Tucked away in one of the alleys along Taipei’s Yongkang Street (永康街), Rippie is a cute little store that sells apple pastries and soft ice cream. Painted in saturated red and decorated with a white apple and tree silhouette, the store has a great atmosphere. The staff are energetic, greeting customers at the door, carefully explaining the menu and serving hot coffee and tea.
The most popular item is a whole Fuji apple wrapped in freshly made pastry (NT$290, NT$170 for half an apple). The treat, coated in powdered sugar, is enough for two to four people and would work well for a substituted birthday cake.
There are three flavors to choose from: cinnamon, cream cheese and custard. I personally prefer the rich cream cheese filling. The apple, well preserved in sugar, still releases a strong, fruity aroma. Samples are available and every order includes a hot drink.
Photo: Nancy Liu
What distinguishes this pastry shop from others is the owner’s insistence on using apples imported from Aomori, Japan’s top apple-producing region. The apples used here are known as Fuji apples, a cross between two American apple varieties and developed by Japanese growers in the 1930s. After harvest, the apples are syruped then shipped directly to Taiwan.
The apple pie (NT$360) features sliced apple on top of a crispy crust, which tasted like fresh homemade bread. I was offered samples of the eggy custard, which was slightly sweet. The same goes for the cinnamon rectangular pie (NT$170), where raisins and cinnamon powder complements the apple chunks beautifully.
Dipping the pie into soft ice cream is another way of enjoying the delicacy. The afternoon tea set, which includes one-fourth of a pie and soft ice cream (NT$130), is great value for those who want to try both.
Photo: Nancy Liu
The soft ice cream is made using 100 percent frozen milk from Hokkaido. Surprisingly, the super-rich milk flavor (NT$110) melted faster than I could eat it. A friend explained that all-natural soft ice cream melts faster than soft cream with additives. Other than the melting speed, the refreshing sorbet-like texture leaves nothing to be desired. Cheese lovers might want to try the cream cheese soft ice cream (NT$110), where Hokkaido cheese is used. For an additional NT$10, one can add a corn flakes topping.
Apple cake in the shape of Taiwanese pineapple cake can be purchased as gifts for friends at NT$40. A gift box comes with a purchase of five or more cakes.
Rippi is open Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 9:00pm, Friday until 9:30pm and weekends from 11am to 9:30pm. Closed on Mondays. It is located at 12, Ln 4, Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街4巷12號); (02) 2351-2977. Credit cards are accepted and an average dessert will cost NT$200.
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