tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27839951088541227602024-03-13T13:46:37.576-07:00Not Only Meatless MondayHelping visitors to Taiwan find the healthiest food islandwideMark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-73304184926452443902012-06-22T23:55:00.001-07:002012-06-25T08:32:59.075-07:00Restaurant Review -- Dragon Boat zongzi (Shimen)Dragon Boat Festival starts tomorrow, and with it (or indeed before), starts the mass consumption of <i>zongzi</i> (粽子; sticky-rice tamales).<br />
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Also traditional around this time are health warnings from government health departments against over-indulgence in these high-calorie, fat-and-salt laden items.<br />
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Finding non-meat versions can be quite tricky (though many vegetarian restaurants produce them at this time of year). The most famous <i>zongzi</i> manufacturer in northern Taiwan, the Liu Family (劉家) in Shimen District (石門) of New Taipei City, for example, has no meat-free <i>zongzi</i> despite producing around a dozen different flavours.<br />
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One hundred meters past Liu's there is a vegetarian outlet, however, which has been in operation for more than two decades.Previously NT$20 for each bamboo-leaf-wrapped snack, the price had risen to NT$25 by NOMM's visit last week.<br />
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To NOMM's taste, they are not that exciting (<i>zongzi</i> are judged by the quality of their fillings), but at least vegetarians can join in the culinary part of this weekend's activities.<br />
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Text copyright Jiyue Publications 2012<br />
<br />Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-87609075520526965232012-06-17T23:49:00.001-07:002012-06-17T23:55:21.440-07:00Restaurant Review -- Buxiban zone (part II)Following last week's review, Shad reports that there are a number of cheap vegetarian eats at No. 72, Zhongxiao West Road Sec. 1. And she is correct.<br />
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There are four restaurants on this single block: two selling a variety of dumplings, one selling rice, noodle and soup dishes, and one with a vegetarian buffet.<br />
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NOMM chose this last one, and enjoyed a nice meal even though it was almost closing time. NT$75 bought a mixed plate of vegetables and the house-special of "lion head" (獅子頭; a kind of meatball), with a bowl of rice and bottomless soup.<br />
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Text and photos copyright Jiyue Publications<br />
(apologies, Blogspot is still not uploading photos)Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-62141023716284593072012-06-07T02:10:00.002-07:002012-06-07T02:11:04.447-07:00News Brief -- Disney bans junk food except in its parks<br />
<span lang="EN-US">Walt Disney Co, said Tuesday it would ban junk-food
advertising on its TV channels and Web sites from 2015 to help fight obesity
among US children, Taipei Times reports today, c/o AFP (full article here).</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">“The nutrition guidelines are aligned to federal standards,
promote fruit and vegetable consumption, and call for limiting calories and reducing
saturated fat, sodium and sugar,” it said.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Disney also said it would roll out a “Mickey Check”
check-mark icon this year to identify nutritious food and menu items at its
retail shops and theme parks.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">[In other words, it does not ONLY sell nutritious foods at
its venues.]</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Seventeen percent of US children are obese, a figure that
has tripled in 30 years, according to a report last month from the </span><span lang="EN-US">Institute</span><span lang="EN-US"> of </span><span lang="EN-US">Medicine</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">However, others expressed skepticism.</span>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Kids aren’t obese because they are watching fast-food
commercials on the Disney Channel,” wrote a </span><span lang="EN-US">Virginia</span><span lang="EN-US"> resident.
“They are obese because instead of being
active, they are sitting in front of a TV ... How about creating TV shows that
challenge kids to be active while watching?”</span>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-639072832528462292012-06-06T19:25:00.001-07:002012-06-06T19:25:22.809-07:00News Brief -- staff/camera in kitchen expose food recycling (Kaohsiung)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The
well known Big Cow Beef Noodles (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">大牛牛肉麵</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) located on Zhongzheng Road (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">中正路</span><span lang="EN-US">) in Kaohsiung City
has been exposed as recycling customers’ leftovers and selling them to other
customers, the Broadcasting Corporation of China reported yesterday </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">(full
Chinese-language article <a href="http://www.bcc.com.tw/news/newsview.asp?cde=1801106">here</a>)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">That restaurant has now closed its doors before the city’s Department
of Health could investigate and impose fines, but another restaurant of the
same name located on Kaohsiung’s Siwei Road (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">四維路</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">), although completely unconnected,
claims its business has fallen by between 10 percent and 20 percent.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Translation copyright Jiyue Publications 2012</span></div>
</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-74576286678932562472012-06-04T20:53:00.003-07:002012-06-04T21:13:09.304-07:00Restaurant Review -- Buxiban Zone (Taipei)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R-dskXs65k/T82DJcTlUzI/AAAAAAAAAg8/Bg-rIGA5psQ/s1600/buxiban+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R-dskXs65k/T82DJcTlUzI/AAAAAAAAAg8/Bg-rIGA5psQ/s320/buxiban+interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Many </span><span lang="EN-US">Taipei</span><span lang="EN-US"> students get
out of school and go straight to cram schools for several hours trying to fill
what should be an already full head with more information, and in the process
further destroying any chance of a wholesome childhood with a balance of learning
and play.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Often students have time just to grab a
bite between classes, as do teachers, and with mostly snack food available,
this is rarely vegetarian and is rarely nutritious. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">So it is good that 5 years ago the Vegi
Garden (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">植善蔬食多國料理</span><span lang="EN-US">)
opened on Kaifeng Street offering meals in Eastern and Western styles that are “pure
veg, low sugar, low salt, low oil”. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BX6ukpSEM3k/T82DTpW7AWI/AAAAAAAAAhE/Kwl5rbLot2Q/s1600/hotpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BX6ukpSEM3k/T82DTpW7AWI/AAAAAAAAAhE/Kwl5rbLot2Q/s320/hotpot.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The menu sounds exotic, ranging from
Japanese wild mushroom hand-made noodles (NT$180) and Thai sweet and sour hot
pot (NT$260), to Spanish golden stewed rice (NT$190) and pumpkin mushroom baked
penne pasta (NT$210). For an additional NT$80, all become set meals with a
soup, side dish and drink.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">NOMM found the soup good, and the side dish
(soft white tofu) excellent. The main dishes of Italian wild mushroom rice (NT$190)
and Thai coconut milk curry hot pot (NT$260) were disappointing, however. The
latter’s soup was so weak it was unidentifiable as having been made with either
curry or coconut milk. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Address: No.47, Kaifeng St. Sec. 1 (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">開封街一段</span><span lang="EN-US">47</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">號</span><span lang="EN-US">)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Telephone: 02-23118198</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Hours: </span><span lang="EN-US">11:00</span><span lang="EN-US">~</span><span lang="EN-US">14:00</span><span lang="EN-US"> & </span><span lang="EN-US">17:00</span><span lang="EN-US">~</span><span lang="EN-US">21:00</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">NOMM processed food index: 1 (low)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2012 </span></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-56927998354989848892012-05-29T00:23:00.001-07:002012-05-29T00:23:17.823-07:00Restaurant Review – “Gravy Rice” (Zhongli)<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Zhongli (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">中壢</span><span lang="EN-US">) in Taoyuan County is a center of Hakka culture. This tends to be a very meat-based cuisine, so NOMM expected some difficulty in finding lunch on a recent unplanned visit, especially as we rolled into town at almost </span><time hour="14" minute="0"><span lang="EN-US">2pm</span></time><span lang="EN-US">.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHSNojL-dWw/T8R3450l8FI/AAAAAAAAAf0/-cF1ThkDQSo/s1600/used+Zhongli+exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHSNojL-dWw/T8R3450l8FI/AAAAAAAAAf0/-cF1ThkDQSo/s320/used+Zhongli+exterior.jpg" width="177" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Short of time, we headed out toward the northwest on another purpose, and were happy to come across several vegetarian stores (albeit some already closed) in the Minzu Road (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">民族路</span><span lang="EN-US">) area. Perhaps there is a Buddhist hospital or similar nearby.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaGm-kdGr_Q/T8R4CkvEVtI/AAAAAAAAAgE/qS4qBDR0f4g/s1600/used+Zhongli+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaGm-kdGr_Q/T8R4CkvEVtI/AAAAAAAAAgE/qS4qBDR0f4g/s320/used+Zhongli+interior.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">The Su Xiang Mian Zhi Jia (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">素香麵之家</span><span lang="EN-US">; “home of fragrant vegetarian noodles”, but no English name), slightly up Guangdong Road (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">廣東路</span><span lang="EN-US">) to the left (south) and hence technically over the township boundary into Pingzhen (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">平鎮</span><span lang="EN-US">) was still open but about to close, so we ordered “whatever is quickest to prepare”. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aCTJmuVJor4/T8R39UZxxpI/AAAAAAAAAf8/ouf5uQ2VvAY/s1600/used+Zhongli+hui+fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aCTJmuVJor4/T8R39UZxxpI/AAAAAAAAAf8/ouf5uQ2VvAY/s200/used+Zhongli+hui+fan.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">This turned out to be <i>hui-fan</i> (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">燴</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">飯</span><span lang="EN-US">; NT$60), usually given in dictionaries as “rice in gravy” but better thought of as rice topped with vegetables in a wet sauce: thicker than “soupy noodles” (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">湯麵</span><span lang="EN-US">) but runnier than “dry noodles”(</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">乾麵</span><span lang="EN-US">), and, of course, made using rice not noodles.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In any case, it is not an NOMM favorite and would not have been our first choice, but it was tasty enough, and the owner was chatty about moving back to her hometown to open the restaurant 4 years ago after spending much of her life commuting each day to Banciao (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">板橋</span><span lang="EN-US">) in Taipei County.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYsVBxWMHwQ/T8R4Hi12TvI/AAAAAAAAAgM/46hJYE-MKEE/s1600/used+Zhongli+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYsVBxWMHwQ/T8R4Hi12TvI/AAAAAAAAAgM/46hJYE-MKEE/s200/used+Zhongli+menu.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">SuXiangMianZhiJia has a wide range of rice and noodle dishes, as well as dumplings, vegetables and marinated side dishes.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Address: </span><street><address>
<span lang="EN-US">No.3 Guangdong Road</span></address>
</street><span lang="EN-US">, </span><place><placename><span lang="EN-US">Pingzhen</span></placename><span lang="EN-US"> </span><placetype><span lang="EN-US">City</span></placetype></place><span lang="EN-US">, </span><place><placename><span lang="EN-US">Taoyuan</span></placename><span lang="EN-US"> </span><placetype><span lang="EN-US">County</span></placetype></place></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Tel: 03-4013888</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Opening Hours: </span><time hour="11" minute="30"><span lang="EN-US">11:30</span></time><span lang="EN-US">~</span><time hour="14" minute="30"><span lang="EN-US">14:30</span></time><span lang="EN-US">, </span><time hour="16" minute="30"><span lang="EN-US">16:30</span></time><span lang="EN-US">~</span><time hour="20" minute="0"><span lang="EN-US">20:00</span></time><span lang="EN-US">, Mon~Sat</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2012 </span></div>
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<br /></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-6723305481434627672012-05-21T19:42:00.003-07:002012-05-21T19:43:37.230-07:00Restaurant Review - contemplation (Keelung)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7JE3NqBN9iM/T7r7slH2PqI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/ZCUEuVJ9Ztg/s1600/P1020766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7JE3NqBN9iM/T7r7slH2PqI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/ZCUEuVJ9Ztg/s320/P1020766.JPG" width="240" /></a>The Buddha Light Mountain organization (<span lang="zh">佛光山</span>), founded and still run by a monk who still Master Hsing Yun (<span lang="zh-Hant">星雲大師</span>), has temples and religious branches throughout Taiwan, many of which have restaurants called Dishuifang (<span class="st">滴水坊<i>).</i></span><br />
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Despite operating a cooking school at its Kaohsiung headquarters, there is no standard fare: the menu varies from restaurant to restaurant. A few months ago NOMM ate at the Yonghe (永和) outlet and cannot recommend it, today we ate in Keelung, and although overpriced (NT$110 for a bowl of noodles that might cost half that normally), the food was tasty enough and the environment quiet. <br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DW_99FNxb8o/T7r8VJ-qkfI/AAAAAAAAAfg/Vtq0LiwFnkc/s1600/P1020773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DW_99FNxb8o/T7r8VJ-qkfI/AAAAAAAAAfg/Vtq0LiwFnkc/s200/P1020773.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
For those with a political mindset: KMT supporters will be happy as Hsing Yun is one of there own, DPP opposition supporters might want to stay clear, as he supports President Ma, wants the Dalai Lama to kowtow to Beijing, and once said that there are no Taiwanese, only Chinese.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGFQip4Q1Yc/T7r8edWZXtI/AAAAAAAAAfo/UlqVOOkNef8/s1600/FGS+Keelung+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGFQip4Q1Yc/T7r8edWZXtI/AAAAAAAAAfo/UlqVOOkNef8/s200/FGS+Keelung+food.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Address: No. 270, Xin Er Rd. (信二路) Keelung <br />
Tel: 02-24231141<br />
Hours: 11:00~20:00, closed Tuesdays<br />
NOMM fake meat/processed food index: 5 (moderate) <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTBEk07ST8s/T7r8BrbaCRI/AAAAAAAAAfY/fiQNQbeJPc0/s1600/P1020770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTBEk07ST8s/T7r8BrbaCRI/AAAAAAAAAfY/fiQNQbeJPc0/s200/P1020770.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
text and photos copyright Jiyue Publications 2012Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-74546343140185127302012-05-16T22:59:00.001-07:002012-05-16T22:59:23.009-07:00Restaurant Review: Cheap, cheerful and healthy (Puli, Nantou County)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
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<span lang="EN-US">One good thing about getting away from big cities is that prices can come tumbling down; one bad thing is that so too can quality. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This is not the case at TianCi Vegetarian (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">天慈素食</span><span lang="EN-US">; “Heaven’s Compassion” [no English]) in Puli Township (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">埔里</span><span lang="EN-US">), gateway to the mountains of Nantou. NOMM stopped there at the start of the famous Wuling (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">武陵</span><span lang="EN-US">) bike route last year, and two of us feasted for a total of NT$140 before the climb to Taiwan’s highest road at 3250 m.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps prices have gone up, but last year they included: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">fried rice/noodles – NT$20~25</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">dumplings (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">水餃</span><span lang="EN-US">) -- NT$3.5 each</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">soups -- NT$20</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">leafy greens -- NT$20</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">marinated tofu, &c. -- NT$10~20</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">and with Dragon Boat Festival not too far away, they have <i>zongzi</i> at NT$20</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Address: 262 Nanchang St (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">南昌街</span><span lang="EN-US">)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Tel: 049-2996312</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">NOMM fake meat/processed food index: 5 (moderate)</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Text © Jiyue Publications 2012</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Apologies no photos</span></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-38120375677643072312012-05-14T03:44:00.001-07:002012-05-14T03:44:19.813-07:00News Brief: Woman fights back against misleading advertisement<br /><div class="yom-mod yom-art-content ">
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When the Mother's Day cake with 30 whole strawberries on top (as seen in advertisement) arrived with mere bits of strawberries instead, Ms. Zhou got a bellyful of anger, reports FTV today (Chinese-language article <a href="http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E7%9C%8B%E5%BB%A3%E5%91%8A%E8%A8%82%E8%9B%8B%E7%B3%95-%E6%95%B4%E9%A1%86%E8%8D%89%E8%8E%93%E8%AE%8A%E7%A2%8E%E4%B8%81-060152281.html">here</a>).</div>
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The manufacturer claims it is still strawberry cake, the Consumer Protection Commission (行政院消費者保護會) is so far siding with Ms. Zhou.</div>
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</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-87286103608382151042012-05-07T23:32:00.002-07:002012-05-07T23:32:47.541-07:00Restaurant Reivew: Buddhist hospital B1 (Xindian)Last year NOMM tried to order a vegetarian meal in Mr. Brown coffee shop in the Muzha district of Taipei City. "Tried" because while there was one item on the menu, when questioned in detail the staff admitted that the "free" soup was made with a meat stock.<br />
<br />
Visiting the Taipei Tzu Chi General Hospital last week--which by coincidence is just a couple of kilometers west of the above-mentioned store--we were surprised to find a completely free vegetarian Mr. Brown coffee outlet.<br />
<br />
In fact, the hospital basement is a set out as a food court, and since the hospital is run by the Buddhist Tzu Chi foundation, all outlets meet the organization's vegetarian criteria. There are around half a dozen restaurants, ranging from Taiwanese rice, noodle, and snack meals to Western sandwich bars, and even a Family Mart convenience store, selling only the meat-free section of its food and drink range.<br />
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Address: No.289, Jianguo Rd., Xindian District, New Taipei City, Taiwan<br />
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text copyright Jiyue Publications<br />
apologies that photographs are temporarily unavailableMark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-48480622943336470012012-05-04T08:26:00.000-07:002012-05-04T08:26:22.289-07:00News Brief: Food wasted in TaiwanStatistics compiled by the Environmental Protection Administration show
that Taiwanese in 2010 wasted 2.75 million tonnes of food, the
equivalent of 20 years of -consumption by 260,000 low-income households,
DPP legislator Lin Chia-lung was quoted in an article about establishing a food bank in today's Taipei Times (full article <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/05/04/2003531965">here</a>). <br />
<br />
Another interesting fact (assuming true) from the article is that:<br />
US Department of Agriculture statistics show that more than 46 million
Americans, or about 15 percent of the US population, lived on assistance
provided by food banks last year, Lin said.Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-33049116645821421852012-05-04T05:01:00.003-07:002012-05-04T05:01:57.759-07:00News Brief: 'Nuclear' fruit and vegetable origins re-labelledA Tokyo vegetable and fruit wholesaler has been caught relabelling produce originating in the nuclear meltdown zone of Fukushima Prefecture by putting "Made in Yamagata" stickers, reports ANN News (Japanese-language article <a href="http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news/web/html/220427060.html">here</a>), courtesy of an English translation by EZSKF (<a href="http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/04/now-they-tell-us-wholesaler-in-tokyo.html">here</a>).Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-59651878391643742532012-04-30T21:26:00.000-07:002012-05-04T04:55:11.191-07:00Restaurant Review -- Mushroom Noodles (Danshui)<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">To survive in the
restaurant business with only one item on the menu is awesome; to persuade the
author of this column to eat <i>mianxian</i> (</span>麵線<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
a.k.a. "thin, slimy noodles") is barely less impressive.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These two feats have
been achieved for 12 and 2 years respectively by Su Xianggu Mianxian (</span>素香菇麵線<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">; “Vegetarian Mushroom Noodles”) on </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zhongshan N. Road</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a short distance north of
the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Qingshui</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zushi</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Temple</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (</span>清水祖師廟<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">) in Danshui (</span>淡水<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">One product; three
prices: small NT$30, medium NT$40, large NT$50.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What more is there
to say?</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, only one. Last
year the restaurant’s founder sold up, and the new owner, while continuing to
sell the noodles, has added half a dozen other dishes to the menu. These include
yam-flavored tofu and mung bean noodles (</span>山藥阿給<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">),
which NOMM will return to sample soon. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Address: No. 251,
Zhongshan North Road Sec. 1, Danshui District, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">New</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Taipei</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">City</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (</span>台北縣淡水鎮中山北路一段<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">251</span>號<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Telephone: 0935620261</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hours: Tues~Sun; </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">06:00</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">~</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">14:00</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (plus Mondays if 1<sup>st</sup>
or 15<sup>th</sup> of lunar calendar month)</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> NOMM
fake-meat/processed-food index: 2 (low)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Text and photos ©
Jiyue Publications 2012 </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">[photos temporarily
unavailable] </span><br />
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<br /></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-62381351802608680632012-04-27T21:51:00.000-07:002012-04-27T21:51:08.628-07:00News Brief: $39 food to cost $49[apologies for failing to track food news lately]<br />
<br />
Among all the recent stories of food price hikes comes one in today's Liberty Times (Chinese-language article <a href="http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/apr/28/today-life19.htm?Slots=BLife">here</a>) saying that food items in Daiso stores (大創百貨)--where everything costs a flat rate of NT$39--will now be priced at NT$49.<br />
<br />Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-65307251470661292002012-04-23T22:59:00.000-07:002012-04-23T22:59:16.878-07:00Restaurant Review:-- Pizza and good view, Taipei City<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>2</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:Compatibility> <w:SpaceForUL/> <w:BalanceSingleByteDoubleByteWidth/> <w:DoNotLeaveBackslashAlone/> <w:ULTrailSpace/> <w:DoNotExpandShiftReturn/> <w:AdjustLineHeightInTable/> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qB_fC1uxMFQ/T5ZAnawPPKI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/pT7HWm1v0Gc/s1600/So+Free+interior+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qB_fC1uxMFQ/T5ZAnawPPKI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/pT7HWm1v0Gc/s320/So+Free+interior+LR.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">So Wild Free Pizza and Cheese outlet in the back alleys near NTU at Gongguan (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">公館</span><span lang="EN-US">) has just four seats—which cannot be reserved—so most customers end up eating take-away pizzas in the tiny park opposite. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">For a more conducive atmosphere, diners can try the Ximen (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">西門</span><span lang="EN-US">) branch.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So Wild specializes in small (8-inch) pizzas with somewhat unusual flavours. These include apple/cinnamon, banana/almond and ginger superman, as well as more regular mushroom/asparagus, rosemary/potato and Korean kimchi all at NT$169. Drinks cost NT$25~60.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fC8kecYAszo/T5ZAp6bR6AI/AAAAAAAAAeY/iUViQ8Wl5BE/s1600/So+free+food+lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fC8kecYAszo/T5ZAp6bR6AI/AAAAAAAAAeY/iUViQ8Wl5BE/s320/So+free+food+lr.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Don’t expect fine dining, but the upstairs open-air views across a more trendy part of this fashion-conscious area of Taipei City is enjoyable if one is already in this neighbourhood.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Address: No.1, Lane 50, </span><span lang="EN-US">Xining</span><span lang="EN-US"> S. Road, Wanhua District, </span><span lang="EN-US">Taipei</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">City</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">(</span><span class="st"><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">台北市萬華區西寧南路</span><span lang="EN-US">50</span></span><span class="st"><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">巷</span><span lang="EN-US">1</span></span><span class="st"><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">號</span><span lang="EN-US">)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hours: </span><span lang="EN-US">12:00</span><span lang="EN-US">~</span><span lang="EN-US">22:00</span></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-52563187057711735052012-04-16T00:16:00.001-07:002012-04-16T07:30:34.777-07:00Restaurant Review:-- Noodles from a noodle maker (Taipei)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quA2PKj0-ko/T4vEQ4ASFQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/cacr2Zf4RGQ/s1600/P1020486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-quA2PKj0-ko/T4vEQ4ASFQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/cacr2Zf4RGQ/s200/P1020486.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptFy3XTai5c/T4vEDgm_n7I/AAAAAAAAAdw/auh_nL1Q5ZE/s1600/P1020485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptFy3XTai5c/T4vEDgm_n7I/AAAAAAAAAdw/auh_nL1Q5ZE/s320/P1020485.JPG" width="240" /></a> Many items sold in restaurants are bought in rather than made on site, and this is particularly true when it comes to noodles.<br />
<br />
One exception is ZhongYuan Su Mian Shi (中原 素麵食; "Central Plains Vegetarian Noodle Foods" [no English name]), located on Qingdao Road that runs parallel to Zhongxiao East Road.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j1-4FSMMF4/T4vEtOUXamI/AAAAAAAAAeI/yF-c9dlLqOo/s1600/P1020491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7j1-4FSMMF4/T4vEtOUXamI/AAAAAAAAAeI/yF-c9dlLqOo/s200/P1020491.JPG" width="150" /></a>Only open on weekday lunchtimes and with only eight items on its menu, ZhongYuan has the confidence of a specialist provider.<br />
<br />
These eight noodle dishes range from NT$35 to NT$60 per bowl, and include "dry" noodles such as sesame paste and "mixed" paste, as well as "soupy" noodles such as <i>hongshao</i> (紅燒; soy flavoured) noodles.<br />
<br />
"Dry noodles" come with a free bowl of soup, and side dishes such as the cucumbers and tofu eaten by NOMM cost NT$25. Dumplings are available if the boss has time to cook them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VKQQmqAjqU/T4vEgfS_ELI/AAAAAAAAAeA/JKjJnrIqexk/s1600/P1020488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VKQQmqAjqU/T4vEgfS_ELI/AAAAAAAAAeA/JKjJnrIqexk/s320/P1020488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Text and photos copyright Jiyue Publications</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-44880793506629239862012-04-15T22:52:00.000-07:002012-04-15T22:52:08.928-07:00If President Ma has his way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txUpBRNovys/T4uy91YQ_zI/AAAAAAAAAcY/KU4KCiiu1bI/s1600/P1020454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-txUpBRNovys/T4uy91YQ_zI/AAAAAAAAAcY/KU4KCiiu1bI/s320/P1020454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>,,, expect to see a lot more signs like this ("not US beef")<br />
because Ma called on the country to allow imports of tainted US meat and then for customers to boycott it on a person by person basis</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-39678597394937607612012-04-09T20:46:00.003-07:002012-04-15T23:45:12.156-07:00Restaurant Review:-- tea farm restaurant, Pinglin (New Taipei City)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCo77bQOWlQ/T4u3es1GYzI/AAAAAAAAAdI/efuN40RgBqc/s1600/P1020461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3boXoQ83vOE/T4u375HptlI/AAAAAAAAAdY/GWSWXkOvin8/s1600/P1020464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3boXoQ83vOE/T4u375HptlI/AAAAAAAAAdY/GWSWXkOvin8/s320/P1020464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Pinglin (坪林) makes a nice destination for a half-day cycle from Taipei.<br />
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Those with extra energy can explore the hilly tea fields that surround the riverside township, or head on over to Yilan County to the southeast.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AmcjHdmBnw/T4u3rsp1_YI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Kv3Jj89QHIE/s1600/P1020462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1AmcjHdmBnw/T4u3rsp1_YI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Kv3Jj89QHIE/s200/P1020462.JPG" width="150" /></a>Those without can refuel for the return trip at Wenshan Cha Yuan (文山茶園; "Wenshan Tea Garden" [no English]), which offers a range of vegetarian noodle and rice dishes (NT$25-45), greens (NT$50), tofus (NT$30-50) and, of course, tea..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCo77bQOWlQ/T4u3es1GYzI/AAAAAAAAAdI/efuN40RgBqc/s1600/P1020461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oCo77bQOWlQ/T4u3es1GYzI/AAAAAAAAAdI/efuN40RgBqc/s200/P1020461.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> NOMM had tea seed-oil thread noodles (茶油麵線), greens and tofu, which certainly hit the spot after the 1,000+ K cal cycle from the city.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMBYZ5UqMXA/T4u4a-wJkeI/AAAAAAAAAdo/gS5XSU63td8/s1600/P1020468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMBYZ5UqMXA/T4u4a-wJkeI/AAAAAAAAAdo/gS5XSU63td8/s200/P1020468.JPG" width="150" /></a>As the only person in the restaurant on a weekday afternoon, i was then treated to a free pot of baozhong tea (<span class="st">包種茶). Perfect.<em></em></span><br />
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Wenshan is at 169 ShuiLiuJiao (水柳腳), which is near the 37.5-kilometre marker on the Taipei-Yilan road (北宜路), which is just before the 7-Eleven as one enters the town from the Taipei side. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOEp52_8mHY/T4u4LVddCtI/AAAAAAAAAdg/__Y8HkIsBNc/s1600/P1020467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOEp52_8mHY/T4u4LVddCtI/AAAAAAAAAdg/__Y8HkIsBNc/s200/P1020467.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Copyright Jiyue Publications</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-4664924793639795212012-04-08T00:53:00.001-07:002012-04-08T00:54:56.252-07:00News Brief: maximum levels for aluminium-containing foodstuffs should be set -- Consumers' Foundation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Food products using raising agents were found to contain excessively high levels of aluminium, the Consumers’ Foundation said Friday, the Taipei Times reports yesterday (full article <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/04/07/2003529707">here</a>).<br />
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<div class="text">Two-thirds of 24 samples of doughnuts, fried dough sticks (油條), steamed buns (饅頭), kelp and silk noodles (粉絲) tested by the foundation in February were found to contain high levels of aluminium, which, it claimed, could affect memory.<br />
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Unlike the FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and European Food Safety Authority both set maximum levels for such products, Taiwan has no legal limits on raising agents added to processed food, the CF said, making it difficult for consumers to know how much aluminium they have consumed.</div><div class="text"><br />
Many of the food products tested had probably used alum (aluminium potassium sulphate) as raising agents to make the texture of the food more appealing.</div><div class="text"> Excessive intake of aluminium has a suspected correlation with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as raising concerns about its effects on children’s growth and development, and on people with weaker metabolic function.<br />
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That some of the samples tested did not contain aluminium food additives, proves that these products can be produced without the substance, the CF said.</div></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-88230728120146953772012-04-02T04:00:00.000-07:002012-04-02T04:00:17.794-07:00Restaurant Review:-- Biandang (lunchbox), Taipei City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jN8h9HdYfyI/T3l6aBq3eZI/AAAAAAAAAcI/hCOdMDHXr08/s1600/P1020442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jN8h9HdYfyI/T3l6aBq3eZI/AAAAAAAAAcI/hCOdMDHXr08/s320/P1020442.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Before very long in Taiwan, you'll probably be asked to do overtime. Out goes your social engagement, your home-cooked dinner, or glass-of-wine-with-movie-and-feet-up evening.<br />
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More pertinently, your boss will probably hint that the case is so pressing, you cannot even pop out of the office to grab some food. "Don't worry," (s)he'll say, "I'm getting <i>bian-dang</i> (便當; lunchboxes) for everyone." You say that you're vegetarian, but (s)he saw this coming: "Don't worry, they do vegetarian <i>bian-dang</i>."<br />
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So you're landed with a so-called vegetarian lunchbox produced by a meat-selling establishment. Even if you dare eat it, it's probably almost inedible and barely nourishing.<br />
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UNLESS of course, you are one step ahead of your boss, an whipping out a business card you say "That's ok, please pick me up a <i>bian-dang</i> from here."<br />
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One such place is ChongHui Vegetarain ( <span class="st">崇慧素食; no English name) at 54 Anju Steet (安居街) near Liuzhangli MRT (Tel: 02-27398323). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LXgbVzTv4uU/T3l6psLg6wI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/hfMl5I__M3g/s1600/P1020447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LXgbVzTv4uU/T3l6psLg6wI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/hfMl5I__M3g/s320/P1020447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In sells lunchboxes at midday and evenings, as well as hotpots in the evenings.<br />
Diners can choose either white or "purple" rice, three side vegetables (out of more than a dozen -- NOMM had peas in pods, tofu and bamboo shoots), and a "main" dish of fake meat (NOMM had fish).<br />
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All choices are NT$50, and the restaurant will send to your office for orders of NT$500 or more.<br />
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Text and photos copyright Jiyue.Publications 2012</div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-51697631442090156192012-03-27T22:40:00.000-07:002012-03-27T22:40:55.516-07:00News Brief: Popcorn might not be all badPopcorn could prevent diseases and prolong life, Taiwan media report today (Chinese-language article <a href="http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%90%83%E7%88%86%E7%B1%B3%E8%8A%B1%E6%8A%97%E8%80%81-%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6-%E6%8A%97%E6%B0%A7%E5%8C%96%E5%8A%91%E6%AF%94%E8%94%AC%E6%9E%9C%E5%A4%9A2%E5%80%8D-100443076.html">here</a>) picking up on a recent news in the United States (English-language article <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-checkup/post/good-news-about-popcorn-and-chocolate/2010/12/20/gIQAYlklcS_blog.html">here</a>).<br />
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US researchers claim that popcorn has higher concentrations of polyphenols--substances that might protect against harmful chemical reactions in the body--than fruits and vegetables, and is a good source of fibre.<br />
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They acknowledge, however, that scientists don't know much about how such antioxidants work, and that the way they are normally consumed--cooked in oil with butter and salt added--means they are high in calories, fat and sodium. Nor do they contain the many other nutrients human bodies need, such as the vitamins common in fruit and vegetables.Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-4340182415156847872012-03-27T21:55:00.000-07:002012-03-27T21:55:09.755-07:00News Brief: Tibetan Buddhist looks forward to Taichung snacks<div style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>2</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:Compatibility> <w:SpaceForUL/> <w:BalanceSingleByteDoubleByteWidth/> <w:DoNotLeaveBackslashAlone/> <w:ULTrailSpace/> <w:DoNotExpandShiftReturn/> <w:AdjustLineHeightInTable/> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">When the 88-year-old <span class="st"><span lang="EN-US">Khenpo Karthar </span></span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;">Rinpoche (</span></em>堪布卡塔仁波切<span lang="EN-US">) arrives in Taiwan this week to teach Tibetan Buddhism, his interpreter will be a female lama Lodro Lhamo, formerly known to her Taichung family as Li Pei-guang (李佩光). When asked what she was looking forward to on her first visit to her homeland for many years, Li said what she missed most about Taiwan was its <i>xiao-chi</i> (小吃), the Central News Agency reports today (full Chinese-language article <a href="http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8F%B0%E7%B1%8D%E5%A5%B3%E5%96%87%E5%98%9B-%E6%9C%80%E6%83%B3%E5%BF%B5%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E5%B0%8F%E5%90%83-065753330.html">here</a>).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Literally meaning “small eats”, the term <i>xiaochi</i> covers anything from snacks to light meals, including just about everything sold at night markets. Li, who originally followed the teaching of Taiwan’s Master Sheng-yen (聖嚴法師) before becoming a monastic of the esoteric Tibetan tradition, said she particularly looked forward to eating the “sun cakes” (太陽餅) of her native city. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Translation © Jiyue Publications 2012 </span></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-68219233374888270192012-03-26T23:42:00.002-07:002012-03-27T01:01:51.456-07:00Restaurant Review -- simple, healthy food from a slice of paradise (Taitung)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHIAJd2Vl0U/T3FzH5PXrvI/AAAAAAAAAbo/GnQHRdfyyE8/s1600/P1020234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHIAJd2Vl0U/T3FzH5PXrvI/AAAAAAAAAbo/GnQHRdfyyE8/s320/P1020234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwehpXT2xAA/T3FzUUcYqyI/AAAAAAAAAbw/McLFmIAXo5E/s1600/P1020258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwehpXT2xAA/T3FzUUcYqyI/AAAAAAAAAbw/McLFmIAXo5E/s320/P1020258.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Guanshan (關山), a small town in the East Rift Valley, has tree-lined streets, wooden houses and few buildings over two storeys high. On the spring morning of NOMM’s visit it had a sleepy feel, and with the exception of trucks rushing down Highway 9, convenience stores on several corners and some very attractive murals, gave the impression of having changed little over the last half century or more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One small change is that the town has a new railway station, and although located just a hundred meters from the old one, it means that the JinCi Vegetarian (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">晉慈素食</span><span lang="EN-US">; no English name) restaurant at 6 Zhongshan Road (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體;">中山路</span><span lang="EN-US">) is no longer a natural stopping off place for commuters returning home but, rather, takes some seeking out. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0c2x9NDIwok/T3FhG9Nzf3I/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZkMH8HfzL-0/s1600/P1020203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0c2x9NDIwok/T3FhG9Nzf3I/AAAAAAAAAbA/ZkMH8HfzL-0/s200/P1020203.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Having found it, we enjoyed a tranquil meal of sesame-sauce noodles (NT$45), wonton soup (NT$45), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dangkui </i>herbal noodles (NT$45), steamed leafy greens (NT$30), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shuijiao </i>dumplings (NT$35), and a side of various tofu items (NT$50). At around NT$250 for three people, it was pretty economical too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2012 </span></div></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-86637180956252596942012-03-26T02:35:00.000-07:002012-03-26T02:35:13.244-07:00News Brief: Plasticizers rear their ugly heads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ten food items out of 322 recently tested by the Taipei City Government’s Department of Health (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">台北市政府衛生局</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) tested positive for excessive levels of plasticizers, TVBS reports today (</span>full Chinese-language article <a href="http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%A1%91%E5%8C%96%E5%8A%91%E9%A2%A8%E6%9A%B4-%E5%A1%91%E5%8C%96%E5%8A%91%E5%BE%A9%E6%B4%BB-%E5%8C%97%E5%B8%82%E6%8A%BD%E9%A9%97%E6%8B%8C%E9%86%AC-%E6%9E%9C%E6%B1%81%E4%B8%AD%E6%8B%9B-041454737.html">here</a>). <br />
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<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>2</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:Compatibility> <w:SpaceForUL/> <w:BalanceSingleByteDoubleByteWidth/> <w:DoNotLeaveBackslashAlone/> <w:ULTrailSpace/> <w:DoNotExpandShiftReturn/> <w:AdjustLineHeightInTable/> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The items included drinks, probiotics (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">益生菌</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) and flavored pastes and sauces. Worst culprit was Chengtai (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">誠泰</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) brand mushroom sauce (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">香菇拌醬</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) from Xiluo (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">西螺</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">) in Yunlin (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">雲林</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">), which contained a </span><span class="st"><span lang="EN-US">diisononyl phthalate (</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">DINP) level of 1944ppm, more than 200 times the permitted level of 9ppm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The company responded that the DOH tests had been conducted on old stock with a form of packaging subsequently replaced, but which had not been completely removed from shop shelves. It agreed to allow the public to return purchases for a full refund. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Other products falling foul included a toon-flavored sauce (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">香椿醬</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 新細明體;">) with </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">DINP level of 1545.6 ppm</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 新細明體;"> and pineapple paste (</span><span style="font-family: 新細明體; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">鳳梨醬</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 新細明體;">) at </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16.9 ppm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Translation © Jiyue Publications 2012 </span></div></div>Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2783995108854122760.post-41376006090669177122012-03-20T00:52:00.001-07:002012-03-20T01:05:39.062-07:00Restaurant Review -- Chishang rice 'railway lunchbox' (Taitung)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElJartIH8NI/T2gy22tWElI/AAAAAAAAAaw/7iPF2OLz2N8/s1600/P1020099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElJartIH8NI/T2gy22tWElI/AAAAAAAAAaw/7iPF2OLz2N8/s320/P1020099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Railway lunchboxes are popular in various locations around Taiwan. Well known examples include Fulong in New Taipei City and Alishan in Chiayi County.<br />
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Chishang in Taitung County in the country's southeast lies in the East Rift Valley, a well watered area with mild climate ideal for the production of rice, so it is perhaps not surprising that rice based meals were sold from station platforms to passengers passing on trains running between Taitung and Hualien.<br />
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Visitors to the township can choose from various restaurants within a few hundred meters of the railway station. With decommissioned trains now equipped with dining tables and exhibits about both rice production and railway history, one of the most popular is Chishang Fanbao (池上飯包) on Highway 9, the main road connecting the dozen or so towns of the rift valley. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WM2cMQd7308/T2gyl4lmLsI/AAAAAAAAAao/L-3QI3h1VR0/s1600/P1020097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WM2cMQd7308/T2gyl4lmLsI/AAAAAAAAAao/L-3QI3h1VR0/s320/P1020097.JPG" width="240" /></a>A vegetarian lunchbox is available here, but workers acknowledge it is not only "<i>dan-nai su</i>" (蛋奶素; ovo-lacto vegetarian) but also "<i>guo-bian su</i>" (鍋邊素; "pot-edge vegetarian", meaning it is cooked in the same pots as meat products).<br />
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They will happily telephone a nearby fully vegetarian establishment and, for NT$70, a lunchbox will be delivered in about ten minutes, which can be consumed with meat-eating friends at this atmospheric restaurant.<br />
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NOMM found the local rice to be delicious, but the ratio of fake meat to fresh vegetables was too high.Mark Caltonhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05253613636925871735noreply@blogger.com1