It’s Worth the Wait

Last night we finally ventured outside of our neighborhood, Tienmu. I’ll try and make a long story short, so here it goes – When we were in Phuket at Christmas there was a couple staying next to us at the resort. We started talking and he mentioned that he has spent a little time in Taipei, and had fond memories of one particular restaurant, Din Tai Fung. We hadn’t heard of it yet, but that was about to change. When we returned to Taipei and were talking with friends someone mentioned a restaurant that we really needed to visit, Din Tai Fung. Then a few days later in a completely separate conversation it came up again. At this point we decided we really needed to do something about this coincidence.

It’s worth the wait.  When we arrived we were table number 81 and they were just seating table 48.  Don’t worry though, it went fast.

Ordering is done outside while you wait. Luckily the menu is translated into English and has pictures to show each dish.

Last night we headed downtown with our friends Alli and Shawn to check out this restaurant that kept getting our attention. Our friends had been there before and told us that they serve simply the best dumplings around. OK, Taipei is full of dumpling shops. We can probably walk out of our house and find 10 different dumpling shops within a five-minute walk. You would think that a dumpling is a dumpling is a dumpling, but it’s not true. You can find hamburgers everywhere, but there are some places that just make a better burger. You can get pizza everywhere, but you probably have a favorite place.

The waiters and staff are well rehearsed on getting dumplings and other dishes to the FOUR floors of this restaurant.

At one time Din Tai Fung was listed by the New York Times as one of the 10 best restaurants of the world. They were right. As we sat around the table dissecting what makes their dumplings so good, we couldn’t put our finger on it. Maybe it was the perfectly rolled dough that wraps the dumpling, maybe it was the simplicity of each type of dumpling and maybe it was because the restaurant has an instruction card at each table on precisely how to eat a dumpling. Regardless, it was perfect and by far the best dumplings we’ve ever had.

How do you eat a dumpling? There’s a reason why you should follow this precise method.

Round one and two of the many rounds that night. This is their shrimp dumpling, but we also ordered vegetable dumplings, pork dumplings and crab dumplings.

I’ll be the first to admit that this does not look appetizing. This is one of their dessert dumplings. It’s a sesame dumpling and was much better than you’d think. Imagine warm, soft bread with a semi-sweetened peanut butter inside.

The heart and soul of Din Tai Fung. You have to walk through the kitchen on the way up to your table. They must make thousands and thousands of dumplings each day and all by hand.

Here’s a promise to everyone that comes to visit us while we are in Taipei, we will be talking you to Din Tai Fung.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Hello everyone!  Laura and I want to wish all of you a happy Valentine’s Day.

Bali Vacation

While Steve and the three kitties stayed home in the cold and rain, Shalini and I were off to Bali for four days. Our days were filled with lounging by the pool, reading books, walking on the beach, and napping during the afternoon rain. We did take some time out of our busy days to take a trip to the John Hardy jewelry factory. The showroom, which has $3000 water pictures and $2000 earrings, has bamboo floors and a thatched roof (needless to say, I went home empty-handed). Visitors are able to join the staff for a complimentary lunch and then tour the factory.

Outside the showroom

Entrance to the showroom

Inside showroom (Shalini is browsing in the center of the photo)

Another photo inside the showroom

Lunch table (notice the $$ pitcher in the center of the photo)

Offices at John Hardy

Musicians at the Oberoi Hotel

 

 

 

Melissa surprised me at breakfast at the Fullerton in Singapore

 

Xin Nian Kuai Le – Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone back home.  The year of the pig is ending and the year of the rat is just about upon us.  The lunar new year officially starts on Thursday, but the big celebrations and fireworks start tomorrow night.  They are really into the fireworks here so I’m sure the cats will be burying themselves deep into the sweater drawer tomorrow night.

Laura’s off to Bali and Singapore for the week so it’s just me and my new little friends.  Lucy has adjusted quite well considering that there were already two cats that felt like they owned the house already.  When Laura gets back from Bali I’m sure she’ll have some words and pictures to share.

LBC

There are many stray dogs and cats in Taiwan. Previously these animals were euthanized, which made only a small dent in the growing animal population. Now the policy of the animal organizations here is to catch-neuter-release—there are too many to place in homes.

We have been feeding several strays in the neighborhood and ended up getting very attached to one particularly friendly one. We decided to do our part to help control the population and brought “Little Black Cat” (as we called her) to the vet to be spayed. After daily visits to the vet’s office during her recuperation we realized we would not be able to put her back out on the street and decided to adopt Little Black Cat (renamed Lucy).

We really debated, as we didn’t want another cat and we don’t want to become the crazy cat people—thirty-something couple with three cats and no kids has a certain stigma. Even so, we decided to bring LBC home. You’ll notice in the pictures that one of her ears has been cut. The vet does that to strays to mark them as neutered. When we brought her in we hadn’t planned on adopting her, otherwise we wouldn’t have let them cut her ear. She also has a shaved belly from being spayed. We will update the pictures once she looks her best!

Little Black Cat when she was a stray. Now LBC is on the other side of the glass playing with Pixie and Millie.