YumYum Finale

It has been quite awhile since my departure from Taiwan. I apologize for the sudden stoppage of posts, but with only one more week left in Taiwan, I really had to treasure every second I had. I continued to take pictures but there was no time for sitting down at the computer to blog. Yet, even now, 5 weeks later, it does not feel right to leave Yumyum without one last conclusive post, for all the dedicated readers, for myself, for all the unforgettable foods. This last post has about 28 pictures, so it will take awhile to load. Here it is, my last week of glorious grubbin' on the island of Formosa. Enjoy!


Here is an awesome chicken sandwich I had during one of my lunches at work. The composition of sauces and toppings was simple yet unique.


Came home late on night to find the usual fried foods stand already packing up for the night. Slightly flustered, I quickly gathered my senses and made my way to the nearest 711, where I gathered this team of snacks. Sarsaparilla, which tastes like a less sweet Dr. Pepper, seaweed chips, and a refreshing grass jello. Bomb.


Considering the extreme waves of crowds and heat, there's surprisingly very few places to sit down and rest with some AC and quiet in Taipei. This leads to crucial napping sessions such as this at Dunkin' Donuts of all places...


Daikon pancakes at a local tea shop where I frequented to play card.


Sweet potato fries with ketchup.


There are a few places in Taipei that provide afternoon tea buffets. You get there at around 1 and eat as long as you want. I went to one at the Hyatt. The foods were indeed snacks, very small portions and not too many choices. But EVERYTHING was exquisite beyond your imagination.


Fried noodles, little sandwich and sushi.


Dessert.


Pork dim sum dumplings and chicken feet. The two best dishes at the Hyatt. They look normal but are seriously enlightening.


Chefs constantly switched in fresh dishes.


Formosa Chang.


Some Mos Burger. Just because.


Lulu does not enjoy haircuts.


The famous Mango Ice at ________. (I already forgot...)


Really long potstickers.


Sigh..the memories.


Beef stir fry.


Best buds.


I am confident Diana hates Mr. Donut more than Lulu hates haircuts...


My survival tools in Taiwan.


The strangest but quite delicious sandwich, with fried dough filled with egg, tomato, ham and much mayo.


Taro and coffee slushies, hand crushed.


Where temple and night market combine.


The amazing night market at Chicken Cage.


The most refreshing mango salad served at a fancy Thai place by my aunt's office.


More ice dessert.


@ the airport before my departure. Good times..good times..

Cast Art

The sedatives must have still been lingering from the surgery because my uncle naively agreed to let me sign his cast...


Panda Picks Apple. Permanent Ink on Gauze, 6 x 15", 2008.

MOS BURGERS!!!!!!

Considering how much MOS BURGER I eat in Taiwan, I think it's time for post dedicated just to some Mos. Even though they are just burgers, for some reason I feel like it might be one of the things I miss the most once I go back to California. Maybe Mos for dinner tonight then?


Teriyaki Chicken Burger. I was thoroughly unimpressed with the dryness and lack of flavor but I've heard great things about it so maybe I just got a bad egg.


According to the elders, when I was 4 yrs old or so, I spent a summer in Taiwan and every day after day care, I HAD to eat Mos Burger Fries. That was back in the day, when there was only one Mos in all of Taiwan.


My favorite item on the menu. A fried shrimp burger with a lot of thinly chopped lettuce and some crazy sauce that tastes like thousand island/ tarter sauce/ mayo. Every burger is made to order so the shrimp is always still steaming hot when you break the fried exterior.


The classic Mos Burger. Love it too. The patty is very dense and flavorful. Fits nicely with a thick tomato slice and a chili-like sauce.


A potato patty. My dad loves this one but I am not too interested. I eat it sometimes just for kicks.


Witness the joy that MOS brings to children all over the world.

IRON BOARD COOK!

Hit up some teppanyaki this weekend with Diana. We went to one at the bottom floor of the huge shopping mall between Vieshow theatres and ESLITE. The seating was a bit cramped but the experience and food was great. Highly recommended for everyone. Now sit down and let's go teppanyakiiing!


Bean sprouts and chicken start getting some heat. Check out the pile of awesome garlic there. Wonderful.


The lamb gets tossed in the mix, as well as our green onion and pickle omelet.


WHOA!!!! Cover your eyes viewers. Don't want to get splashed with scalding oil! Teppanyaki sure is intense!


Our lamb and bean sprouts served and ready for consumption. Everyone had very strong flavor and depth though I never felt it was too oily. Mr. Omelet is still getting prepped up in the back. He is eager to get in on this action.


Garlic chicken and Mr. Omelet join the party. Time for another bowl of rice! (Why am I referring to the omelet as "Mr. Omelet" you ask? I do not know. Just go with it.)


It's times like these when I look around and realize how truly wonderful life can be.

Night Market Raid

This weekend my cousin took me out on another Taipei night market run, this time to Shipai and Shilin. I've been to these markets plenty of times this summer, but it's a different experience when you have some veterans in your company.


We arrive at Shipai with one goal in mind and nothing else.


The premier MEAT BUNS in Taipei, if not the WORLD! We hurriedly make the necessary payment. No time can be wasted.


These Bao Tz mean business. No inessential dough, amazingly crunchy cabbage for being inside a cooked bun, flavorful meat, and an extra thick fried dough at the bottom, just the way I dig it.


Fresh-squeezed watermelon juice to wash it all down.


With the primary objective accomplished, we hit up Shilin for some more goods. First, some cold noodles. Great stuff.


Fried tempura.


MORE fermented tofu.


"What Jordan? You STILL want to eat more!?!! Are you maaad...?"


"No..I just have an enviable superhuman appetite now get out of my way while I consume this delicious oyster omelete."


Some half sweetened green tea to finish what the watermelon juice started.


After shopping around the market for a bit we found our last destination for some ICE desserts to chill things out. Check out this peanut shaved ice. A peanut buttery liquid is frozen into cubes. The cube then goes through some intense shaving to somehow end up in this awesome formation. Tastes like cold peanut butter, that is really really gooood.


Sigh....I tried my best to fight it, but after some immoral cajoling by my cousin, I broke. Good news is that my skills still remain and I managed to keep things under control. Picked up this cutey with one coin. Respek.