx is a French chef, specialised in molecular gastronomy.
Jollibee Foods Corporation is a Philippine multinational company headquartered in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines. JFC is the owner of the fast food brand Jollibee.
Smyth is a restaurant located in Chicago. Alongside Alinea, Smyth is one of two restaurants in Chicago with three Michelin stars.
Goosefoot was an American restaurant serving French cuisine located in Chicago. An adjacent grocery, called goosefoot food & wine, opened in 2014. The food and wine store added an ice cream shop in late 2017. In 2012, shortly after the restaurant opened, a reviewer for Chicago magazine wrote "Goosefoot’s air flows with the particular bliss that permeates any young restaurant when diners realize they’re in a special place, and the smile on every face says the same thing: This is my first visit of many."
Miyahara Ice Cream is a confectionery, restaurant, and ice cream parlor in Central District, Taichung, Taiwan. The building is converted from a former ophthalmologist clinic dating to 1927, hence its Chinese name. The building is operated by Dawncake (日出), a Taichung-based confectionery brand.
RAW is a restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan owned by Chef André Chiang. It has two Michelin stars.
Le Palais is a high end restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan specializing in Cantonese cuisine. It was the first restaurant in Taiwan to be awarded three Michelin stars.
JL Studio is a high end restaurant in Taiwan specializing in Singaporean cuisine. It has been awarded three Michelin stars. JL Studio is located in Taichung.