Weather Forecast in the morning: The Typhoon Lotus will sweep pass the western coast of Taiwan, thus sparing Taipei.
Tammy and I took things easy today. We woke up very late. Had a leisurely breakfast at McDonald’s. Tammy was craving for McDonald's bagels (Why even ask?)
The Taiwanese are very serious about their beef noodles. Every year, an International Beef Noodle Festival (台北国际牛肉面节) is held in Taipei. Liang Pin Beef Noodles (良品红烧牛肉面）was runner-up for the Best Roasted Beef category in the 2007. The restaurant was very close to our hotel so we had no excuse not to try it. Tammy ordered their Signature Beef Noodles; I the Pork Chop Noodles. The broths were excellent!
On the way to the MRT Taipei Station, we stopped for the well-known Fuzhou Traditional Pepper Bun (福州世祖胡椒饼 ). Every time we walk passed we found a long queue in front of the tiny stall. Strangely enough, there wasn't a queue today. The bun turned out to be a very large “pau” with a very crisply outer skin, filled with meat and veggies. I like it a lot.
良品牛肉面 Liang Pin Beef Noodles
福州世祖胡椒饼 Fuzhou Traditional Pepper Bun
重庆南路一段13号 | 13 Chongqing Road Sec. 1
西門町 XIMENDING
Tammy suggested that I try the famous 阿宗面线, soft white noodles served in broth. When we arrived at its doorstep, I noticed there was a long queue of waiting customers. People were standing outside the shop, heads bent, intently slurping the noodles out of plastic bowls. Looked downright pathetic to me.
Tammy bought a pair of shoes in Ximending. The store owner informs us that they were imported from Japan. Back in the hotel, however, Tammy discovered the words “Made in Hong Kong” engraved on the soles of the shoes. More about the darn pair of shoes later.
In the evening, we went to track down a sumiyaki called Kanpai (干杯) near Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. Following explicit directions given in Tammy’s guidebook, we were led to Exit No. 15 and up VERY LONG flight of stairs. No escalator, why? why? why?
We circled for a bit but couldn’t locate the restaurant so asked a passer-by for directions. “Ah,” he nodded knowingly, “Walk straight ahead and turn right at the second set of traffic lights. You won’t miss the restaurant. It’ll be the one with the longest queue at the entrance.”
Somehow, the words “the longest queue” didn’t quite appeal to us. The weather was humid and we were both feeling very warm, sticky, and closed to berserk. So we headed in the opposite direction and found Jiafu Sushi House (家福寿司屋). It proved to be a smart move. Quality Japanese food in a cosy mom 'n pop setting. A big bowl of chirashi don (海鮮丼) for just NT$290. I love the crunchy raw squids – fresh, translucent and a little slimy. :)
Tammy and I pounced on the food like hungry ghosts the moment it appeared on our table and quite forgot about taking photos but do check them out on this blogger’s site.
家福寿司屋
大安区 復兴南路一段122巷6号
No. 6, Lane 122, Fuxing South Road Sec. 1, Da-an District
大安区 安东街4号之1
1130 - 1430， 1700 - 2100 Closed on Mondays）
捷运忠孝复兴站一号出口右转直走約3-5分钟过万象大楼
DAY 6 (MON) Jun 22, 2009
We were back at McDonald's this morning, where Tammy satisfied her bagel craving. I bought a couple of 生煎包.
Tammy needed to buy gourmet coffee for a friend and we found ourselves once again in Shing Khong Mitsukoshi (Tower 4A). Do you recall the pair of shoes that Tammy bought in Ximending? Well, on our way up from the basement supermarket, we chanced upon that same pair of shoes! It‘s NT$500 cheaper in Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place!
In the afternoon, 飞狗 airport express came to pick Tammy up from the Hotel Flowers. After I saw her off, I went to bunk in with Jee Sien at the United Hotel. (Yes, she was foolish enough to take me in.) Her room was large with lots of natural lighting. There is a vintage bathtub with clawed feet inside her bathroom. How cool is that?!
This evening, I paid a visit to our Taipei office. Alice took Jee Sien and I out to Du Xiao Yue Danzi Noodles (度小月担仔面) for Taiwanese cuisine. Found myself in the Yong Kang Street vicinity once more. Du Xiao Yue was established in Tainan in 1895, which means it has over a century worth of history. An interesting image is the noodle stand by the entrance, with the noodle master sitting on a low stool preparing noodles. Alice ordered:
猪油拌饭 (rice mixed with lard and soy sauce)
担仔面 (Danzi noodles)
清蒸蝦仁肉圓 (Meat dumplings)
卤大腸 (braised pig intestines)
炸芙蓉豆腐 (very much like Agedashi dōfu but even crispier)
冬瓜蛤蜊湯 (clear soup with winter melon and clams)
After dinner, we headed to Ice Monster for a refreshing iced treat. Fresh mango with shaved ice was just we needed to end the warm summer evening. Alice informed us that the shop is even more popular during the winter months!
There is no MRT to Yong Kang Street. The best way is to take a cab. Tell the driver to take you to the 永康公园 (Yong Kang Park) UPDATE Jan 2014: Yong Kang District is now accessible by MRT!! Alight at Dongmen Station (捷运东门站).
永康公园 (Yong Kang Park) is the core of Yong Kang Street community. Everyone is familiar with the beef noodle stall and the Ice Monster which lie on the park’s edge. Shaved ice combined with fresh fruits – mangoes in the summer, strawberries in the winter – topped with a scoop of mango ice-cream, the Ice Monster enjoys a ceaseless flow of customers all year round.
Yong Kang Street is just the main street. It is flanked by many small alleys, filled with interesting shops and restaurants waiting to be discovered!
西門町 XIMENDING
Before I set foot on Taiwan, I already knew that it was a Japanese colony for 50 years (1895 – 1945) so I expected the Japanese influence to live on. What surprised me was that the Japanese culture is so deeply embedded into the daily lives of the Taiwanese people. Japanese restaurant, sushi bar and confectionery shops lined the streets. The supermarkets inside the department store are well-stocked with rows and rows of Japanese groceries, snacks and confectioneries, all gift packed in Japanese style. Japanese flavour is distinct in Taipei’s fashion trends and lifestyle, especially through Ximending.
Just one stop away from the Taipei Station is Ximending. According to Wikipedia, the name of Ximending was derived from its position outside the west gate of Taipei City. In the beginning during Japanese rule, Ximending was an area of wilderness, through which there was a road connecting the west gate of Taipei to the town of Bangka. Later, the Japanese decided to follow the example of Asakusa in Tokyo to set up an entertainment and business area. Today’s Ximending is Taipei’s version of Shibuya mixed with Harajuku.
Tammy suggested that I try the famous 阿宗面线, soft white noodles served in broth. When we arrived at its doorstep, I noticed there was a long queue of waiting customers. People were standing outside the shop, heads bent, intently slurping the noodles out of plastic bowls. Looked downright pathetic to me.
Tammy bought a pair of shoes in Ximending. The store owner informs us that they were imported from Japan. Back in the hotel, however, Tammy discovered the words “Made in Hong Kong” engraved on the soles of the shoes. More about the darn pair of shoes later.
In the evening, we went to track down a sumiyaki called Kanpai (干杯) near Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. Following explicit directions given in Tammy’s guidebook, we were led to Exit No. 15 and up VERY LONG flight of stairs. No escalator, why? why? why?
We circled for a bit but couldn’t locate the restaurant so asked a passer-by for directions. “Ah,” he nodded knowingly, “Walk straight ahead and turn right at the second set of traffic lights. You won’t miss the restaurant. It’ll be the one with the longest queue at the entrance.”
Somehow, the words “the longest queue” didn’t quite appeal to us. The weather was humid and we were both feeling very warm, sticky, and closed to berserk. So we headed in the opposite direction and found Jiafu Sushi House (家福寿司屋). It proved to be a smart move. Quality Japanese food in a cosy mom 'n pop setting. A big bowl of chirashi don (海鮮丼) for just NT$290. I love the crunchy raw squids – fresh, translucent and a little slimy. :)
Tammy and I pounced on the food like hungry ghosts the moment it appeared on our table and quite forgot about taking photos but do check them out on this blogger’s site.
家福寿司屋
大安区 安东街4号之1
1130 - 1430， 1700 - 2100 Closed on Mondays）
捷运忠孝复兴站一号出口右转直走約3-5分钟过万象大楼
***
DAY 6 (MON) Jun 22, 2009
We were back at McDonald's this morning, where Tammy satisfied her bagel craving. I bought a couple of 生煎包.
Tammy needed to buy gourmet coffee for a friend and we found ourselves once again in Shing Khong Mitsukoshi (Tower 4A). Do you recall the pair of shoes that Tammy bought in Ximending? Well, on our way up from the basement supermarket, we chanced upon that same pair of shoes! It‘s NT$500 cheaper in Mitsukoshi Xinyi Place!
We couldn’t locate the restaurant which Tammy wanted us to have lunch in. This is the second time her stupid guidebook led us on a wild goose chase. I hope she had thrown it away by the time she read this post.
Anyway, we landed up in the restaurant that I went on my first night in Taipei: Dosan Kanroku Sanuki Udon (土三寒六赞岐乌龙面).
Anyway, we landed up in the restaurant that I went on my first night in Taipei: Dosan Kanroku Sanuki Udon (土三寒六赞岐乌龙面).
BYE BYE, TAMMY
HI, JEE SIEN!
In the afternoon, 飞狗 airport express came to pick Tammy up from the Hotel Flowers. After I saw her off, I went to bunk in with Jee Sien at the United Hotel. (Yes, she was foolish enough to take me in.) Her room was large with lots of natural lighting. There is a vintage bathtub with clawed feet inside her bathroom. How cool is that?!
CATCHING UP WITH ALICE
This evening, I paid a visit to our Taipei office. Alice took Jee Sien and I out to Du Xiao Yue Danzi Noodles (度小月担仔面) for Taiwanese cuisine. Found myself in the Yong Kang Street vicinity once more. Du Xiao Yue was established in Tainan in 1895, which means it has over a century worth of history. An interesting image is the noodle stand by the entrance, with the noodle master sitting on a low stool preparing noodles. Alice ordered:
猪油拌饭 (rice mixed with lard and soy sauce)
清蒸蝦仁肉圓 (Meat dumplings)
卤大腸 (braised pig intestines)
炸芙蓉豆腐 (very much like Agedashi dōfu but even crispier)
冬瓜蛤蜊湯 (clear soup with winter melon and clams)
After dinner, we headed to Ice Monster for a refreshing iced treat. Fresh mango with shaved ice was just we needed to end the warm summer evening. Alice informed us that the shop is even more popular during the winter months!
永康公园 (Yong Kang Park) is the core of Yong Kang Street community. Everyone is familiar with the beef noodle stall and the Ice Monster which lie on the park’s edge. Shaved ice combined with fresh fruits – mangoes in the summer, strawberries in the winter – topped with a scoop of mango ice-cream, the Ice Monster enjoys a ceaseless flow of customers all year round.
Yong Kang Street is just the main street. It is flanked by many small alleys, filled with interesting shops and restaurants waiting to be discovered!
The area just behind the United Hotel is also very nice.
国联大饭店 United Hotel
大安区 光復南路200号
No. 200 Kwang Fu South Road +886 2 27731515
捷运国父紀念馆站 | Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station
度小月担仔面
永康街 9-1号+886 2 33931325
1130 - 2300大安区 光復南路200号
No. 200 Kwang Fu South Road +886 2 27731515
捷运国父紀念馆站 | Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station
度小月担仔面
永康街 9-1号+886 2 33931325
捷运东门站 5号出口 | Dongmen MRT Station Exit 5
冰馆
信义路二段204号
捷运东门站 5号出口 | Dongmen MRT Station Exit 5
***
DAY 7 (TUE) Jun 23, 2009
WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN?
Taipei, I miss you already
Still so much waiting to be discovered
I haven't taken enough photos
I'll definitely see you again
No comments:
Post a Comment