Post 72.1: Taipei - Wrapping Up Two Weeks in Taiwan, Part One

I ate so much during my two weeks in Taipei that I could write one post about each meal per week for an entire year, and I wouldn't even be finished.  But since there's a huge backlog of meals from this year that need major attention, it's time for a Cliff's Notes version of my Taipei trip.  Here is one picture that was the most memorable part of each day of my two weeks in Taiwan.

September 1: Anxious to board
Sporting my enthusiasm for the trip by way of button at LAX.

September 2: A more than welcome first meal
After a total of 24 hours of traveling (front door to front door, including a 6 hour layover at Incheon Airport), I was desperate for any meal outside of an airplane or airport.  We stopped by a local place (金春發牛肉店) for their specialty beef dishes.  The curry chow mein (炒咖哩牛肉麵) and this bone marrow dish (炒龍骨髓) stir-fried with tomatoes, garlic, chili and Taiwanese BBQ sauce really hit the spot.

September 3: A cup of home
I discovered many Western style coffee shops serving American breakfasts after waking up in our newly relocated family home of Tamsui.  The cafe downstairs is owned by a Taiwanese-Australian, and it serves eggs, toast, and lattes.  Heinz and Tabasco, labels of American authenticity are self-serve, a friendly reminder of home.

September 4: Pineapple cake by the box
Overly excited at the thought of pineapple cake, I immediately bought two boxes of 10 each upon seeing the organic variety displayed in a local bakery in Yonghe District.  Pineapple cake or shortbread, one of Taiwan's most famous pastries, must be consumed immediately due to the lack of preservatives.  I had forgotten that I had two weeks left before returning stateside.  Consequently, I ate one pineapple cake per day til the day of departure... then I bought a few more boxes to take home.

September 5: Star sighting
A fellow Triton invited us to CTV (中視) for a taping of One Million Star (超級星光大道), Taiwan's version of American Idol.  The majority of the audience was middle-aged housewives who squealed like school girls at the sighting of Aska Yang (楊宗緯).  If seeing Aska weren't enough, a connection to the executive level of CTV led us to meet David Tao (陶喆) who happened to be a guest judge on the show.

September 6: Student union

I met up with Diana at Insomnia (睡不著), a dimly lit café filled with local college students chatting about the campus gossip and studying for exams.  Diana and I reacquainted ourselves with simple phrases in Mandarin such as 7-Up (七喜), long removed from our memory due to the lack of language practice in America.

September 7: Taiwanese live to eat
During a visit to Sit Fun for traditional Taiwanese food, my uncle pointed out some of the local sayings posted up on the restaurant's walls.  This phrase, uttered in the local Taiwanese tongue, says that eating trumps even the emperor.

September 8: A bowl of Taiwan's national dish
Almost a week into my trip, I finally scored some beef noodle soup from Old Chao.  Sweating from the humidity, the heat, and the temperature of the piping hot soup makes for an exhilarating eating experience.

September 9: I'm eating... don't bother me
Anna stealthily takes a shot of me scarfing down some noodles from my favorite hole-in-the-wall while my aunt peers over from her side of the table.  Spicy stinky tofu gets heated up by the fire under the steel hot pot.  Noodles and stinky tofu... just another day in Taipei.

September 10: Merciful sub-tropic summer weather
Summer in Taiwan is a force to be reckoned with, but one this sunny Saturday afternoon in Taipei, the sky revealed some beautiful blue hues to display as a backdrop at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.


September 11: Mid-Autumn Festival
This holiday means different things to different people.  For some, it might mean a day to eat mooncakes to commemorate the overthrow of the Mongol rule in the Yuan Dynasty.  For others, it might simply mean an outdoor barbecue in the summer night.  For my family, it means eating Japanese food... no clue why... we've eaten sushi and sashimi on this holiday for years now.  Not to break from tradition, my aunt and I dined at a Japanese restaurant (川賀屋日本料理) in Tamsui District.  While there I was able to capture the celebration in the streets outside the restaurant.

September 12: Sausage and beer, Taiwan style
What's better than grilled Taiwanese sausage? Grilled Taiwanese sausage wrapped with a sticky rice bun! We call this delightful delicacy small sausage wrapped with big sausage (大腸包小腸).  Throw in an ice cold Taiwan beer... and I'll be able to tackle on any crowd and navigate the mini mazes at Shilin Night Market (士林夜市).

September 13: Riding along the Tamsui River... on a bike
Having finally mastered how to bike ride in the recent years, namely from a biking adventure around Stanley Park in Vancouver, Rina urged me to take another biking tour... this time along the Tamsui River in Taipei.  We took the ferry across away from the city to the Bali District (八里區) side of the river and rented bikes for just 100 NTD (a little more than 3 USD) for unlimited usage.  Low tide, fishermen taking respite, an ah gong practicing some tai chi... there was something just so tranquil and peaceful on this side of the river.  This is something I must do again.

September 14: Uni fusion
A visit to Taipei or Tokyo requires a trip to indulge in exotic Japanese fusion pastas from Bellini.  Thanks Nicholas and Tiffany for joining me in the cod roe spaghetti with yuzu (和風柚子明太子麵), calamari and squid ink linguine (茄丁墨魚汁扁平麵), and this sea urchin cream linguine with king crab meat and mushrooms (北海道蟹肉海膽醬扁平麵).  Oh, and don't forget about the two pizzas, appetizer, dessert, and bottle of red... a great way to wrap up two weeks of fooding in Taipei.  Good job, guys.

September 15: Nanjing Road nightscape
Even at midnight the streets of Taipei bustle with rapid movement from mopeds, taxis, buses and pedestrians.  While standing on a pedestrian walkway over Nanjing Road on the final night of my trip in Taiwan, I wondered where everyone needed to go in such a hurry.  This city definitely inspires you to go, go, go!

September 16: A contrast to city life
From bustling Taipei proper to Tamsui District in New Taipei, anyone can distinguish downtown city life from what is arguably one of the calmer, more serene suburban areas of the city.  An hour outside of Taipei City, you can hear the song of the cicada louder than the roar of the moped motor.  There is fresh air, blue sky, and a street to safely jaywalk across.

There are bound to be more trips to Taipei in the near future... so far I've counted six visits in six years.  Two weeks is not nearly enough to capture the essence that is Taiwan let alone experience the magnificence that is the city of Taipei.  From the (second) tallest building in the world to the most humblest of people, the Taiwanese have really contributed to a place worth visiting.  Au revoir for now, Taipei... I'm off to Seoul.  Until next time, let's all get S.O.F.A.T.

金春發牛肉店 (beef specialty restaurant)

台北市 大同區 / Taipei City, Datong District

天水路 20號 / Tianshui Road, No. 20

Insomnia Café (睡不著)

台北市 大安區 / Taipei City, Da An District

師大路 93巷 13號 / Shida Road, Lane 93, No. 13

Kawaga Ya (川賀屋日本料理)
新北市 淡水區 / New Taipei City, Tamsui District
中山北路 一段 157號 / Zhongshan North Road, Section 1, No. 157
頂好超市對面/ Across from Wellcome supermarket

Bellini Caffé

台北市 中山區/ Taipei City, Jhongshan District

復興北路 288號 / Fuxing North Road, No. 288 

捷運中山國中站 / MRT: Zhongshan Jr. High School Station

ML - 201109XX

Post 52.1: Hello Orange, Part 1 - International Potluck

Because last year's international potluck was so successful, we decided to hold another one at work again.  Having co-workers that represent a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds allows all of us to learn and enjoy the cuisine from all different cultures.  Basically, it's good to have good food.  Here's a look at what the Orange office brought in for the picnic in the conference room... along with 5 words that they would use to describe the food from their culture.

Empanadas with chimchurri sauce contributed by Steven
Peruvian (empanadas), Argentine (chimchurri sauce)

Everybody knows a delicious empanada.  Whether it's Mexican or Cuban or from another Latin American nation, these baked hemispherical pastries filled with ground beef and shredded chicken are more than just tasty.  They are savory... inspiring... addicting.  Could I be a pathological empanadic? I believe so, and I think it's safe to say that I wouldn't be the first.  The ground beef within the empanada has a fervent personality.  It's rich in spices, and the flavor permeates the air around your oral cavity, which leaves a satisfying, lasting warmth.  

With plenty of parsley, garlic, cilantro, oregano and bay leaves, the chimchurri sauce is tough enough to pair with the strength of the ground beef.  It's not as spicy as you would believe, but it's definitely full of flavor.  A squeeze of lime will help cut the oil that the herbs are swimming in and will give the sauce a bit of a citrus kick as well.  Truly delicious... break me open another empanada, please.

Medianoche sandwiches put together with Liz's personal spin
Cuban

Traditionally these heavenly sandwiches were served to the hungry in Havana after dancing the night away at the local discotheque, hence the name medianoche or midnight sandwiches.  Well, in that case I might have to attach the medianoche title to Korean tofu stew.  With cheese sprawled over the ham, a crunchy bite from the pickles, and butter melted over the top of these rolls, the savory sandwiches are enough sustenance to have during any meal.  In fact, one co-worker mentioned that the medianoche name should be changed to mañana or morning sandwiches.  Hmm... good idea.  I'd throw a fried egg right in the middle of all that cheese... and I'd make sure the yolk was runny too.

Matzo ball soup made by Molly
Jewish

The soup was actually made by Molly, a Chinese from Taiwan, but you'd never be able to tell that non-Jewish hands formed the matzo dough or that the chicken soup was concocted by the rotisserie chicken from Costco.  Authentic? Hell yeah.  It tastes like something I'd get at Brent's Delicatessen... sans the sodium and oil overload.  In fact, I prefer Molly's homemade chicken soup over the matzo ball soup at the local deli.  I wasn't even suffering from a cold, and I had three bowls.

Pork and vegetable steamed bao brought by Michelle
Chinese

If life is like a box of chocolates, then opening a steamed bao is like opening presents on Christmas morning.  You may have a good idea of what's inside, and chances are you are probably right... but there's no amount of shaking or peering within the wrapper that will confirm your suspicions.  But... surprise! Pork and vegetable filling? Sure, I'll take it.  The pork and veggies inside are just salty enough to complement the white bread on the outside.  Great balance... and not at all greasy or oily like the buns I had on the streets of Shanghai.  I could eat these all day.

Night market sausages with raw garlic supplied by Michael from SinBala
Taiwanese

I don't know a single person that has tried Taiwanese sausage and has not liked it.  It's impossible.  The lean pork sausage is bursting with savory juices and is surprisingly sweet.  Who knew? Probably Taiwanese locals and tourists who routinely tour the open air night markets after dinner each night.  Traditionally eaten with toothpicks and skewers, Taiwanese sausages may be treated as a night market snack, but it's hearty enough to top over rice as a full meal.  Sausage donburi anyone? The thinly sliced raw garlic is a smart ingredient to use not only to cut the sausage grease but to give the sweet sausage a contrasting bite.  Got to the party late? No worries.  Some co-workers say they this sausage is even better eaten cold.

Cabbage rolls with bacon presented by Doreen
Ukrainian

At last year's international potluck, the Irish-Polish cabbage rolls were a hit.  This year was no different.  The cabbage rolls were the talk of the conference room.  The only difference was that these were made with pork instead of beef.  Made from Doreen's family recipe that has been passed down for over 130 years, the cabbage rolls were stuffed with bacon, rice, onions and tomatoes.  This neatly wrapped, hearty dish may pair well with beer.  Wait... didn't I say that last year? Polish cabbage rolls in 2010 and no beer... Ukrainian cabbage rolls in 2011 and no beer... I should have known.  Alright, bring on the Russian cabbage rolls next year.  2012 I'm ready for you!

Nasch and chrusciki from Adam
Polish

Like a pu pu platter, the traditional Polish nasch plate comes with an assortment of goodies intended to help open the digestive system for the main meal.  Nasch can be assembled with any items in the kitchen or the pantry.  It's almost a welcome offering to visitors or guests.  Our nasch came with smoked summer sausage (sub for kielbasa), brie and cubes of smoked cheddar (perhaps a sub for korycinski or oscypek), pickles (sub for ogorek kiszony) and crackers.  Snooki or not, there's something on this plate for everybody.

Chrusciki or angel wings are crispy ribbons of fried dough that remind me of a flat, twisted doughnut.  Topped off simply with some powdered sugar, they are great to munch on after a meal with some tea or coffee or even by themselves.  Had I been the first to create these pastries, I'd make a chocolate dipped version for sure.  Ooh, I just had an idea...

Snickerdoodles baked by Rachel 
German

Who doesn't love cookies? Snickerdoodles are like a traditional sugar cookie but are bumped up by the touch of cinnamon and the cracked surface, which gives it a unique aesthetic appeal.  The name may be complicated, but the cookie is simply satisfying.

Carrot cupcakes crafted by Amanda 
American

Who doesn't like cookies? Well, who doesn't like cupcakes? The cupcake revolution has everyone scrambling for a $4 dome-shaped cake in a high income bourgeoisie location nearby.  But cupcake revolutionaries have left behind the less than a dollar homemade cupcake.  Amanda's carrot cupcakes were spiced up with ginger... and not just by a little bit.  The cupcakes are chock full of sweet and spicy ginger, which kept me coming back for more.  Why are they so good? Perhaps it's because Amanda's grandmother was a baker at Mrs. Field's back before the modern cupcake revolution.  Hmm... Amanda, is your maiden name Field? Methinks either Grandma owned the place or stuffed the recipe cards in her pocket on her way home each night.  Either way I may have to start a counter revolution.  Anti-red? Maybe anti-red velvet.  The carrot cupcakes brainwashed the words 'red' and 'velvet' completely out of my mental cupcake menu.

Chocolate eclair cake created by Deanne 
American

What do lasagna, Shrek, dressing in San Francisco weather, an onion, and this chocolate eclair cake have in common? Layers! Building the eclair cake involves layering graham crackers, Cool Whip and instant French vanilla pudding... a repetition of the same layering process, and a healthy (that's figurative in all aspects) topping of chocolate frosting.  After two slices of this at the potluck, I began to wonder why it wasn't called chocolate ecstasy cake.  The cake was a great way to finish off a gluttonous buffet of a meal.

Thanks to everyone who participated, contributed, and labored for this international potluck.  Our eyes were opened to new dishes and new cuisines, and I can safely say that we hope more co-workers join us next year for this tasty tradition.  Until then, let's all get S.O.F.A.T.

ML - 20110426