OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES - could rival those of MRS. FIELDS - REALLY!!!
...last nite, David came home with a slice of a chocolate cake from IKARI Coffee - it was BLAH!!! - but what caugt my eyes was this saying printed on the BOX the cake was packed in...
okay, since we do not have a JUST DESSERTS here in Taipei, I have to get my HOLIDAY goodies fixes at STARBUCKS... and already to brighten up the cold days and ring in the HOLIDAYS - Starbucks is offering Toffe Nut Latter & Dark Cherry Mocha drinks.... both are YUMMY....
-this last trip in Manila, I made sure I came back to Taipei, FULLY STOCKED on my kind of COMFORT FOODS: 
FLAT TOPS
CHIPPY*PIATTOS*NOVA* BOY BAWANG
KRISPY SKREMES are here - just in time for HALLOWEEN '09!!!
Yep, everyone's tasty, sweet treat donut shop, Krispy Kreme, is wowing everyone once again with their Halloween Offerings: Aliens, Skulls, Spiderwebs, Pumpkin Heads, and lots more.... These are definitive treats for those trickster with really discriminating and ultra sweet taste buds...
"lu wei" (魯味) is a typical Taiwanese street food that has an assortment of vegetables and meat that are boiled and served with spices.
A casual nite out with Liya... we ventured out looking for something cheap and satisfying and of course, Taiwan has a great selection of street food... we opted for something filling, fast and a combo of many different things ... hence, Lu Wei, a smoregesboard of veggies and meat, thrown in together, and cooked in a nice broth... real COMFORT FOOD... in fairness, it is usually YUMMY but on this particular nite - Liya happened to pick a really bad resto... SAD SAD SAD... it was SOOOOO TASTELESS that no amount of spices added could save it!!! Oh Well!!!
...so the MOON FESTIVAL is upon us once again... and this means a few of my FAVE THINGS are back in season....
DRAGON EYES
POMELO 
ASSORTED MOONCAKES
...and a new FAVE, Haagen Dazs Moon Ice Cream Cakes
...then it must be time for GHOST MONTH once again!!!!
and it is... as according to the LUNAR CALENDAR, it runs from mid Aug thru Sept 4th...
the following HEAT BUSTERS!!!
Counter Clockwise from the Top: Halo-Halo, Mango Bing, 4 Treasure Ice, & Scoopery Ice Cream
The Annual Taiwan Culinary Exhibition celebrates it's 20th Anniversary with another lavish display of, mouth watering and feast to the eyes, culinary creations. Held once again at the Taipei World Trade Center (Hall 1) - it runs from the 20th thru the 23rd of this month, AUGUST.
In addition to promoting Taiwanese delicacies and cooking, the major function of this delicious event is to advance the development of local, tourism and cultural industries. Hoping that more foreign tourists will also be able to have a better understanding of Taiwan gourmet paradise.
We were BRAVE ENOUGH to join the masses of foodies all eager to SEE and hopefully, TASTE some of the Newest and Best Creations from both Local and International Chefs participating in the event. Some of the Highlights for marketchow and myself are:
-Debut of the TRI-MOUNTAIN NATIONAL CUISINE
-The World Culinary Contest
-Giant Grouper Gourmet
-Fine Dining Exhibit - Gold Medal Dishes
-The Suzhou Water Country Riverboat Banquet
-LOHAS Back-to-Basics Banquet
-Five Star Chefs’ Live Show - Cooking Classes
MORE DELICIOUS PHOTOS HERE
I know it as ATIS (Atemoya) growing up in the Philippines... it was one of the fruits, that I remember loving and craving all the rime - along with LANZONES & MANGO. I remember it being plentiful and very cheap when in season... and my MOM made sure to get them for me all the time....
Then I moved to the US where CHERIMOYA/ATEMOYA are not easily found... and when you do, they are rather costly... so it was always a TREAT to be able to ahve one now and again... Here, in Taiwan, I see them from time to time... also costly -- not as costly as the US but still on the expensive side...
So, if there is one thing really good about traveling back and forth to Manila lately, it is the chance to be able to eat all my fave fruits, to my heart's content!!!
According to cherimoya.com:
Cherimoya ( Annona cheirimola P. Mill. ) is an absolutely wonderful fruit which is becoming better known in the United States . It is now produced in limited amounts in Southern California . It is thought to be native to southern Ecuador and northern Peru , and is related to some fruits in the same genus which grow in more tropical areas. Cherimoya was probably taken to other parts of the world hundreds of years ago, so it is especially well known in Asia as well as throughout South and Central America . It is produced rustically in many parts of the world, but it is produced in commercial plantings only in semi-tropical areas of Spain , Chile , Peru , California , New Zealand , Australia , and Israel .
Some closely related species are produced in more tropical areas. Atemoya is an interspecies hybrid of cherimoya and sugar apple ( Annona squamosa ). The fruit has some qualities of cherimoya, and grows in hotter, more humid areas where cherimoya cannot be grown, in Florida , Hawaii , Australia , and Israel . Guanabana ( Annona muricata ) is grown throughout tropical South and Central America . It is larger than cherimoya, but has more fibrous flesh, and a very tart flavor. It is better suited to processing, especially into drinks, than to eating fresh. Paw paw ( Asimina triloba L.) is the only Annonaceae species native to North America, in valleys in the middle and eastern U.S.
- g
During the last trip to Manila, I finally got to see and hang out with my nephew Ace.... Besides David, I would say he is one that is soooo much into eating and trying anything and everything... so we make it a point to eat out at least once, each trip of mine... and try something new...
This time around, since we were already in Shangrila Mall-Edsa, running errands, we decided to check out Green Tomato... it is one of the newest eatery there that we both have not tried yet....
The decor is simple and pleasing enough... white and green... and the menu is, though nothing to brag about, still has a good selection.... The food was surprisingly tasty, I say this as the time we were there - lunchtime - we were the only ones eating there so we were afraid we had made the wrong choice... Still, we enjoyed it... not too pricey for a SHANGRILA restaurant, and the portions are large enough that we actually had leftovers....
More Photos Here
Wow, I cannot believe that i has been, basically, a year since we first visited Rose House @ the Miramar Mall in Taipei.
With a little time to spare the afternoon of the 27th, we decided to take the opportunity and revisit the place. You can say, David and I were both in the mood for WAFFLES - which is one of the place's specialty... besides the various exotic teas they serve, of course.
This time around, we opted to share an order of the regular waffle with Honey Syrup and something a bit different, Waffles with Chicken Salad Topping. It was different alright... so different that I reserve my rights to not have an opinion about it. HAHAHAHAHAHA......
The Herbal & Fruit tea we ordered were delicious as always... and the service, Impeccable. The staff were just as pleasant, friendly and accommodating as the first visit... and the place just as relaxing, albeit country style girly. LOLs....
It was DEFINITELY worth the second visit. Photos Here.
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LINKS to the First Visit @ Rose Tea July 1st, 2008:
-Photos
-Story
Marketchow's (David) new career digs is AHIMSA, restaurant part of the YOGA LIVING on Da-An Rd., in Taipei.
Ahimsa is SANSKRIT word that is a rule of conduct that bars the killing or injuring of living beings. And in this vegetarian kitchen, this is firmly observed with the focus on, not only healthy products used, but in making sure the Ahimsa practice is followed in its' meal offerings.
David heads the kitchen staff, and one of his main objective is to make sure that the ever changing menu - changed every two weeks - is followed at it's utmost in compliance to the Ahimsa practice and making sure that the finest & freshest ingredients are used for every meal served. He also have to entertain the clientele, making sure all is satisfactory to their liking and making sure they have a nice dining experience.
As an added bonus, David is able to cook now and again - filling in for the cooks... and taking care of Special party Reservations on weekends and/or evenings. You know this part he LOVES most!!!
Had the PLEASURE of visiting and checking out the place - and of course, snapping a few photos. SEE THEM HERE.
March 21st: Another get-together weekend with friends... this time around - we all decided to eat out - as everyone is way too busy for an in-house get together cooking session....
The Place of choice was GUSTO ITALIANO, an Italian restaurant tucked in the Nei Hu district... it is also the place of David's work - and one that we all have been wanting to try for quite a while now after seeing their website, menu, and numerous blogs by Marketchow fueled with beautiful photos of tasty offerings... and the place did not disappoint at all!!! From the clean, nicely lit surroundings, to the attentive staff -- the place is worth a try.
The Food totally lived up to marketchow's photographs and descriptions.... tasty, scrumptious, and what a great selection... for about NT$700 ($20US) per person - you will get an entree of your choice, soup and beverage plus your fill of all-you-can-eat SALAD, BREAD, and delicious desserts... 
Each of our entrees were deliciously prepared and nicely presented... the servings are just the right amount considering you are already getting full from the choices of breads to start with... not to mention the salad bar.. what a variety of fresh veggies to try as well as, some fully prepared starters as salmon, clams, bratwurst sausages, apple veggie salads, etc... I mean, the salad bar alone would have sufficed but one MUST have the entree for the complete dining experience.......
Of course, the best part for me is the all-you-can-eat Dessert offerings... the selection changes as each cake is gobbled up -- so how can I stop.... Bread Pudding, explosion of Chocolate cakes, fruity tarts, etc.... I think, even with the slices of each cake offered that nite, I was still able to eat half of the bread pudding laid out... I could LIVE on these sweets for sure!!!
The only thing sweeter, I must add, is the company of some really good friends... Juliana, Sue, Cecilia & David... till the next time guys.... am already salivating just thinking about it....
More Photos here.
Sunday, March 15th - I had the pleasure of sitting in on one of David's cooking classes... when I say cooking classes, I mean one that he was teaching... and when I say sit in, I mean recruited to take photos...
It was a bit nerve wracking for me going into it... not for me and my photo techniques, or lack of it -- more because I did not know how nervous David would be conducting the class... It was not his first mind you, actually his second one... after months of coaxing from his Boss, at the company he works for, he finally gave in and agreed to hold cooking classes... For this particular one, it was all about sauces, 4 of them actually: Ragu Alla Bolognese, Salsa Picante, Aceto Balsamico & Pannecata.
The class was for a couple of hours only but the amount of preparations needed took so much longer... unfortunately i could not help much as I really know nothing in the kitchen, and did not want to mess anything up.. or plainly just get in the way...So I sat around, observed and just did a bit of "this & that"... basically whatever am told.... After a couple of hours of slicing, dicing, chopping, peeling -- all ingredients were then place on their individual presentation tray... each grouped into which sauce they will be used for. Then it was more time to make sure that everything is clean and all set to go for the class...
At about 1:45PM, people started coming in -- all hyped up and ready to learn. About 8people turned up for the class -- which is a pretty good number already considering it was only advertised for a couple of weeks. 
The class actually went pretty well... am quite AMAZED and IMPRESSED at how at ease David was though the whole thing.... everything just flowed out naturally and smoothly... the cooking was impressive as well with no big mess or mishap... like he really has been doing it for years... and the people seemed to be actually both interested and entertained... so much so that one guy even commneted, while everyone loved the class, he loved Teacher David Best... LOLS!!! Everyone were also quite HAPPY with the finished sauces, as we all -- even me, got to try each and every one of them... and as an added bonus, all sorts of Bread were brought in from the bakery of David's company, Saveurs De France.
So overall, it was 5hours well spent being amazed with David's calling and learning a bit a long the way... Next Up: PIZZA MAKING CLASS, dough included....
FOR COMPLETE SAUCE CLASS PHOTOS CLICK HERE
& to learn more about David's Culinary World,Pls Click Here: Marketchow
Since moving to Taiwan, we have tried a few Mexican restaurants -- all of them ended up being disappointments... which baffles the heck out of me as most dishes uses the same ingredients for the most part... and are prepared pretty much the same... LOLS! The places we have been served either canned crap or what must have come out of those TV dinners just microwaved, then put on a plate... most has a very soggy texture from too much heating up... leaves so much to be desired... worse, totally leaves a BAD TASTE that I avoid Mexican food in Taiwan for the most part... that is until the other nite when Jason's (David's youngest nephew) food of choice was Mexican... driven by the cooking show we attended earlier in the afternoon at Eslite Cafe....
David happen to have seen this restaurant in back of the Chung Hsiao East Rd, AMIGO... hoping for the BEST but ready for the WORST - we were genuinely surprised and elated at what we had.... nevermind that the servings were not big enough... not like the ones you would normally get in the Mission District of San Francisco.. Ingredients were fresh, crispy, and prepared just right... and they were nicely served in dishes reminiscent of the ones I actually used in Mexico...
The DECOR gets an A plus from me as well... panchos & colorfully painted ceramics adorns the walls; colorful wooden chairs; a pair of Mexican's traditional costumes; and sombreros (hats) as lamps over tables.... and as an added bonus - ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ was playing when we first came in... I was truly WON OVER at the get go...
For the rest of the photos - PLS CLICK HERE.
