Spring & Summer Appetizers: Dian Shi Dai Selects 4 Themed Gourmet Meals

The popular food brand "Food Republic Dian Shi Dai Food Court," under Singapore-listed group BreadTalk, has specially chosen from its global flagship store—the Dazhi flagship store—28 food stalls to strongly recommend signature seasonal dishes perfect for Taiwan’s spring and summer climate. Furthermore, it uniquely introduces cultural and creative activities within the food court space. In April, the first wave invited renowned Chinese calligraphy master Li Qinghe, director of the China Calligraphy Museum, and 85-year-old crystal bead painting artist Ms. Zhang Jintian to demonstrate live at the Dazhi flagship store, where their large artworks were also exhibited. Meanwhile, the Dazhi flagship store joined forces with two other branches in Taiwan—Taichung and Banqiao—to jointly hold a children's art and calligraphy competition, attracting nearly 20,000 elementary school students to sign up!

While enjoying the spring feast, Taiwan’s climate already hints at the heat of summer. In response to the sudden temperature shift from the cooler winter, the Dazhi flagship store has carefully picked from hundreds of menu items across 28 dining outlets, focusing on “acidic” and “spicy” flavors to whet appetites, and strongly recommends 4 themed gourmet meals. The first flagship store, “Toast Workshop,” features the head chef’s recommendation of the authentic-tasting “Prawn Tomyum Wanton Noodles” perfectly replicating the original Singaporean flavor. Dian Shi Dai General Manager Tsai Chen-shih noted that both the ingredients and seasonings for Toast Workshop’s Tomyum Wanton Noodles are imported directly from Singapore, with the secret recipe fully retaining the original taste from Singapore. The richly aromatic broth, combined with a tangy-spicy kick and chewy, bouncy wanton noodles, offers a spicy tang paired with crispy yet tender fish slices and sweet, fresh prawns. A final touch before serving is the addition of imported condensed milk—guaranteed to boost your appetite, making every bite from the first to the last enjoyable without being overly sharp or spicy.

 

The second is the exotic creative restaurant “Thai Yummi.” The story behind the owner is quite interesting—she is a Thai eatery opened by two idealistic young women. Originally non-experts in cooking, the owners won third place in Taipei’s fried rice competition with their “Wang Wang Fried Rice.” The refreshing taste makes it a great lunch option for office workers, and the authentic dry mixed MAMA noodles taste just like those from Thai street stalls—definitely a must-try summer lunch.

Tsai Chen-shih highly recommends “Tamal Nepalese Curry,” whose signature set meal features an authentic Nepalese curry blended with Indian spices and coconut milk, served over turmeric rice and paired with appetizing side dishes. It delivers an unforgettable layering of flavors in the mouth, a delicious experience that is truly intoxicating—and a rare find in Taiwanese Nepalese cuisine. Finally, there’s “Dovas Vietnamese Pho,” which uses unique creativity and diverse thinking to craft various new-style pho dishes. Vietnamese pho can be transformed into 30 exquisite combinations, offering you the freedom to choose a main dish to pair with the light and refreshing Vietnamese pho during seasonal transitions when appetite may waver.

Tsai Chen-shih said, “Alongside our April spotlight on spring and summer cuisine, Dian Shi Dai customers can also enjoy a unique cultural feast in this creative space. The first special exhibition invites the master of calligraphy, Li Qinghe, director of the China Calligraphy Museum, to kick things off. Teacher Li Qinghe has broken through traditional calligraphy norms with his uniquely innovative fonts. His calligraphy blends traditional Chinese writing styles with elements of drawing, making it easy for both adults and children who love calligraphy to create their own imaginative spaces. Another featured figure is the crystal bead painting artist, 85-year-old Ms. Zhang Jintian; Grandma Zhang is known as the 'Bead Stringing Expert,' transforming originally flat paintings into unique 3D effects by attaching glass beads that refract and transmit light in various ways.”

 

Additionally, Tsai Chen-shih mentioned that besides inviting the two masters for cultural exhibitions at the Dazhi flagship store, continuing from the drawing competition held at the flagship’s opening late last year, April also expands the event to include the Taichung and Banqiao stores, jointly organizing a graphic creativity competition. Textual creativity has been added as a competition element, linking with Dian Shi Dai’s “foodie” culture. The aim is to provide children with a stage for boundless creative expression, with an awards ceremony to be held at all branches on Mother’s Day, May 12.