BASEMENT FOOD HAVEN IN TAIPEI 101

As mentioned in my most previous post, Din Tai Fung Taiwan, the basement in Taipe 101 holds an assortment of food and a supermarket to boot.  Needless to say, it was a natural decision for food loving people to proceed there.

L-R:  Beef, pork & chicken jerky; gourmet teas; prepared hocks, chicken & duck; mini pastries

Beard Papas!!!

Godiva chocolates, artisanal breads and a lot more!

Supermarket goodies!

Prepared sashimi & sushi, seafood, chocolates

Coffee making equipment, buns & pastries and more chocolates!

Visit Taipei 101, head for the basement food haven, try Din Tai Fung there so at least while waiting in line you’ll still be in a climate controlled environment, go shopping in the many retail shops and don’t forget to go to the observatory on the topmost floor.

DIN TAI FUNG TAIWAN

This is a much delayed and anticipated (?) post.  Din Tai Fung, a very popular dumpling place specializing in xiao long bao was visited December of 2011 to what else….have those dumplings infused with savory broth and to sample its other offerings.  Din Tai Fung’s branch at Taipei 101 was the place of choice as it is located a level up from a basement filled with an assortment of food items and a supermarket.

After food shopping at the basement, we headed for Din Tai Fung which had  a queue of people waiting to get in.  We weren’t surprised as this was expected in all branches even at an early time of 10am.

A welcome sight for those waiting…Operation dumpling! Dumpling makers dressed in white, masks, caps and gloves on looking like doctors in an operating room, rolling, pounding and filling those handmade wrappers.  All these happening in a glass enclosed preparation area. A public treat alright. Bottom right shows queue of people as early as 10am.

Menu. This is a one Michelin star restaurant.

TBW immediately liked the service.  Upon seeing our shopping bags, the lady attendant provided us with folding canvas containers similar to a clothes hamper, to put bags in.  And to complete the service experience, linen covers were placed on top for security and aesthetic purposes.

Great idea!

Dipping sauces made of ginger slivers & black vinegar waiting for the piece de resistance. We also ordered this appetizer dish which looks like a mould of hay, but can’t recall name as it’s been some time.  It is made of tofu and is a typical Taiwanese dish.

Finally….two baskets of xiao long bao plus an order of shrimp siomai.

And more….L-R: fried radish cake, shrimp & mushroom dumpling, vegetable dumpling, Din Tai Fung mascot. All yummy minus the mascot.

Queue of people still outside waiting to have happy faces & fulfilled stomachs like ours =)

TEPPANYAKI ENTERTAINMENT

Teppanyaki is a style of  Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food like beef, chicken, shrimp, fish, vegetables and anything and everything one wishes to be grilled.   The word teppanyaki is derived from teppan  which means iron plate, and yaki  which means grilled, broiled or pan-fried.

Most of teppanyaki restaurants have several teppanyaki grill stations surrounded by chairs.  A few are located in private dining rooms (if available) and most are on the main dining area.   Each station is  usually occupied by your own group especially if it is in a private dining room.  In the main dining area, a teppan grill may be shared by people who do not know each other especially if there are many customers to be accommodated.

In Taipei 101, we discovered an interesting teppanyaki place in the food court area.  Only one teppanyaki grill, U shaped is found.  Each of the 20+ chairs surrounding the grill are numbered.  Customers come in groups, pairs or  arrive alone and just take any empty seat available.  An overhead menu board and a menu card with all the food offerings are conveniently accessible to all.

Select from the menu and let the show begin.

Orders are placed.  Meat, seafood, vegetables are grilled using sea flakes salt and a special sauce. As customary, grilled food items are proportioned and served on individual plates although one has the option to have the entire piece on a serving plate.

Lights, camera action!

TBW was enthralled with the show’s performance and experience, observing the comings and goings of the crowd, amazed at the queue of people wanting a seat that photos of the final product (food) were not taken.  But believe me when I say, the food looked very appetizing and tasted so good that we ordered more.

There were 3 teppanyaki chefs to service the entire U shaped grill.  They work as a team.  When one chef was loaded with too many orders on his side, the other two would help him cook on their sides.  Having a good memory must be a requisite to work here as chefs have to remember and match ordered food with the seat assignments.

The chef assigned to our grill area did not mix up any orders, knew the menu inside out and spoke and understood a bit of English.  All that made our entire lunch experience from orders to check payment very pleasant.

Not only did our teppan chef cook excellently, he was very amiable and patient with us as well. Best performance by a Chef indeed =)

What a great way to spend lunch time!  No wonder it was (and continues to be) a box-office hit among the dining crowd.

CHRISTMAS IN TAIWAIN

Taipei to be exact.  Easy, tranquil, cold (at least for moi  with 10-12), surprisingly friendly populace, injected with the usual interesting sight seeing, shopping high mid and low, and glorious food.  A lot have been discovered about this place and these finds will surely turn up here.  In the meantime, here are a few family snap shots taken with ze Canon =)

Click on photo to enlarge

A truly Merry Christmas!