Stinky Tofu

Whenever my family ate at a Taiwanese restaurant, my brother and I would be repulsed by the smell of one particular dish my parents ordered: stinky tofu. 

It is deep fried tofu with sweet-and-sour pickled cabbage that is commonly sold from carts at Taiwanese night markets. There is a distinct odor from a distance that kind of smells like rotten garbage, hence the name stinky tofu, and it is said that the more it smells, the better the flavor.

This was one of those instances where I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something I thought I didn't like. While wandering around Ximending, a popular shopping district for young people in Taipei, my friends wanted to eat stinky tofu. I felt peer pressured to try it despite the unpleasant smell. 

But much to my surprise, the taste was enjoyable! I bit into the crispy outside of the tofu and met with the soft, hot inside. It was so yummy paired with the drizzled Mala sauce and picked vegetables. I found myself trying to eat more from the portion that we were sharing. 

So the lesson here (again) is to not be afraid to try something new. I grew up around great Asian cuisine that I wasn't willing to try. Now that I'm older, I have begun to appreciate these unusual, tasty dishes. They are popular in Asian culture for a reason! 

Hong Kong BBQ

You know how you try something when you're younger and hate it, only to try it again when you're older and love it? Well that was me with Hong Kong style barbecue pork - char siu. It means "fork-roast" and is skewered on long forks after marinating in honey, soy sauce, and other seasonings.

Whenever my family ate at our favorite dim sum restaurant, I didn't understand why they ordered char siu bao, the buns with the strange dark red meat inside. The flavors were just too powerful for me and I didn't touch that dish for years. However, when I visited some relatives in Hong Kong this past winter, they insisted I eat authentic Hong Kong style BBQ. Thus, I realized that my taste buds had changed.

Sweet and salty pieces of tender boneless pork that's so easy to chew created a party in my mouth. Of course, rice between bites balanced the distinct BBQ flavors. I could not get enough! Not only was there pork, but the restaurant we went to allows customers to pick two types of meat for your bowl, and so I also chose roasted duck. Though the duck was not as sweet as the pork, the crispy skin made a nice contrast to the soft meat.

I encourage everyone to re-try something you've avoided before. With wiser taste buds, who knows what deliciousness you've been missing out on!

French Food Culture

Going to France for three weeks was an unforgettable trip where I tried and learned many new things along the way. I believe experiencing unfamiliar cultures can be interesting and eye opening. In terms of food, I noticed numerous differences compared to what I am used to, a.k.a the American way. The French food culture, wine and all, was a bit overwhelming, but I still had an awesome time. Though you may not agree with every point, here is what I noted:

1. Escargot (snails) is delicious with pesto sauce

2. Long lunch breaks are the norm in order to socialize
3. People especially enjoy eating outside
4. Macarons are all the rage

5. Cafes and bakeries are very prevalent, unlike in the US where we have fast food restaurants everywhere. Deserts and pastries are always beautifully displayed

6. The French care about fresh bread made daily and eat baguettes with almost every meal
7. Crepes (savory ones) are typically served with cider

8. While Americans stress that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, a French breakfast is usually just a croissant and coffee
9. When buying artisan chocolates (I went to Pillon and Michel Belin), they let you take a free piece to taste-test. A wide variety of flavors is used, such as hints of pepper, violet, licorice, praline, ginger and lime…

10. The head of the dinner table must say “Bon appetite!” before everyone can start eating