Originally, this day was suppose to be a self-tour for Taroko National Park 太魯閣國家公園. Our plan would require us to take the train to Hualien 花蓮 (and have railway lunch boxes 鐵路便當 on the train) then
pick up our rental car and drive approximately an hour to the
park. Of course, with lots of planned food stops in between, to and from...wahahaha!
Unfortunately, due to the unstable weather and road conditions in central-eastern Taiwan, our self-tour was called off. We ended up planning our tour locally. Our first stop was a popular XLB place near the MRT Wanfan Hospital Station 萬芳醫院站.
As we got off the train and walked across the street from the station, this street stall caught our attention. With mostly deep-fried sweets, Buddha Boy picked up an order of the only two savory items on the menu, the Green Onion Pancake 蔥油餅. Nothing memorable.
Yup, we could never go hungry in Taiwan...just look at all the hot and cold offerings at any of the 7-Eleven outlets.
With a hard-to-miss horizontal banner hanging out front stating "鼎泰豐實力, 路邊攤價格" (transalation: "Din Tai Fung quality, street stall prices"), we've arrived pretty much right when 福鼎湯包 (translation: Fu-Ding Soup Buns) opened for business.
Unfortunately, due to the unstable weather and road conditions in central-eastern Taiwan, our self-tour was called off. We ended up planning our tour locally. Our first stop was a popular XLB place near the MRT Wanfan Hospital Station 萬芳醫院站.
As we got off the train and walked across the street from the station, this street stall caught our attention. With mostly deep-fried sweets, Buddha Boy picked up an order of the only two savory items on the menu, the Green Onion Pancake 蔥油餅. Nothing memorable.
Yup, we could never go hungry in Taiwan...just look at all the hot and cold offerings at any of the 7-Eleven outlets.
On top of XLB, we also ordered a bowl of Hot & Sour Soup 酸辣湯 (top left), a bowl of Dry Noodles 乾拌麵, and five side dishes. The hot & sour soup had all the right ingredients AND it was served properly (unlike most North American restaurants...idiots) with vinegar and pepper served on the side, not in the soup. The bowl of dry noodles was absolutely delicious, and perhaps the best dry noodles 乾拌麵 (not to be confused with cold noodles 涼麵) that we've had during this 2012 Taiwan trip. This simple-looking bowl of al-dente noodles had green onions, shallots, preserved vegetable (冬菜), house sauce, and, most importantly, lard 豬油...yes...pork fat!!! What a yummy jewel!!!
Now to the buns. First steamer to arrive was the Luffa & Shrimp Soup Buns 絲瓜蝦仁湯包. This was delicious. The skin was tight and thin, but the top knot was a bit thick. The melon gave the overall package a refreshing fragrance. While the shrimp was not the greatest quality, it maintained its texture and taste. With so many XLB experiences, this place, so far, is sitting at the top of our list for luffa and shrimp combo.
Next was their "signature" buns, the Small Steamer Soup Buns 小籠湯包, aka XLB. Good ratio of juice from the bun, but the filling tasted funky...tasted off. The meat had no texture. Not recommended.
Gotta showcase our Vancouver-spirit somewhere! LOL! As what our friend on Facebook stated..."The new King Kong!" Wahahahaha!
Next was their "signature" buns, the Small Steamer Soup Buns 小籠湯包, aka XLB. Good ratio of juice from the bun, but the filling tasted funky...tasted off. The meat had no texture. Not recommended.
Must be wondering why we're at Taipei 101? Well, after taking the MRT all the way and got off at the Taipei Zoo Station 動物園站 (to transfer to Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車), we found out that the gondola was not in service...because it's a Monday!!! Stupid Buddha Girl...I should have checked online...grrr...idiot. So, since Octopus hasn't been back to Taiwan for 10+ years, we decided to do the very tourist thing, again...for the third time.
Gotta showcase our Vancouver-spirit somewhere! LOL! As what our friend on Facebook stated..."The new King Kong!" Wahahahaha!
After going up and down the tall tower, it's time for food again. The three of us decided to scout out the food court located at the basement of Taipei 101. Buddha Boy and I each ordered a set from the same stall. Other than the main dishes, all the sides were the same.
Of course, food from one stall could not satisfy my husband. Buddha Boy walked around and bought more food from MOS Burger.
Octopus picked up a set of classic Taiwanese eats. The combo was only $140TWD!!! That's less than $5CAD!!! CHEAP!!!
Hey...I see Roots!!! In Taipei 101!!! And yes, people in Taiwan go crazy with Roots...but people in Canada...well, let's just leave it at that...hahahaha!
We went home right after visiting the tower and its super-luxury shopping centre. As we walked by our neighborhood's Nakamura 中村烘焙廚房, the smell of fresh-out-of-the-oven sponge cake caught my senses! We were offered samples to try, and yes, that one little piece of sample was like a fish hook...
Since we're going on a road trip down south for three days, I suggested that we should take MomM out for dinner...even we've already ate so much food! I chose Tripod King 鼎王麻辣鍋, simply because I've been craving for their spicy hot pot!!! It's my favorite place for spicy hot pot!!! The spicier the better!!! Unfortunately, because MomM and Octopus couldn't handle too spicy, we went with mild...
