tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635827018296402052024-03-14T00:16:01.960-07:00The Ravenous ScavengerEating EverythingIsraelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09815074098217048456noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-51909568887024587692017-01-20T21:37:00.001-08:002017-01-20T21:37:04.599-08:00Mother of all meat pies<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FORTAjmzW_M/WILzf2Ue9oI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ihsNseV6mdg/s640/blogger-image-1529030195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FORTAjmzW_M/WILzf2Ue9oI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ihsNseV6mdg/s640/blogger-image-1529030195.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>A heartening meal for a disheartening day. This pie from chef April Bloomfield is filled with braised short ribs and Stilton. And it's one of the best things I've eaten in awhile. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Take heart, friends. And take care of one another. </b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-47388261092231423722017-01-18T18:17:00.001-08:002017-01-18T20:20:36.560-08:00Scoring chops<b>I learned a valuable technique today for avoiding cupping while cooking pork chops. Thanks J. Kenji Lopez-Alt! I've often wondered how to keep chops flat while subjecting them to a hot pan. The fat rind around the edge of the chop shrinks faster than the muscle and you end up with a potato chip shape that thwarts even-cooking. If you cut a few scoremarks into the fat the chops will remain flat while cooking. So simple and effective.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Biw8wR3Y4ik/WIAhqq9-UII/AAAAAAAAAtA/Ji5MHet__X0/s640/blogger-image-1602770723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Biw8wR3Y4ik/WIAhqq9-UII/AAAAAAAAAtA/Ji5MHet__X0/s640/blogger-image-1602770723.jpg"></a></div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-88130813561515464202017-01-16T19:23:00.001-08:002017-01-17T08:33:02.836-08:00An Emoti-flan<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-naTA-3NQ9I0/WH2OOaO6gpI/AAAAAAAAAsk/n5-WfBNT4p8/s640/blogger-image-51392917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-naTA-3NQ9I0/WH2OOaO6gpI/AAAAAAAAAsk/n5-WfBNT4p8/s640/blogger-image-51392917.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>.....is what you have when a failed custard conveys a state of amiable perplexity.</b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-9553455322837701052017-01-16T13:42:00.001-08:002017-01-16T13:47:56.051-08:00Bacon and hocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ChN4UdzxCoI/WH0-XCpS2BI/AAAAAAAAAsI/32Oy_WRmPWw/s640/blogger-image-1436735476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ChN4UdzxCoI/WH0-XCpS2BI/AAAAAAAAAsI/32Oy_WRmPWw/s640/blogger-image-1436735476.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<b>While chiseling ice from the back porch, it's nice to remember some summertime projects like this slab of homemade bacon and these hocks fresh off the Webber.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-33253338490769911162016-03-14T20:38:00.001-07:002016-03-14T21:03:18.487-07:00The Scavenger Drools<b>What I wouldn't give to live close to this fine establishment: </b><a href="http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/rising-market/Content?oid=2899029">http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/rising-market/Content?oid=2899029</a><div><br></div><div><b>There's nothing better than a market of this caliber. Uwajimaya in Seattle is our "local" Asian market. It's just nine hours away by car. Our cupboard is running low on the bamboo shoots, fermented bean curd </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">and dried shrimp I picked up there last year. I'm looking forward to stocking up in St. Louis at Seafood City at the end of the month. We're after dried squid, Chinese bacon and sausage, mi jiu, banana leaves and preserved duck eggs. </b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-19071694308854204072016-02-20T19:19:00.001-08:002016-02-22T20:41:17.197-08:00Danzai Noodles<b>Our cooking teacher Ivy Chen's family is from Tainan on the southwest coast of Taiwan- where the 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck a couple of weeks ago. (her family is safe). One of the culinary specialties from that city is Danzai noodles- alkaline wheat noodles in a pork and shrimp broth with garnishes of minced braised pork, cilantro, bean sprouts, chopped raw garlic and a single perfectly cooked </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">sweet shrimp. You also see versions with a hard boiled egg or a pork ball.</b><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>Mrs. Chen started with a broth made from chopped pieces of bone-in pork leg simmered for a few hours. Then she pulled a ziplock of nearly black, gelatinized master stock out of her freezer and let it thaw. Master stock is integral to much Taiwanese cooking- being the base for braised meats of all kinds that end up in soups and other dishes. It's made by simmering cassia bark, citrus peel, star anise, garlic, green onion, dried mushrooms and sugar in water, soy sauce and rice wine. Various meats are then braised in the stock until tender. Instead of being discarded, the braise liquid is retained and either kept at a boil, chilled or frozen for later to braise more meat for other projects. In this way, the flavor of the stock continues to deepen with time. Master stocks are sometimes kept going for decades. </b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>To make the Danzai noodles, we added ground pork and a bit of minced belly to Ivy's master stock and simmered for an hour. We took the fresh pork leg stock made earlier, got it boiling and added shrimp heads and shells. </b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>We bought fresh noodles from the local market since we were already making two other kinds of dough for steamed buns and Xiaolongbao and were running short on time. We blanched them briefly and slipped the hot noodles into bowls, ladled the shrimp and pork stock over and then topped it all with the pork braised in master stock, bean sprouts, cilantro and a bit of chopped raw garlic. Danzai noodles are usually eaten as a snack in a small bowl. It's a simple and insanely delicious thing, that raw garlic really brings all the flavors together.</b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4e7sQs8vO8U/Vsvf0-97CaI/AAAAAAAAAjo/4ai8ugs42KU/s640/blogger-image--960820531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4e7sQs8vO8U/Vsvf0-97CaI/AAAAAAAAAjo/4ai8ugs42KU/s640/blogger-image--960820531.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mrs. Chen suggested that if we wanted to try some other versions of Danzai noodles in Taipei, there was a great authentic spot in an alley behind Din Tai Fung. We went searching the next day and found a shop that specializes in Tainan noodles. We enjoyed small bowls of Danzai that were quite similar to Mrs. Chen's- maybe not quite as good. The shrimp was replaced by a savory, rubbery pork ball.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1T-pXVaCsMk/Vsvf1nUuR4I/AAAAAAAAAjs/7yEfx3z70Po/s640/blogger-image--1800146361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1T-pXVaCsMk/Vsvf1nUuR4I/AAAAAAAAAjs/7yEfx3z70Po/s640/blogger-image--1800146361.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I emailed Mrs. Chen and it turned out that we'd gone to the wrong place. That was still a fine bowl of soup. Such is the food in Taipei that you have to work to find a bad meal.</div><br></div><br></div><br></b></font></div><div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></b></div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></b></div></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-20981437992697199222016-02-08T17:36:00.001-08:002016-02-08T17:58:28.664-08:00Mardi Gras Cleanup Crew<div><b>As the Crescent City gears up for another blast of drunken revelry, do you ever wonder what happens with all those empty Hand Grenades left splintered in the streets? Here's a good read on the folks who clean the heaps of sodden trash in the aftermath of Carnival.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>As a punk kid I was induced to clean up after the V.P. Fair (now Fair of St. Louis) beneath the sleek supports of the Gateway Arch. I remember well the stench and feel of a yellowed watermelon left to bloat in the July heat. The number of bags we filled in a day was stunning. But I was a mere wayfarer in such realms. My hat is off to those who perform such an invaluable service.</b></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/cleaning-up-carnival/Content?oid=2870475" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/cleaning-up-carnival/Content?oid=2870475</a></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-62186743643688032872016-02-04T20:01:00.001-08:002016-02-05T05:43:09.106-08:00Fried leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dCum78bkzl0/VrQeiT8_GgI/AAAAAAAAAi4/__b01K874rM/s640/blogger-image-445412421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dCum78bkzl0/VrQeiT8_GgI/AAAAAAAAAi4/__b01K874rM/s640/blogger-image-445412421.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>The Taiwanese use the greens off every edible plant for food. We were wowed by the heaps of greens at markets. It's a paradise for the kale-weary. We feasted on these stir-fried sweet potato leaves one night while wandering hungry in Hualien. The stems had a crunch almost like fried green garlic scapes. </b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-86157467184419978152016-02-03T20:43:00.001-08:002016-02-04T05:45:20.009-08:00Steamed buns, no training wheels<b>We're getting a little better, but our steamed buns are still not yet there. </b><div><b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1VMBUuLaiUM/VrLXCj74i5I/AAAAAAAAAik/7sY6Bg0D34g/s640/blogger-image-1287906711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1VMBUuLaiUM/VrLXCj74i5I/AAAAAAAAAik/7sY6Bg0D34g/s640/blogger-image-1287906711.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The bottoms got stretched a bit thin and the filling was too soupy so the bottoms dropped out of some when we removed them from the baskets. Plus the tops look confused. We'll keep at it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-78973516342045276662016-02-02T20:23:00.001-08:002016-02-03T06:13:41.576-08:00Lunch in Hualien<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Delicious bitter melon. Crunchy. Scented with sesame, chili and garlic. It's the unfussy food in the garishly lit, often grubby street side cafes I long for the most when thinking about eating in Taiwan.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0IzcjslbhUI/VrGA0e5Lq7I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xNEZxWt03LE/s640/blogger-image-1668435855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0IzcjslbhUI/VrGA0e5Lq7I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xNEZxWt03LE/s640/blogger-image-1668435855.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3B64XJWXl9o/VrGAzAcOqUI/AAAAAAAAAiM/RyskWDNclaQ/s640/blogger-image-2106998024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3B64XJWXl9o/VrGAzAcOqUI/AAAAAAAAAiM/RyskWDNclaQ/s640/blogger-image-2106998024.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kimchi- a sweet version so far gone the nappa ribs were disintegrating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Esm6RNSwR0/VrGAyCXT8II/AAAAAAAAAiI/IFT_82F758Q/s640/blogger-image--1772441887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Esm6RNSwR0/VrGAyCXT8II/AAAAAAAAAiI/IFT_82F758Q/s640/blogger-image--1772441887.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Pork rice</span></div><br></div><br></b></div><br>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-50587262173426763222016-02-02T07:56:00.001-08:002016-02-05T21:05:29.953-08:00Olympia Provisions smoked kielbasa<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<b>I just learned that the Portland charcuterie greats changed their name because the International Olympic Committee had a fit about brand protection. I've been a fan of the outfit's salami for a couple of years and have lately been testing some of their emulsified sausages. They handled this snappy, juicy kielbasa as deftly as they do their dry cured products.</b></div>
Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-70226233288988089682016-01-31T22:07:00.001-08:002016-02-01T05:47:22.591-08:00Noodle nostalgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6LJSrnT14Ys/Vq72BlTAkeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/xr7J4l6vy8o/s640/blogger-image--595981673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6LJSrnT14Ys/Vq72BlTAkeI/AAAAAAAAAhg/xr7J4l6vy8o/s640/blogger-image--595981673.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>The Scavenger kitchen went to work this weekend in a furious attempt to recreate some of the flavors of Taiwan. Noodles with braised pork, crispy shallots, collards, egg, cilantro and chili oil. </b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-53473345239357677552016-01-31T11:07:00.001-08:002016-01-31T12:43:21.325-08:00Taipei cooking lesson part 2, the struggle with Xiaolongbao<b>When it came time to start folding the skins of the Xiaolongbao, Mrs. Chen encouraged us to go easy on ourselves. Last week, she said, one of my clients cried because he was having such trouble making them. </b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Xiaolongbao are a type of steamed dumpling from eastern China, specifically from around the south bank of the lower <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Yangtze in the Shanghai area. They are sometimes referred to as soup dumplings for the gush of hot liquid that accompanies their filling- a feat accomplished by the inclusion of collagen in the mixture, which is solid when cold and liquifies in the steamer basket. Some iterations of the dumpling are soupier than others, and we've had Xiaolongbao in Taiwan and Vancouver that were completely "dry." Some are made with partially leavened dough wrappers which obviously contributes to a fluffier final product. Din Tai Fung, the most famous purveyor of Xiaolongbao, uses unleavened skins for dumplings that have a thin and delicate texture. </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here's a photo of Xiaolongbao from Din Tai Fung:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e4Ktl4lwAcY/Vq5hmsQtroI/AAAAAAAAAg0/0Xl-XXz5OYo/s640/blogger-image-1009456398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e4Ktl4lwAcY/Vq5hmsQtroI/AAAAAAAAAg0/0Xl-XXz5OYo/s640/blogger-image-1009456398.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The gold standard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Such is the current rage over these dumplings that they're the most commonly requested subjects at Mrs Chen's cooking school. She has been to Din Tai Fung a number of times to get a sense of the operation- the white-coated and masked dumpling technicians plainly visible through plate glass windows as they furiously roll, stuff and fold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mrs. Chen had already made the filling ahead of time since the process involves cooking pig skin in water, blending the skin and broth until smooth and then chilling it in the fridge for three hours until it solidifies into an aspic. The gelatin gets mixed with ground pork, soy sauce, rice wine, salt, pepper and spring onion and ginger water and then goes into the fridge for 40 more minutes to solidify again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Rolling out the skins, which end up as 9 cm diameter discs that are thinner on the edges than in the middle, is fairly straightforward. The challenge comes when working with these thin shells in combination with the gelatinous filling which becomes wetter as it warms. I can't imagine trying this in a warm, humid kitchen. The folding process is not easy to pick up, either. Basically you gather a small fold along the edge of the wrapper, pinch it to the edge to its left, and stretch the sealed fold toward you and over the filling while gently tamping the filling inside with your thumb. You repeat this, always pinching from right to left until you've gone all the way around the wrapper. The folks at Din Tai Fung perform a set number of folds per piece, but we were lucky to keep the constantly moistening dough from tearing into shreds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">No one cried, but we all got a good laugh once we opened the baskets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rEiHtJ9gGrY/Vq5tSZ9GWZI/AAAAAAAAAhE/hIiOd0HfLr0/s640/blogger-image--1993755476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rEiHtJ9gGrY/Vq5tSZ9GWZI/AAAAAAAAAhE/hIiOd0HfLr0/s640/blogger-image--1993755476.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are our flaccid offerings. We came away from the evening with a new respect for the art of Xiaolongbao and a determination to up our game. </div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></span></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-11962230005891735192016-01-30T09:42:00.001-08:002016-01-30T09:42:32.069-08:00Best study practices<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dPE9Li5eT0Q/Vqz2BuOBOMI/AAAAAAAAAgk/JJ0VQA14YJc/s640/blogger-image-399775052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dPE9Li5eT0Q/Vqz2BuOBOMI/AAAAAAAAAgk/JJ0VQA14YJc/s640/blogger-image-399775052.jpg"></a></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-65365400505715108642016-01-28T20:28:00.001-08:002016-03-15T13:42:10.381-07:00Evening crepe, Hualien<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<b>Welcome to the port of Hualien. One of two days with sun in three weeks. We walked 8 miles looking for the long, pebbly beach at Qixingtan and a couple more miles scrounging for a bar in the evening. We sat and had a beer at an empty outdoor karaoke place and listened to Rihanna, then found a real bar. A sign above the sink in the men's room said "Please irrigate after throw up." </b></div>
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<b>After a couple Jim Beams, we stepped out and had a lovely evening crepe with an egg and scallion rolled in. A boon to the soul.</b></div>
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Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-10026951380453484252016-01-27T17:27:00.001-08:002016-01-28T06:06:32.379-08:00Steamed bun lesson<b>While in Taipei, we were lucky to spend a long afternoon and evening with Ivy Chen who has been teaching cooking to expats and tourists for 17 years. We met Mrs. Chen at Shidong Market in the Shilin district in the north part of the city. Shidong is an enviable indoor market with vendors selling luscious seafood, poultry, pork, Chinese sausage, noodles, tofu, seaweed, pickles and produce. There's a full-on noodle factory at which you can take your pick from 10 different styles made that day. The tofu shop has 15 kinds of tofu with </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">varying textures and densities, some dark, dry and marinated, some smooth and creamy, some crispy-fried or skin-thin and rolled into a bundle. There are vegetable sellers who sell produce that is rare in Taiwan like Brussels sprouts and arugula. The varieties of cabbage, mustards, </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">edible ferns, herbs and other green leafies is overwhelming. It's the kind of market I'd give my left leg to have nearby and Mrs. Chen lives two blocks away. She goes every morning and buys fresh ingredients for herself and her students. She'd never even think of buying meat after 10 am. It's not fresh enough for her. </b><div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></b></div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">She's a firecracker. She told us that she drove her mother nuts with cooking questions when she was a kid and that she is constantly riding her sister because she has no sense of when particular fruits and vegetables are in season. She's always giving Mrs. Chen gifts of woody breadfruits and mealy apples.</b></div><div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></b></div><div><b>We asked Mrs Chen to show us how to make steamed buns, the ubiquitous fast snack sold from hot cabinets around the island and in China. One would be hard pressed to learn how to make them from a book. </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">While it's hard to do them really well (with succulent </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">fillings and uniform dough that is pleasing to the tooth and the eye), the principle is pretty basic. You make a yeasted dough with white flour, water, oil and a pinch of sugar and let it rise </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">in a warm place. You make a filling of your choice. In our case, we used ground pork, scallion and ginger water, rice wine, </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">salt, black pepper, sesame oil and chopped scallion. Scallion and ginger water is a simple and brilliant flavoring. You just take green onions and ginger and throw them in a blender with water to make a thin, bright green sauce. You punch down your dough and divide it into balls. Then roll each ball out so that it is thinner at the edges than in the center. Spoon on your filling and then comes the tough part: pinching, stretching and folding the dough around the filling. It should be pretty easy to tell from the photo below which of the three buns was made by Mrs. Chen. </b></div><div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ArX65eObyXQ/VqludVHTWJI/AAAAAAAAAfs/ukGMEKFEhz4/s640/blogger-image--694895990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ArX65eObyXQ/VqludVHTWJI/AAAAAAAAAfs/ukGMEKFEhz4/s640/blogger-image--694895990.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We need some serious practice. </b></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stack your baskets on a pot filled with water, crank up the fire and the kitchen fills with steam scented with the hot bamboo and the cooking buns. </b></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div></div><br></b></div></div></div></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-71777662573529303512016-01-26T18:42:00.001-08:002016-01-27T04:04:33.646-08:00Easing into the saddle again<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>There's not a teeming drinking culture in Taiwan. That's probably a healthy thing. Sure, you can go to 7-11 and pick up a couple of tallboys of Taiwan Gold, but there were times we wanted a slug of something a bit more stiff. We found some good bars on the island, but it took dedicated footwork.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Here we are back in old Montany. The food's not worth a damn, but one thing Montana does well is bars. Maybe it's a response to austere spaces, wind, long winter nights, </b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">sparsely populated streets, black carpets of piney forest. Having some difficulty recalibrating after our island voyage, we walked over to the local last night to drown our sorrows. Ordered a PBR to try and approximate a Taiwan Beer. Not even close. But our corner pub was a cheerful beacon in the night.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xC6GqEOX3Hs/Vqg2WzveSMI/AAAAAAAAAfY/dQPWiLadYYI/s640/blogger-image-1585211438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xC6GqEOX3Hs/Vqg2WzveSMI/AAAAAAAAAfY/dQPWiLadYYI/s640/blogger-image-1585211438.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rSqcxFGFVas" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rSqcxFGFVas</a></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-45814691413893542462016-01-25T19:09:00.001-08:002016-01-26T05:45:41.584-08:00Yuli grease bomb<b>The greasiest thing we ate in Taiwan came in a very cute package.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fy42wJ-23nI/VqbjXWjOILI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Wy70uH3qYVc/s640/blogger-image-1148720239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fy42wJ-23nI/VqbjXWjOILI/AAAAAAAAAfE/Wy70uH3qYVc/s640/blogger-image-1148720239.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This deep fried pocket of glory came from a street vendor in Yuli.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JHOkrPLM1ag/VqbjWY5BxkI/AAAAAAAAAe8/gBWlJVh7K0U/s640/blogger-image-1635616412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JHOkrPLM1ag/VqbjWY5BxkI/AAAAAAAAAe8/gBWlJVh7K0U/s640/blogger-image-1635616412.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One bite into this sucker and I was covered in scallion oil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_YRLzr4lZY/VqbjVlVloUI/AAAAAAAAAe0/KS5OMxm4Ytc/s640/blogger-image-979414318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_YRLzr4lZY/VqbjVlVloUI/AAAAAAAAAe0/KS5OMxm4Ytc/s640/blogger-image-979414318.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The contents? Lots of scallions, glass noodles, dried tofu, probably some fermented mustards. Tons of grease. And even though it caused me to reek like a grill cook at White Castle, it was damn good. Boy are we ever missing Taiwan. Time to fire up the wok.</div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-10621506582059151042016-01-24T18:50:00.001-08:002016-01-25T05:46:01.659-08:00Sticky Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eZEa7g6j-g4/VqWNjNe69MI/AAAAAAAAAeY/bbqwMJU9yUU/s640/blogger-image--2057189294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eZEa7g6j-g4/VqWNjNe69MI/AAAAAAAAAeY/bbqwMJU9yUU/s640/blogger-image--2057189294.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>This was a delicious parcel we ate while riding bikes around the rice fields of Yuli.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utwcGIXGlvI/VqWNj7OWksI/AAAAAAAAAeg/V8u0tDDmGA8/s640/blogger-image-1185043180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utwcGIXGlvI/VqWNj7OWksI/AAAAAAAAAeg/V8u0tDDmGA8/s640/blogger-image-1185043180.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sticky rice with peanut, crab, shiitake, egg and pork all steamed within a couple of bamboo leaves which lend a delicate fragrance to the ingredients. A power bar par exellence.</div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-36754594497055246622016-01-24T08:58:00.001-08:002016-01-24T09:05:39.745-08:00Late night food carts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZCKvEPSBFoE/VqUC0Mcr9LI/AAAAAAAAAeA/01j7b6BFYW8/s640/blogger-image-1739463535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZCKvEPSBFoE/VqUC0Mcr9LI/AAAAAAAAAeA/01j7b6BFYW8/s640/blogger-image-1739463535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>The Taiwanese are down with the food cart. They are everywhere. One of the more common types of carts in Taiwan is the mix and match style cart like this one. Basically you choose your own ingredients from the display. Chicken wings, chicken hearts, Vienna sausages, pork skin, pork slices, yam, carrot, tofu, yuba, pork intestine, boiled egg, greens, couple types of dried noodles. Some of these carts have a vast array of ingredients laid out. You place whatever you want with tongs in a plastic basket and the cart owner cooks everything for its appointed time in a vat of boiling broth. Then you season it how you like with chili, vinegar, soy, salt and pepper. You can get it dry or as a soup with some of the broth added. We were overjoyed to pass this cart on the way home from the bar one night and brought tubs of noodles back to eat while watching one of the many dopey action films on TV. </b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-52857267795124743542016-01-23T07:50:00.001-08:002016-01-23T08:46:56.118-08:00Lin Dong Sen Beef Noodles: Taipei<b>When you first pull up to this joint, you think there's no way all of the hungry customers lined up will be seated in the present decade. There's a stove next to the sidewalk with a vat full of boiling broth and bobbing bits. Two tiny rooms with short counters where people sit elbow to elbow slurping from bowls. But the queue moves with surprising speed and you wonder where they are putting all of these people.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wO2r4WPkh58/VqOhLJUnjjI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ij_nCseQt1A/s640/blogger-image--1143992039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wO2r4WPkh58/VqOhLJUnjjI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ij_nCseQt1A/s640/blogger-image--1143992039.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we reached the front of the line we were told to follow the folks in front of us halfway up the block to a slightly larger room behind a steamy sliding glass door. We were seated at a table with another couple and handed menus. The woman at the front of the house notified the crew managing the line outside via walkie-talkie each time a table was vacated. We ordered a small appetizer of the recommended house tofu and <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">bowls of the signature soup. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The soup itself was amazing. It consists of large gauge, chewy wheat noodles and meltingly tender slices of beef shank in a rich, dark beef broth flavored with five spice. A pinch of <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">scallions is scattered on top. The shank is so tender, the webwork of sinew shot through the slices has taken on an unctuous, almost creamy texture. Each table is outfitted with a jar of thick, sweet chili paste in case you want to zap up your bowl, but the flavor of the broth is already so deep as to render condiments superfluous. I almost cleared a large bowl of the stuff and, in so doing, put the hurt on myself. It was the most burstingly full I ever was in Taiwan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3mgu_AChxgI/VqOscIQKfeI/AAAAAAAAAds/Wmkrf8xnazU/s640/blogger-image-768445034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3mgu_AChxgI/VqOscIQKfeI/AAAAAAAAAds/Wmkrf8xnazU/s640/blogger-image-768445034.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oops, too hungry to take a photo at the outset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Though considered by some to be a national dish of Taiwan, our Taipei cooking teacher (more on her later) told us that beef noodle soup is not a traditional Taiwanese dish. It's hard to say what is and what is not traditional in a hodgepodge culture like Taiwan, but I suppose she meant that the soup style was brought to the island by mainland Chinese during the Chinese Civil War. Regardless, the island's inhabitants have made it their own and it is a thing of beauty.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-6682823700747812742016-01-21T22:42:00.001-08:002016-01-22T07:33:29.943-08:00La Carta de Oaxaca, Ballard<b>I've been itching for years to eat at this lively spot on Ballard Ave. I've come close to doing so four or five times, but, for some reason, something always comes up. Too long a wait, someone in the party wants Thai instead, etc.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>We're happily stranded in Seattle. The passes are chocked with snow and avalanche danger is extreme. So we finally made it out in the pouring rain, crossing board bridges over sidewalk puddles big as Lake Union. It was worth the wait in every respect. There was even a table ready for our party of five. Like magic. </b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OzK0TrkHMPU/VqHPPCDMQZI/AAAAAAAAAc0/HN5NLFJ__GY/s640/blogger-image-879776580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OzK0TrkHMPU/VqHPPCDMQZI/AAAAAAAAAc0/HN5NLFJ__GY/s640/blogger-image-879776580.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lamb birria. Tender braised loin in birria sauce served with perfect, chewy house tortillas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UgYey2k3CIY/VqHPQtNPc3I/AAAAAAAAAdE/A0GVBS6Ulwk/s640/blogger-image-1686906226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UgYey2k3CIY/VqHPQtNPc3I/AAAAAAAAAdE/A0GVBS6Ulwk/s640/blogger-image-1686906226.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tamales with mole negro wrapped in banana leaves. Eight flipping bucks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bkHGtIVqGNg/VqHPP4VtQzI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Lg6rEHRqZx4/s640/blogger-image-2068317445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bkHGtIVqGNg/VqHPP4VtQzI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Lg6rEHRqZx4/s640/blogger-image-2068317445.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Entomatadas. Beef and fried tortillas stuffed with Oaxaqueno cheese.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The price to quality ratio in this place is not often encountered in these parts. They have an extensive mezcal program, to boot, and serve generous pours in crystal boats with tiny crosses stamped on the bottoms. So you can't help but know you're drinking something holy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-1758927681649590312016-01-21T17:39:00.001-08:002016-01-21T17:39:21.046-08:00Breakfast roll<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sbL3BDXf5Z0/VqGIR9GIHPI/AAAAAAAAAcg/7nvDAEXI3P0/s640/blogger-image--503963049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sbL3BDXf5Z0/VqGIR9GIHPI/AAAAAAAAAcg/7nvDAEXI3P0/s640/blogger-image--503963049.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>This was a nice, scallion-filled sesame bun we ate squatting at a low table on a street in Hualien. Just one more out of the hundreds of savory breakfast options in Taiwan.</b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-36143588004548804342016-01-20T23:20:00.001-08:002016-01-20T23:20:27.620-08:00Yuli Chou Doufu<b>This little stinky tofu spot in Yuli had people lining up to get their fix when they opened each afternoon. Stinky tofu is a Taiwanese delicacy wherein tofu is fermented slightly and takes on a stinky cheese-like savoriness. The version in Yuli is somewhat less far gone than the sharp Chou Doufu in Taipei, which fills the night markets with its heady reek.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--SG1ioDy7Lg/VqCGup-X70I/AAAAAAAAAcM/8ammW8RtkpE/s640/blogger-image-1141542470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--SG1ioDy7Lg/VqCGup-X70I/AAAAAAAAAcM/8ammW8RtkpE/s640/blogger-image-1141542470.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The stuff is fantastic, served with cabbage and pickled ginger and basil in a sweet sauce. The cubes of funk are crispy fried on the outside and meltingly soft within. One of the great foods of Taiwan. Don't let the smell deter you.</div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163582701829640205.post-40264455498642322662016-01-20T00:33:00.001-08:002016-01-20T00:33:14.386-08:00Day 12: Dumpling parade<b>During our last few hours in Taipei, we raced around gobbling as many dumplings as we could. We're at the airport standing on the verge of dumpling dearth back home.</b><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kJGHbY2M3v4/Vp5Wk7Rq02I/AAAAAAAAAbI/njpAjgd8Igg/s640/blogger-image--1973286040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kJGHbY2M3v4/Vp5Wk7Rq02I/AAAAAAAAAbI/njpAjgd8Igg/s640/blogger-image--1973286040.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fried crispy on the bottoms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0lzduWD5Gto/Vp5WmBamsiI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/MMGGQmSli2c/s640/blogger-image-346754361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0lzduWD5Gto/Vp5WmBamsiI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/MMGGQmSli2c/s640/blogger-image-346754361.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Scallion filled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gWHuLtGaI_M/Vp5WnhE3f3I/AAAAAAAAAbY/OUGGNl3rg_c/s640/blogger-image--369841432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gWHuLtGaI_M/Vp5WnhE3f3I/AAAAAAAAAbY/OUGGNl3rg_c/s640/blogger-image--369841432.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cabbage filled. You slather on as much fermented chile as you wish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9ovW211f-I/Vp9GRhUXJvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/TfSfaDZaF7I/s640/blogger-image--1869554819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9ovW211f-I/Vp9GRhUXJvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/TfSfaDZaF7I/s640/blogger-image--1869554819.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These little guys were filled with pork and fried crisp and chewy on the bottoms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wDI6xgPFPkk/Vp9GSV99HvI/AAAAAAAAAb4/HkzcW3Q-yaM/s640/blogger-image-143226283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wDI6xgPFPkk/Vp9GSV99HvI/AAAAAAAAAb4/HkzcW3Q-yaM/s640/blogger-image-143226283.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Masterful works of engineering from our second visit to Din Tai Fung. These are filled with shrimp and loofah squash. They told us to eat them without adding soy sauce and vinegar. Good move. It's pricey, but these folks have mastered the art of xiao long bao. Such delicate dough and moist fillings that sing with flavor.</div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></b></div>Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06965023571909899170noreply@blogger.com2