Leaving Taipei today

So much for relaxing. Three full days of being in the hospital watching surgeries and seeing patients, going to the National Palace museum, shopping for ceramics at the old town in Yingge, seeing friends, family dinners, clubbing, drinking and shopping. I also got to see some good Taiwanese friends who have moved back to Taipei recently, Charles and Kathy who have a new three year old and Steve who is finishing up a PhD in Chemistry at Qinghua. Unfortunately they all tell me that I am getting fat. I figure I’m just making some extra reserves for the cold weather at Dartmouth. Haha

Keigo left this morning for Japan. I think he had a good time which is great. I also leave Taipei today for San Francisco. Four days and then I’m off to Africa.

Great Eats in Taipei

OLDIES BUT GOODIES
1) Din Tai Fung (Yung Kang Jie) – Go on 9-10am on Saturdays and Sundays for their famous “Tang Bao” Soup Dumplings. Some of the best dumplings you’ve ever had wrapped in a very thin dumpling skin, each filled with soup. The tang bao are gently placed in a broth based soup where they osmotically soak up more goodness before you finally finish them off.

2) No Name Beef Noodles (Heng Yang Rd/Tao Yuan Jie) – This place has no sign, no name, no menu, only the best Taiwanese beef noodles you’ve ever had. Just go there and ask for “hong shao niu rou mien” and you get a steaming bowl of hand pulled noodles in a spicy hot beef soup with generous pieces of beef and tendon cooked tender.

3) Fei Qian Wu (Zhong Shan Bei Rd Sec 1 181 Alley No. 13-2, closed Mondays) – If you like Unagi rice, this place is as good as any in Japan. Traditional Japanese style restaurant with wooden benches, fast service and excellent unagi rice. Great place for a quick dinner with friends or family.

4) Sheng Ji Dan Dan Noodles (Chang Chun road near the intersection with Dun Hua, go up Chang Chun on the Hong Kuo building side) – My favorite lunch place in Taipei. Tender dan dan noodles with a creamy spicy peanut sauce, a bowl of hong yiu chao shou (wontons in spicy red oil) and an Apple Sidra soda really hit the spot!

THE NEW STUFF
1) SuHang (Jin Nan Rd Sec 1 No. 2-1 2nd Fl, phone 0223963186) – One of the best Shanghainese style places I’ve been to. Excellent roast pork in steamed buns, shanghainese dumplings, rice with greens. Ask for the dou shu dish (I hear its their best).