By Nathan Allen

It is a hotel, but the rooms also function as full service apartments. This makes them perfect for long-stay arrangements…they have even housed Hollywood stars such as Scarlett Johansson and Jackie Chan during their previous movie shoots in Taipei. It would have been surreal to look up and see them sharing the elevator with me!

I do have photos of the other rooms, but I will start with the unit I stayed in. I believe it’s called  the “Abundance” room type, and it has all the comforts of home. As was the case with my previous stay at Hotel Quote nearby, the mini bar here is 100% complimentary. Nice!

However, this time there is also a full kitchen, complete with dishes and silverware. There is even patio with a washer and dryer for clothes – though I believe there is an option for a butler’s assistance, if preferred.

I felt right at home with the interior design in my room…I love the almost minimalist decor, and the oak wood paneling  on the walls and flooring.

Below you can see one of my favorite touches – a rotating flat screen television built right into the wall! Guests on the couch in the living room can enjoy it, then flip it around to the bedroom to enjoy a comfortable movie in bed. Ingenious.

Speaking of the bed, GLORIA RESIDENCE features the same heavenly Simmons mattresses that I experienced at Hotel Quote the night before. Together with a luxurious down comforter / pillow set, enjoying a night’s rest here is an experience in and of itself.

Below is a glimpse into the “Oasis” room type. The decor is consistent throughout the hotel…not over the top, not underdone…for me it’s just right. This is the perfect place for business travelers or families during a stay in Taiwan.

Oasis was my favorite room type. It includes a guest room with separate aircon controls. The master bedroom has its own bathroom as well.

I enjoyed the layout and the bright, airy feeling of this unit…the “feng shui”, if you will.

Bathroom Details

The OUD toiletries and soaps were tastefully chosen, and as you would expect, the bathroom provides all the other amenities you might need. Also like Hotel Quote, there is an incredibly sophisticated electronic toilet. Yes, that means a bidet. It’s quite convenient.

An impressive “walk in” closet can be found in the “Royal A” room type.

Room Amenities – My Gloria Residence Review

As mentioned before, there is a complimentary mini bar available in all rooms, and plenty of other conveniences, such as an ironing board, hair dryer, slippers, bathrobe…etc. The large safety deposit box is something I always appreciate, and I commend them for allowing enough space for a 13 inch laptop (it’s just for peace of mind..I certainly didn’t have any doubts about safety here).

No complaints about the wifi in the room, either.

The Lounge On Floor B1

This comfortable and sophisticated lounge is available 24 hours a day, and offers snacks, seating, TVs and computer access if needed.

As you can see, it’s quite tasteful and elegant, but what really struck me about the lounge was what was said to me upon exiting it. The attendant simply acknowledged me with a smile and said warmly “see you tomorrow, sir“.

Such a simple gesture, but it means so much…it shows that the staff cares enough to know exactly who I am, and how long I will be there for. I mean, it’s a big place, and it was just my first day. I had never even seen this staff member before. I was impressed by that.

Anyhow, the complimentary breakfast buffet provides a nice assortment of western and Asian options for guests. I did not experience lunch or dinner here, but I did get to experience a mouth-watering lunch next door at their sister restaurant “CHIOU HWA”. You can check that out HERE.

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

Heated Swimming Pool

On the ground floor, guests can enjoy the indoor swimming pool as well. It’s 18 meters long, and open during certain hours each day (there may be a change in hours depending on the season, so it’s best to inquire about this during your stay).

That wraps things up for GLORIA RESIDENCE, my next and final stop during my first tour of Taipei is swanky HOTEL PROVERBS…stay tuned for that! Special thanks to Calvin, Irene, and all the wonderful staff there at the hotel. It was nice to feel right at home.

Location & Booking

The hotel is conveniently located in Taipei’s Zhongshan district, just a short walk from the Shuanglian Station on the Danshui MRT Line.

You can find more info & reviews about GLORIA RESIDENCE Taipei on Agoda HERE

For Booking. com, you can click HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Social Media

Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…

The post GLORIA RESIDENCE – My Own Sleek Apartment in the Heart of Taipei appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.

By Nathan Allen

This is a traditional Cantonese restaurant known for its dim sum and roast duck. In fact, the restaurant is famous for serving “Peking Duck” an impressive nine different ways.

My host Calvin Lai welcomed me to Taipei, and we began our “culinary tour”. First up was a sampling of some of Taiwan’s famous teas.

Starting from lightest to darkest, we sampled green tea, then oolong, then the heaviest roast – the black teas. My personal favorite was the first, known as “Biluochun Green Tea”. It is grown in Sanyi, Miaoli – Taiwan, and is quite accurately described as having an elegant taste.

This is when Chef Fong, a Hong Kong native, appeared on the scene. Along with a perfectly roasted duck, he began to put on quite a show for us.

With expert precision (and an incredibly sharp knife), he presented us with a plateful of sliced duck – crispy skin and all.

The chef was quite friendly, and kind to pose for a photo before returning to the kitchen.

After a brief explanation once more dishes were presented, we were ready to sample our sliced duck.

As mentioned earlier, the restaurant serves roast duck nine different ways…but we only had enough time (and appetite) to try three.  I have to admit I was a bit skeptical, because I swear I tried duck before, and did not care for it. This time, however, was completely different. I guess you could say it was love at first bite.

The first method used a thin wheat “pancake” (more like a crepe, I suppose) to wrap the duck meat, along with some spring onion and pickled ginger. A slight dip in the included sauce was the final touch before tasting. Wow. The meat was tender and succulent, expertly cooked and proportioned with the thin, crispy skin.

All methods have their appeal, but this was by far my favorite. Such a unique and delicious experience!

(continued below, but I do hope you’ll consider following along with me…)

The next method was Dried Tangerine Congee, or Chinese porridge. This recipe uses duck bones, along with traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients. The rich duck oil is well suited for for the taste and texture of the congee.

The third method uses a lettuce leaf to create a sauteed, minced duck wrap. You can see the minced duck meat on a small plate in the distance here.

Again, I preferred the “pancake” option, but everybody will have their own tastes and preferences, I suppose.

The next dish was quite special. Another one of the chef’s signatures, this is a goose liver soup made with precision sliced tofu.

Shaped like a flower, it’s quite obvious that a lot of work went into this detailed presentation. I didn’t even know it was possible to slice tofu this finely!

Our meal was topped off with some traditionally baked Cantonese apple pies. They were lightly sprinkled with cinnamon, and uniquely shaped liked small sandwiches. I don’t particularly like apple pie, but I must say – they were exquisite.

I took a look around the restaurant and snapped a photo of the dining hall before preparing to leave.

Overall, I was so impressed by this unique dining experience. It is clear that so much goes into the painstaking preparation of these dishes…and that passion and dedication shines through with each savory bite.

Big thanks to CHIOU HWA and chef Fong, as well as my host for this lunch, Mr. Calvin Lai. It is an honor to share this experience with all of you.

More info about CHIOU HWA Restaurant can be found HERE

– Nathan Allen

www.idreamedofthis.com

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share.

More Taiwan Blog Posts

My Own Sleek Apartment in the heart of Taipei: GLORIA RESIDENCE

A Surreal Experience Staying @ HOTEL QUOTE Taipei

My Hip, Swanky Stay @ HOTEL PROVERBS Taipei

Social Media

Have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment…

The post CHIOU HWA Restaurant, Taipei – My Newfound Love of Peking Duck appeared first on I Dreamed Of This.