Booday Cafe 蘑菇

Booday Cafe is owned by a couple who also owns a design and advertising firm and edit a prominent lifestyle magazine. Every floor in the building is some extension of their company; the first floor is their t-shirt and merchandise shop, the second floor is the cafe, and the third and fourth floors are their offices.

Booday Cafe is one place where I have never had a single bad thing. Their savory items are good (like chicken and quiche), but my favorite is their pastries and cakes. On this visit, I had their lemon tart and banana bread. The lemon tart tastes so juicy and fresh, and the filling is really creamy. The banana bread isn't as rich or sweet as ones I've had in America, which I like--it's more like bread than cake. It's not quite as moist as most banana breads, but it's still really soft and bouncy. I also recommend the blueberry cake and vanilla crepe!

If you come here, check out the first floor (their shop), too; they carry their own t-shirts and bags, as well as random little things, like jewelry and stationary, from independent artists. And if you can read Chinese, I think their magazine is definitely worth buying; their articles are incredibly unique, well-written, and thoughtful.

One thing I like the most about the couple who owns Booday is that they are not in the business to make money; they are doing it to preserve and enhance culture, and to promote quality of life. While most of the places I've written about in Taiwan are more traditional Taiwanese, the Booday owners respect traditional culture while maintaining modern, relevant ideas--it doesn't show so much in their food, but their business plan shows how actively they support local talent. Their utensils, furniture, and merchandise are all sourced from artists and small business owners who love and help preserve Taiwanese culture. They really are a business that deserves to be supported, so go have cake or buy something!

Booday 蘑菇
http://www.mogu.com.tw/index.php
No. 18-1, Lane 25, Nanjing W. Rd.
台北市南京西路25巷18-1號