You are looking at the remains of the one and only smoothie shop in Taipei. In Taiwan it's hard enough to find some of the more unique delights from back home, let alone find good versions of them. There are other smoothie places in taiwan, but they are a taiwanese style of smoothie, that just doesn't do it for me. This was the authentic article, and one of the few places in the city where i could go when I had a memory of smoothies from back home and then have the exact same taste here.
There are plenty of times when you have a craving for something from back home and then you go to a restaurant here to have it, and when you get it you're so excited, until that first bite that brings you snaps you back to reality that it's just not the same. close, but not the same.
But this place was the real deal. So much so that it was practically my comfort food, whenever i needed to go someplace where i knew I'd leave satisfied, i'd go here. or if i ever needed a quick pick me up, i'd stop by for a smoothie. I guess it's a good sign that I hadn't been there in about a year. It means that i was never in need of a pick me up.
But on a recent appointment nearby, i went early to get a smoothie, but as you can see, the store was gone. To be honest I'm not surprised, as the store had already almost closed once, only to be bought at the last minute by a new owner. Also the location is pretty bad, it's on the first floor of an office building in a busy commercial area. Sounds good right? but because of building policy it was only open from 9 to 5, meaning it could only really do business during the lunch hour, but it wasn't really a place for lunch. it's more a place to hang out with friends and relax, but during the day time everybody is working, and in the evening and weekends the building is closed. So it really never had a chance.
I can be optimistic, perhaps it moved to a more suitable location where it can be the type of place it's meant to be. Or perhaps it's a big wake up call that i should get off my butt and open up my own authentic smoothie place. Regardless, I can say this place will be missed. Not just the smoothies, but i have a lot of memories here. A lot of things good, bad, and unexpected happen in that space. I even took my parents here when they came to visit Taiwan.
Well it's time to say goodbye to an old friend who was always there for me. Even though I hadn't been there in a long time, doesn't mean I didn't care, or that i didn't appreciate all the times it was there for me. It will be missed.
