dessert/taiwanese: i strongly recommend SMOOTHIE HOUSE

SMOOTHIE HOUSE 思慕昔官網

No. 9 Yong Kang St.

台北市大安區永康街9號

(02) 2395-8770

MRT: DaAn (but it is about a 20 minute walk from the nearest MRT)

website: smoothie.com.tw

hours: 11AM- 11PM

$$

Kid friendliness: kids will love the fruit and shaved ice

Visit reviewed: 6/29/2012

Smoothie House is a two story shaved ice store that has occupied a prime spot on Yong Kang St, just a half block away from Din Tai Fung and Kao Chi. There are lots of tables, there's air conditioning, there's heaping plates of fruit covered snowflake shaved ice. 

So why isn't it as famous as Ice Monster, whose new shop has lines down the street, even in the sweltering Taipei heat? I must admit, I only tried Smoothie House for the first time this past summer, and only because Yong Kang 15 (aka new Ice Monster) was closed. I probably have passed by Smoothie House dozens of times and not went in, since it wasn't the "must go to" spot for tourist friends. 

Smoothie House is still quite crowded on a rainy afternoon and we managed to grab a tiny table to squeeze around after ordering at the front counter. There are pictures on the menu for easy ordering with choices like mango shaved ice, strawberry or mixed fruit. Mango smoothies are also available though they are more like a thick slush than fruit smoothie.

Once our number was up, we grabbed our tray. We ordered two shaved ices to share between three people and it was a lot! Huge scoops of ice cream top the mountain of shaved ice and cascading chunks of fruit. 

The Fresh mango ice magic (NT$120) has regular shaved ice, while the Strawberry snowflake ice (NT$150) has a creamier melt-in-your-mouth texture almost like ice cream. Both were just as yummy (and pricey) as other places in Taipei, though definitely on the sweeter side. It's also nice to have options like strawberry when you're not feeling like mango.

Mmmmmmm.

Back in June 2012, the popular Yong Kang 15 shaved ice shop had suddenly closed down. Tourists were left looking at their guide books in confusion, looking at a closed off location. 

And in a bold business move, Smoothie King cemented its Yong Kang Street mango ice monopoly when it reopened the landmark shack that used to be it's main competitor- Yong Kang 15, and Ice Monster before that- as their second location. There will be people who might not have heard the news that Yong Kang 15 shut down and just head over to the "mango ice place on Yong Kang St." 

Smoothie House signage 2012. Copycat or coincidence?

Ice Monster 2009. 

With the same color schemes and design, the new Smoothie House spot could easily be mistaken for the original occupants. They even retained the "Yong Kang 15" signage from before, since it is technically the address, but at eye level you wouldn't tell the difference or see the small-ish Smoothie House signage above. I was really surprised when I saw what had taken over that space, but it's probably good business for them even though the new location is only steps from their original indoor shop - they had customers sitting down at 11:30AM and some people won't know or care about who the owner is as long as the shaved ice tastes good or have to wait in the half hour lines elsewhere.

What do you think matters more- location or taste or ownership? Which mango ice place is your favorite?

OTHER LOCATION

No. 15 Yong Kang St 台北市大安區永康街15號

(02) 2341-8555

CLOSED! burgers/lounge bar: i recommend MANHATTAN GOLD BURGER

MANHATTAN GOLD BURGER

No. 21, Lane 181, Alley 7, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4 
大安區忠孝東路4段181巷7弄21號
(02) 2731-7110

CLOSED! a/o 2013

MRT: SYS Memorial Hall

website: Manhattan Gold Burger's FB page

hours: 12 PM - 2 AM

$$ (about NT$300-600/person)

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted. nighttime environment more like lounge bar

Visit reviewed: 8/29/2012

Opened for over a year, Manhattan Gold Burger is a dining bar that servers gourmet burgers, pastas, appetizers and drinks in a swanky lounge bar space.  The vibrant decor is the first impression to set it apart from the various burger spots in town- I felt more like I was hanging out at the W rather than a Diner with the sofa style seating and roomy space for customers to not overhear each other's conversations.

It wasn't too crowded the night I was invited to go which was nice, and there was a decided 90s hip hop soundtrack playing that brought me some flashbacks throughout the evening. On certain nights, a DJ also comes in to play music to add to the lounge bar-like atmosphere.

There's a full drink menu and the sweet and citrusy mojito definitely hit the spot. Something I'd definitely order again here and order for a girls' night out.

Beers and wines are also available, in addition to the cocktail list. 

It was wing night, a promotion that Manhattan Gold Burger has on Wednesdays, where wings were NT$10 each with a drink purchase. Time to get finger licking- I liked the red hot buffalo wings and salt and pepper chicken wings. There was also a spicy thai chili flavor and bbq flavor. The wings were tasty, with a small salad on the side, but it would have been nice to have some celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for the buffalo wings instead.

Since we were ordering to share, we ended up with some sliders (NT$490/four). Grilled pineapple, mushroom, bacon cheese and jack cheese are all options for burger and slider toppings. The patties are round and fat, so the slider is a tad tall to take ladylike bites.  I grabbed the bacon cheeseburger, but next time I'll have to try the grilled pineapple.

The decadent foie gras truffle steak burger (NT$680) topped with gold flakes is one of Manhattan Gold Burger's specialty dishes. But since the steak isn't ground into a burger form, it's more like a steak sandwich with medium rare steak slices. After I took photos, they cut the burger in quarters to share and I ended up eating just the center as it was hard to eat together as a burger. It could benefit from a nice toasted ciabatta or french bread bun or wild greens instead of iceburg lettuce. I also wasn't crazy about the mystery gravy that coated the foie and the steak that overpowered the truffle flavor.

When I told a friend later about the burger, he asked me, "the $666 burger?" I had no idea what he was talking about, so some googling turned up a NY food truck that sells a foie gras, truffle, gold flake burger topped with even more insanity (lobster, caviar and bbq sauce made from kopi luwak) and charges $666 dollars for it and calls it the doucheburger.. The waygu burger topped with foie gras at the W Hotel is NT$2200. So compared to that, NT$680 (or US$21) is a steal. Lol. Who knew there were such crazy expensive burgers?

For non beef eaters, there's seafood options like the shrimp burger, or soft shell crab on a bun. I didn't try this.

Many of the burger spots in Taipei have a burger/brunch menu, but Manhattan Gold Burger skips brunch and goes straight to dinner. Meaty options besides burgers include BBQ Pork Ribs (NT$420), baked half chicken or beef short ribs in red wine sauce. Good to share family style with extra tangy bbq sauce to slather. 

If you don't to get your hands dirty, then you can opt for one of the pastas. There are various options with spicy tomato sauce, or seafood options like the tasty Spaghetti with Mentaiko Cream Sauce (NT$270), topped with shreds of fresh nori and chewy calamari rings. I liked the pasta, but one of the calamari pieces was a tad gritty.

Or Spaghetti with Salmon and Spinach in Cream Sauce (NT$260).

All in all, a cool place that's open late to have drinks and dinner off of Zhongxiao East Road, tucked in the alley right behind Luxy. We even hopped over to newly moved Ice Monster afterwards for dessert (Ask Manhattan Gold Burger very nicely and maybe they'll let you bring back your to-go order to eat there like we did instead of waiting in the long Ice Monster line).

japanese/sushi: i recommend HI SUSHI

HI SUSHI 海壽司
No. 58 MinSheng E. Rd, Sec. 4 台北市民生東路四段58號
(02) 8712-2538

MRT: Zhongshan Jr. High School

website: hisushi.com.tw

hours: 11:30AM - 9 PM

$-$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted, mostly sushi bar seats with limited booth seating. cooked seafood items also available.

Visit reviewed: 6/17/2012 & 8/23/2012

For the longest time, I was a bit of a sushi snob. I was surprised that a chain like Sushi Express repeatedly won the readers' vote as "Favorite Sushi" on the Best of Taipei Readers' Choice Poll and I avoided the sushi conveyor belts for years. It also didn't help that I had found some tiny sushi bars that offered amazing, fresh sashimi for affordable prices.

But one day my friend said her son loved eating at Sushi Express and invited me to join. Seeing the variety of nigiris and the plates stack up brought down the wall that I had put up. It wasn't the most amazing sushi at NT$30 for everything, but it was relatively fresh and kaiten sushi was a different, fun experience. 

Hi Sushi is another conveyor belt chain, but supposedly a step up, with slightly higher prices and fancier decor. You might have spotted it in your neighborhood or in a mall food court, and the multiple locations makes it quite convienent. This one was near my grandma's house and she had never been, so I took her there for lunch. You can sit along the sushi bar, or there are some booths available along the conveyor belt too. Some locations, like the one on Zhongxiao even has seats apart from the belt, which takes some of the fun out of it.

The individual photos make it easy to order if you can't tell what things are as they are whizzing by, and reminds me of those table top signs at American Japanese restaurants growing up. I didn't eat sashimi until I was in my 20s, but once I got used to the idea I was chewing on raw fish, it was as satisfying as eating a slab of steak. Hi Sushi wouldn't be a bad place to introduce a newbie to sushi, since everything is clearly identified and a variety of things can be sampled.

Hi Sushi's menu also has English, Chinese and Japanese for each photo, and little colorful dots next to the Chinese name. The dots match the plates of the dish and represent how much it is. If you're on a budget, you can stick to the yellow plates which are NT$40 each, or get the daily special which give you an extra piece for the first order of your party. Hi Sushi also serves tempura vegetables, grilled fish, mini hotpot and other main dishes to make a more filling meal.

There's probably over 50 variations of sushi to choose from, but here are some of my favorites that I ordered on repeat visits. I like ordering some items directly from the waiters or sushi chef, since you can never know how long some of those plates have been making the rounds. 

Tuna with Spring Onion (NT$60) and Shrimp Roe (NT$40) Since it's hard to find spicy tuna here, this is a good sub. Chopped up tuna to spice up with some wasabi. I like to order this from the sushi chef so the seaweed is crisper and fresher made to order.

Botan shrimp (NT$150) is plump and sweet and fresh. The sparkly plate means that it's going to cost you! This is the most expensive plate I've picked up, but the Hi Sushi color scheme pricing has plates as expensive as NT$250.

The Seared Salmon with Mentaiko Sauce (NT$80) has become a favorite of mine. When salmon is seared it's melts in your mouth and the extra sweetness and creaminess of the mentaiko mayo lends it a dynamite baked effect. The seared cobia and the flounder on Hi Sushi's top 10 list are not bad too.

These next pricier items I'd rather rather get at my favorite sushi bar, but if you're craving them, you can give them a try. I have to note that I had an allergic reaction after a visit to the Zhongxiao shop which might have come from some of the shellfish I had that night, either the scallops or the shrimp, since my friend also had a reaction a few days later from dining at that branch.

Seared scallop (NT$120) 

Anago (NT$100) is okay, but lacks the seared smokiness that makes it fragrant.

I definitely wouldn't order the uni (sea urchin) handroll again. It lacked the sweetness and intensity that I have had from sea urchin at other places and it's worth paying for a better bite.

I like to organize my plates by color when we're done and do some math before the waitress rolls by to tally the bill. Even though the plates are cheap individually, they add up and it ends up usually being around NT$400-500 a person. Hi Sushi is not a bad way to create your own omakase for the evening or have a quick meal when you can't get last minute reservations at your favorite hole-in-the-wall sushi bar. What's your choice? Sushi Express vs Hi Sushi vs your favorite sushi spot?

OTHER LOCATIONS

Nanjing 南京店 
No. 22, Nanjing E. Rd, Sec 3

台北市南京東路三段22號
(02) 2508-0618

ZhongXiao  忠孝店 
No. 2, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4, 2FL 
台北市忠孝東路四段120號2樓
(02)2781-8989

Tianmu 天母店
No. 55-1 Tianmu E. Rd 

台北市天母東路55號之1
(02) 2873-3565

Neihu 內湖店
No. 244, Neihu Rd, Sec. 1 

台北市內湖路1段244號
(02)2656-0968

Taipei 101 信義一店
No. 45 ShiFu Rd, B1 

台北市市府路45號 (101購物中心B1)
(02)8101-8358

No. 298 XInyi Rd, Sec. 4 

台北市信義路四段298號
(02)2701-8378

Hankyu Mall 阪急店
No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5, B1

台北市忠孝東路五段8號(統一阪急百貨)(02)2723-3592

ShinKong Mitsukoshi A4 新光三越A4

No. 19 Song Gao Rd, 6FL 

台北市松高路19號6樓 

(02)8788-1155

ShinKong Mitsukoshi A8 新光三越A8

No. 12 Song Gao Rd, 6FL 

台北市松高路12號B2 

No. 156 ChengDe Rd, Sec. 1, B3 

台北市承德路一段156號B3(京站時尚廣場)
(02)2555-1135

No. 7 HengYang Rd 

台北市衡陽路7號
(02)2388-1658

MOMO店
No. 337 Nanjing E. Rd, Sec. 3, B2

台北市南京東路三段337號(MOMO百貨B2)
(02)8712-5365

not taipei/snapshot: HELLO KITTY LADUREE MACARONS

Who doesn't love receiving surprises? Especially when they come wrapped in ribbon and Hello Kitty?

I was surprised, but delighted to find that my friend hand carried a box of Hello Kitty Laduree macarons from Paris for me, back in May. How cute is this mint green box dotted with hand drawn macarons and matching colored mini Hello Kittys? 

Inside the box was a rainbow of the sweet, vibrantly colored confections- I took one picture and then began tasting. Decadence and joy and gluttony. My friend was bummed that some were a bit cracked during the transatlantic flight, but I assured him that they still tasted the same. 

Big thanks to my friend J for generously thinking of me and for my first bites of a Laduree macaron. Make a stop at the Laduree shop in NYC if you get a chance, as it is the first and only location in the states.

And props to this blogger who actually MADE Hello Kitty macarons, tiny ears and red bowtie and all, who I found when I was googling "Hello Kitty macarons." They were adorable and looked amazing with the right shape and eyes perfectly spaced apart! 

from i-heart-baking.blogspot.com

I Heart Baking gives a little photo tutorial for those with the patience and skill to make their own, as well as has lots of other Hello Kitty baking posts. Whoever could figure out how to make and sell these in Taipei would make a killing!

CLOSED! singaporean/french: i strongly recommend AU JARDIN (BISTRO DU VIN)

CLOSED! a/o 2014

AU JARDIN (BISTRO DU VIN)

No. 222, XingAn St. 松山區興安街222號 

(02) 2719-6863

MRT:  Zhongshan Jr. High School or Nanjing E. Rd

website: Au Jardin's FB page

hours: 11:30AM - 2:30 PM; 6PM - 10:30 PM

$$ 

Kid friendliness: high chairs available

Visits reviewed: 5/25/2012, 5/26/2012 and 6/26/2012

Opened for a few months now, Au Jardin is a bright, cheery bistro in the Songshan District that serves up Asian meets Italian/French fusion fare. Fans of Just In Bistro or the shuttered Le Petite Cuisine might find some Sino French flavors or faces familiar, but newcomers should feel just as welcome.

Also tucked on this alley is Fresh Cafe, which I've been hearing about and meaning to try.

At first glance, the menu seems a bit disjointed with both items like Spaghetti Alla Carbonara and Singapore Laksa on it, but there are gems to be found. On my first visit, I was a guest of my friend D and the restaurant, so they brought out their signature dishes for us to try. The English and Chinese menu has a range of pastas, main dishes, appetizers and desserts, as well a wine list selection. This post is a collection of three different visits so there's a lot of food to drool over! 

I like to treat my grandma to lunch sometimes and if the place is too pricey, sometimes she will feel guilty or be too polite about eating together, but I think she had a good time at Au Jardin and enjoyed the food even more when I pointed out the reasonable prices to her.

The Tofu Spring Salad with Light Soy Bean Dressing (NT$180) sounds deceptively simple, but it's refreshing. With both fried and silken tofu atop dressed greens, the soybean dressing is more like a sweet vinegrette. I've ordered this salad again on every visit afterwards.

The Tempura of Soft shell crab salad with Green Chili Sauce (NT$360) has a strong kick with the spicy green chili sauce that gives the crispy soft shell crab an acidity and fire that is addictive. It also works as a salad since there's some lettuce and greens to spread the sauce around.

On my last visit, on the seasonal menu was the Parma ham with grilled peaches salad (NT $360). Sweet and savory, perfect for summer.

For the more traditional options, the Caesar Salad (NT$200).

I loved the spicy soup from the Sauteed clam "Tom Yam" (NT$120), but I had a few gritty clams that turned me off.

The Grilled Confit Pork Neck with Honey Mustard Dressing (NT$140) is not a bad appetizer to share, but the confit pork neck is used in quite a few of the dishes I ordered, so it's not necessary to repeat order unless you really love it.

Calamari Fritter with Lemon Aioli (NT$180)

Grilled Oyster Mushroom with Potato Salt (NT$100) is a hearty choice for vegetarians.

Soup of the day- Seafood Chowder 

A must order is the Roasted Duck Confit with Seasonal Vegetables, Chicken Jus (NT$400). It's a great portion for the price and is roasted perfectly so that the skin is crispy and the meat is juicy and tender. 

Depending on your mood, there are two pastas I really recommend- the Tagliatelle Confit Pork Neck (NT$380) is a crowd pleaser with noodles tossed in olive oil and garlic that brings out the flavors of the pasta and the pork. The pasta is cooked perfectly al dente, chewy but not too hard.

And the spicier Tagliatelle Confit Sweet Shrimp Pork Neck Laksa (NT$420) bursts with Southeast Asian flavors of spiciness, sweetness and sourness that somehow works perfectly with the Italian noodle. Again there's the melt in your mouth pork neck meat along with some seafood flavors and shrimp. There's traditional Laksa as well, but I also ended up getting this dish.

My friend was craving red meat, so she ordered the Grilled rib eye lunch set (NT$980) to share. Pricey for lunch, but not a bad price for a nicely grilled steak.

A few orders were not as strong and distinctive- the Cheeseburger, Salad and Fries (NT$380) was gourmet enough, but not as exciting as laksa.

I also felt the Seafood Risotto (NT$400) was not my idea of a risotto- it was quite watery and the rice was too soft. It tasted more like a seafood stew with rice.

One of the things that I think also makes Au Jardin stand out is the service. The dirty plates and utensils were whisked away and replaced with new ones between courses (salads, mains, desserts) without asking. This usually only happens at fine dining restaurants with higher entree prices, but it's nice when you get that quality of service in a casual ambience. It was nice having to have clean forks to enjoy the different flavors and not have to wave the waiter down for water, and is a noticeable gesture in the land of self serve eateries.

There's lots of delicious desserts to choose from- if you want a souffle, be sure to order it before you want to it since it will take time to cook. The first day, they had a Peach Souffle for us to try, but it was a tad underdone for me.

But I loved the decadent warm Baked chocolate cake (NT$220) with the gooey chocolate center.

And the flaky Apple tart (NT $180) that is served as one long strip and easy to share. Meticulous thin slices of apple are sweetened with caramel sauce and the crispy phyllo dough underneath makes it a dessert that is satisfying, but not heavy.

Although it's a bit out of the way for me, it's worth the trip. Au Jardin is also in that sweet spot where not too many people know about it yet so it wasn't crowded, but that might change when word of mouth spreads.