SUMMER snowflake ice and jumbo squid - photos!

After several attempts I finally made it back to my favorite squid shop to take some photos.

Night shots of the shop:


Fried jumbo squid before / After, bite sized & ready to be served!:


Cute little fried dessert balls:


These were like mini donuts. They were sugar coated, crispy on the outside and soft inside. What a combination!


Although I was quite full I had to take in the famous snowflake ice. I managed to try 2 other flavors this time. I did not get the names so I will try to describe the flavors.

This tasted like a 7-UP (or Sprite) slurpee:


Brown sugar ice with red beans:


The popular green tea with red bean:


All the flavors were great. The 7-UP/Sprite slurpee like ice brought back childhood memories. They used to have 7-UP/Sprite slurpees way back in Canada. Good memories!

The green tea flavor was strong yet not too sweet. Worth a try if you like green tea!


As I walked from the Japanese restaurant to my favorite squid shop I passed a new building. Here is the new & improved Guang Hwa Computer Market (光華商場/Guānghuá Shāng Cháng):



Shop name (店名): SUMMER snowflake ice (夏日雪花冰(光華店))

Address (地址):
No. 2-2, Xinsheng South Road, Sec. 1, Lane 12, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
台北市中山區新生南路1段12巷2號之2
Xīnshēng NánLù, yì Duàn, shíèr Xiàng, èr Hào Zhī èr, Zhōngshān Qū, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2394-8328
URL (網址): http://tw.local.yahoo.com/biz.html?bizid=644160ecb83daf8e&sid=152959585&city=%E5%8F%B0%E5%8C%97%E5%B8%82&b=13&sort=-rating
Menu (菜單): Chinese
Operation Hours (營業時間): 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Another web site (Mobile01 in Chinese) talking about the fried squid, chicken and other delicious bites: http://5i01.com/waypointtopicdetail.php?f=189&t=445699


MRT (捷運/Jiéyùn) Directions:
Take the blue MRT line (Banqiao-Nangang; 板橋站-南港/Bǎnqiáo-Nángǎng) to Zhongxiao Xinsheng station (忠孝新生站/Zhōngxiào-Xīnshēng Zhàn). Take exit 1, turn right, walk a few meters and then take a left. Walk into a small dark lane with DVD signs above. You will soon reach a lane with a lot of food stalls.

Bus services: I took service 505 back home. Only a 10 minute wait and another 10 minute ride. Some other buses that serve the area:

Queuing for Japanese food

It is 5 pm and a fellow foodie runs to my desk and asks if I want to try a popular Japanese place for dinner. How could I resist? Turns out a long queue forms due to it's popularity. The only way to beat the queue was to get there earlier.

Shop front with no queue:


All the food we had were of good quality. I particularly loved the squid as it was cooked to perfection! The other highlight was the miso soup. It had a unique and almost alcohol like taste to it. Go early if you want to avoid queuing.

Everyone had the eel rice / My favorite dish for the night:


Other popular dishes:



More photos at another blog. You can see how long the queue can get!


Shop name (店名): 肥前屋//Féi qián wū

Address (地址):
台北市中山北路一段121巷13-2號1樓
No. 13-2 Zhongshan North Road, Sec. 1, Lane 121, Taipei City
Zhōngshān Běi Lù, yī Duàn, yīèryī Xiàng, shísān Hào Zhī èr, yī Lóu, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2562-8701 or 2561-7859 (fax: 2541-1768)
URL (網址): n/a
Menu (菜單): Chinese
Operation Hours (營業時間):
Lunch (午餐): 11:30~14:30
Dinner (晚餐): 17:30~21:00

SUMMER snowflake ice and jumbo squid

My weekend ended with a cool note.

I made my way back to the Guang Hwa Computer Market (光華商場/Guānghuá Shāng Cháng) area to satisfy my craving for snowflake ice (雪花冰/xuěhuā bīng) and jumbo fried squid. It turns out my favorite squid shop also sells snowflake ice. I did not have my camera with me so I will try to get photos next time. Note some people in the shop speak English. There is a tall and very friendly lady who speaks English very well. She provides great service and recommendations of what are the best items they have to offer.

This time, I managed to try 3 flavors, green tea with red bean, milk with red bean and peanut butter, of snowflake ice. All 3 flavors were really good, both in taste and smell. I love that chewy feeling of the ice in the mouth. Oh, so good! I must go back and try the other flavors. I find it to be a super way to beat the summer heat. They have seating inside the shop where you can sit down, avoid the heat and enjoy your cool dessert.

Since this shop is my favorite place to get jumbo fried squid I had to have a bag. I love the jumbo squid as the amount of batter is just right and has just the right amount of chewiness. I had some seasoning, garlic and herb leaves added to maximize the taste and experience. What a nice ending to a great weekend!


Shop name (店名): SUMMER snowflake ice (夏日雪花冰(光華店))

Address (地址):
No. 2-2, Xinsheng South Road, Sec. 1, Lane 12, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
台北市中山區新生南路1段12巷2號之2
Xīnshēng NánLù, yì Duàn, shíèr Xiàng, èr Hào Zhī èr, Zhōngshān Qū, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2394-8328
URL (網址): http://tw.local.yahoo.com/biz.html?bizid=644160ecb83daf8e&sid=152959585&city=%E5%8F%B0%E5%8C%97%E5%B8%82&b=13&sort=-rating
Menu (菜單): Chinese
Operation Hours (營業時間): 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Another web site (Mobile01 in Chinese) talking about the fried squid, chicken and other delicious bites:
http://5i01.com/waypointtopicdetail.php?f=189&t=445699


MRT (捷運/Jiéyùn) Directions:
Take the blue MRT line (Banqiao-Nangang; 板橋站-南港/Bǎnqiáo-Nángǎng) to Zhongxiao Xinsheng station (忠孝新生站/Zhōngxiào-Xīnshēng Zhàn). Take exit 1, turn right, walk a few meters and then take a left. Walk into a small dark lane with DVD signs above. You will soon reach a lane with a lot of food stalls.

Potstickers, missed squid and Macaroni

Sunday:

I decided to visit an area famous for computers and accessories. Guang Hwa Computer Market (光華商場) is located near the Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT station (忠孝新生站/Zhōngxiào-Xīnshēng Zhàn). The market is in a temporary home but they plan to into a new building next door in a couple of weeks. After a little shopping I wanted to get some lunch. I went to a guo tie (potstickers) place to fill up on food.

Guo tie or potstickers:


Spicy Korean style:



Shop name (店名): 八方雲集水餃鍋貼專賣店(光華店)
(Bā fāng yún jí shuǐjiǎo guōtiē zhuān mài diàn (Guāng huá diàn))

Address (地址):
台北市大安區八德路一段82巷9弄12號
No. 12 Bade Road, Sec. 1, Lane 82, Alley 9, Daan District, Taipei City
Bādé Lù, yī Duàn, bāshíèr Xiàng, jiǔ Nòng, shíèr Hào, Dàān Qū, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2351-0810
URL (網址): n/a
Menu (菜單): Chinese
Operation Hours (營業時間): n/a



Earlier, I wrote a short note about a squid stall I love. Unfortunately, the shop was not open yet so I did not get to eat my favorite jumbo fried squid. I was told the fried chicken skin is a must try. Oh well, next time. Managed to take a photo of the shop opening up for the day:


Address (地址):
No. 2-2, Xinsheng South Road, Sec. 1, Lane 12, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
台北市中山區新生南路1段12巷2號之2
Xīnshēng NánLù, yì Duàn, shíèr Xiàng, èr Hào Zhī èr, Zhōngshān Qū, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2394-8328
URL (網址): http://tw.local.yahoo.com/biz.html?bizid=644160ecb83daf8e&sid=152959585&city=%E5%8F%B0%E5%8C%97%E5%B8%82&b=13&sort=-rating
Menu (菜單): Chinese
Operation Hours (營業時間): 12:00 pm - 10:30 pm

It is interesting that the two shops mentioned above are on the same stretch of road but have very different addresses.


MRT (捷運/Jiéyùn) Directions:
Take the blue MRT line (Banqiao-Nangang; 板橋站-南港/Bǎnqiáo-Nángǎng) to Zhongxiao Xinsheng station (忠孝新生站/Zhōngxiào-Xīnshēng Zhàn). Take exit 1, turn right, walk a few meters and then take a left. Walk into a small dark lane with DVD signs above. You will soon reach a lane with a lot of food stalls.



After some more shopping I ended up at Romano's Macaroni Grill at Neo19. They have very good calamari as an appetizer. I had the seafood linguini which comprised of smooth pasta, fresh seafood and nice creamy sauce. The serving was quite large so I had no room for dessert. Sorry, no photos for you.


Restaurant: Romano's Macaroni Grill

Address (地址):
22, Sungshou Road, Taipei City (NEO19, 1st Floor)
台北市松壽路22號1樓 (NEO19, 威秀影城旁)
Songshòu Lù èrshíèr Háo, yī Lóu, Táiběi Shì

Telephone (地址): (02) 2722-4567
URL (網址): http://www.neo19.com.tw/index.asp?AREA=STOREINFO&tbKey=19
Menu (菜單): Chinese (English upon request)
Operation Hours (營業時間): Refer to URL above.