December 23, 2011

  • Taiwan 2011

     

    Standing outside a friend's restaurant under a gray sky and feeling the light brush of the drizzling rain upon my face and exposed hands, I couldn't help but remember and enjoy how beautiful Taiwan is.  I have always been partial to gray skies and rainy weather - and the gentle almost mist-like rain is almost like a breath upon the skin - so close and unassuming.  But minutes ago, I walked out from 大直捷運站, wandered mapless in approximately the direction I remembered from Google Maps, and wandered through sparsely populated streets lined by endless mopeds on every side.

    The sound of construction near and far was almost like white noise - a fitting soundtrack for the gray day - and yet oddly comforting.

    Standing outside Season Cuisine Patissiartism, I saw the host make his way out of the shop an into the rain to ask me whether I wanted to come inside.  I shook my head, instead wanting to simply enjoy the rain.  Too often, I hustle and bustle my way to and from work, too seldom really drinking in the atmosphere.  Today was an exception, breathing in the air, the faint scent of dust and exhaust - but just so faint.  Taipei is a far cleaner city to breathe in than say, Beijing.

    After about 10 minutes of just absorbing the scene, looking and reading the various signs, and wondering what each design element was derived from, I finally made my way in.  They told me that my lunch date/dining partner would be slightly late.

    They served me bread, warm water and a sweet amuse bouche that was both refreshing and inviting.  A small shot glass filled with a lavender-pink blended liquid, slightly sweet and a little tart.  Finally, my friend arrived, and then came the vinaigrette drizzled salad, mushroom bisque, his pork and my lamb - delicately seasoned, but with the slightly sugary undertone that so pleases the Taiwanese palate.  The concluding dessert tofu/Lychee dish was fantastic.

    The venue itself is filled with clean, open lines in the decor and furnishings, dominated by slightly grayish whites, creams, and lightly stained woods.  A well lit, open entrance, with large windows gives the whole scene a sense of spaciousness that exceeds the space that it actually occupies.  Hand written chalk boards identify specials and highlights to menu, and the actual single sheet paper list of foods is printed on heavy paper lightly dusted with silvery, glittering accents.  

    The general style is French-ish.  I understand that the head chef spent time at Robuchon's, and the base cuisine is probably from that tradition - but the actual flavors, reasonably delicate and lightly spiced/seasoned plays well with the local sensibilities and the general aversion to drowning the primary material with any manner of condiment or  marinade - that's a sensibility I applaud.

    Catching up with my friend over such meal was quite pleasant - to be topped off by an Espresso Doppio.  

    A little out of the way in Dazhi, Season's fresh raw materials shine in the hands of the executive chef.  Like the decor, the ethos of the food invites, rather than commands - it's welcoming, self-assured yet whimsical.

    Definitely worth a try.

     

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    W - Kitchen - Taipei

    すごい！確かに、太てになるよ！

    The Taiwanese Beef Noodle and this that I had in the W was... excessive, but very tasty.

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    I've always had interesting conversations with people in the limo.  The driver was sharing about the perils of too much private ownership and the relative advantages of a command economy. Interestingly, I had a similar conversation with a young entrepreneur the day before.  I wonder where these thought paths are coming from?

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    God is good.  I'm so very very thankful for my time in Taipei.  I've never lived here, nor do I have any family here - and yet this is one of the cities in which I feel most at home - perhaps moreso than even Hong Kong.  Hong Kong is familiar, but Taipei is comforting.

    Just walking around and watching the people move about at their own pace, with their own stories - the sound of the mandarin spoken - the smattering of 台語，and tourists chatting in Japanese, Korean and northern-accented Mandarin...  It's so familiar and comfortable.

    In 1999, I had such a blessed time, sharing, living and growing in the conversations I had in Taipei.  This short trip was no different.  God is Good.

    :)

    I'm seeing my parents and brother tonight/tomorrow in HK.  It'll be awesome - but I might just miss Taipei a bit more than a bit.

    Dear God,

      謝謝你給我這個機會回到台北。遇到老朋友，跟他們聊天，真的感覺到你的存在。你真的對我太好，孩子不配。謝謝你給我們你的寶血，你的兒子。你就是我的救主。感謝您。

    阿門。