Tsong yo bing (green onion pancakes) at “The Old Place” restaurant with Teresa’s cousin, Tina. It’s things like this that I miss most about Taiwan.

When our Taiwanese cousins asked if we wanted to try spicy hot pot for dinner one night, my answer was predictable: yes, and when are we leaving?

I have a serious love for xiao long bao (pork broth dumplings), and Din Tai Fung is definitely one of the best places to get them. I’ve recently had a special opportunity – visiting the first and original Din Tai Fung location.

As if the mountains of street food and night markets were not enough, Taiwan is also home to many bakeries, cafes and other snack options. Here’s some favorites from my trip.

Finding ourselves one afternoon near the gigantic Tapei 101 building on our recent trip to Taiwan, we needed a satisfying lunch. I’d read about San Yuan online, and especially wanted to try their famed chocolate dumplings. So, off we went to the trendy and interesting ATT4FUN building across the street, where San Yuan is housed on an upper floor.

Taiwan loves to snack. From pastry shops to bubble tea to elaborate night markets, it’s always possible to eat in this country.

The night markets, in particular, are a sight to behold. Starting every evening and going until the wee hours of the morning, these bustling markets are home to what could well be the world’s greatest show of street food. The smell of stinky tofu and grilled meat wafts through the air as hundreds of people walk the streets, making purchases from the small vendors; shopping, laughing and eating lots of good food. 

It’s 5:00 AM and my body stubbornly refuses to sleep due to jet lag, so I couldn’t think of a better time to have a cup of tea and write about the amazing knives I bought in Japan.

As I’ve often said on this blog, I believe the knife to be the most important tool in the kitchen. Without a sharp knife, you are not going to make good food, not enjoy yourself, and likely hurt yourself as well. That being said, there are knives and then there are knives. It’s true that any halfway decent stick of metal, properly sharpened, can be enough to cook a decent meal (at least until it breaks or needs to be re-sharpened). You certainly don’t need to go to the other end of the earth to find the perfect knife. On the other hand, a great knife is a great investment, and doing exactly that (going around the world to find that perfect tool) is a fun and rewarding thing to do.