Life's Many 23 Years? Celebrity Chef Closes Restaurant After Two Decades

After 23 years, the popular Taipei restaurant run by celebrity chef "Guzui Shi" Guo Zhuyi has closed its doors. The chef marked the end of an era on Tuesday evening, standing outside the familiar establishment that has been a central part of his life.

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How many 23 years are there in a life? I have poured the most precious years of my life into this restaurant.

Guo Zhuyi shared his feelings on Facebook, reflecting on the "most precious years" he dedicated to the restaurant. He recalled starting with youthful enthusiasm, spending countless hours cooking, and now seeing his hair gray and energy wane. The restaurant, he said, witnessed his journey through "too many ups and downs, with laughter and tears, good business and tough times."

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From the youthful impulse of my early days, standing by the stove every day to stir-fry, to now when my hair has turned white and my strength is not what it used to be, this restaurant has accompanied me through too many ups and downs in life. There has been laughter, and there have been tears; there were times when business was best, and times when it was so hard I almost couldn't hang on.

Despite the challenges, the chef found immense satisfaction in hearing customers praise his food. He was particularly touched by patrons who grew up dining at his restaurant, evolving from couples to married individuals bringing their own children. "You are not just eating the cuisine, but accompanying me through life," he stated, viewing the restaurant as his "youth, my stage, my life."

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You are not just eating the cuisine, but like you have accompanied me through life; this is not just a restaurant, it is like my youth, my stage, my life.

Though he expressed sadness and reluctance to say goodbye, Guo Zhuyi acknowledged the transient nature of gatherings. "There is no banquet that lasts forever," he reflected. He remains optimistic, believing that the "human touch" and sense of community will endure, and he intends to continue his culinary path with a grateful heart.

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The restaurant is closing, and honestly, my heart is very reluctant, but there is no banquet that lasts forever; life is like this, there is gathering, and there will be farewell.