BIGTOM ALL-NATURAL ICE CREAM (GongYi Branch)   (04) 2319-7199 276, GongYi Road, section 1 Hours: 10 am-2 am

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--By Douglas Habecker, translated by Uvia Chang

Bigtom Ice Cream, which offers what is arguably the best ice cream in town, has opened a second, high-profile branch in Taichung on GongYi Road (between JingCheng and DongXing roads). Following on the heels of its first branch in the ShuangShi Road Taichung Artistic & Literary Salon, this attractive ice cream parlor offers similar ultra-rich, all-natural ice cream, imported from Seattle and so thick and air-free you can cut it with a knife. Savory flavors include Mocha Chocolate, Low Fat Bing Cherry, California Creamy Cookie, Oregan Wild Strawberry, Low Fat Marionberry Cheesecake, Mango Sorbet and--in a gesture to local palates--Emperor's Green Tea. A standard single (NT$98) or double (NT$169) scoop comes on a waffle dish with the option of toppings, plus the little "massage spoons" with little bumps, purportedly to massage the flavors into your tastebuds. One can also enjoy NT$250 ready-to-go pints, NT$260 hand-packed pints, ice cream floats, bagel sandwiches, various drinks, and the Red Wine Ice Cream Teppanyaki (NT$390), which is served on chocolate cake and a hot teppan-style slab. The quaint-looking new branch has a cozy seating area inside, umbrella-shaded tables outside and a small parking lot. Incidentally, Bigtom has also just opened the world's highest ice cream parlor, on Taipei 101's observation deck.