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Mume

Taipei

Exemplary Taiwanese produce, masterfully plated

On the Pass

Richie LIn

The story: Set up in 2014 by chef trio Richie Lin, Long Xiong and Kai Ward, Mume has been run solely by Lin for the last few years. Born in Hong Kong, the chef moved to Sydney to work alongside Peter Gilmore at Quay, then spent some time at Noma in Copenhagen before deciding to move to Taiwan permanently. At Mume, he combines his international outlook, predilection for minimalist, Nordic-inspired plating and passion for Taiwanese produce all into one.

Mume? The restaurant is named for Taiwan’s most famous flower, the plum blossom, and its cuisine pays tribute to the diversity of the island’s terroir. ‘Mume’ also shares the same characters as Lin’s mother’s name.

The food: The chef’s philosophy is all about exploring underrated local ingredients and applying modern European techniques to create stunning, colourful dishes. Recent menus have featured mahi mahi fish with salted kombu and crème fraîche; cuttlefish with nduja sausage and bell pepper; prawn with kumquat and lemon balm and abalone with Brazilian mushroom and vin jaune.

Eco credentials: Mume earned the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2022 for its uncompromising ethos, working closely and fairly with local farmers and championing their ingredients as part of its concept.

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