yummy yakiniku

It's hard finding a good yakiniku.  In LA, there's pretty much just Gyukaku.  Which is overpriced.  Not surprisingly, they also have a branch in Taipei.  For BBQ, Korean is much more popular.  But the Japanese style yakiniku, which is done over charcoal, if done correctly, is flavorful and doesn't leave you with your tastebuds desensitized.  This past Saturday we went to San-Lian (which loosely translates to 3 ounces, or 3 pairs).  For NT$399 (<US$13), you get an all you can eat selection fit for a carnivore. :) the meats were of high quality, and the service was wonderful.

1994 Mercurey

I've been treating the local Friday night milonga as my local hangout.  That is, I bring a bottle of wine, chat with friends, and if the inspiration arrives, dance a bit.  But the focus is on the wine and conversation, not on the dancing.  This past Friday I brought a bottle of the 1994 Mercurey Premier Cru Clos du Roi, purchased at Beacon3F for NT$1130.   I then proceeded to share it with a few others, including a Frenchman.  He loved the wine, and it turns out, his godmother is from the exact village (of only 300 people!) where the wine is made.

Din Tai Feng

Had the chance to go to the original Din Tai Feng in Taipei.  The food (esp steamed dumpling) there is definitely much better than I've had at the other branches.  And believe it or not, even more expensive.  What amazes me most is that this location has 4 floors, with many servers and a dumb waiter on each floor.   They've optimized the seating, ordering, payment process.  yet at peak meal hour, the wait is still over an hour long.

a good bottle of wine tides things over

As mentioned earlier, I was not very happy with the Taipei Tango festival.  Especially at the Grand Milonga, which is the largest event of the festival.  Good thing I brought a bottle of the 1994 Sarget du Chateau Gruaud Larose (purchased at Beacon3F for NT$1200)    :)

down home taiwanese cuisine

it's been a while that i've gone out for good authentic taiwanese meal, but i did so yesterday.  yum!  the best part, the entire meal costs only NT$295 (~US$9.50).

the menu:

• taiwanese noodles
• big sausage (it's actually a sausage that's stuffed using glutinous rice instead of meat)
• rice blood (rice + pigs blood).  id like to think that it's like rice krispies, but made with blood instead of fat, so much healthier  :)
• sauteed yam leaf
• pig liver seams w/ garlic soy sauce
• pig liver soup

taipei tango festival 2010

this past weekend was the tango festival in taipei.  lots of dancing, and the two after parties went till 6am.  very fun.   there were also some things that quite enraged me, which i may elaborate at some point.