Traditional vs. new flavors Drawing on family tradition, Chen Chao-lin's traditional Ilan cuisine is well crafted and authentic. Take, for example, the Ilan dish called "Hsilu Pork": for this combination of Napa cabbage, pork strips, mushrooms, carrots, and dried duck egg, many chefs simply stir-fry all of the ingredients together and then steam it in a deep basket. Chen Chao-lin's method is different.
古早味 V.S. 新時尚承襲家學淵源，陳兆麟的宜蘭古早味手工細膩、口味道地，以宜蘭名菜「西魯肉」為例，對於這道綜合大白菜、肉絲、香菇、紅蘿蔔和鴨蛋鬆的什錦菜，多數師傅總是將所有材料一起炒過，就放入深盤中蒸煮。