The best purchase I made recently was a Panasonic combo microwave oven (About NT$14k).
It will allow you to do pretty much anything, depending on size of course, with great control of heat etc…
plus, you can plug into a normal power outlet.
p.s. My bread has never tasted so good!!!
It took me over two years to find a western style full sized 4 burner stove/oven. I finally was able to buy one from a departing Forumosan last Fall. I did find one company who sells them by searching out Indesit on the internet. They have a Taipei branch and will sell them but the price range is NT40,000 - NT50,000.
If you do find one, keep in mind that it is extremely hard to find servicing for these things. Most repair folk, have no idea where to even start with this type of appliance! My suggestion would be to buy from the dealer, making sure that they do have qualified service people. The one out of Taipei did, but I just couldn’t justify the cost.
Indesit, BTW, is an European make and very good quality.
I doubt that I still have the information on this company but will look.
For what you want, you won’t find any cheaper. If you stick to this kind of oven and nothing else, you gotta pay…
This ain’t Europe or the states, people don’t use these kind of stoves here.
IGORVENI,
You mean to say we’re not in Kansas anymore, and grandmas not cooking blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies? After 15 years of this predisposition, I feel so stupid. Only on www.forumosa.com could I feel so enlightened!
What you mean to say is, because they don’t bake cookies, there are no deals on conventional ovens in the whole of Taiwan?
God, I wish I was as smart as you!
You are fucking funny man.
Peace, Mark
I’ve seen small shops that do kitchen remodeling. Maybe the price is just as high there, but I suppose it couldn’t hurt to ask.
[quote]What you mean to say is, because they don’t bake cookies, there are no deals on conventional ovens in the whole of Taiwan?
God, I wish I was as smart as you!
You are fucking funny man.
Peace, Mark[/quote]
What he means and what he said is that such cookers are not in high demand here, so they’re not quite so easy to source and also quite expensive.
However, NT$20,000-NT$50,000 is not really expensive for the brands available – they cost just as much in the UK, for example.
NT$50000 is just 800 pounds. My sister spent over 6000 pounds on her last cooker.
You can find US model systems in some of the shops up on C-h-u-n-g Shan N. Rd Sec 6…in Tian-Mu. They usually cost about $30,000NT. The same models can be bought in Guam, USA or Bali, Indonesia for less than $400US.
The amount of people that purchase these type of ovens is small so the guys that import them feel obligated to overcharge you because they can. They wouldn’t even import the things if they only made a measly profit. One tip is to try kitchen stores, the ones that sell kitchen cabinets, the ones with domestic cabinets would be cheaper. They sell wall ovens that are Taiwan made and look just like their foreign counterparts, probably because a lot of gas ovens are made in Taiwan and that is why there is an import tax(import tax not that high) to protect their domestic manufacturers. The thing is no one buys these so they are not really protecting any kind of market. Anyway. the shop I went to had wall ovens for only NT$20,000 but they were small. They looked nice, stainless steel, but the inside was small. Maybe the same size as my Japanese/Taiwanese style high-end counter top oven, which also NT$20,000.
There is also a Kenmore dealer on the corner of DeXing Rd and Zhong Cheng Rd in TienMu, on the NW corner. They were fairly reasonable.
Buying from departing expats might work, if I see any on the board at the American Club I will let you know.
By the way, if you do buy an oven, you can make money with it, selling bread and cookies and cakes to Taiwanese, ahahaha…they just love baked goods, but they only have a WOK at hom eand wouldn’t know how to bake bread or cookies anyway. Just look at the lines at the bakeries and scratch your head and wonder why more people don’t bake their own stuff at home? Anyway, that is just a joke, please don’t sell bread on the streets and lose your shirt, because if you can’t make rousung, yumi or hongdou minabao, you won’t make any money, unless your last name is Wendel, just stick to teaching English.
I bought one used from another foreigner for 5k. It’s great in the winter, but I never use it in the summer - it’s just too hot!
For what you want, you won’t find any cheaper. If you stick to this kind of oven and nothing else, you gotta pay.
This ain’t Europe or the states, people don’t use these kind of stoves here.[/quote]
Rich people do. I’ve been in more than a few Taiwanese homes in Tianmu that had them. Of course the only person I ever saw using them was the Filipina maid. We’ve got a gas oven with four burners on top, and like Duke, ours gets the most use in the winter. However V baked some fantastic cookies the other day, so even in the summer, it does get some use.
Somewhat on topic -
I get flyers/adverts quite often about new or proposed apartments or communities being built. I scan these and on occasion will visit to get an idea of the build quality, floor plans and appliances provided/offered.
One that recently caught my eye is a new group being built in the An Ping Harbor area.
The kitchens are very western style and feature a center island prep area, 4- burner gas cook-tops and a built-in oven.
This is the first I’ve seen here with this feature incorporated into the advertised design.
Its an area I’m somewhat interested in and plan to look at when time allows.
[quote=“Hobart”]The amount of people that purchase these type of ovens is small so the guys that import them feel obligated to overcharge you because they can. They wouldn’t even import the things if they only made a measly profit. One tip is to try kitchen stores; the ones that sell kitchen cabinets, the ones with domestic cabinets would be cheaper. They sell wall ovens that are Taiwan made and look just like their foreign counterparts, probably because a lot of gas ovens are made in Taiwan and that is why there is an import tax (import tax not that high) to protect their domestic manufacturers. The thing is, no one buys these so they are not really protecting any kind of market. Anyway. the shop I went to had wall ovens for only NT$20,000 but they were small. They looked nice, stainless steel, but the inside was small. Maybe the same size as my Japanese/Taiwanese style high-end counter top oven, which also NT$20,000.
There is also a Kenmore dealer on the corner of DeXing Rd and Zhongcheng Rd in Tianmu, on the NW corner. They were fairly reasonable.
Buying from departing expats might work, if I see any on the board at the American Club I will let you know.
By the way, if you do buy an oven, you can make money with it, selling bread and cookies and cakes to Taiwanese, ahahaha…they just love baked goods, but they only have a WOK at home and wouldn’t know how to bake bread or cookies anyway. Just look at the lines at the bakeries and scratch your head and wonder why more people don’t bake their own stuff at home? Anyway, that is just a joke, please don’t sell bread on the streets and lose your shirt, because if you can’t make rousung, yumi or hongdou minabao, you won’t make any money, unless your last name is Wendel, just stick to teaching English.[/quote]
I agree. How often are you really going to use these 50,000 NT ovens? As for me, it is and, trust me, I truely love to cook. If I had one, as I wished when I came here 5 years ago, I would bake a turkey once or twice a year and maybe some pies occasionally.
In all reality, even with my love of baking bread, cooking and an occasional turkey part, cookies and just about every other endeavor that you can mention (even my grandmother’s cream cheese cake, my rather large baking oven with dual rods across the top and bottom, has served me well. I know that I will most probabably not influence you but I think that you will find, here in Taiwan, most of us:
Oven for sale:
forumosafieds.com/detail.php?siteid=1801
There’s a link to a picture - looks like they’re only asking $1000!
They do.
I moved to a newly decorated Appt and found a brand new Gagenau 90 cm oven in the kitchen.
landlord lady liked to cook “western” style so she needed 5 burners… Where she got it . do not know, but everything can be imported here, despite HUGE prices.
There is an area in Taipei near Anhe road where you have this furniture street, and some kitchen equipment stores are near bye.
[quote=“Maoman”]Oven for sale:
forumosafieds.com/detail.php?siteid=1801
There’s a link to a picture - looks like they’re only asking $1000![/quote]
Oh, that has to be a typo! Unless it doesn’t work at all: "Items sold in “as is” condition.
I moved to a smaller apartment I have one for sale.
Regular electric oven 4 top burners and top broiler.
Old but works. I have it packed away so don’t know exactly the brand, magic chef? I had to add a 240v outlet.
If you are interested I will give more information.
B1 of the Mirarmar Mall in Neihu has a shop selling the British brand Ariston at fair prices. They sell those built-in wall ovens for NT$18,000. Not huge, but you can squeeze a turkey in there. Separate wall ovens and hobs are the way to in terms of fashion, unless you are purchasing a Viking, Thermador or Wolf. Rangetops are cheap here and you probably already have one since it is required in Taiwan like Refridgerators are required in the USA when you rent a place.
For what you want, you won’t find any cheaper. If you stick to this kind of oven and nothing else, you gotta pay…
This ain’t Europe or the states, people don’t use these kinds of stoves here.[/quote]
Hey! Direct and to the point. This is NOT your mama’s kitchen. If you want the traditional Western oven that will cook two turkey and a couple of apple pies at the same time, expect to pay big bucks for it. On the other hand, get acclimated, settle in. Go to a DIY baking store and find the dual rod going all the way through on the top and bottom of what looks like a big toaster oven. Get the BIG one. It will do a small turkey which is all you can find here anyway. Let the bird rest and slide in a couple of pumpkin pies. It works. You just can’t come to a foreign country and expect it to be like home. Hell, if you like the “home style”, well maybe just maybe . . . . . Nope not me. I won’t say that but I will say adapt, go with the flow, improvise!
I have been here five years and have enjoyed every Western style holiday, to the extent I feel I wanted to, with my meager kitchen and some improvisation. You can too.
Enjoy the culture.
For what you want, you won’t find any cheaper. If you stick to this kind of oven and nothing else, you gotta pay…
This ain’t Europe or the states, people don’t use these kinds of stoves here.[/quote]
Hey! Direct and to the point. This is NOT your mama’s kitchen. If you want the traditional Western oven that will cook two turkey and a couple of apple pies at the same time, expect to pay big bucks for it. On the other hand, get acclimated, settle in. Go to a DIY baking store and find the dual rod going all the way through on the top and bottom of what looks like a big toaster oven. Get the BIG one. It will do a small turkey which is all you can find here anyway. Let the bird rest and slide in a couple of pumpkin pies. It works. You just can’t come to a foreign country and expect it to be like home. Hell, if you like the “home style”, well maybe just maybe . . . . . Nope not me. I won’t say that but I will say adapt, go with the flow, improvise!
I have been here five years and have enjoyed every Western style holiday, to the extent I feel I wanted to, with my meager kitchen and some improvisation. You can too.
Enjoy the culture.[/quote]
Probably the best turkey I ever cooked was an 11-pound bird in a counter-top convection oven in Taipei. There was about an inch to spare on all sides, but it turned out great. On the other hand, I don’t see the problem with taking the parts of home you like along with you if you can afford to.
To answer the ORIGINAL posting. I bought an American-style gas 4-burner stove w/ oven (Whirlpool?) at Johnny’s Electronics in Tien Mu, Chung Shan N. Rd. sec 6. Still there, walk by it a couple times a month.
In 1998 it cost me NT$17,000 and Johnny drove it down to Hsinchu and installed it in my restaurant at no extra charge.
The 4-burners weren’t made for restaurant duty, but that was my choice: didn’t have 50-70K for the professional kind. We roasted dozens of beef briskets and hundreds of chicken breasts. Baked thousands of choclate chip cookies
The main problem was that the oven had a built-in electric starter & thermostat. No electricity, no oven. Due to Taiwan’s varying voltage levels, I had to install a voltage regulator.
Hope that answers the original question.