Cold Stone Creamery, an ice-cream parlor franchise from Arizona, USA, is known for its mix-ins and lively service culture where the workers would sing a tune or two when tipped by the customers.
Tipping is not common in Asia though; so I guess the staff would probably sing along whenever they feel like it. Sharing some videos of the staff in action from Cold Stone Creamery outlets in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan…
Japan – Forget ice cream, the girls are champs…
Interesting culture and places in Taipei, Taiwan; as featured in the 4th and 5th episode of The Amazing Race Asia (TARA) season 3.
Ximending, Taipei
Ximending is one of the most bustling areas in Taipei with a mixture of new and old culture.
You can find the latest trends and hype in Ximending… fashion, books, entertainment, cosplay, games etc; and on contrary also home to some of the oldest shops and restaurants in Taipei.
Ximending is also a popular place for celebrities to hold fans meeting or small concerts.
Had lunch at this De An Eatery (德安小吃) during my Taiwan trip in May 2008 at the small town of Fonglin in Hualian County, en route to Taichung City. The food was quite nice, and I loved their pork knuckles…
Some local foods in Jiufen, a small town in Taiwan which I visited in late April 2008…
Taipei’s Shilin Night Market is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan, famous for its abundance of Taiwanese street food. The place was the first stop for my Taiwan trip in late April 2008…
Toilet themed restaurants are not new in Taiwan; it has been around since 2004 or earlier, with people dining in a toilet like ambience and eating from mini toilet bowl.
I always thought that the business idea won’t last long; but with the huge exposures by media and bloggers… seems that these eateries are becoming a bizarre food icon from Taiwan, something like fugu in Japan and live octopus in Korea.
Below are pictures from Modern Toilet, a food chain that operates 12 toilet themed restaurants in Taiwan; these pics are from its outlet in Shilin, Taipei…
