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TAIPEI 2016Spring Vol.03—Nanmen Market + CKS Memorial Hall: Central Taipei Food Adventure

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Post date:2016-08-23

Updates:2016-08-23

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Article _ Jin Kanglan
Photos _ Gao Zanxian
1_南門市場1樓販賣各項南北貨、年菜及臘肉火腿,每逢節日總是擠滿採買人潮。(高讚賢攝) .jpg
 
Food has become a most enticing alternative attraction in Taipei. The beauty of the visuals reaches the retina with stimulation of the appetite, followed by the taste buds. People lose themselves, immersed in the experience, intoxicated. This, it can be said, is among the ultimate of many of life’s little joys experienced by the people of Taipei. Numerous local delicacies have achieved an international reputation, such as xiaolongbao (小籠包), mango shaved ice, and beef noodles. Each serves as a marketing tool for Taiwan tourism. In the city’s Zhongzheng and Daan districts are many wellknown shops, attracting foreign travelers in a steady stream. Choose a day, head out with an empty stomach, and engage in a deep exploration of this area’s delicious foods.
 
3_「萬有全手工金華火腿」攤位上隻隻疊起的整條後腿肉,讓人看了口水直流。(高讚賢攝).jpg
Wanyouquan Hand-crafted Jinhua Hams is stacked with whole-leg hams, an image that makes people's mouth water.
 
Nanmen Market – Chinese Cuisine Treasure Vault
Sellers on the first floor of Nanmen Market (南門市場) offer regional specialty items, Chinese New Year foods, hams and other cured meats, and cooked foods. During Taiwan’s three big traditional festivals – Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival – a sea of people flows through, squeezed together tightly. The bright lighting augments the festive hubbub, allowing the foods sold here to seem like gold dust glowing in brilliance, making shoppers want to sweep up everything they see to take home.
 
Upon entering the market, my eyes were immediately drawn to Wanyouquan Hand-crafted Jinhua Hams (萬有全手工金華火腿), as this vendor’s counter is piled high with whole-leg hams. After a moment of marveling at the impressive sight, the inspiration came to buy one to take home to share with family. In Taiwan older folk has a special fondness for Jinhua hams, and each taste brings back a flood of food memories. After consideration, a chunk of Jinhua ham to use in soup was a fine choice, which adds great flavor to the stock. The vendor now offers vacuum-packing and home-delivery services, enabling foodies who formerly lived too far away to satisfy their craving. In the center of the market’s first floor is “Jerky Express” (快車肉乾). Seen from a distance, it looks like a colorful candy store. In actuality, these are Taiwan’s most traditional snack treats. The jerky is paper-thin, a mere 0.01 cm. So thin it is light permeable, as well as crispy and fragrant, with a sweet/savory flavor mix, but not greasy. It is one of the delectable items that foreign travelers use to verify the tastiness of Taiwan’s food.
Known near and far, Dalian Foods (大連食品行) is a treasure vault of regional specialty items and homestyle food treasures. We were greeted with a dazzling array of candied and preserved fruits on display, stopping us in our tracks. The warm-hearted owner incessantly plied shoppers with free samples, such as dried red guava, unsweetened dried Irwin mango, charbroiled dried pineapple, dried Dahu (大湖) strawberries and dried pomelo, and people are reluctant to move on. The proud owner stated that in addition to his normal practice of adjusting flavors to match patron preferences, as well as coming up with innovative new offerings, he now pays close attention to health and nutrition while inventing new products. This ensures that his customers enjoy both the taste of his products and peace of mind.
 
4_「大連食品行」是南北貨和家鄉料理的尋寶地。(高讚賢攝) .jpg
 Dalian Foods is a treasure trove of regional specialty items and home-style cuisine
 
At Yichang Yufang (億長御坊), recognized as the “World’s Best Vendor”, all dishes, no matter whether deepfried, stir-fried, stewed, steamed, or cold dressed, were often seen on the table in the homes of grandparents. Each contains nostalgia as a key ingredient, and is worth tasting. According to the owner, although everything is freshly cooked and can be eaten on the spot,many foreign travelers attracted to the stand by the aromas and take them back to hotel to enjoy.
 
CKS Memorial Hall Environs – Famed, Hidden-away Xiaolongbao Eateries
Exiting Nanmen Market and crossing Roosevelt Road will bring you to one of Taipei’s famed landmarks – the National Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall. Located in the heart of the city, the roof of the towering, stately structure is modeled after that of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and its structure after an Egyptian pyramid. On either side of the grounds in front of the hall are the National Theater (國家戲劇院) and National Concert Hal l (國家音樂廳), so lemn and majestic works of architecture in ancient Chinese-palace style. This is a must-visit destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
 
5_「億長御坊」有各式各樣的家常美味,被稱為天下第一攤。(高讚賢攝) .jpg
Yichang Yufang, recognized as the World’s Best Vendor, offers a myriad of home-style dishes.
 
The CKS Memorial Hall is not just a place to visit for its exceptional architecture. Nearby you’ll find exceptional culinary creations. Taiwan’s xiaolongbao enjoy unbounded international renown, and a weekday noon visit to Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) restaurant on Yongkang Street will g ive you a powerful demonstration of their tremendous popularity. However, it is not only Din Tai Fung’s xiaolongbao that are in hot demand. Hangzhou Xiaolongbao House (杭州小籠湯包), by the memorial hall on Hangzhou South Road, is another must-visit for travelers. Its xiaolongbao are filled with rich broth. Two other signature dishes, the goldenyellow crispy mixed vegetable and mean pot stickers and translucent, glistening shrimp shiaomai (燒賣), are also musttry dishes.
 
6_「杭州小籠湯包」的小籠湯包、三鮮鍋貼、蝦仁燒賣,是必點菜色。(高讚賢攝) .jpg
Hangzhou Xiaolongbao House’s xiaolongbao, mixed vegetable and meat pot stickers, and shrimp shiaomai are all must-order dishes.
 
In the grid of lanes and alleys near Hangzhou Xiaolongbao is another eatery with a stellar reputation, Shengyuan XiaoLongBao (盛園絲瓜小籠湯包), which Invariably brimming with diners. Friends that had come with me recommended the signature dish,xiaolongbao with Chinese squash. The tender emerald-green squash nicely complements the thin skin and tasty broth surges forth with each bite. Each mouthful demanded another – it is difficult to stop yourself from eating these delicious dumplings.
 
Transportation
Nanmen Market:
8, Sec. 1, Roosevelt Rd. (MRT CKS Memorial Hall Station, Exit 2, just outside the exit)
Hangzhou Xiaolongbao House:
17, Sec. 2, Hangzhou S. Rd. (MRT Dongmen Station, Exit 3, walk approximately 6 minutes)
Shengyuan XiaoLongBao:
1, Ln. 25, Sec. 2, Hangzhou S. Rd. (MRT Dongmen Station, Exit 3, walk approximately 6 minutes)
 

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