Jiufen Shime店 Introduction
At this restaurant, you can always hear the powerful music of the singer Wu Bai while enjoying steaming stinky tofu. You might suddenly ask, "Boss! Why is your restaurant called 'Food Riddle Store'?" The Jiufen Food Riddle Store is the first stinky tofu shop in Jiufen. The walls of the restaurant are covered with dozens of Taiwanese proverbs, allowing guests to understand the wisdom of Taiwanese people. The wooden couplet on the wall reads, "Taste all the delicacies of the world, Riddles embody Taiwanese wisdom," which reflects the owner's motivation for naming it "Food Riddle Store." The owner wanted to display these proverbs because he has been interested in riddles and proverbs since he was young, often quoting a saying spontaneously and even purchasing books to learn the proverb dictionary, eventually transforming his store into a "proverb classroom." Besides the proverbs, the owner's storytelling is also captivating; he often passionately shares various stories and anecdotes with customers and is well-versed in the unique proverbs of the Jiufen area. The owner expresses that modern people live in a technological and commercial society, which limits their chances to encounter Taiwanese culture and wisdom—particularly Taiwanese proverbs. Therefore, he aims to let everyone know the timeless sayings left by their ancestors and understand their meanings. Another purpose is to foster conversation and discussion among dining customers about the meanings of the proverbs, allowing them to recall the Taiwanese sayings their grandparents would casually recite.
