More and more restaurants have been opening as increasing numbers of Taiwanese diners have come to appreciate Indian cooking. When Daniel Hsiung first arrived in Taiwan over 22 years ago, only a few Indian restaurants, including the venerable Tandoor Indian Restaurant, founded in 1989, could be found on the island. The overseas Chinese from Kolkata…
Not satisfied with catering just to Asian diners, some Taiwanese restaurants in the region are seeking to expand their customer base. While many would hail the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California as the Mecca of Taiwanese cuisine in the United States, the southern half of the San Francisco Bay Area stands as a…
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…
The concept of food tours is new to Taiwan, but the potential is high, especially in conjunction with business conferences. If there’s one thing on earth that connects people from different backgrounds and gets them talking, it’s food. And there’s always something to talk about, from indulging in a dish that’s an old favorite, to…
[ Do Not Serve Alcohol to Minors ] Consumers are gradually developing a taste for grape wine, but it still remains outside the mainstream dining culture. In 2006, the Taiwan economy was still booming, buoyed by surging trade with the People’s Republic of China. It was a time when many Taiwanese businesspeople thought that closer…
Energetic Italian chefs are introducing one of the world’s great cuisines to the Taiwanese capital. Botega del Vin belies its posh East Taipei location. The restaurant may be situated amid luxury residences a stone’s throw from ZhongXiao East Road, but it feels like a trattoria – a rustic Italian eating establishment that usually caters to…
Publication is expected to help Taiwan’s outstanding restaurants achieve a higher profile internationally and boost tourism. Epicureans with an affinity for Chinese food have long appreciated Taipei’s culinary offerings. The Taiwanese capital has a rich variety of Chinese eateries, from no-frills street stalls specializing in scallion pancake to elegant Cantonese hotel restaurants. Compared to neighboring…
[ 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…
After spending around two decades in Taiwan, three years ago TOPICS contributor Mark Caltonhill returned to live in the UK. Within weeks, he was missing “three-cups” slow cooking, kongxin cai (空心菜), and perhaps most of all, stinky tofu (臭豆腐). Here is his report. Arriving at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in the 1990s after each annual…
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…
