He Feng Zhong Guo Cai

Where home-cooked meals meet excellent management

Written and translated by Diva

(02) 2545-3536
32, Lane 106, MinQuan E Rd, Sec 3, 1F
Hours: 11:30 am-2 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm (closed for 3 days during Chinese New Year holiday)
MRT: Chungshan Middle School Station
Credit cards accepted. 10% service charge.
www.hefengr.com

The rich world of gourmet food is fun to occasionally delve into, but nothing beats the down-home taste and warm feeling your mama's cooking. In 1959, someone else's mama--Mama Chen--began selling her tasty homemade dishes in China's Yunnan province. After a decade of living in a military housing project and working as a street vendor in Taoyuan, her restaurant, He Feng Zhong Guo Cai, was finally established in Taipei.

Even as the years march on, this eatery continues to have a steady, growing patronage. Word of mouth is what attracts most people here; good management and delicious dishes are what make them return again and again.

Nancy, the restaurant's manager, has always approached He Feng with a successful business plan in mind. She knows that if you're established and successful the restaurant business is a worthy long-term investment. Along with two other designers, Nancy created the company's logo and overseen the decor of the restaurant space as they aim to create a "new generation" of Chinese cuisine.

As far as the food goes, the chefs pass up potential harmful additives like MSG, preferring to use natural ingredients like rock salt from Utah. Most importantly, Nancy buys locally-grown food. The pork, poultry and shrimp here come from non-toxic and pollutant-free certified farms. Thus, it caters to the notion of a healthy diet and also helps the environment.

Her Yunnan-Style Pea Jelly with Sauce (NT$160) is what made Mama Chen and her cooking habits an overnight success. This seemingly simple dish is the cure-all remedy for homesickness. Since then, dishes like the tender Boiled Salted Chicken Thighs (NT$280) and Yunnan-Style Roast Beef (NT$380) have won over diners' taste buds.

He Feng's 10 food dryers help dehydrate perishable ingredients and keep them fresher for longer. This is probably why their pineapple and tomato pieces are always sweet and plump in dishes like Deep Fried Pork with Sweet & Sour Sauce (NT$280) and Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes (NT$220). It's also worth noting that their Stir-Fried Noodles with Shrimp in Shrimp Sauce (NT$420) doesn't have that usual fishy smell of shrimp paste. Its fresh flavor comes from the fact that the chefs here create their own paste from fresh shrimp that are then dehydrated.

Nancy firmly believes that all cuisine--whether gourmet or homemade--should be paired up with excellent service. While dining at He Feng you'll, notice that every server is pleasant and personable and the restrooms are elegantly decorated. For family gatherings or business occasions, He Feng prides itself on providing the best service and the most delicious Yunnan cuisine. For group dining, be sure to ask for the set menu; it will give you the best value for your money.