Tainan “Wandering Food Trucks” Feature Crêpes and Soy Milk Sandwiches!

Text and photos by /Sean

Recently, while exploring the White do 白做研究所 (White Do Creative Research) market in a back alley of Kaishan Road, I came across Shi Geng. The three sisters modified their family’s old car and started selling French crêpes. The batter is made with soybeans. Previously, most crêpes available in Taiwan were the crispy kind, but real crêpes (Crêpes) should actually have a soft texture—the difference in mouthfeel is quite noticeable. But given that crispy crêpes have already been a staple at night markets across Taiwan for so many years, getting consumers to understand that crêpes are actually supposed to be soft... I think it will take some time. Anyway, for today, let’s just eat.

Here’s the menu at Shi Geng.

All dishes are made fresh to order.

There was plenty of time to take photos slowly while they were being prepared, and I found the sight of the retrofitted vintage car parked in front of the temple square absolutely lovely.

The food truck’s façade is also thoughtfully decorated.

That day I ordered the mushroom and lettuce salad, which had diced king oyster mushrooms mixed in. They kept falling out while eating, which was a bit tricky, but overall the flavor was one I liked.

The apple cinnamon flavor wasn’t too heavy—it was slightly tangy and sweet, and both adults and kids seemed to enjoy it.

In the end, the soy milk toast sandwich became my favorite. I felt it would be perfect for a picnic, and it would also make an excellent breakfast!

Shi Geng’s French-style crêpes are a great little food truck. In 2017, we’ll probably see more youth innovation food trucks like this. Whenever possible, I’ll try to visit them within my means, and if I find any good ones, I’ll share them with everyone—helping young people build confidence and visibility is always a good thing.

For us older folks to earn the respect of the younger generation, we have to fight for it ourselves. Actually, no matter the age, respect is a two-way street and has to be earned. If you ever get the chance to be someone else’s benefactor, don’t be their adversary. Helping others can sometimes unexpectedly help yourself—and only such positive cycles can help Taiwan’s future emerge from stagnation. Taiwan is a very, very small country and simply can’t afford mutual hatred or holding each other back. I’ve said it more than once: only by joining hands can we create opportunities for survival and a brighter path. The light is something we must find for ourselves. (From the manga “Tales of the Black Fox”)

Lastly, I’d like to make a wish: I hope that in the near future, I can try a thousand-layer cake made with a soybean batter. It might be a bit labor-intensive, but I think it’s worth a shot.

Shi Geng French Crêpes
Business hours and location: Please check the shop’sFacebook page announcement

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