Sakura Leaf Cafe & Bistro Introduction
Born in Tainan, Chueh, through a series of fortunate events, met Yvonne, the owner of Cherry Blossom Leaf. She left her previous job and took on the role of manager at Cherry Blossom Leaf, located in a serene alley at No. 366, Zhongshan Road, Chiayi City. Although Chueh did not have a background in the food industry, her passion and interest in cooking drove her to develop new dishes for the restaurant, guided by the principle of “persistently using local ingredients from Chiayi.” This led her on a journey to seek out delicious ingredients, such as finding fresh and sweet oysters in Dongshi, searching for rich honey in traditional markets, and tasting fragrant sesame oil at oil factories. Her efforts did not end upon returning to the restaurant; she devoted considerable time to studying recipe books and watching cooking shows to seek inspiration, brainstorming how to turn these delightful elements into innovative local specialties. Through this process of trial and error and battling with recipes, she created unique dishes such as duck meat quiche, Dongshi oyster sauce noodles, lamb milk soup curry, Chiayi purple sweet potato pudding, and mousse latte. Each dish carries Chueh's thoughtful creativity and her affection for the local community. In the restaurant's courtyard stands a cherry blossom tree that has thrived for over a year, a variety that is known to struggle in flatlands, steadfastly guarding the entrance of the restaurant. The building itself is an old residential house over 50 years old. During the Japanese colonial period, Zhongshan Road in Chiayi City was a bustling area for Japanese and successful Taiwanese merchants. Upon stepping into the second floor of Cherry Blossom Leaf, one can see tatami mats extending across the entire floor. The strong Japanese sentiment continues to the balcony with shoji screens and the rain shield outside, beautifully enhanced by the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, creating a captivating retro scene. Chueh, dedicated to the spirit of authentic cuisine, along with the friendly and warm staff, Chu Chu, continues to provide sincere dishes in the alley, sharing the same passionate spirit as the cherry blossoms.
