What's up with Taiwan - Part I

After a long hiatus from this blog, an update is warranted, but what's up with Taiwan ? After much seeing TV food programmes on Taiwan, we decided to make a trip to eat the various food in Taiwan.


Taipei 101 at night, somehow I feel Petronas Twin Tower looks more amazing with the lights.

But few hours before that, we transited at HKIA, took lunch and waited for the flight to Taiwan.


Shark fin porridge and 肠粉 in soy sauce, airport food isn't the greatest food out there.


Plenty of alcoholic beverages at HKIA apart from the long list of branded outlets.

Finally landed at Taiwan 桃园 International Airport, after an hour and half of flying time, headed to take a cab to the hotel.


Formosa, a name synonym to Taiwan since awhile ago. After about 45 minutes of cab ride, we finally reached our hotel, the Tango Nanshi hotel. Located at


Tango Nanshi in google map.

Tango Nanshi is located at 南京西路(Nan Jing West Road) about 30 metres from the entrance to the 中山(Zhong Shan) MRT station which will ease our traveling about. The weather is just nice, about 15 degrees celsius.


The Tango received quite some fair review on it.


Tango's theme is dark and gives out some artistic charm.


Zen like garden outside the window.


Junior King room, with a big bed and a flat screen TV and home theatre system.


Futuristic long bath with integrated flat screen TV and jacuzzi functions.

Feeling relieved that our hotel room is quite cosy and nice, we ventured out to the famous 士林(Shilin) night market for street food.


综合汤圆豆花(Tangyuan with Tauhua), (RM4), not too sweet but quite smooth.


Lady owner manning her stall selling 豆花(Tauhua), operating briskly.


Bunch of goodies with the dessert.

We walked on to try out other stuffs,


Lady owner selling 木瓜牛奶( Papaya milk ) Rm4 per drink.


Papaya and milk blended together, the taste is just what you expect from blending papaya and milk.


Food stacked up for sale.

We walked into another stall to try out Taiwan famous local dish 卤肉饭(Loh bak rice)


The "Loh bak rice" stall with lady owner running it. Most customers eat the "Loh bak" rice with other dishes, we just took the rice itself just to try it out.


Simple 卤肉饭(Loh Bak rice) , just RM2.

We continued to walk around the shilin night market, resembling our own pasar malam.


士林夜市(Shilin night market) quite crowded.


Wanted to try the 生煎包(fried bao) but was way too many people in the queue, it's holidays full of people.

We retired back to the hotel using the MRT. You can get a MRT card 悠遊卡 for just about RM50, a trip to a nearby station is about RM2-3 depending on location.

More to come...

What's up with Taiwan - Part IV

One of the famous shopping mall in Taipei is the A9 section which houses quite a few fine dining areas. One of the most exclusives are located here. I guess the place is kinda new.


Are those balloons ? I dunno, but it looked kinda nice.


A quartet playing christmas songs.

We came across this bakery or hair salon ? It's bakery but a very high end one. Started by Joel Robuchon, michelin star chef, the joint serves pastry and afternoon tea or coffee.


Overlooking the chefs working.


Located inside Bellavita, the newest and luxurious shopping mall in Taipei.


main facade of Salon de Joel Robuchon with each container with Macaron.


Floor directory of Bellavita. Salon de the Joel Robuchon serves afternoon tea and pastries, fifth floor L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon serves course meals.


At the entrance of the famous restaurant.

After contemplating for a while, we decided to give this joint a try, it's hard to get a michelin star chef restaurant around locally, we risked our pockets for a try. The theme of the restaurant is black and red. So everything is either red or black.


Le Cafe (NT180), RM 19.80


Thes fins et infusions, I think it's Earl Grey was it ? ( NT250 , RM27.50)


Tea that came with a heavy and funky tea pot, nice.


Banana peach tart (NT160) , RM17.60



Very tasty chocolate mousse, rich with flavour, such a delight.



I forgot what's this ... hmm ...


Simple croissant, crispy and fresh.


I also forgotten this pie.


Bouquet of roses with unique teapot.


Yummy chocholate mousse and tart half done.


List of pastries available, lots to choose from.

Overall the pastry is good, however with the pricey pastry I wish the pastries are more top notch. I find the pastries just mediocre given the high price of it. Anyway, it's an experience too to eat in such a high end restaurant( on my standards ). After the food, we ventured to Taipei 101 and decided not to go up to the top. Given the hazy or misty weather, I think it's better to 'invest' the money elsewhere.


Taipei 101 building, nice pillars and architecture.


Another view of the Taipei 101.


Some high end performance cars on display.


Maserati, Ferari and etc...


What model is this ? Must be Ferari, the traditional red colour.


Prancing horse, I wonder how it will fare in 2010 Formula 1

On the next day, we decided to walk around and see the neighbourhood of our hotel.


Back alley with scooters.


Another eatery place that is full and once has to wait quite a while.


Nice front facade.

Well, a visit to Taiwan has to be completed with a visit to Ximending(西门町) for the shopping experience, since both of us are not hard core shopping creatures, we just walked around, food is more tempting ...


Hawker food of noodles with meatballs.


Looks the same but taste different.


The usual (lor bak rice), quite tasty.


The egg with taufu, not bad but the taufu egg is served cold, I like it warm or heated.


Live performance by a handicap person.


Crowd gathering at Ximending.

Didn't do much of shopping in Ximending, probably we didn't have any plans to buy anything. Maybe next time.