I’m in Food Heaven

Location | 4th Floor of Grandma’s Building – Taichung, Taiwan

So… I’ve been overeating. A lot. Partially because all the food is so damn good here and also because I’m completely deprived of good Taiwanese food in the states.

The morning started out at 8am. I woke up, did some work (yes, I did check work email) and then I went downstairs to find that no one was home… oh…

My grandma came back and immediately took me to get breakfast. We went and got pork buns, fried oyster and leek pancakes, wonton soup and iced black tea. When I got back, I proceeded to eat 2 pork buns, 1 fried oyster and leek pancake, the whole bowl of wonton soup, the large iced black tea and a wax apple. Time to loosen my belt.

Pork Bun Vendor

Pork Bun Vendor

So I spent an hour listening to The Bowery Boys so I could digest. Then I went upstairs and decided to go through old photographs. I found a lot of my Grandfather’s side of the family. There were some great shots from the 1920’s up until the 1940’s. I’ll try to locate a scanner so that I can scan them all. They were mostly of my great Grandfather and various other people my grandmother wasn’t too sure about.

Drinking Friends

Drinking Friends

Then it was lunch time. My aunt brought over Peking duck, dumplings, vegetable buns, cold soy milk and bubble tea. My grandmother made steamed crab and shrimp. We also had some leftover pork buns and oyster and leek pancake. I can usually eat a whole Peking duck (I know, sick), but I could only eat 3 wraps. Hopefully I’ll save room next time.

Finishing up Lunch

Finishing up Lunch

My cousin also brought over his crazy dog. He was jumping around all over the place and licking everything. The poor thing got so excited we had to tie him to the staircase railing outside the apartment door. You could hear him crying from the dining table.

So we rested up after eating until 3:30ish when we went to my Aunt’s to switch cars and drive off to the mountains.

Mountains

Mountains

My cousin made reservations at this really nice restaurant in the outskirts of Taichung. We went a little early to take photos. The place really was quite beautiful. Set up to look a little Japanese (even though the food isn’t Japanese), there’s a reflection pool, shiny wooden floors and tatami.

Reflection Pool

Reflection Pool

There’s an outdoor bathroom and the funny thing is, the back wall is clear glass. It’s facing the edge of the mountain, so no one should be able to get back there to see, but it was still a little unnerving to go to the bathroom…

Would you use this bathroom? (Heh I did!)

Would you use this bathroom? (Heh I did!)

We took a lot of pictures outside.

Zhiyan is very tall compared to me...

Zhiyan is very tall compared to me...

We sat inside for a little bit before getting kicked out again because they had to set the tables.

Inside Looking Out

Inside Looking Out

The meal was 7-courses. You pick what your main meat dish is and the menu is set by the chef. I’ll post each dish below in pictures.

Table Setting

Table Setting

First Course: Salad w/ melon wrapped in proscuitto

First Course: Salad w/ melon wrapped in proscuitto

Second Course: Fresh Tofu

Second Course: Fresh Tofu

Third Course: Japanese Winter Gourd w/ Shrimp & Squid

Third Course: Japanese Winter Gourd w/ Shrimp & Squid

Fourth Course: Lamb w/ zucchini, squash, potato and kiwi

Fourth Course: Lamb w/ zucchini, squash, potato and kiwi

Fifth Course: Chicken Soup

Fifth Course: Chicken Soup

Sixth Course: Pasta w/ wild mushroom

Sixth Course: Pasta w/ wild mushroom

Seventh Course: Chestnut soup

Seventh Course: Sweet chestnut soup

Final: Tea

Final: Tea

We were so full after the meal that we had to walk around before finishing the “final drink.” We took some really cute pictures outside (even if it was dark) and then we wandered back inside to take some more photos.

Outdoors Looking In

Outdoors Looking In

Zen

Zen

This tea is very bitter...

This tea is very bitter...

After finishing we drove back to the main part of Taichung. First stopping for some taro desserts and also at a clinic (to grab some cough medicine for my aunt).

What a crazy and awesome day. Can’t wait for this to continue!

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Joannie

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10 2009

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