Top Tastes for 2008
An old friend- Kiki from JA, summarized her 2008 year of culinary moments and then tagged me in Facebook. I love her writing, and I agree completely with her world view of food- the way it catalyzes the creation of best and memorable moments, in the company of dear friends and family. Food can challenge, surprise, comfort and sustain. It's a common denominator and a universal language. In Taiwan, the concern that you have eaten recently and well, is the norm. My family uses food to express love and connectedness. I feel that interactions are heightened and intensified by food. I definitely used food as a study aid- initially as an incentive to practice my burgeoning language skills and then as a positive reinforcement reward for getting it correct. This shout out is a tribute to the cooks and eaters who rock my world. Thank you for all the fun and good times we shared this year!!! (Wildy- note well the exclamation points)
As many of my most memorable experiences this year were Asian, I plan on recreating some of these exotic dishes and new memories back home. For all of my friends and family, I wish love and laughter and good health in fabulous company, over tremendous meals, be they however humble or extraordinary! I look forward to continuing this grand odyssey we call life in 2009!!!
1. Atyal Aborigine restaurant in WuLai, Taiwan.
Always an adventure, Angie hiked me (and another friend Katy) up to a small hot spring village where Atyal aborigines served up an exotic meal of betel nut flower salad, rice cooked in bamboo- the flavors were delicately nutty with a smoky hint of charcoal, green stir-fried fern tips, clay pot mountain chicken with wedges and chunks of garlic/ginger in caramelized soy basil sauce, grilled boar with preserved garlic in vinegar. All the flavors were so deep and intensely amazing. Each dish had a unique taste with no repeats.
2. Tasty hand pulled noodles @ Home Town Dumplings, Central, Hong Kong.
Scott and Steven took me up the Mid-Level escalators in Central. They have the foodie enthusiasm of sharing "finds" and this one was truly a gem. The noodles were delicious with that perfect texture- tender yet firm and juicy mouthfuls! We also had succulent lamb dumplings in soup so piquantly spicy with vinegar & hot sauce, and crispy fried pot stickers that were so tasty yummerlicious that I almost burst. We talked real estate and finances as one does in Hong Kong, just such an interesting afternoon.
3. Hakka style farm food w/ Chih Fang and her family in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
My friend CF invited me south for the start of Chinese New Year. They have a farm out in Meinung (an area about 45 minutes outside of the city). I was welcomed as a member of the family and it was such an honour to be included in their celebrations and religious observances.
4. Taiwanese street food is what got me out talking to people. My weekly favorites included
-Jun Jiu Bai Xian Guo Lu Cha-Tapioca pearls in Green Tea with passion fruit juice (I had this almost every day!)
-Chou doufu- Stinky Tofu Such a binary selection food. Crisp deep fried tofu squares, creamy interior with pungent smell reminiscent of blue cheese and old sneakers- served with crunchy sour cabbage slaw. A real challenge but delicious Taiwanese soul food. When I professed my love of this tasty treat, Taiwanren would exclaim in amazement and delite.
-Wild Boar sausage wrapped in a rice dog/on a stick served spicy at your own risk. So gamy and densely meaty. How I lost weight eating these is still a mystery.
-"nutritious sandwich" (deep fried yummy goodness but hardly healthy),
Sabina hiked me up and down those hills. So I think I earned this calorie bomb.
-roasted sweet potatoes The kindly laoban who every day tried to give me more potatoes than I bought and let me practice my Chinese on her even when all I could do was point and say " Wo yao mai". She was one of the few people who fully realized the extent of my improvement, with all the credit going to her.
-Pink Guava w/ plum dust in Danshui Nitemarket
Wow just such a reminder of my childhood in JA, with an asian twist thrown in to improve the flavor.
-"Frogs' eggs" delicious tapioca pearls stewed in brown sugar, with milk and ice. So decadent that I only had it 5 times during my stay. That works out to about 1 per month.
5. Hong Kong Healthy Dessert Mango and Coconut with tapioca pearls
Found originally in 2006, I revisited ground zero for this concoction every time I made it to HK.
Over the holidays (much to Gwynie's amazement) I was able to navigate to this little snack bar within 30 minutes of arriving at our hotel! Just a fun time exploring HK with Gwynie.
6. Tea @ Muzha plantation w/ Gwynie.
An eyeopener for how great tea can really be, as well as keeping us up into the wee hours of the morning from all the caffeine. This was truly a special jaunt. So beautifully tranquil and heartwarming.
7. Xiao Long Bao@ Din Tai Feng followed by Mango dessert @IceMonster
Every tourist who visits Taiwan comes here for the double whammy. I was no exception, and brought all my friends here too.
9. Quesadillas & SuperTacos w/ Wilda on Sundays after squash
Settling back into a routine, playing squash with Wilda and Gwynie every Sunday, followed by our favorite hole-in-the-wall taqueria. Thanks for all the tacos and good conversation!
10. Dinner @ French Laundry
An amazing experience, made only more perfect by Obama winning that nite. I have such hopes for this country, such a feeling of optimism.