{"id":13152,"date":"2013-03-08T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2013-03-08T15:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/?p=13152"},"modified":"2013-03-16T17:34:07","modified_gmt":"2013-03-16T23:34:07","slug":"art-coffee-is-the-english-language-name-of-a-restaurant-in-taipei-that-serves-good-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/art-coffee-is-the-english-language-name-of-a-restaurant-in-taipei-that-serves-good-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Art Coffee is the English Language Name of a Restaurant in Taipei that Serves Good Food"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>
A simple sign, as viewed from the street, for the Art Coffee restaurant in Taipei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Part of the challenge for me about eating in Taipei<\/strong> is finding food that both reflects the city and is appealing to me. Another challenge is simply finding the restaurants. There is certainly food to be found every few feet, but I can’t always tell what it is.<\/p>\n

The stands where the locals eat<\/strong>, and with the best prices, tend to be only in Chinese characters. I passed one yesterday that looked interesting, but even then, I just couldn’t tell what was inside the dumplings. I like to know….<\/p>\n

My translator app on my iPod (KTdict C-E)<\/a><\/span> helps<\/strong> if there are just a few characters to decipher, and if the script is normal enough that I can copy them to draw it on the screen. \u00a0It also has made a huge difference for this trip that I can manage a VERY simple conversation in Chinese. \u00a0But when a board is thick with characters, I am intimidated.<\/p>\n

Even Wild Greg has his limits.<\/strong> \u00a0A couple of days ago, we chose to leave a restaurant after reading the menu. \u00a0If I didn’t know better, I would have thought it was a joke they play on tourists.<\/em> \u00a0But people here really eat those things.<\/p>\n

It helps if I am not on a particular schedule.<\/strong> \u00a0If I have time to just wander, I will eventually find something. \u00a0I am semi-comfortable going down the lanes and alleys by myself. \u00a0I may not know how to get back to where I came from, but that’s what hotel business cards are for. \u00a0Just get out to a main street and flag down a taxi.<\/p>\n

Another possible point of confusion<\/strong> is the sidewalk versus signage arrangement.<\/p>\n