Tasting Journey #62 - Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro

Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro (溫德德是烘培餐廳)
台北市內湖區瑞光路513巷22號11弄
02.8751.3708
http://www.wendels-bakery.com/index.asp

Interesting cafe-style restaurant, all self-served.
In a setting similar to the public market at Granville Island, you pretty much walk in, find a table, put your stuff down, then head up to the food section to place your order. You pay, they hand you a number, and you head back to your table. They will come and bring your food. Utensils are self-served, and so is cleaning-up afterwards. 

Food is pretty good, though I was a bit confused whether this is German or Greek. They also served flammkuchen (German style pizza) with Greek ingredients such as feta and olive.  Still good though.

 

Tasting Journey #61 - 永和豆漿 (大安店)

永和豆漿 (大安店)
台北市復興南路二段102號
(near 大安MRT station)

Apparently it is a popular hang out place for a post-clubbing meal.
It offers the very traditional breakfast dishes such as soy bean milk, 燒餅油條, 蛋餅, 飯糰...etc.
I was quite surprised with the different iterations available such as adding an egg into your 燒餅 or adding 飯糰 into your 燒餅... all seemed quite odd to me as why would you want to combine different dishes together. I didn't dare try, but hey, there's gotta be demand for it to stay on the menu right?

I tried the steamed dumplings, salty soy bean milk and the basic 燒餅油條.
Remind me never to order savoury soy bean milk anymore. Reason #1 - it is not aesthetically pleasing at all. It looked like it was regurgitated from somewhere.. you know what I mean. Reason #2, soy bean to me is more like a drink, something that can compliment the dryness of the 燒餅.  This savoury version had lots of ingredients in it, such as pickled radish and dried shrimp...etc. It tasted more like soup, and is served hot. You can gulp it down as you choke on the dryness of your 燒餅.

Steamed dumplings ain't that spectacular either, and not worth mentioning at all.

Would I go back? Maybe not, but wouldn't be reluctant to eat it if I happen to be in the area and hungry as well.

Tasting Journey #60 - Ice Monster

Ice Monster
台北市忠孝東路四段297號
02.8771.3263
http://www.ice-monster.com/

Unlike traditional shaved ice, this place serves snow flake ice.
Traditional shaved ice is like slurpee where the ice is finely chopped into sizes of grains.
Snow flake ice is where the flavour itself is already part of the ice (i.e. they freeze the juice directly into ice blocks).  In addition, it is so finely chopped that it is soft like snow flakes - melts in your mouth.

This place is known for its mango flavoured ice and its bubble tea flavoured ice.
Mango ice is tremendous and awesome. Bubble tea ice is interesting, but if you're not used to drinking bubble tea at full sweetness, this dessert does become too much after a few bite, especially when the portions are huge.

Price-wise, we are looking at $240+/dish.  I recommend sharing one dish with another friend.

 

  

 

Tasting Journey #59 - 金雞園

金雞園
台北市大安區永康街28-1號
02.2341-6980

Located at the end of the infamous 永康街, this area is filled with nothing but restaurants that are filled with guests.  金雞園 was recommended by my food addict colleague. Unlike Ding Tai Feng, a world renown chain store for 小籠包 (steamed dumplings) for tourists, this place is the equivalent of Ding Tai Feng for locals.
Less all the luxurious interior decoration and the fancy wait-list SOP, the dumplings here are heaven and half the price.  Having tried Ding Tai Feng 3 times already, I have to say that I honestly prefer 金雞園 much more.  At Ding Tai Feng, the dumplings consists of meat broth that oozes and burns your lip when you bite into it; The dumplings here doesn't have as much broth but the meat is still juicy. Frankly speaking, I find the Ding Tai Feng broth quite greasy and a bit too much after having a few dumplings. Therefore, less juice is preferred for me.  In addition, the skin at 金雞園 is much thinner, and much preferred. What's even better, an entire meal will cost you next to nothing.
Make sure you make reservation or go early to get a seat.

 

 

Tasting Journey #58 - 韓國館

韓國館

台北市信義區基隆路一段380巷6號 
02.2723.3302

Was looking for a team lunch in celebration of colleague's birthday, as well as to welcome 2 new members to the TPE LLO office.
The place had to be somewhere close by, and I came across this place on ipeen.com.tw
It was ranked 5 out of 6 stars.  Also recommended by 食尚玩家, a popular TV show that goes around trying out food.
We arrived at noon, and it was still empty. I thought maybe because the restaurant is located in an alley, and there just aren't too much traffic. However, within 10min, the restaurant became jam packed.
Food was tasty, service was efficient. Price is also reasonable. It also offers a set lunch menu for people that work nearby.  I'd definitely go back again.
Seafood pancake was well stir-fried - crispy on the outside. Quite different than the Korean food that I'm used to in Vancouver. This version looked and tasted more like Taiwan-style green onion pancake. Still delicious, but without the abundance of seafood in the pancake.
Side-dishes can be refilled free of charge.
Meat dishes are also very tender and well marinated. Server will cook the meats for you.

 

Tasting Journey #57 - 作田居酒屋

作田居酒屋
台北市大安區敦化南路一段160巷12號
02.8771.8006


My favourite izakaya in Taipei.  The restaurant, well, not really a restaurant but more like a corner eatery, is all made of wooden interior. Great atmosphere.
Their home-made plum wine is amazing.
Favourite dish: grilled chicken wing stuffed with mentaiko, pickled bitter melon, tomato wrapped with bacon, grilled mochi...etc.

Everything is so perfectly grilled and juicy.
Price-wise, you're looking at $1,000/person.

 

 

Tasting Journey #56 - Dazzling Cafe

Dazzling Cafe
忠孝東路四段205巷7弄3號 (various locations)
02.8773.9238
http://www.dazzlingdazzling.com/location.php


The infamous honey toast, 蜜糖吐司. It comes with many different selections; ones that are topped with fresh fruit, others that are topped with ice-cream, or even ones that are sprinkled with chocolate sauce.
I had strawberry fresh fruit before, and it was tasty.  The photo below is the classic/original.
The toast is toasted to a crispy texture then smothered with a very rich creme and finally topped off with sprinkled sugar.
One portion is too big for one person. Perfect for sharing amongst 3-4 people as it can become quite rich quickly.  Preferably complimented by black coffee to balance out the sweetness. Quality quality is so-so.