Despite Taiwan’s Austronesian past and unique food culture, it is surprising that visitors to Taipei cannot sample the country’s earliest cuisine in style. Taiwan’s Indigenous people have a long and proud tradition of essentially slow-cooked food that emphasizes seasonal and organic ingredients – quite in line with the foodie movement currently in vogue. But you…
Baking classes have become a fresh source of entertainment for many millennials, while healthy eating and do-it-yourself dining are driving demand for cooking courses. Cooking isn’t just about eating, it’s also entertainment, which is why boutique-style baking courses and cooking classes are becoming a feature of life in Taipei. Housewives with time and money on…
[ When You Drink, Don’t Drive. ] Alcohol is a valued lubricant when it comes to commerce, and these establishments represent some of the best the city has to offer in the drinks department. It’s time to impress a client, establish a relationship, or seal the deal. Dinner is of course an option, but so…
Taiwan possesses numerous natural advantages when it comes to providing hot-spring resorts, spas, and medical tourism. The big positive to living in a land of volcanoes and earthquakes is the plentiful hot springs they produce. In recent years the springs have become a big draw for tourists to Taiwan. After all, what could be better…
Five of Taipei’s biggest and best temples illustrate the importance of religion to the populace, both in the past and in the present. Their curved roofs and overhanging eaves, gaudy dragons and almost psychedelic imagery, incense and incantations, mark out temples as one of the most distinctive features of Taiwan. For the Instagram generation, temples…
Gloria Outlets’ opening two years ago was a sign of impending change in the retail environment, from urban department stores to suburban shopping centers. A number of recently opened outlet malls are tempting shoppers to spend, even though overall consumer confidence has dipped due to rising prices and anemic salary increases. Retail market experts say…
The evolution of Taiwan’s mass market eating establishments has speeded up over the past decade to meet developing tastes and higher expectations. In recent years the long and colorful tradition of food vendors setting up roadside stalls has become less common, as hygiene requirements and city ordinances tighten up. Taking its place is a multitude…
Famous foreign personalities like Jamie Oliver bring business expertise, but in the long run it is local master chefs like André Chiang who will carry the torch. Celebrity chefs spread stardust over a nation’s food scene. They take the spotlight and make the headlines, introduce new ingredients and food preparation styles to give cooking an…
More can be done, say experts, particularly through government incentives, education, and retrofitting old buildings. Green buildings would seem to be perfect for hot climates. They’re cool (literally) and energy-efficient. They save money and may even contribute to saving the planet. Why then aren’t more of Taiwan’s commercial and domestic buildings green? According to…
Camping is the ideal way to rest and relax in nature and has become an extremely popular leisure activity in Taiwan over the past decade. For good reason. One night while camping in Pingtung County’s Kenting beach area, my family and I were awakened by a whooshing sound – like flames spreading quickly –…
