Yogurt Art turns customers into creators — at least for the two minutes it takes to create a dessert.
The recently opened self-service joint in Gongguan (公館), located across the street from National Taiwan University’s main gate, serves frozen yogurt and a multitude of toppings.
Becoming an aesthete is as easy as walking through the door, choosing a cup — 390ml, 520ml or 750ml — and then filling it with any combination of the eight yogurt varieties dispensed from four machines.
Then it’s off to the display counter to add any (or all) of the 24 toppings, weigh the objet d’art and pay. A warning to those who don’t want to create a monumental canvas: the 390ml size is more than enough for a masterpiece that will satiate one person’s appetite.
The palette of yogurt flavors includes berry tart, white chocolate macadamia nut, country vanilla, cable car chocolate, New York cheesecake, cappuccino, green tea tart and plain tart. Yogurt Art changes the flavors once a month. There are 30 in total.
On my first visit, I paired berry tart with New York cheesecake — a little country living combined with downtown flair. Then, it was on to the toppings counter where I added strawberries, kiwi, peach and blueberries. Weighing in at just over 200g, it cost NT$123.
The only disappointment was the peach, which was canned.
If my first creation tended toward “environmental art,” a second attempt a few days later was pure decadence.
The underpainting was a grisaille of cappuccino, cable car chocolate and white chocolate macadamia nut. As the base looked somewhat bland, I added Gummi bears, marshmallows, M&Ms and pieces of Oreo cookie. The cost: NT$107.
Address: 96-5, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段96之5號)
Telephone: (02) 2362-3721 Open: 11:30am to 10pm
Average meal: NT$125 Details: Chinese and English menu; credit cards not accepted
Rich chocolate and macadamia nut — what can go wrong?
The cappuccino was lost among the stronger flavors, none of which were too sweet. I deserved a critical review for the overpainting of toppings, though. The Gummi bears and marshmallows were difficult to chew because the frozen yogurt had hardened them into a texture resembling that of rubber. And the M&Ms were as hard as pebbles.
Next time I’ll stick to toppings possessing a similar texture to that of the Oreos pieces, such as Froot Loops, granola or Cheerios, which are smaller in size and easier to eat. Other add-ons include whole and sliced almonds, walnut pieces, dried cranberries and raisins.
Yogurt Art’s interior is geared towards the up-market health-conscious crowd. High ceilings painted vanilla are framed by large picture windows that provide gentle natural lighting and views of the passing crowds. The friendly and helpful counter staff is kept busy cleaning the store’s eight tables, yogurt dispensing machines and the area around the toppings counter.
Yogurt Art also has a location at 14, Alley 8, Ln 216, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段216巷8弄14號). Tel: (02) 8771-5366.
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