Kaohsiung’s Michelin-starred Gen Restaurant continues to shine by emphasizing the master-apprentice bond in its latest summer offerings. This season, the restaurant introduces three unique tasting menus that trace the stages of a chef’s career: building a foundation, preserving tradition, and mastering personal style.
The menus—Gen Roots, Gen Legacy, and Gen Realm—tell a rich story of Cantonese heritage combined with innovation. To make this journey even more authentic, a guest chef with over 50 years of experience joins the kitchen for an entire year. This collaboration deepens the master-apprentice bond between the two chefs. Together, they blend classic Cantonese techniques with fresh, modern creativity.
Among the new dishes, the steamed wild Antarctic toothfish with spicy sauce from the Gen Realm menu stands out. The guest chef draws inspiration from his time cooking in Southeast Asia. He pairs the delicate texture of the toothfish, steamed in a classic Cantonese style, with a bold, spicy sauce influenced by Southeast Asian flavors. This dish showcases how Cantonese cuisine can evolve while still honoring its roots.
Another exceptional dish is the wild mushroom and seasonal vegetables served inside a hollowed winter melon. Traditionally, chefs use white radish, but here the guest chef uses winter melon for a fresh twist. The melon is filled with wild mushrooms and fresh seasonal vegetables, then gently simmered in a golden broth made from pumpkin and carrots. This dish highlights the subtle layering of flavors and the precision needed to create something both simple and profound. It exemplifies the master-apprentice bond in the kitchen, where attention to detail transforms humble ingredients into art.
The Gen Legacy menu includes a humble yet deeply satisfying chicken rice dish. The guest chef stir-fries diced chicken with shallots before braising it in a special sweet and savory sauce. This dish is served over premium Japanese Koshihikari rice and topped with a soft-boiled egg. When broken, the yolk blends with the sauce and rice, creating a comforting and rich experience. This dish reflects the skill of transforming simple ingredients into a memorable meal.
Prices for the new tasting menus range from NT$2,680 (US$87) for Gen Roots, NT$5,280 for Gen Legacy, to NT$8,880 for Gen Realm. Through these menus, Gen Restaurant honors Cantonese culinary traditions while celebrating the master-apprentice bond that brings each dish to life.
