For a foreign national, learning Taiwanese cooking turned out to be not just a culinary adventure, but a life lesson. Photos by Jules Quartly It used to be that if foreigners could pronounce the intended destination with approximate similitude, the cab driver would in wonderment compliment them on their “excellent” Chinese. I get much the…
East Asia is increasingly caught up in a love affair with Taiwan’s signature pastry. Tucked away on a luxuriant side street in Taipei’s tony Minsheng Community neighborhood is an unassuming and quiet café. While sparsely furnished, the café exudes a gentle warmth, its caramel wood walls bathed in the halcyon glow of halogen track lighting….
Taiwan is gradually developing a wine culture with the help of those returning after studying or working abroad. As Taiwan’s wine market continues its growth, sophisticated wine enthusiasts are increasingly seeking out a wider variety of wines that offering more than just brand prestige. Taiwan’s wine market has come a long way since the mid-1990s…
Taipei’s Top hotels are rolling out elaborate all-you-can eat buffet spreads to the delight of diners. Photos By Matt Fulco Chef Bernard Noel loses track of time when he enthuses about the quality of the Regent Taipei’s Brasserie buffet restaurant, especially the seafood. “It’s always the catch of the day,” says the native of Alsace,…
Almost all of the beancurd and soy milk consumed in Taiwan is made from soybeans imported from the United States. Photos by Rich J Matheson Few comestibles are more Taiwanese than tofu, soy sauce, and soymilk. All three are made from soy, a legume first cultivated in Northeast Asia at least 2,700 years ago. Directly…
Treat yourself to a walking – and eating – tour through one of Taipei’s oldest districts. Photos by CHRIS STOWERS In one Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods – the Wanhua district in the southwestern portion of the city – one can experience foods, drinks, and aromas that reflect both traditional and modern Taipei. The area, formerly known…
Dedicated owners from around the world opening restaurants in Hualien are enlivening the culinary scene in this east coast city. Hualien is justly famous for the glories of Taroko Gorge and the magnificence of the coast that looks across the Pacific Ocean, attractions that bring tourists here from all over Taiwan and overseas. It is…
Long-time Topics contributor, Lonely Planet writer, and all-around travel geek Joshua Samuel Brown returns from a trip to Yilan with four food-themed vignettes. Yuanshan Township: Taiwan’s Best Chicken Vegetarians can’t comprehend the visceral, savage joy of ripping apart a roasted bird with their bare hands, and this is one of several reasons they (and their…
Perhaps influenced by the popularity of cooking and culinary reality TV shows, Taipei’s dining scene has been becoming more diversified in recent years. From gourmet Taiwanese cuisine, trendy Peruvian restaurants, to health-conscious vegetarian and vegan cafés, these new restaurants will surely provide something for everyone. By Anita Chen Mountain and Sea House 山海樓 No….
The Taiwanese have become major consumers, especially of higher-end varieties, and the island is now home to two distilleries. By Scott Weaver Taiwan’s growing taste for fine malt whiskies is creating a period of significant change in the market. In the past, night clubs and KTVs were the key channels for consumption of the…
