Interview with Taiwan Meshi owner Yuji Yamauchi
What inspired Yamauchi, owner of Taiwan Meshi and Guesthouse Yujiin, to make Taiwanese food?
We take a closer look at Yamauchi’s relationship with Taiwan!
How Taiwan Meshi came about
Why did you decide to start a food truck?
Yamauchi (honorific omitted)
As many people know, the lodging industry was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guesthouse Yujiin was no exception, of course.
After seeing off French guests who hurriedly returned home in March 2020, the guesthouse remained empty.
It usually had many guests from overseas, so the business could not continue when travel remained difficult.
Yamauchi considered closing Guesthouse Yujiin, but then turned his attention to food trucks, which had started becoming popular a little earlier.
Why did you choose Taiwanese food?
Yamauchi
At Guesthouse Yujiin, Taiwanese staff help with operations, and some stay for more than a year.
You can imagine how much people living in Japan for a long time might miss the flavors of home.
So, he cooked Taiwanese food for the Taiwanese staff.
To recreate the flavors of Taiwan, he learned how to make lu rou fan with guidance from the Taiwanese staff.
When he decided to start a food truck, he thought he would make a go of it with the lu rou fan he had learned from the Taiwanese staff.
Guesthouse Yujiin and Taiwan
Why is your connection with Taiwan so strong?
Yamauchi
Not long after Guesthouse Yujiin opened in 2008, Taiwanese staff came to stay.
One of the Taiwanese staff posted on social media (social networking services), saying, “Guesthouse Yujiin in Kurashiki is really great!”
That post led to more and more Taiwanese staff coming to help out at the guesthouse.
Since Guesthouse Yujiin opened, 26 Taiwanese staff members have stayed there, without a break.
Where do most of your guests come from?
Yamauchi
Many guests come from Taiwan.
One reason is that the Bikan Historical Area preserves the old streetscapes of Japan.
Also, Okayama is a convenient place to travel from, not only east and west, but also toward the Sanin region and Shikoku.
In addition, there are direct flights from Taiwan to Okayama, and convenient transportation is another reason many people visit Kurashiki from Taiwan.
How they are able to offer such a wide variety of dishes
Why do you change the menu for each event?
Yamauchi
Various vendors take part in market events, but depending on the vendors, the types of food available can be limited.
So, to meet the requests of market event organizers, we made it possible to offer rice dishes, bread, noodles, desserts, and more.
For rice dishes, we offer lu rou fan and chicken rice; for bread, Taiwanese burgers.
Because we can make a variety of Taiwanese dishes, we can change the menu to suit each market event.
I think that is one of Taiwan Meshi’s strengths and attractions.
How are you able to make so many different dishes?
Yamauchi
We choose dishes to suit each market event, but if nothing is quite right, we contact Taiwanese staff we are close to and ask them about new dishes.
For example, the beef noodle soup we are serving today is something a former staff member who lives in Taiwan taught us.
It is the relationships we have built with Taiwanese staff through Guesthouse Yujiin that make it possible for us to create new Taiwanese dishes.
How do you recreate the flavors of Taiwan?
Yamauchi
When making lu rou fan, we braise the meat using Taiwanese soy sauce and rice wine.
We have Taiwanese staff taste it, and when they pointed out that the texture of the braised pork was different, we sometimes changed the cut of pork to adjust its chewiness.
We refine our cooking methods by relying on the instincts of Taiwanese staff who are familiar with the flavors of Taiwan.
We also cook using a pot made by TATUNG, a cookware manufacturer familiar in Taiwan (Tatung electric cooker).
It is a versatile appliance that can braise and steam food.
The future of Taiwan Meshi
What would you like to do with Taiwan Meshi going forward?
Yamauchi
Taiwanese food has not yet caught on in Japan, so I want more people to enjoy it.
The dishes served at Taiwan Meshi are based on recipes we learned from Taiwanese staff, so we can recreate the flavors of Taiwan.
One of Taiwan Meshi’s distinctive features is that you can enjoy the flavors of Taiwan in Kurashiki.
We can set up anywhere in Okayama Prefecture, and being able to take part in market events is another attraction of Taiwan Meshi, I think.
I hope market event organizers will also come to appreciate the appeal of Taiwanese food.
Trying Taiwanese food in Kurashiki
Actually, Taiwan was the first foreign country I ever visited.
I was bewildered by the unfamiliar atmosphere and sometimes got lost along the way, but I still remember how kind the people of Taiwan were to me.
Of course, I also have vivid memories of the food I ate during the trip.
The spicy beef noodle soup I ate at Taiwan Meshi brought back memories of Taiwan’s scenery.
The COVID-19 pandemic put Guesthouse Yujiin in a critical situation, but it seems to me that the trust Yamauchi had built with Taiwanese staff helped save the guesthouse.
Knowing the story behind Taiwan Meshi’s beginnings should make its food taste even more delicious.
By the way, the doll displayed in front of the shop is the mascot of cookware manufacturer TATUNG.
One of the things to enjoy about Taiwan Meshi is that even the little items in the shop evoke Taiwan.
Be sure to enjoy the authentic Taiwanese atmosphere at Taiwan Meshi.
Taiwan Meshi details
| Name | Taiwan Meshi |
|---|---|
| Address | At market events throughout Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-441-1620 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | At market events throughout Okayama Prefecture |
| Regular closing days | Irregular |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | No restroom |
| Website | Taiwan Meshi |
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