There is perhaps no better way to soak up the last of Taipei’s balmy evenings than dining al fresco at La Piada with a sundowner Aperol Spritz and a luxuriant plate of charcuterie.
La Piada (義式薄餅) is the brainchild of Milano native William Di Nardo. Tucked into an unassuming apartment complex, fairy lights and wining diners lead the way to this charming slice of laid-back Mediterranean deli culture.
Taipei is entirely saturated with Italian cuisine, but La Piada offers something otherwise unseen on the island. Piadina Romagnola: a northern Italian street food classic. These handheld flatbreads are stuffed with cold cuts and tart cheeses aged like fine imported wine, also available here by the bottle.
Photo: Hollie Younger
The piada dough is a peasant recipe of humble beginnings; just flour, water, salt and pork fat. But if the bread is simple, the fillings at La Piada are anything but. Peppery rucola, delectably stringy proscuitto, tangy balsamic, salty shaved Parmesan — Italian flavor explosions of Mediterranean acid, moreish cold cuts and zingy fresh produce.
The first and only piada spot in Taiwan, Di Nardo moved his sandwich deli to this permanent Songshan District (松山) fixture in July 2022. With a culinary resume spanning from Italian kitchens to hotels in Shanghai and Jakarta, he now channels his expertise into this homely hidden gem, equal parts affordable and indulgent.
We step inside to the scent of freshly baked blue cheese onion quiches cooling on the counter and are greeted by the warm glow of La Piada and that world-famous Italian hospitality.
Photo: Hollie Younger
We begin as every diner here should: NT$640 will get you two aperitivo, sparkling Italian cocktails, and a generous plate of cold cuts: sliced beef, salami, provolone cheese and delicious locally-grown olives elevated with in-house chili garlic dressing.
We order one Aperol Spritz, a lighter, fruitier option, and one Campari Spritz, its darker, boozier cousin, both served bubbly with prosecco and soda.
Next up, we try the signature piada. We opt for the roast beef (NT$380), a textural delight packed with thinly sliced, medium-rare cold cuts, artichoke cream, arugula and Parmesan, splashed with a balsamic glaze. The dough is light and chewy, yet understated enough to leave the spotlight on the fresh fillings.
Photo: Hollie Younger
A must-order for the table is the mixed roasted veggie salad (NT$260); generous chunks of eggplant spliced with ribbons of carrot and zucchini on a bed of greens, topped, again, with slabs of Parmesan. This dish highlights local produce, with the acidic dressing cutting through the glutenous feast.
The menu also offers a piada and pizza hybrid creation: the piad-izza. We opt for the prosciutto and rucola (NT$380). We were grateful for the crispy and refreshingly light piada base, letting the toppings shine and leaving room for dessert, while even the tomato sauce highlights the care cooked into every element.
If that wasn’t quite enough carbs for one day, we follow the crowd and finish up with two house-made Sicilian cannoli (NT$150). Lightly fried cinnamon dough filled with lemony ricotta cream — it crackles with each bite. Our Catalana cream (NT$150), a shallower, lighter creme brulee still with that signature glassy top, delivers that perfect caramelized crunch.
Photo: Hollie Younger
La Piada also sells vegan and vegetarian options, plus an extensive homemade dessert selection. Di Nardo’s deli counter offers cheeses and meats for takeaway, frozen piada dough and lasagnas and a fantastic selection of imported wine and pastas.
This spot is lively even on a weeknight; our fellow diners have the same thought as us; girls’ night catch-ups with a bottle of red. Indoors invites bar-style seating and the patio offers small tables, covered and heated for year-round al fresco-ing.
And as we finish off our drinks aglow under the string lights, it’s easy to forget we’re in Taipei — La Piada brings a quiet slice of Italy to the city, inviting us to linger just a little longer.
Photo: Hollie Younger
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
President William Lai’s (賴清德) March 13 national security speech marked a turning point. He signaled that the government was finally getting serious about a whole-of-society approach to defending the nation. The presidential office summarized his speech succinctly: “President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces: China’s threat to national sovereignty, its threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting Taiwan’s military, its threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan, its threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges, and its threats from
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at