He earned a Michelin star, but all he really wants to do is sell ice cream

Each cup has a signature, uniform ridge. (Minimal via CNN Newsource)

Taichung, TAIWAN — There are more than 3,000 restaurants in the world with at least one Michelin star. Only one of them is dedicated solely to ice cream, and you’ll have to travel to Taiwan to experience it.

Located in an alley in the city of Taichung, next to the tree-lined Calligraphy Greenway boulevard, Minimal’s spartan grey and dark charcoal façade is a stark contrast to the sweet, colourful treats served inside.

Founded by chef Arvin Wan in 2021, it’s included in the Michelin Guide’s 2024 Taiwan edition, which was unveiled last August. But just a few months after receiving that star, Wan took a bold step that highlights the pressures many chefs face — he did away with Minimal’s tasting menu, which was served in a separate dining space, opting to sell takeaway scoops only.

“I had been contemplating this decision before the [2024 Michelin] ceremony,” Wan tells CNN Travel.

“I’ve always wanted to sell ice cream and only ice cream. The tasting menu was a temporary journey for me to explore the flavours and possibilities of iced desserts. I learned a lot in the process, which will benefit my ice cream-making. But sustaining it would demand more of my time and energy on plating and service — time and resources I could have spent on ice cream. I chose the latter.”

The 20-seat dining section, on Minimal’s second floor, offered a creative seven-course menu that focused on the various temperatures of its dishes, including a -5 C shaved ice dessert and a bowl of very chilly -196 C ice crystals.

The menu, piloted in 2023, clearly impressed Michelin Guide inspectors.

“Focusing on ice and ice cream, the restaurant skillfully layers flavours and textures through temperature variations and creative combinations, using unique local ingredients from Taiwan,” says the Michelin Guide’s write-up on Minimal.

“The meticulous flavours, delicacy and mature, skillful techniques all impressed us and reached a higher level, warranting a Michelin star.”

Whether they’ll still feel that way now that he’s gotten rid of his dining space is out of his hands, Wan says, telling CNN Travel that all the added attention made it challenging to devote time to his true passion — the ice cream.

He won’t have to wait long to find out — the 2025 edition of the Taiwan Michelin Guide will be unveiled on Aug. 19.

A different kind of ice cream shop

Wan has been fascinated with the cold treat since childhood.

Observing how little ice cream shops have evolved compared to their food and beverage counterparts, such as restaurants and bars, he was determined to build something different.

Since becoming the world’s first Michelin-starred ice cream shop in 2024, Minimal has become a culinary attraction, luring ice cream lovers from near and far.

Hopeful patrons line up patiently every Friday through Monday, often waiting over an hour until the last scoop is sold out around 4 p.m.

“After gaining a star, the biggest change for us has been the increased business and attention,” he says, his tone a mix of pride and concern.

“But other than that, I haven’t changed much. I just want an ice cream store. No one should have to wait an hour for ice cream, or any food, for that matter.”

When asked if opening another shop could ease wait times, Wan says he doesn’t plan to leverage his success to expand his business — for now at least.

His reluctance to scale up makes sense, considering the complexity of his offerings — these are not your run-of-the-mill flavours.

Take one of his gelatos, featuring olive oil, oolong tea and magnolia leaf. To extract the most from each ingredient, he slowly condenses steeped tea to maximize its fragrance. Milk is blended in afterward, in powder form, to avoid diluting the flavor.

To compensate for the decreased aroma from the tea leaves during the brewing process, magnolia leaves and olive oil are added to enhance the flavor, giving it a dose of freshness.

“An ice cream only consists of four elements — fats, proteins, sugar and liquid. What I want to do is to rethink each of these elements and play them to the extreme for that ideal flavor, without adding anything extra,” explains Wan.

Every batch of ice cream, even those with tested and confirmed recipes, requires a lot of tasting and adjusting. The complexity of each batch makes it difficult for Wan and his small team to produce large quantities.

“Instead of risking a dip in quality or sacrificing work-life balance, I want to focus on what I can handle for now,” he says.

Life in a pressure cooker

CNN Travel has reached out to Michelin for comment on its judging process.

According to the official website, a Michelin star is awarded based on five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine, and consistency across the menu and over time.

It stresses that a Michelin star is awarded only for the food on the plate — not the decoration, style, formality or service of a restaurant.

Restaurants don’t need to offer a tasting menu to receive a star. However, Minimal’s no-seating policy could seal Wan’s fate.

“I guess about 70 per cent of our star was awarded because of our tasting menu,” says Wan. “But they did sing praises to our ice cream as well. If we don’t get a star because of (our latest decision), then it’s meant to be. If we still get a star as an ice cream store, then it’ll mean much more to me.”

Wan certainly isn’t the first chef to make an unconventional decision after receiving a star from the industry’s most sought-after gourmet bible.

Acclaimed TV show “The Bear” offers a fictional but somewhat realistic account of just how hard chefs need to work to get that star. Which makes it all the more surprising when one of them suddenly decides they’re no longer willing to play the game.

“The culinary industry’s obsession extends beyond Michelin stars to other accolades like the ‘World’s 50 Best’,” says Agnes Chee, a Hong Kong-based international food critic.

“While it’s understandable for chefs and restaurants to pursue recognition — both for personal achievement and business success — the problem arises when some chefs lack self-awareness.

“They become completely driven by these rankings, prioritizing constant media and social media exposure over actual cooking and culinary development… This represents the negative impact of such awards on the industry, as human nature tends to lose itself in the glare of accolades.”

While a star from the Michelin Guide serves as an achievement and often brings lucrative business opportunities, some restaurateurs have spoken out about the stresses of keeping it.

Chef Michel Roux Jr. surprised everyone by closing his two-star Michelin restaurant, Le Gavroche, in London in 2024 to “make time for a better work/life balance.”

Meanwhile, the owners of the now-closed Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant Deanes EIPIC in Belfast, Northern Ireland, said it was not financially sustainable for them to keep going.

Others have even taken Michelin to court. After suing the prestigious guide over an unfavourable review of his soufflé, chef Marc Veyrat earlier this year decided to ban Michelin inspectors from visiting his new venture Le Restaurant.

In Wan’s case, he says he still holds immense respect for the guide but believes it shouldn’t dictate his happiness. His goal has always been simple — make delicious ice cream.

“In this age of overwhelming information from anyone, I think awards like the Michelin Guide serve as an objective and authoritative voice to clear the fog,” he says.

“But at the same time, it might be tempting for chefs to guess what the guide wants or to follow a path they think might earn them a star. You may lose your own way as a result. I find it even more frightening to lose myself than to lose a star.”

What makes the perfect cup of ice cream?

These days, Wan is content, telling CNN Travel he sells about 300 cups of ice cream per day.

“We can’t do more than what we’re selling really,” he says while scraping creamy gelato from a tub, gently nudging and spreading it to the side a few times before scooping out a smooth and cold serving into a cup.

For this ice cream perfectionist, each scoop needs to be executed with just the right technique and a dose of patience, every cup leaving his hands with a uniform ridge. This ensures the ice cream’s texture is extra smooth and melts more slowly.

“Fragrances and flavours are released more as temperature rises,” says Wan. “I want my ice cream to melt two seconds after you put it in your mouth, rather than one second. It just tastes better.”

Food critic Chee agrees with Wan’s choice to refocus on his true passion — the ice cream.

“While Minimal’s decision might appear ‘unwise’ at first glance, it actually reflects a very grounded mindset,” she says. “The owner understands that regardless of any star ratings, their true professionalism lies in making excellent ice cream. Customer satisfaction ultimately matters more than award recognition.”

And when it comes down to it, she says Minimal really is special.

“Having their ice cream is akin to having a whole dessert course — so flavourful and delicate.”

By Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN