Detox week

If I am only allowed to describe Taiwan with one word, that word would be food.  While we have some historic sites to visit, a lot of Chinese artifacts and art at the National Palace Museum, food is definitely the main attraction in Taiwan.  There is so much food that travelers visiting Taiwan don't even know where to start.  I'm not just talking about any kind of food either.  We specialize in xiaochi, which are snack foods.  They can be served on the streets, at the night markets, or at xiaochi restaurants.  In fact, most restaurants here are small, and do not serve more than 10 dishes, except for fancy places like Ding Tai Fung.  A lot of people graze all day (or all night), visiting different food stands with their specialties.

There are a view traditional xiaochi that one must try when coming here, such as the oyster omelette and the beef noodle soup.  Since Shag was in Taipei for work and getting bored of the city, I told him to come with me to Taichung to visit my cousin Jessica.  Jessica just had a son last year and is taking some time off from work to spend time with her son, Xuan Xuan.  I also welcomed the company of another traveler, and I think Shag felt the same.  He is staying at the Hyatt downtown, and you can tell that he is ready to go back to Boston.  I don't blame him, his wife is waiting for him!

Jessica picked us up at the high-speed rail station, which has new trains that travel as fast as 300 km/hr (186 mph)!    Damn!  Traveling from Boston to NYC would take about an hour - I wish that the Acela would be faster and less expensive so that I don't have to fly or take the bus.  The train ticket was about $40 round trip, super affordable.

We went further south on the car to Lugang, a gorgeous historic harbor city.  Apparently Lugang was one of the larger trading cities back in the days, but slowly fell behind the other two larger cities Taipei and Tainan.  Becuase of this, the city was able to preserve a lot of the historic buildings, making it a charming tourist attraction.  The old streets are filled with xiaochi, and I was ready to expand Shag's culinary tastes. 

Aside from beef noodle soup, pretty much our national food, the one thing EVERYONE should try at least once is the stinky tofu. 

It smells like garbage, said Shag.
I know it does, but I guarantee you that it's good!  I said.

After you smell and try it a few times, you really do get used to the garbage smell.  I barely notice it, but Shag points it out every time we pass by a tofu stand.  After passing by the n-th tofu stand and trying to convince Shag to try them, I finally told him that all he has to do is have ONE bite and my cousin and I will take care of the rest.  He finally agreed to take the risk and try it.

I wish I could share the expression he gave me when he took that first and only bite off the tofu.  He did give me his camera, so I took a few shots with his SLR.  It was priceless.  A bunched up face, as if he was eating garbage.
 
It's like blue cheese - an aquired taste.  I assured him that he was going to be fine.  And my cousin and I  scarved down the rest of the tofu.  Yum!

We did try a few other snacks, such as grilled squid, pork buns, beef tongue cake (a sweet cake in the shape of a tongue), and fried mochi (really really good).  I also had Shag try the pig blood cake, which is a savory snack that is a mixture of rice cake and pigs blood.  Once I told him what it was, he didn't try another one :(  Again, my cousin and I cleared the plate of snacks. 

Surprisingly, one of the new fads in Taiwan is what they call the Irish cold brew coffee.  I had never seen it before, and it also cost a lot more money ($2 for a small cup).  Shag and I shared a cup and was instantly sold.  It is apparently less acidic and the flavor is amazing!  The only downside of it is that it takes a long time to brew this type of coffee. 

Despite of all the snacks I'm having, I still feel like I am having a detox week in Taiwan.  When I was in China, I had major breakouts on my face (which never happens).  After I spent a few nights with my dad and eating only boiled veggies (he is on a health diet), I felt much better.  I have been eating a lot of crap in Taiwan since then, but I still feel much better.  I can't wait to eat more delicious food back in the states.

Do I sound like I'm ready to come back?
I think I am.

Are you guys ready for me ;)