Food Intelligence

While conversing with my mother, reminiscing over all the wonderful food we’ve had over the years in Taiwan (and what we can’t eat too much of now…yet still do), she mentioned that the infamous Ice Monster at Yong Kang Street in Taipei had closed. I couldn’t believe it. I had just set this picture aside to write all about how awesome Ice Monster is–really. The store owner saw my pregnant wife and pregnant cousin-in-law (not pregnant by me, by my cousin, sheesh!  Who, I might add, has a beautiful little boy similar age to Ellee here) getting into the long long line, and quickly flagged them to a table, cleared out whoever was waiting there, sat us all down and took our order before everyone else. So that’s a lesson learned for next time you go. Bring someone pregnant. Anyway. Yes. Closed. Because the owners had a divorce, now, Mr. Lo, left to run the store AND pay alimony to his ex-wife, had no other choice but to close shop because he couldn’t do both. He would have had to pay half the store’s revenues to his ex-wife. Ouch.

This was just in the last couple weeks too. Right before Chinese New Year. I’m sure there will be many a disappointed tourists. The owner is thinking of relocating to another place within a few months. Hopefully it will be reopen by summer when I go again! But get this — according to a recent press release (yes, this is big news in Taiwan; Ice Monster is “iconic”), “Realtors have speculated the failure to reopen the Yong Kang location will have a huge impact on local real estate, likely sending property values on YongKang into a downward spiral.” (Emphasis added) Really? One ice shop affecting the whole area? My mother did say that businesses around the area are already suffering due to the Ice Monster closure though. Makes sense. People get to Ice Monster, realize they need to eat something first, so they find a noodle shop around the area, which Yong Kang Street is famous for, or Din Tai Fung (overpriced but the Japanese love it!). I loved the area because it’s right outside the Taipei LDS Temple. Ice Monster was a tangible blessing for temple attendance.

Full English article here.  Chinese press release here.

I knew I should’ve bought an overpriced T-shirt.  But for that price you could’ve bought 3-4 of those desserts up there.  So I did that instead.

Let’s hope the one in Singapore is still open.  Not the same, but come on, there ain’t much left!  We’ll find out next week.

When you start the day off at around 28-29 C, it can never be too early for a Slurpee. I got this at probably 9am or so on my way to a conference. Sarsaparilla flavored, start the morning with a sugar high! Well, there are other factors that come into play, though:

1. Yes, there are 7-11s all over Japan. Not one has a Slurpee machine. I’ve gone through all of them. Really. You’ll be sorely bummed to discover that after a long hot day of sightseeing in 30 C temperatures and 150% humidity.

2. In fact, it’s hard to find 7-11s with Slurpee machines all over Asia.

3. What happened? There is not a 7-11 in the states without a Slurpee machine. 7-11 would not be 7-11 without the Slurpee machine. That’s like McDonalds without the Big Mac. Or KFC without the Fried. What were the franchisees thinking when they decided to take 7-11 abroad?

4. Luckily, the Taiwan 7-11 subsidiaries got it right. Even better, actually, they have their own local flavors, such as sarsaparilla, guava, passion fruit, etc. What makes Taiwan 7-11s even cooler? The classic tea-leaf egg smell that overtakes you as soon as you walk in. Next to the cashier there’s always a pot of hard-boiled eggs stewing in tea-leaves–guaranteed. 在7-11真好.

5. Aaaaannnnd, there are 7-11s on literally every corner in Taiwan. You can walk from the corner of one block, down two minutes to the end of that same block, and find another 7-11! Disclaimer though, I can’t remember whether or not ALL the 7-11s have Slurpee machines. I’ll have to double check when I go back there again! Curse you old age!