What words come to mind when you hear the phrase, “chain restaurant”?
Stop for a moment and think about it. Do you think of grease? Obesity? Cheap drive-thru menus?
Stop for a moment and think about it. Do you think of grease? Obesity? Cheap drive-thru menus?
A quick Google search of the term "fast food" comes up with mostly images of burgers, fries, and sodas.
It may come as a surprise, then, that Yifan Wu, the owner of MeetFresh’s franchise location in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, prides himself on providing the community with fresh, nutritious, delicious, and authentic Taiwanese desserts. As the sun set on an early spring day, I sat beside Yifan at one of MeetFresh’s clean, white tables and chatted with him about his history and that of the restaurant. Around us, people flowed in and out of the doors at an increasing rate, usually leaving with boba teas in hand for sweet late-afternoon pick-me-ups.
What is boba tea? Otherwise known as bubble tea, boba is a Taiwanese drink that is typically sweet and contains tapioca pearls. It first made its appearance in the United States, in places with lots of Asian customers, such as Los Angeles. Initially, boba was not a popular choice by American diners, but over time, people have grown accustomed to it and the drink has become immensely popular, especially on the West Coast.
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As soon as we had taken our seats, Yifan flipped the channel on the flat screen TV beside us to play a promotional video documenting the franchise’s history and mission. The advertisement stressed that from Taiwan, to China, to America, the restaurant has a widespread influence. In the coming hour, I would learn how the continuity maintained among all its locations is, according to Yifan, integral to authenticity. Watch the video below to see for yourself the many desserts and drinks MeetFresh serves to people all over the world.
This website documents Yifan's relationship to the MeetFresh he owns in Chapel Hill--how he established it, what he does on a daily basis, and what he hopes for the restaurant's future. Throughout these pages, you will find the theme of authenticity rise again and again and come to respect the unique roles of Chinese restaurant owners in the United States.