tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46598045949326443502024-03-15T21:10:33.925-04:00The Puff ListFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-84034836905067736762018-06-01T07:04:00.002-04:002018-06-01T07:04:30.766-04:00Nosaka (野さか) - Chichibu, Japan<b><u>Piggily Heaven</u></b><br />
Hiking, onsen and pork: the holy trinity. If you're ever in Tokyo and want to get away from the concrete, jump on a train and head west to Chichibu for some hiking, a hot soak and a heavenly dose of "rosu-don" which is a bowl of rice, topped with fatty slices of pork grilled over charcoal. Nosaka does it about as well as anyone, anywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fEAGjFLS_K08b7GStTBJ3dGlVYOiMpMf5dmDtDPEoPS1OJhWu2tFLJ_S1eqbazB-Mw7U1RdXSGM9rcMxvvDeamx8wiamQS_vFBJETNBRTLz-XtEjT1OsDEgh6k2CFPLJOzHQavn05V0/s1600/three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1600" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fEAGjFLS_K08b7GStTBJ3dGlVYOiMpMf5dmDtDPEoPS1OJhWu2tFLJ_S1eqbazB-Mw7U1RdXSGM9rcMxvvDeamx8wiamQS_vFBJETNBRTLz-XtEjT1OsDEgh6k2CFPLJOzHQavn05V0/s640/three.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>On a weekday, they're already lining up outside by 11am. If you come during the weekend, be prepared to wait in a long line. If you don't speak Japanese, it's ok, just practice writing your name in Katakana - you'll want to sign in on the small book near the front door to ensure you get a seat. Once inside, you buy meal tickets from their typical Japanese vending machine. Look for this: ロース丼.<br />
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While you wait, take some photos of their expertly crafted pig bush. I figured this was a good sign for what was in store and I was right.<br />
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As is the case in most Japanese restaurants, the service was pleasant and efficient. We've been in Tokyo for three months in an intensive Japanese language class and we eat out every day for lunch. We haven't had one bad experience yet. Every meal is good, every waiter and waitress is excellent. It's going to be a shock when we leave and have to go back to the "normal" world. I dread it.<br />
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There are three things that combine at Nosaka to make this meal supreme. First, the pork is top notch, naturally, and fatty to boot. Next, their miso is really wonderful. Finally, they roast the pork over charcoal giving it a smoky, slightly burnt flavor. After the first bite, I closed my eyes and groaned a deeply guttural noise. I am not sure how long until I opened them again.<br />
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<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/C72LFU6mJk42" target="_blank">〒368-0033 Saitama-ken, Chichibu-shi, Nosakamachi, 1 Chome−13−11</a></div>
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FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-78342258299636633862018-01-13T10:11:00.000-05:002018-01-19T10:34:25.632-05:00Pontochoux - Paris<b><u>The More Things Change....</u></b><br />
Having spent years in Asia I should've accepted the core of Buddhism by now - change as a constant. I hate change. In Paris I feel like an old man, mourning my dead friends. My old favorite <a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2009/11/jean-millet-paris.html" target="_blank">Jean Millet</a> was bought over and turned into a bright spaceship. What kind of god allows this while <a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2008/12/berko-paris.html" target="_blank">Berko</a> goes untouched? <a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2009/06/au-levain-du-marais.html" target="_blank">Au Levain du Marais</a> looks the same from the outside, but it's not. They used to have the "go-to" croissant. <a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2009/11/au-duc-de-montmorency-paris.html" target="_blank">Au Duc de Montmorency</a> - gone. I want everything to be as it was - there are too many hamburger places now, too much English spoken. Vegan? In Paris? Thankfully, some of the oldies are still around, and some have sprouted. The folks from <a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2009/07/chez-taeko-paris.html" target="_blank">Chez Taeko</a> opened Pontochoux, a change I can deal with.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPaQN9GP7Be_g8QfzfrkNQ3IroGu5UQuS7QRmL860EfEH2FHVkRs4GKppmOuEiMc92fSeXl5qJUOtlDWCvtkSC630kKiiIQlk5zoGiZR1DIBYHQG67ZeryijHLuAlbIoNHCsyqhTdeHY/s1600/IMG_20180113_150215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPaQN9GP7Be_g8QfzfrkNQ3IroGu5UQuS7QRmL860EfEH2FHVkRs4GKppmOuEiMc92fSeXl5qJUOtlDWCvtkSC630kKiiIQlk5zoGiZR1DIBYHQG67ZeryijHLuAlbIoNHCsyqhTdeHY/s640/IMG_20180113_150215.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>We arrived for lunch on a Saturday at the exact time everyone else did and had to wait outside for a few of the nine seats to clear. I'm not a fan of waiting but I was with the wife and her cousin, who'd suggested the place. At least I've learned to give face, when I can remember to do so. As they chatted I peered through the window at the menu. Pontochoux offers two things: curry rice and donburi. I decided on the katsu curry rice, one of my favorite foods on earth.<br />
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The cousin got curry rice with karrage, claiming it to be the best dish in the place. I tried it - she may be right. However, Dodo and I were quite happy with our katsu. It was far spicier than expected, especially for Paris, where they tend to water down the heat. As I sat happily munching, I thought about a future trip to Paris, perhaps ten years from now. I will walk down Rue du Pont aux Choux with a taste for katsu curry and most likely will be disappointed. Only the good die young.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjFrGsqEru5LJwl19EEjumS4ozbGsdqYsfufBlkUdJtPvXdbeAPsEDHCCySCX1haY1-eB2BJP2F2Q9YcyzBHhptY3ervfcIfXBUoul_8ObFrVppi6lfad3xzucMdLF5rLn4A7cPHeG5c/s1600/IMG_20180113_145539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjFrGsqEru5LJwl19EEjumS4ozbGsdqYsfufBlkUdJtPvXdbeAPsEDHCCySCX1haY1-eB2BJP2F2Q9YcyzBHhptY3ervfcIfXBUoul_8ObFrVppi6lfad3xzucMdLF5rLn4A7cPHeG5c/s640/IMG_20180113_145539.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Pontochoux/@48.8612671,2.3650756,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x47e66e072faaeeff:0x4ada96b7f459c82b!2sPontochoux!8m2!3d48.8613189!4d2.3650928!3m4!1s0x47e66e072faaeeff:0x4ada96b7f459c82b!8m2!3d48.8613189!4d2.3650928?hl=en" target="_blank">18 Rue du Pont Aux Choux</a></div>
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Paris</div>
<br />FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-60858331083173735082012-08-07T19:13:00.001-04:002012-08-07T19:13:04.138-04:00Beauty's Luncheonette - Montreal<strong><u>Quebec is in the Timing</u></strong><br />
Once upon, I spent six months working in Montreal. It was in the thick of winter so forgive my recollection of dull grey skies and depressing cold. The buildings along rue St Jacques had salt shadows taller than me and my daily jaunt to the office could have been made on ice skates. Our recent road trip, perfectly timed to the height of Montreal's two week summer, erased all my frigid memories. <strong><u><a href="http://beautys.ca/" target="_blank">Beauty's Luncheonette</a></u></strong> did a fair share of the erasing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylaRNkmWU9ffRs_aO-NWkrZR2tVlO3LL74GRnp5QHtmV9tUGz9w2byq1x2bPbmPltX6zamB-dXAMAX1tcMb-AShf5LUECB1HPqceq4_3pYC_-qtd-ULRjp0pJ61ilsxy8Sevt-lb-nfE/s1600/Beautys+-+Grilled+Cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylaRNkmWU9ffRs_aO-NWkrZR2tVlO3LL74GRnp5QHtmV9tUGz9w2byq1x2bPbmPltX6zamB-dXAMAX1tcMb-AShf5LUECB1HPqceq4_3pYC_-qtd-ULRjp0pJ61ilsxy8Sevt-lb-nfE/s640/Beautys+-+Grilled+Cheese.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>Beautys serves what could be the best breakfast sandwich on the planet. Bacon, egg, sharp cheddar and tomato between two lightly grilled pieces of challah. It's all about the ingredients - everything tastes fresh and home grown, especially the tomatoes. We spent the morning at the Jean Talon market and tried many of the variety of tomatoes. They are fantastically flavorful.<br />
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I ate facefulls of hot-out-of-the-oven Montreal style bagels at Fairmount and St-Viateur and also got a fully loaded version at Beautys. The lox and cream cheese played nicely with the sesame seeds. Dodo even got the baked mac and cheese which was good but suffered by comparison to a recent version of the kid's famous conconction with bacon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bXpFGGNceog2uH1zq_eNTBcessZ75W6-_4KUrg1Kg4D_rgxFHHcCgEwCZu_QMW4weciKCojUDCwMIbrBbjYsXPFoHY2CcvGUdxvG1FlQq3Ek2WmJMwXwSImIPazr3dM59a0R3ZejPGo/s1600/Beautys+-+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bXpFGGNceog2uH1zq_eNTBcessZ75W6-_4KUrg1Kg4D_rgxFHHcCgEwCZu_QMW4weciKCojUDCwMIbrBbjYsXPFoHY2CcvGUdxvG1FlQq3Ek2WmJMwXwSImIPazr3dM59a0R3ZejPGo/s640/Beautys+-+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg" width="640" /></strong></a></div>
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This stood out as our best Montreal breakfast. Even my boy Geppie, who is a notoriously picky eater, praised everything we had.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj97N_MLWB3_oN50_1Nnaa16wjicYmnjV46k2wRKrUnaSaBUcXNOJgYZVEnbPN9mcC8I-qejGrMDkmnC4YRLJtUxYhWDySS0_fBXwWBrt8iur9c1X25sDJXB6WEucf3SKZiFfb7YF59w/s1600/Beautys+-+Insignia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj97N_MLWB3_oN50_1Nnaa16wjicYmnjV46k2wRKrUnaSaBUcXNOJgYZVEnbPN9mcC8I-qejGrMDkmnC4YRLJtUxYhWDySS0_fBXwWBrt8iur9c1X25sDJXB6WEucf3SKZiFfb7YF59w/s640/Beautys+-+Insignia.jpg" width="640" /></strong></a><br /><u><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=93+Avenue+du+Mont-Royal+Ouest+Montreal,+QC+H2T+2S5,+Canada&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=45.523608,-73.566599&sspn=0.031029,0.080853&hnear=93+Avenue+du+Mont-Royal+Ouest,+Montr%C3%A9al,+Communaut%C3%A9-Urbaine-de-Montr%C3%A9al,+Qu%C3%A9bec+H2T,+Canada&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">93 Avenue du Mont-Royal Ouest </a></u></div>
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Montreal</div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-15119424117894633212012-07-10T11:11:00.002-04:002012-07-11T16:16:21.796-04:00Absinthe Cafe - Paris<b><u>AKA the "Grandma/Grandpa" Spot</u></b><br />
Since leaving Paris many have asked what I miss most about it. The list of what I don't miss is longer and easier to compile. I admit though, after three years I started to love the place a bit. During a recent layover in Charles de Gaulle, on a slow crawl from Singapore to NY, I observed myself from afar. What would I do with my six hours in Paris? I zipped by metro into the city on autopilot and walked into my "local", Absinthe Cafe. It was like I never left - there were Grandma and Grandpa welcoming me to breakfast, all warmth and smiles.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>We dubbed it "Grandma/Grandpa" - never referring to it by its actual name. I don't know if the two running it are actually someones grandma and grandpa or if they're even married. It's the way they made us feel each time we went - like they were delighted to see us, like they'd been waiting for our arrival. We could come in dressed like we'd rolled out of bed and spit out our nursery school French and it was all ok, even amusing to them. This was not my usual experience with most restaurants in France, where you battle through indifference and apathy until you've been enough times to be rewarded as regulars.<br />
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It's a large place - the kitchen sits in the middle, separating the bar from the dining room. It's colorfully decorated with many pictures, photos and theater announcements. The latter gave me the impression that they were friends of the arts. I imagined them as artists, who ran a bistro during the day, a feeling reinforced whenever I watched Grandpa writing out the day's specials in an easy, flowing script. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpgVKdY5VJawg8PtGJYSK-GfkU-RQ4zRLnlg8pKKsP-ZPfDdO21Pq_qhfb06gRxMoUnXuf2_ryrOC4S4JlNPrd_vHyth-oXLs4tMG6S8vP3bOkmWaXo9NDwzfj2Nw8aLgN2fRiWVsBS0/s1600/Grandpa+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpgVKdY5VJawg8PtGJYSK-GfkU-RQ4zRLnlg8pKKsP-ZPfDdO21Pq_qhfb06gRxMoUnXuf2_ryrOC4S4JlNPrd_vHyth-oXLs4tMG6S8vP3bOkmWaXo9NDwzfj2Nw8aLgN2fRiWVsBS0/s640/Grandpa+1.jpeg" width="426" /></a> </div>
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Grandma is in the upper right of this photo, engaged in conversation with some patrons. I chomped my tartine, sipped my coffee and watched them work. I was in Paris, jet lagged and happy. Grandma and Grandpa, I've missed you.</div>
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<u><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=absinthe+cafe,+paris&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.865601,2.357082&spn=0.002382,0.004136&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.677964,67.763672&hq=absinthe+cafe,&hnear=Paris,+%C3%8Ele-de-France,+France&t=m&z=18&iwloc=A" target="_blank">54 rue Turbigo</a></u><br />
3rd Arondissement<br />
ParisFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-72809677255622454152012-06-11T01:53:00.001-04:002012-06-11T01:53:10.186-04:00Cheok Kee Braised Duck Rice - Singapore<strong><u>Laziness, Personified</u></strong><br />
I recently quit my job, pulled stakes in Paris and settled in Singapore. I tell myself I'm in early retirement and will repeat it like a mantra until my money runs out. With little to worry about I anticipated a blog creativity burst that never arrived. Rather, I've become lazier. I can easily pass a day without doing a whole lot. For hours I ponder deep questions such as "should I swim before dinner or after?" Then I stumbled into Cheok Kee, where they take the bones out of the duck for you. These are the types of incremental improvements that can jolt a listless retiree back into the blogosphere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihheTSciwlp5IzHbnMYw8N0i9T7aecJ_F4nqLf490kh8NVcjf4DLB_YtsJ28YD5XTgBhDS7rT7acexivc8LmHGwczLp7-85lqR0moLsqAsa84mE2QehB8A4vxtqfO-MEZGbgzPoPR4Hcs/s1600/Cheok+Kee+Duck+Rice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihheTSciwlp5IzHbnMYw8N0i9T7aecJ_F4nqLf490kh8NVcjf4DLB_YtsJ28YD5XTgBhDS7rT7acexivc8LmHGwczLp7-85lqR0moLsqAsa84mE2QehB8A4vxtqfO-MEZGbgzPoPR4Hcs/s640/Cheok+Kee+Duck+Rice.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>It comes smothered in a hearty sauce to which I mixed in some of their fragrant chili. I impatiently dug in while Dodo was off buying drinks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXLf0fEpqMVzqFfviz9S8uEqjNFWmZ2qy8nfDU-c-FGkzZtfmvrgMYbUgjhWsrM5sFu5iv_Q0KEHwsdFBDcKr_OrMirwEke-93WDpFdUN7v78Qw2jOMVbr3GfBuh7ahbNv4z-_Q4-ktE/s1600/Cheok+Kee+-+Hot+Stuff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXLf0fEpqMVzqFfviz9S8uEqjNFWmZ2qy8nfDU-c-FGkzZtfmvrgMYbUgjhWsrM5sFu5iv_Q0KEHwsdFBDcKr_OrMirwEke-93WDpFdUN7v78Qw2jOMVbr3GfBuh7ahbNv4z-_Q4-ktE/s640/Cheok+Kee+-+Hot+Stuff.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The slices of duck were super tender and with no bones to slow me down I ploughed through greedily. As my stomach filled my thoughts turned towards the afternoon nap. A good lunch sends me down to REM level three.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz8Jd7TyBhg0aRHFJlqynJaborw7UkqldnXXn7Va4tSje3Gg9pJBk-4LqONUP4GQ4-ccXwsJs9Dh9MaZlIuvnsIZuPaQifAGsHIn74DOmz1mSvMwW3G17CVZpB7iZw9HatZdvPcUAXJQ/s1600/Cheok+Kee+Duck+Rice+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz8Jd7TyBhg0aRHFJlqynJaborw7UkqldnXXn7Va4tSje3Gg9pJBk-4LqONUP4GQ4-ccXwsJs9Dh9MaZlIuvnsIZuPaQifAGsHIn74DOmz1mSvMwW3G17CVZpB7iZw9HatZdvPcUAXJQ/s640/Cheok+Kee+Duck+Rice+2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
If you're lazy like I am, you should visit Cheok Kee. Just make sure you bring someone to wait in line for you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuVQGZOnPAiNahkRUhL0iEDUPeoHGG_O9VVUcw6o4dxsugW0el2tpuvL4DiR3xZYaf1eUhv9C9SLEsuBJDtcnI1li6aLXUE2EvtzNkfoY95sN6yXA7HcbXZ5zO37URoz0CnTFDKcoHag/s1600/Cheok+Kee+-+Stall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuVQGZOnPAiNahkRUhL0iEDUPeoHGG_O9VVUcw6o4dxsugW0el2tpuvL4DiR3xZYaf1eUhv9C9SLEsuBJDtcnI1li6aLXUE2EvtzNkfoY95sN6yXA7HcbXZ5zO37URoz0CnTFDKcoHag/s640/Cheok+Kee+-+Stall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<u><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=69+Geylang+Bahru+Singapore&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.505383,81.738281&oq=69+geylan&hnear=69+Geylang+Bahru,+Singapore+330069&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A" target="_blank">69 Geylang Bahru</a></u><br />
Geylang Bahru Market and Food CentreFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-67020944718087851852012-04-23T05:07:00.000-04:002012-04-23T05:59:05.825-04:00Emperor Chops (君悅排骨) - Taipei<strong><u>There's Nowhere like Home</u></strong><br />
The Taiwanese diaspora try in vein to replicate the pork chops from home. Those I've sampled in NY are but the distant cousins of the Taipei originals. I don't blame them for trying, something this good should be shared. The 君悅排骨 version were juicy planks of pork kept warm in a crispy, deep-fried coat. They'd no doubt been dunked in a soy sauce, white whine and garlic bath and then dusted with corn flour, sugar and five spice, the most important of the five being the szechuan black pepper. This was a quiet, blind meal, each of us happily chewing with our eyes closed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk235OVIFm7ePX9WLt9jX9tHh7gxlilPoZ1wWMXXZs5V_X45C9-JHaJEaqWfRAIXT5lQFv_Kgq4cZcwNszvkL4UbNriBO0M2yHRANMrXrzLufc6l6kMKdyzrJsHoccUjN6w9w48jzQWE/s1600/Taipei+-+Pork+Chop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk235OVIFm7ePX9WLt9jX9tHh7gxlilPoZ1wWMXXZs5V_X45C9-JHaJEaqWfRAIXT5lQFv_Kgq4cZcwNszvkL4UbNriBO0M2yHRANMrXrzLufc6l6kMKdyzrJsHoccUjN6w9w48jzQWE/s640/Taipei+-+Pork+Chop.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sides didn't readily bequeath center stage, they stood proudly on their own. Most memorable performance went to the hard-boiled egg.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-LTZlOTKljUxXmU5-xm-GIxbjpQCLdAWmznvxco1wZt755RoALIECsr0NO-Swc98URejQUQVsTHRaUoR7ZqhvK7fN59W8hXTw0U4F7gIz56Wp8LoJUbyANfKT5egKCFUj9F7bWQ8yek/s1600/Taipei+-+Egg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-LTZlOTKljUxXmU5-xm-GIxbjpQCLdAWmznvxco1wZt755RoALIECsr0NO-Swc98URejQUQVsTHRaUoR7ZqhvK7fN59W8hXTw0U4F7gIz56Wp8LoJUbyANfKT5egKCFUj9F7bWQ8yek/s640/Taipei+-+Egg.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd normally consider the side bowl of rice, noodles and pickled veggies a waste of space, but it was the perfect sidekick. I took to carving bits of the chop and dragging them through this jungle on the way to my mouth. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkEpC7pQ_BWse5G0mFMSeMjFnUlJHvQyMJrP6bkQhYErgrtZ7nceVLS3RtYsbgbHXYm5yPUShsYeL7Y9Tk62Ga6hyphenhyphen3yc-0sCCxHOb7AcusOnSWFRl4u6RPa0oLXBsVPU4qE1rlN7uNPQ/s1600/Taipei+-+Rice+Bowl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkEpC7pQ_BWse5G0mFMSeMjFnUlJHvQyMJrP6bkQhYErgrtZ7nceVLS3RtYsbgbHXYm5yPUShsYeL7Y9Tk62Ga6hyphenhyphen3yc-0sCCxHOb7AcusOnSWFRl4u6RPa0oLXBsVPU4qE1rlN7uNPQ/s640/Taipei+-+Rice+Bowl.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On another day, in a different setting, the fried chicken would've gotten all the attention. It simply couldn't compete, not with two pork lovers grading the test.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCRFleJR_xDNFnttyJ3TXYuINobgAKhXMmjQ6eX_cP78WTr7q7koFBUW9oXMkliPlEoxscdaCw7emnZRGuxDmvv8PrV37ThXzvQFU1v-0pEp9r0p_YeJ3VoTJ9raiCyjP90YeGxKbLyY/s1600/Taipei+-+Chicken+Leg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCRFleJR_xDNFnttyJ3TXYuINobgAKhXMmjQ6eX_cP78WTr7q7koFBUW9oXMkliPlEoxscdaCw7emnZRGuxDmvv8PrV37ThXzvQFU1v-0pEp9r0p_YeJ3VoTJ9raiCyjP90YeGxKbLyY/s640/Taipei+-+Chicken+Leg.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bet this is not even one of the better versions in Taipei. I'm sure there are better but what a step up from the ones I've tried outside of Taiwan!</div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRZVC0nGSNx7hL2Ltw5SGvvbWo1VGxlk1vWmcjxz_9udmkcrt6l5S2bGaNLIXaEKfHeFvypClNSvEEDii7cAXlkecrD81mQUX3HzKsExNwvKODMx1R80IwwP4uWdowlgquvqSuFfjlTk/s1600/Taipei+-+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRZVC0nGSNx7hL2Ltw5SGvvbWo1VGxlk1vWmcjxz_9udmkcrt6l5S2bGaNLIXaEKfHeFvypClNSvEEDii7cAXlkecrD81mQUX3HzKsExNwvKODMx1R80IwwP4uWdowlgquvqSuFfjlTk/s640/Taipei+-+Sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span jstcache="80" jsvars="$title: i.title; $laddr: m.laddr; $addrurl: i.addressUrl; $features: features"></span></div><div jsfor="$addrline:i.addressLines;" jsinstance="0" jstcache="95"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=%E5%90%9B%E6%82%85%E6%8E%92%E9%AA%A8&ie=UTF8&cid=8221456247394141621" target="_blank"><span __jsproperties_parsed="true" dir="ltr" jsattrs="dir: bidiDir($addrline, true)" jscontent="$addrline" jsdisplay="$title||!$laddr||!$addrurl" jstcache="109">No. 447, Section 4, Rén'ài Road, Daan District</span><span jsattrs="dir: bidiDir($addrline, true)" jscontent="$addrline" jstcache="118"></span></a></div><div jsfor="$addrline:i.addressLines;" jsinstance="*1" jstcache="95"><span __jsproperties_parsed="true" dir="ltr" jsattrs="dir: bidiDir($addrline, true)" jscontent="$addrline" jsdisplay="$title||!$laddr||!$addrurl" jstcache="109">Taipei</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-32822390127406838762012-04-16T05:31:00.001-04:002012-04-17T04:50:16.549-04:00Coffee Alley - Taipei<strong><u>Interesting Coffee Choices</u></strong><br />
On my first visit to Taipei I took note of the coffee fanaticism. It looked to have recently blasted off and dropped the boosters. Just thirteen months later it's arrived at the outer rings of Jupiter, at least at <strong><u><a href="http://www.coffee-alley.com/tw/" target="_blank">Coffee Alley</a></u></strong>. Ordering a "tiramisu latte" seemed like a good idea. My logic was something like this: I like tiramisu and I like latte. She was a skin deep beauty, so pretty for her picture, but lacked depth and charm. The powdery topping lodged in my lungs like asbestos and I nearly coughed up the bland espresso.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvosxMYQFzPCP_sqL4wB2SShUZPRi1yHHtVxHZ-nPBOu8OhG3aewoP7dGfW4XhH2XACS_zrPuteAw7bPuOlR4CJRgVXdA011Rokdng29gWhIX2IYFKaTthyphenhyphenvxd6hBc49Rog3mwFUgGAKc/s1600/Coffee+Alley+-+Tiramisu+Coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvosxMYQFzPCP_sqL4wB2SShUZPRi1yHHtVxHZ-nPBOu8OhG3aewoP7dGfW4XhH2XACS_zrPuteAw7bPuOlR4CJRgVXdA011Rokdng29gWhIX2IYFKaTthyphenhyphenvxd6hBc49Rog3mwFUgGAKc/s640/Coffee+Alley+-+Tiramisu+Coffee.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>Dodo's cotton candy affogatto seemed like a really bad idea but turned out to be surprisingly good. It looked ridiculous when it arrived - a sugary beehive with a side of espresso. Everyone around us stared.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiVd21Df0xHur3oOBSpduXxpKwrYiYrpDh7q41uG6Ujhyphenhyphen4gDLFPnRkVb3k3YdaZayq312NQwdevV2Jtk1daTAYCLbS6-TEHueVGr59JvBwWNcQfYqd36VjyNktWfb_u9WYHGEnfZyUj8/s1600/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiVd21Df0xHur3oOBSpduXxpKwrYiYrpDh7q41uG6Ujhyphenhyphen4gDLFPnRkVb3k3YdaZayq312NQwdevV2Jtk1daTAYCLbS6-TEHueVGr59JvBwWNcQfYqd36VjyNktWfb_u9WYHGEnfZyUj8/s640/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The cotton candy vaporized at the first touch of espresso, revealing three neat spheres of ice cream.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFsxUyKuPxmA7uvClffel-_hG85WK4sAf7AxlYizfb79zLYb3l8rRg0jD8nC0JA84PHdwoKgYud2V_xgc4z9Kf8WD1ieUqkRLHcLFJs4wczOhmt2Tqy-HUi59XhDqhrbS-LZh-1Mr2K4/s1600/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto+Poured.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFsxUyKuPxmA7uvClffel-_hG85WK4sAf7AxlYizfb79zLYb3l8rRg0jD8nC0JA84PHdwoKgYud2V_xgc4z9Kf8WD1ieUqkRLHcLFJs4wczOhmt2Tqy-HUi59XhDqhrbS-LZh-1Mr2K4/s640/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto+Poured.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Vanilla ice cream, espresso, pralines, caramel and melting snowbanks of cotton candy. This was a sweet, yet not overpowering dessert. Dodo complained there was too much ice cream but that's like complaining that your job overpays you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYizUNXsna3YaPeygeWMGgM5nvhOHJaQKaHm8z8ZhETH7IpsKu4qxhYn6kkCdVlVNCoOQ64c_SuURavmnLzRv9Fd5rALZJajxQJjv0ny_EZGNlg_eWIBjX_8BWDuoY59VgnBdNpMz4x7A/s1600/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto+Poured+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYizUNXsna3YaPeygeWMGgM5nvhOHJaQKaHm8z8ZhETH7IpsKu4qxhYn6kkCdVlVNCoOQ64c_SuURavmnLzRv9Fd5rALZJajxQJjv0ny_EZGNlg_eWIBjX_8BWDuoY59VgnBdNpMz4x7A/s640/Coffee+Alley+-+Cotton+Candy+Affogatto+Poured+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I stumbled on both my orders, unfortunately. The dark brownie promised a richness but delivered otherwise. How can something so good looking taste so bland? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcqGGp5a7ny8YDX6X0R1N2QynIRbBwUAe2Y_cb3GHmDOLivmBROCaDrVbkudKkfi3iPBsANtzztqzCZ7ldzeQoobvqHcn_V8Xk-d_0IP2F85DXJaGIAvFiTGWhBiaVGziYDZeQU0eivI/s1600/Coffee+Alley+-+Brownie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcqGGp5a7ny8YDX6X0R1N2QynIRbBwUAe2Y_cb3GHmDOLivmBROCaDrVbkudKkfi3iPBsANtzztqzCZ7ldzeQoobvqHcn_V8Xk-d_0IP2F85DXJaGIAvFiTGWhBiaVGziYDZeQU0eivI/s640/Coffee+Alley+-+Brownie.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42+Lane+187,+Section+1,+D%C5%ABnhu%C3%A0+South+Road,+Daan+District,+Taiwan&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=25.042585,121.550814&spn=0.001213,0.002401&sll=25.042623,121.550825&sspn=0.001213,0.002401&hnear=Lane+187,+Section+1,+D%C5%ABnhu%C3%A0+South+Rd,+Daan+District,+Taipei+City,+Taiwan+106&t=m&z=19" target="_blank">No. 42, Lane 187, Dun Hua S. Rd, Sec. 1</a><br />
TaipeiFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-38166577540150546892012-04-10T05:25:00.002-04:002012-04-10T06:02:11.511-04:00Street Noodles - Taipei<strong><u>Back to the Streets for Eats</u></strong><br />
Bouncing around the globe, trailing crumbs in my wake, I land in Taipei with the cutesie on my arm. I feel confident, worldly, hungry. We take down a batch of street noodles like two pros, she with the order, me with the mouth. Well, ok, she with her big mouth too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobEqgXvyu52LN904p8IX-7WYF-N5i2eAwOUFGRep7mBhiOU059g4u0h-jXxGgMNx0mRBHmPOAyggiWudDcxopT1586UI73WwAv_8pVGhjF12HSL94RoRv1brMIgiymDQk0JGjp8hjQEA/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Noodles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobEqgXvyu52LN904p8IX-7WYF-N5i2eAwOUFGRep7mBhiOU059g4u0h-jXxGgMNx0mRBHmPOAyggiWudDcxopT1586UI73WwAv_8pVGhjF12HSL94RoRv1brMIgiymDQk0JGjp8hjQEA/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Noodles.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I was introduced to Taipei a year ago and got to know her a bit. This time, with the noodles in my mouth, I began to fall in love. This is a city for street food lovers. At this stall, you point out all your noodles' sidekicks and wait while they boil it up fresh. Most memorable was the soft boiled egg.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE-0iug6FpPzbPI2jtZh6kuCF4FSQCE08KjAfwn30kShWEVLgimQupZYkxbmmIf3GQ-at18rFhmNzzpCj2tDLLBlfcxyzFf12zO3yN1O_0m3j6L7DQ_cish-af04BQWsIsxOt5Qrl4GM/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Choices.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE-0iug6FpPzbPI2jtZh6kuCF4FSQCE08KjAfwn30kShWEVLgimQupZYkxbmmIf3GQ-at18rFhmNzzpCj2tDLLBlfcxyzFf12zO3yN1O_0m3j6L7DQ_cish-af04BQWsIsxOt5Qrl4GM/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Choices.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>More so than in Singapore, I learn a lot of Chinese in Taipei. It's immersion at its best, except when Dodo is Singlishing me to death. We went to a concert by a famous Taiwanese singer named A-mei and I spent most of the time listening to her sing and trying to match the lyrics with the Mandarin subtitles. It's easier when there is context or translation. The first two characters on the pack of Prince noodles, below, are for king and child. Child King = Prince.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHgdSJtXcECOb7jlFPLAtYyTiHTu4t_A47mFSKSGqT8ifdGz_7WPC2fFCrIiHA2-ORu0l44yzZaTzikVlPynyrU2HHPX-dQ5Hfg6Yv7Jbk0QUD8-Od8gaItQdqvlPCzcGE8VwFe8O07o/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Prince.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHgdSJtXcECOb7jlFPLAtYyTiHTu4t_A47mFSKSGqT8ifdGz_7WPC2fFCrIiHA2-ORu0l44yzZaTzikVlPynyrU2HHPX-dQ5Hfg6Yv7Jbk0QUD8-Od8gaItQdqvlPCzcGE8VwFe8O07o/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Prince.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>But let's set expectations. I know enough Mandarin to starve and get arrested. Without the Dodo helping me I woulda dropped 10 pounds. Don't expect a lot of English being spoken at Taipei street stalls, folks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfFCCbo-QIvzrrxK0cxk7XCZrV54J9u49oBVv8QuULdM2BiEx4zADtXtVzKEecwj48AWcJzoQJYHH6ePxf7hXmkiznL3lIYP_wFEGmCO9HZCG3joPfswqzARpS1CXNJ-3A1v-dO0o36o/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Stall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfFCCbo-QIvzrrxK0cxk7XCZrV54J9u49oBVv8QuULdM2BiEx4zADtXtVzKEecwj48AWcJzoQJYHH6ePxf7hXmkiznL3lIYP_wFEGmCO9HZCG3joPfswqzARpS1CXNJ-3A1v-dO0o36o/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Stall.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This stall sets up nightly on the corner of:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXAM0IhNScCTKECRVxnLlqCm96e2SMK322jP8XXCjkNV4qi2B9pjVd924rsU6BPEfu6ttp5sYC1DHtXtTw_5-rrWu-4eR4vIi38xGBkTlpWuSDesw_8agMIvC4edSfu8dD43WHFmmb-0/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Corner+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXAM0IhNScCTKECRVxnLlqCm96e2SMK322jP8XXCjkNV4qi2B9pjVd924rsU6BPEfu6ttp5sYC1DHtXtTw_5-rrWu-4eR4vIi38xGBkTlpWuSDesw_8agMIvC4edSfu8dD43WHFmmb-0/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Corner+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>and:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc7eXvxXpfewFitmkGaFFKGwqlNXLk3HsGlSYwZ4sXO6U5qtt2VglVMaRG_fuRL1_WzcMLuGbKP0Cw8xPp-bv-6lxTY-bNocBFqtoDnp7H6ls_x8T4ZjwfH4AMGJS95BbukqLMXXwjzg/s1600/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Corener+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUc7eXvxXpfewFitmkGaFFKGwqlNXLk3HsGlSYwZ4sXO6U5qtt2VglVMaRG_fuRL1_WzcMLuGbKP0Cw8xPp-bv-6lxTY-bNocBFqtoDnp7H6ls_x8T4ZjwfH4AMGJS95BbukqLMXXwjzg/s640/Taipei+Street+Noodles+-+Corener+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lane+177,+Section+1,+D%C5%ABnhu%C3%A0+South+Rd,+Daan+District,+Taipei+City,+Taiwan+106&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=25.04308,121.550825&spn=0.002425,0.004801&sll=25.043301,121.550935&sspn=0.001222,0.002401&geocode=FYsgfgEd6Lc-Bw&hnear=Lane+177,+Section+1,+D%C5%ABnhu%C3%A0+South+Rd,+Daan+District,+Taipei+City,+Taiwan+106&t=m&z=18" target="_blank">Lane 177, Section 1, Dūnhuà South Rd</a><br />
Daan District, TaipeiFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-67319635348810108812012-04-04T14:17:00.001-04:002012-04-04T17:00:15.545-04:00Panini Durini - Milan<strong><u>Pork Belly Perfection</u></strong><br />
When I moved to Brooklyn, nearby Carroll Gardens was still rough and tumble. I used to tiptoe over for an Italian sandwich once in a while. I sported a sidewalk gaze and acted humble, hoping to pop in and out without any static. The sandwiches were worth the risk but their equivalents in Italy might tempt you to greater feats of daring. Whole other level of tasty! At <strong><u><a href="http://www.paninidurini.it/" target="_blank">Panini Durini</a></u></strong> I chomped down on a memory-rending combo of pancetta tesa, caciotta dolce and peperoncini, aka black-peppered pork belly, sweet cheese and peppers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AV1XAvh3UPBgawOcagDHNVlYeZp7RkgLfzGIOH7xj6BF9rfB7YEz_N-oMnzQ_9EDo22NKO4VmonPhMCG-_A_ZIIfTRBZQMAKK3G3UM5QnRren9eSv4P5BVfh-GRwCchpy-BwqkxmAlo/s1600/Panini+Durini+-+Pancetta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AV1XAvh3UPBgawOcagDHNVlYeZp7RkgLfzGIOH7xj6BF9rfB7YEz_N-oMnzQ_9EDo22NKO4VmonPhMCG-_A_ZIIfTRBZQMAKK3G3UM5QnRren9eSv4P5BVfh-GRwCchpy-BwqkxmAlo/s640/Panini+Durini+-+Pancetta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<a name='more'></a>For some reason, this stuff just tastes better in Italy. My simple theory - the pigs are happier over here. That doesn't explain why my carrot cake was so good, though. I may have to go back to the blackboard. The carrot cake was totally unlike any I've had. Flaky, crumbly, yet moist at the same time.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD62hDgk9dlXg84F5Wq4v_eOeTBvbgQ99pDBBeIc7HB3HrBY6fzuCO4x36uzz9_kPXOX1ndlv8dghPv9m0MNlmP4K468t2pIB77JKcSmlnbhrwR5Fe7SeGw2u7BCg80GcLLLlisjB3gY/s1600/Panini+Durini+-+Carrot+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD62hDgk9dlXg84F5Wq4v_eOeTBvbgQ99pDBBeIc7HB3HrBY6fzuCO4x36uzz9_kPXOX1ndlv8dghPv9m0MNlmP4K468t2pIB77JKcSmlnbhrwR5Fe7SeGw2u7BCg80GcLLLlisjB3gY/s640/Panini+Durini+-+Carrot+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was happy about the Chinotto (pronounced key-no-toe), a drink that some consider an acquired taste. It's made from an unloved citrus fruit for connoisseurs like the kid.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RZY1icw_Skq0SDbq2CgvUsrX3a_vS1_TfAmtMIbWoAQsc-6AOrXwOKA_kgX8imxFnEY-1Pj33cZ7nArfoybE0RiLITxqvkp80jPrgnXWarlnXS9znEV8oUTS9yqEsfXPQNF4bPIztZg/s1600/Panini+Durini+-+Chinotto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RZY1icw_Skq0SDbq2CgvUsrX3a_vS1_TfAmtMIbWoAQsc-6AOrXwOKA_kgX8imxFnEY-1Pj33cZ7nArfoybE0RiLITxqvkp80jPrgnXWarlnXS9znEV8oUTS9yqEsfXPQNF4bPIztZg/s640/Panini+Durini+-+Chinotto.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hit this spot a few times, once for a slept-in-late breakfast of coffee and biscotti.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOEYMQLPzGKiMka6dctB1OzuV7NTrueskQ5tVo-zV_y0zCrEjaaP2KLODs5rZz9kwEvkTh7YIEMXMdzEK0oby25ZHBmf4BA_N3UkBE8Si4LfP5-KNh-Snsh3-Ohxa9sPO8zYXzD4T5RI/s1600/Panini+Durini+-+Insides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOEYMQLPzGKiMka6dctB1OzuV7NTrueskQ5tVo-zV_y0zCrEjaaP2KLODs5rZz9kwEvkTh7YIEMXMdzEK0oby25ZHBmf4BA_N3UkBE8Si4LfP5-KNh-Snsh3-Ohxa9sPO8zYXzD4T5RI/s640/Panini+Durini+-+Insides.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eat your heart out Dodo!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x1yJU99C0FeYp5lzFVqrJ4xi_0P3SK91RuiJG7HGNS2c_9QFWCYs9spElocJ6608Y8RzzDK1l_z5seq5Y_b0G32FQeFY9wBMym7FHf82lBTnDKdZg5jndkJwvdKPmKiwtypUH09oVBk/s1600/Panini+Durini+-+Exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x1yJU99C0FeYp5lzFVqrJ4xi_0P3SK91RuiJG7HGNS2c_9QFWCYs9spElocJ6608Y8RzzDK1l_z5seq5Y_b0G32FQeFY9wBMym7FHf82lBTnDKdZg5jndkJwvdKPmKiwtypUH09oVBk/s640/Panini+Durini+-+Exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Largo+Donegani+3,+Largo+Guido+Donegani,+Milano,+Italia&hl=en&sll=45.47539,9.194827&sspn=0.016611,0.042272&hq=Largo+Donegani&hnear=Largo+Guido+Donegani,+3,+20121+Milano,+Lombardia,+Italy&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Largo Donegani</a></u><br />
MilanFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-56613789939217748682012-03-27T11:12:00.002-04:002012-04-03T02:56:09.470-04:00Van Bol & Feste - Milan<strong><u>Full Stomach Revenge, Cont'd</u></strong><br />
I don't eat a lot. Matter of fact, for a food blogger I'm a disgrace. In Milan, however, I flipped it. Maximum jealousy potential, remember? <strong><u><a href="http://www.vanbolandfeste.it/" target="_blank">Van Bol e Feste</a></u></strong> fit the bill - just the kind of schwank-a-billy place the fancy-Dodo likes. Counting <strong><u><a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2012/03/sugar-milan.html" target="_blank">Sugar</a></u></strong>, I was two-fer-two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7jLiFAak7cUYvoYEbt-Gfb3X80HLeBeiOdzgvKw0A_hEl44Y6hkI5yQPJZ-cV2KL9jtunXtRKCuJyVORU5PgPub63YAjTSY5HeXi-sytwUm4gh8gitUcbWn0RKViTJhfUXSeyjao37k/s1600/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Brioche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7jLiFAak7cUYvoYEbt-Gfb3X80HLeBeiOdzgvKw0A_hEl44Y6hkI5yQPJZ-cV2KL9jtunXtRKCuJyVORU5PgPub63YAjTSY5HeXi-sytwUm4gh8gitUcbWn0RKViTJhfUXSeyjao37k/s640/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Brioche.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I bounded off the tram and barged in like a cocky American, surveyed the dozens of possibilities and quickly settled on a brioche with chocolate innards. I mean, come on, I've been with this chick for years, I know what it takes to get her goat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWSas-DXawvN_yhQzRZGCxSB9IpKrpykEUgozUvumFdcMdcbHDijIizLqNoQO8lQ_ZrIsH7CZtXo6LwUPsXRvVuHP12BYLgcFf0pKCq_fif-okTNZHHkSq23KaBEZ31lRRVjuSBYQFN4/s1600/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Counter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWSas-DXawvN_yhQzRZGCxSB9IpKrpykEUgozUvumFdcMdcbHDijIizLqNoQO8lQ_ZrIsH7CZtXo6LwUPsXRvVuHP12BYLgcFf0pKCq_fif-okTNZHHkSq23KaBEZ31lRRVjuSBYQFN4/s640/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Counter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I sat behind the bar and gleefully dismembered it. I must have looked like a wolf with a small helpless creature. Wisps of powdered sugar sprayed the table as I shook my head after each bite. I didn't slow to wipe the chocolate mustache, just kept biting and smiling. "Here's JOHNNY!!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIgudjCioeZ_2Wt4sZam86pteMQyTGEkDPd1qdwsa9IIcSwUjmXGN2Y_xx3as1eDvggeC-JKxsPJ3n5BWrsPD7mqluDVFr6vpTWFMBptJHL6N7EhDNOn-ESURsEPgH_MXecm9B2CrYqY/s1600/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Behind+the+Counter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIgudjCioeZ_2Wt4sZam86pteMQyTGEkDPd1qdwsa9IIcSwUjmXGN2Y_xx3as1eDvggeC-JKxsPJ3n5BWrsPD7mqluDVFr6vpTWFMBptJHL6N7EhDNOn-ESURsEPgH_MXecm9B2CrYqY/s640/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Behind+the+Counter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This madman stood out amongst the well-dressed crowd. Drained my Illy in one inhale. Didn't even brush off the crumbs, just stood up, jogged out the front door, looking for my next victim.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrvtTf6zaEWn77FBHzk0h22g98-WgYS8V9o4NNkz3kABuWgTQBI6iBcL38KW0HBMVLo7Hho5rkKDpKxi0bWQzjEHeTYBrcTyPBZdClq9WwAnwBomzkY02Py8cWZwJhiQRwYhCeXIQauI/s1600/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrvtTf6zaEWn77FBHzk0h22g98-WgYS8V9o4NNkz3kABuWgTQBI6iBcL38KW0HBMVLo7Hho5rkKDpKxi0bWQzjEHeTYBrcTyPBZdClq9WwAnwBomzkY02Py8cWZwJhiQRwYhCeXIQauI/s640/Van+Bol+and+Feste+-+Exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Largo+Cairoli,+Milano,+Italia&hl=en&sll=45.585373,9.42208&sspn=0.479582,1.229095&oq=largo+ca+milano&hq=Largo+Cairoli,+Milano,+Italia&t=m&z=14" target="_blank">Largo Cairoli</a></u><br />
MilanoFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-29213176501866637852012-03-27T10:30:00.000-04:002012-03-28T10:56:38.993-04:00Antica Focacceria San Francesco - Milan<strong><u>Going South on Sunday</u></strong><br />
Like Paris, Milan is a bit sleepy on Sundays. You take what you can get and are glad for it. I was looking for a typical Milanese lunch, but settled for <strong><u><a href="http://www.sito3d.it/anticafocacceria/" target="_blank">Sicilian</a></u></strong> instead. It was educational, because other than "rigatoni", I didn't recognize one word on the menu. They must speak a special kind of Italian in Sicily.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcHZ76t_SbVssW0rKNBMjFjNtvVaBn-jZ2BiJOAyADyXMnToVdhk_WZDTolgmSjUPhbz6wivk__ozoZCu8uzOyqVcIYlJTMumRtAMbCZWEfFESvcBWf-FeonFEIWlbOUGYt_N9zfXVwo/s1600/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Rigatoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcHZ76t_SbVssW0rKNBMjFjNtvVaBn-jZ2BiJOAyADyXMnToVdhk_WZDTolgmSjUPhbz6wivk__ozoZCu8uzOyqVcIYlJTMumRtAMbCZWEfFESvcBWf-FeonFEIWlbOUGYt_N9zfXVwo/s640/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Rigatoni.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>The rigatoni was bathed in a sweet tomato sauce, sweeter than I expected. It took me a while to adjust. I got full on it as I waited for my next plate, something that I randomly pointed at in the menu. After I finished it off, I glanced over the desserts at the front counter but knew I'd be too full.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPoOdpf6uTlmo7ESVG0jv3odvxE-kJtaOVHM0xxooulNRUj1mrBDIS0CGCG9QNp2-MYbmQiCdjvJYqJ9eQtw2VS-nK2pk9HRpSBYCFIVCBmD8fMJ81H53FEIUjJLiPOCNKrWRDj66tHE/s1600/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Counter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPoOdpf6uTlmo7ESVG0jv3odvxE-kJtaOVHM0xxooulNRUj1mrBDIS0CGCG9QNp2-MYbmQiCdjvJYqJ9eQtw2VS-nK2pk9HRpSBYCFIVCBmD8fMJ81H53FEIUjJLiPOCNKrWRDj66tHE/s640/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Counter.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
The mystery plate. Not a clue when I dug in. Still a bit fuzzy but my tongue tells me it was an assortment of meatballs with a side of sauteed eggplant. I enjoyed every morsel.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ00fNNcWXKpj1HURtpLkWoxrnK-v1JnRIepgbcDtI3Ec7Eerl67_udvdMv-57oYC9uekKg0vjHl7jWL5uUg93i3_0AYgueT1Ba0VoM9Kg34kqRaS3jOQjpK_FSMsCPLGyrZuYvcx5Ck/s1600/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Meatball+Plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQ00fNNcWXKpj1HURtpLkWoxrnK-v1JnRIepgbcDtI3Ec7Eerl67_udvdMv-57oYC9uekKg0vjHl7jWL5uUg93i3_0AYgueT1Ba0VoM9Kg34kqRaS3jOQjpK_FSMsCPLGyrZuYvcx5Ck/s640/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Meatball+Plate.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
It was standing room only and with good reason. I sipped a glass of chianti and looked forward to the jealousy this post would incite in the ball and chain. Dodo, how now brown cow?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDd1djqpqWTsY1rrK3fSFFI_el8K5rm_Qnl3hRFpXmIF8_C0eG3zi7wDqhuxnsA0zCmRuv-AdCJCXWKGmzonnuiAlOjzet1EEf5pD476XLUeNje2SyPX6tgfn7PcRsdSiZ45xuFenI6U/s1600/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDd1djqpqWTsY1rrK3fSFFI_el8K5rm_Qnl3hRFpXmIF8_C0eG3zi7wDqhuxnsA0zCmRuv-AdCJCXWKGmzonnuiAlOjzet1EEf5pD476XLUeNje2SyPX6tgfn7PcRsdSiZ45xuFenI6U/s640/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTsbDqNuQx2uuai42ncxE-9TlPhv7YOxxPBdjD2ZcBjBRwVCSQgHvTmqc8KR5YwT1zQXKL-kBQNNtAJmVQ8L31h6aMWp243312SileAgY97Jdid2Idw3VGXCOVjZGaQuzz-LnJGVbakA/s1600/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTsbDqNuQx2uuai42ncxE-9TlPhv7YOxxPBdjD2ZcBjBRwVCSQgHvTmqc8KR5YwT1zQXKL-kBQNNtAJmVQ8L31h6aMWp243312SileAgY97Jdid2Idw3VGXCOVjZGaQuzz-LnJGVbakA/s640/Antica+Focacceria+S+Francisco+-+Exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Via+S.+Paolo,+15,+milan&hl=en&ll=45.467159,9.190621&spn=0.007509,0.019205&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.724817,78.662109&hq=Via+S.+Paolo,+15,&hnear=Milan,+Lombardy,+Italy&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Via S. Paolo 15</a></u><br />
MilanFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-23136691733804144912012-03-22T14:35:00.001-04:002012-03-22T14:40:53.757-04:00Sugar - Milan<strong><u>Pasticceria as Revenge</u></strong><br />
"If you go to Hong Kong without me, I'll go somewhere too" I threatened. I was due in Paris the next day and she was hinting about going to a meeting in one of my favorite places. By the time I boarded the plane in Singapore, she was booking her flight. A few days later, she was gloating about dim sum. I immediately plotted my response: Milan. Yes, I'm vengeful. At <u>Sugar</u>, I ordered based on maximum jealousy potential.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem2tD6FHJAqEAY01Brbbcv7YuYcNbJ-22LjRmVbnS-jJwo2NEnZ4FBu-w2zz9nLCoWty9vkz5i7XZxByL4KAP80TpjACviVNRX-Y_AOmSDG8g5TmI6yXazOKdxKDGMYE_4-3nwNULinw/s1600/Sugar+-+the+Goods.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem2tD6FHJAqEAY01Brbbcv7YuYcNbJ-22LjRmVbnS-jJwo2NEnZ4FBu-w2zz9nLCoWty9vkz5i7XZxByL4KAP80TpjACviVNRX-Y_AOmSDG8g5TmI6yXazOKdxKDGMYE_4-3nwNULinw/s640/Sugar+-+the+Goods.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Their fruit tart mainlines sugar directly to the cranial sac. My spine straigtened and pupils dilated. A smile spread slowly across my face. It was damned good - I'd chosen well. I took a trolley straight to their front door. Milan's web of trolleys remind me of Melbourne. So does the laid back atmosphere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Odur-gmhezIawm7C1PMQ3cefaoKPUuy3iVb-HZVFBFylmxFV0DVt2x50J8Wmb6AUAL5Os98zs0YDST850jRCiebKhy0-goharfqHG7C4KqcyaS5M_MAED8hLxbKyituPUMSe6lX8JRU/s1600/Sugar+-+Trolley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Odur-gmhezIawm7C1PMQ3cefaoKPUuy3iVb-HZVFBFylmxFV0DVt2x50J8Wmb6AUAL5Os98zs0YDST850jRCiebKhy0-goharfqHG7C4KqcyaS5M_MAED8hLxbKyituPUMSe6lX8JRU/s640/Sugar+-+Trolley.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I sat in the front window, sipping my Illy, which of course was perfect. I don't know how Italians can drink coffee outside their country. Every cup I had was excellent.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdgzyTXHSmh9dsOoZczYzn7qgH6AHQnUVBfnHWia5bhjKZr3sQDU9ycLDaFmyyi-Qjmu463NM7-J0CVSu2aI0H0mVVR7uUk7vryb7x8aT4gxHpdvlNzwxo-qvkohGs25ZoR7s3V5GBh4/s1600/Sugar+-+the+Choices.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdgzyTXHSmh9dsOoZczYzn7qgH6AHQnUVBfnHWia5bhjKZr3sQDU9ycLDaFmyyi-Qjmu463NM7-J0CVSu2aI0H0mVVR7uUk7vryb7x8aT4gxHpdvlNzwxo-qvkohGs25ZoR7s3V5GBh4/s640/Sugar+-+the+Choices.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kid was bullshitting to maximum effect, paper out, reading every word and didn't have a clue. I should have been an actor or a spy.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHq0iyXCs0V29SEhAol71IiMNCJBDn0_kcAapZJaw-aZM_gUK7vbKo23khZmNioEk6j9NZoRvrmNspUl5whADWz2XmqrKjt6_8zvqC4CKHLonqDdsf9MX40pzVd4JchE0kKmwMKlTGqk/s1600/Sugar+-+News.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHq0iyXCs0V29SEhAol71IiMNCJBDn0_kcAapZJaw-aZM_gUK7vbKo23khZmNioEk6j9NZoRvrmNspUl5whADWz2XmqrKjt6_8zvqC4CKHLonqDdsf9MX40pzVd4JchE0kKmwMKlTGqk/s640/Sugar+-+News.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back on the trolley, looking for my next vengence. The trolley's are so cool. This one was older than my grandma. No heat, no soft seats.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oNH4UO-1O0i6EMgJ-JB_MDuuMtLQeUN-AFaSObUS3vw8xrMkjrQ8W5QLf1ZlPgnFVUxhmse_0wFJF8DpFWfiM9st4AZfj7Qro7sCTcslZucwKL6lKxV7yNrHfs8Vh9uUKnz8joW7Ub4/s1600/Sugar+-+Inside+Trolley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oNH4UO-1O0i6EMgJ-JB_MDuuMtLQeUN-AFaSObUS3vw8xrMkjrQ8W5QLf1ZlPgnFVUxhmse_0wFJF8DpFWfiM9st4AZfj7Qro7sCTcslZucwKL6lKxV7yNrHfs8Vh9uUKnz8joW7Ub4/s640/Sugar+-+Inside+Trolley.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was holding onto this exact strap when I saw my next spot.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bSzExBFV9NHQLMB8f0Be4UFzn2w9AhoJWyuNFAAPm_7ahtANKXkehGW2hplYoqf9DgzRZ_PQ-KNqPg5BxBU8SHseE607KBDdkIr_IknVwmQqsuAKLGYBZK4sHTNmgl0UwxdNpxREpSM/s1600/Sugar+-+Trolley+Strap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bSzExBFV9NHQLMB8f0Be4UFzn2w9AhoJWyuNFAAPm_7ahtANKXkehGW2hplYoqf9DgzRZ_PQ-KNqPg5BxBU8SHseE607KBDdkIr_IknVwmQqsuAKLGYBZK4sHTNmgl0UwxdNpxREpSM/s640/Sugar+-+Trolley+Strap.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I was getting off, I saw this sign. It's perfect. Is says "vengence is best served sweet"</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX08AV_ObdKKYFrLzgnJNCzyikNXgelaWcn3o0DbrNHb6aOeq-LkKviFq4Ei46oMyiy1OdeQUGNMcb8-2u7jzn4ep9nEKYAuh_Kn6S5N99GTO8nNlZ8hDfLNW7s1sHoBiRHUA_X0VWDbo/s1600/Sugar+-+Vengeance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX08AV_ObdKKYFrLzgnJNCzyikNXgelaWcn3o0DbrNHb6aOeq-LkKviFq4Ei46oMyiy1OdeQUGNMcb8-2u7jzn4ep9nEKYAuh_Kn6S5N99GTO8nNlZ8hDfLNW7s1sHoBiRHUA_X0VWDbo/s640/Sugar+-+Vengeance.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=26+Via+Vincenzo+Monti,+milano&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.365962,86.572266&hnear=Via+Vincenzo+Monti,+26,+20123+Milano,+Lombardia,+Italy&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">26 Via Vincenzo Monti</a></u><br />
MilanoFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-79935783782426369752012-03-19T16:40:00.000-04:002012-03-19T16:40:01.435-04:00Breakfast Toasts - Kuala Lumpur<strong><u>In Malaysia, they're Simply Better</u></strong><br />
I get down from time to time. At its worst, the world seems dark and meaningless and I can barely drag myself out of bed. As bad as it gets, I am always excited for breakfast. I absolutely love the first meal, no other comes close. If you were to plot my day on a graph, starting with breakfast on the left, the line would slant steeply downward, past lunch, going negative near dinner. While I'm still eating my morning meal I often ask the Dodo "what's for breakfast tomorrow?" She usually rolls her eyes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBT2co4LuqRkzophjIUKiwsfIGPq01GMLSGCYefWYsBocYqvuRv6N-raI2RKhTodYI_Kdv9XaCNgV8Gt1fTTYzpbnHsJWdIu4_0c-3zSS-5Ci8E61jO5nQYM7MyfjQCLl-BvR47eVE9g/s1600/KL+Butter+Toast2+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBT2co4LuqRkzophjIUKiwsfIGPq01GMLSGCYefWYsBocYqvuRv6N-raI2RKhTodYI_Kdv9XaCNgV8Gt1fTTYzpbnHsJWdIu4_0c-3zSS-5Ci8E61jO5nQYM7MyfjQCLl-BvR47eVE9g/s640/KL+Butter+Toast2+.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a>In KL, I had some very good ones, including these toasts, one with butter and this one, with both butter and peanut butter. It reminded me of <u><a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.fr/2010/08/toh-soon-cafe-penang-malaysia.html" target="_blank">Penang</a></u> last year. What makes them so good? The charcoal! Just imagine a thick piece of bread, toasted to a smoky crispiness and then slathered with so much peanut butter that you can barely get your jaws in motion. There are crispy bits with extra smokiness that almost make me want to get up and find the cook to give him a hug.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LR6yeIlKq1pQnlOtmUNVyMmuJUDY2FO15gOKerElDZjyhY8cT4A6IBiDT2bvfFSzOYDzWMRM8eA1XYbkYqxKU6XNw-IPiTQrmJ8lZot4_Kxio8lzfEdXGtdCiywPvmBzCjTzgjk1EBc/s1600/KL+PB+Toast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LR6yeIlKq1pQnlOtmUNVyMmuJUDY2FO15gOKerElDZjyhY8cT4A6IBiDT2bvfFSzOYDzWMRM8eA1XYbkYqxKU6XNw-IPiTQrmJ8lZot4_Kxio8lzfEdXGtdCiywPvmBzCjTzgjk1EBc/s640/KL+PB+Toast.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What more is there to look forward to, really? As I wash down the last morsels with my coffee, the line on the graph starts to dip Time for a nap. If only I could wake up and it was breakfast time again.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fOwQ3D4ZPjsC6BxhWCgoJMvzPRpe5FM316OlAO4GcO2wBMChtld8dMxSYj6cOd4cPCCiUfvYZ9NAoqEnT22opo3uTA4gzDe7EXD-L_hMQunhXV7pmKQoZQS3kZ_QbRksTp41Z5xdpZU/s1600/KL+Butter+Toast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fOwQ3D4ZPjsC6BxhWCgoJMvzPRpe5FM316OlAO4GcO2wBMChtld8dMxSYj6cOd4cPCCiUfvYZ9NAoqEnT22opo3uTA4gzDe7EXD-L_hMQunhXV7pmKQoZQS3kZ_QbRksTp41Z5xdpZU/s640/KL+Butter+Toast.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-55429026925461435652012-02-26T06:23:00.000-05:002012-02-26T06:23:30.923-05:00Restoran West Lake - Kuala Lumpur<strong><u>KL Hokkien Mee</u></strong><br />
Looks can be deceiving, my friends. What appears to be a plate of fetid earthworms is in fact the famous Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Mee. Thick yellow noodles, pork and specks of cabbage sauteed in a dark soya sauce over a charcoal fire. Bits of deep fried pork fat lurk within, setting off a frantic chopstick battle royale that I lose time and again. Dodo brought me to Restoran West Lake to show me how this dish is supposed to taste. For reasons I cannot discern, it's miles better than the wan versions I've tried in Singapore.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx53z6T9d2Y6J8IVhTg62Z9dB2Qg9U7hhXeECSk6NbpkJ-wHee0mvDNKApw5N1J8u9SpWQr23uAP9m_x_JPyUsuTwAX1ddxaBJUnnIwsC_HcaCdr94kPz7HEyjQ1VOARi5vMSgRfa20ro/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+KL+Hokkien+Mee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx53z6T9d2Y6J8IVhTg62Z9dB2Qg9U7hhXeECSk6NbpkJ-wHee0mvDNKApw5N1J8u9SpWQr23uAP9m_x_JPyUsuTwAX1ddxaBJUnnIwsC_HcaCdr94kPz7HEyjQ1VOARi5vMSgRfa20ro/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+KL+Hokkien+Mee.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>You'd probably walk right by this place. It has all the charm of an old motorcycle repair shop. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVnxC5rKk0xRs0dM-ye7C1Oq6IrknmhPGs_mQ-RLrl7CNsqXO6zvo6WthvLlhIU9c1zfg_M6KhU8NN3fXWtPUa4B8r8RVx95w_PjCyZu300i75q-hgc2d_nlFDr2TaXdgLLr70JJ1MK4/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVnxC5rKk0xRs0dM-ye7C1Oq6IrknmhPGs_mQ-RLrl7CNsqXO6zvo6WthvLlhIU9c1zfg_M6KhU8NN3fXWtPUa4B8r8RVx95w_PjCyZu300i75q-hgc2d_nlFDr2TaXdgLLr70JJ1MK4/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Sign.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There are piles of detritus on either side of the cigarette kiosk. The "Please do Not Spit" sign is a classic. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ0CLcZRIA7UY0TyOYNF5etgZuWCXZ8K5lXvQn9Nt9jXVWwRe5FPjhAomhIt7nkrzsu0q9f4hqUImZRhhbsAsMb9FlzSeGB6ZqGB_fOnTjMYxnVh7uG2Mjtm23OAfCZiGg_IEIjNn6vE/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Cigs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ0CLcZRIA7UY0TyOYNF5etgZuWCXZ8K5lXvQn9Nt9jXVWwRe5FPjhAomhIt7nkrzsu0q9f4hqUImZRhhbsAsMb9FlzSeGB6ZqGB_fOnTjMYxnVh7uG2Mjtm23OAfCZiGg_IEIjNn6vE/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Cigs.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>You sit around hard aluminum tables on ugly chairs. Everything about this place says "RUN!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBur0EKN5kzQMhQCi_j7_2nQJXjpqt_Zk5lz5UgVnvlXPzVqHS9owrYV-LxvGfK3lV_nrmuknYKYTzDg82ljwyXf8LeJxwaem_pN37D4w4eIC43rYv31lDVKpaNPslo6E0ElqtDI9rKY/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Interior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBur0EKN5kzQMhQCi_j7_2nQJXjpqt_Zk5lz5UgVnvlXPzVqHS9owrYV-LxvGfK3lV_nrmuknYKYTzDg82ljwyXf8LeJxwaem_pN37D4w4eIC43rYv31lDVKpaNPslo6E0ElqtDI9rKY/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Interior.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Once you taste a bite of the food, the surroudings seem charming all of a sudden. Surpassing the KL Hokkien Mee was this dish of fried maggie noodles with fish cake, sprouts, spinach and chilies. It had a fragrant taste that I couldn't put my finger on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XEnbXfLcT5atbKd8fiQDZwekkVuNWpOlUCUTir9r8n38ssfXnEUpYHieFycPZlxxHQdG5MKl_l9wXtSz0LR4odMAyMz3TmHlIoIu-9lCHkPlQmpF97DVkSEneGsbx6_4OFd5wwkAB8M/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Fried+Maggie+Noodles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XEnbXfLcT5atbKd8fiQDZwekkVuNWpOlUCUTir9r8n38ssfXnEUpYHieFycPZlxxHQdG5MKl_l9wXtSz0LR4odMAyMz3TmHlIoIu-9lCHkPlQmpF97DVkSEneGsbx6_4OFd5wwkAB8M/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Fried+Maggie+Noodles.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We ate every last bit of both dishes, more than we usually eat in one sitting. No room at all for the dog dishes. Yep, dog. I'm a cat person myself, but still......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6a1qAekU9wbvVEA6_jD8m8LZ42X5vLF_G_Ke9YXeJWp5lASYPEhCqanC8HgSKyXq1TR5_6rmG_veBo8alMTaMLYV3tlPfwSZ5LtQZwtUXDlZn422xnkprhcdKSKVs7xKkG5yG6aRnxA/s1600/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Wreckage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6a1qAekU9wbvVEA6_jD8m8LZ42X5vLF_G_Ke9YXeJWp5lASYPEhCqanC8HgSKyXq1TR5_6rmG_veBo8alMTaMLYV3tlPfwSZ5LtQZwtUXDlZn422xnkprhcdKSKVs7xKkG5yG6aRnxA/s640/Restoran+West+Lake+-+Wreckage.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=15+Jalan+sultan+Kuala+Lumpur+Kuala+Lumpur+Wilayah+Persekutuan+Malaysia&hl=en&ll=3.143076,101.69868&spn=0.002828,0.004801&sll=3.071286,101.609013&sspn=0.181014,0.307274&hnear=15+Jalan+Sultan,+50000+Kuala+Lumpur,+Kuala+Lumpur+Wilayah+Persekutuan,+Malaysia&t=m&z=18&iwloc=A" target="_blank">15 Jalan Sultan</a></u><br />
Kuala Lumpur<br />
MalaysiaFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-57849364008065575202012-02-23T21:39:00.001-05:002012-02-23T21:40:36.242-05:00Roti Canai - Kuala Lumpur<strong><u>Waking Up with Street Breakfast</u></strong><br />
Dating a superstar has its perks - getting a lot of sleep isn't one of them. She often learns about her big-shot meetings the day before and then puts on her sweetest, squeeky-mouse voice "You wanna go KL, baaaaaaaaaaaaaabe?" At 5:45am today I wasn't sure why I'd agreed. We caught the 7am flight and just a few hrs later, sitting at a street stall in the warmth, I was glad I did. The spicy sauce served with the Roti Canai here is just what you need to get the blood platelets flowing again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEWkMYENC5sGE2B8TLDbEibmXGT3VUj5t3tnPfUqf3VsGmSDtS1nG77uK-heKwwSg08V6GAIvhEJQKz6M7QBDhFotzBKM_1kvUy-v0TXvRu0pB0-2XmGVSYf5Hl4CInqBeAEtXFuy2nQ/s1600/Roti+Canai+-+Spicy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEWkMYENC5sGE2B8TLDbEibmXGT3VUj5t3tnPfUqf3VsGmSDtS1nG77uK-heKwwSg08V6GAIvhEJQKz6M7QBDhFotzBKM_1kvUy-v0TXvRu0pB0-2XmGVSYf5Hl4CInqBeAEtXFuy2nQ/s640/Roti+Canai+-+Spicy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I had <u><a href="http://pufflist.blogspot.com/2010/08/transfer-rd-roti-canai-penang-malaysia.html" target="_blank">Roti Canai in Penang</a></u>, the last time I came to Malaysia. It was so different from what I was used to in Singapore. Today's version was familiar though the side sauces were very different. I really enjoyed the spicy one, I dunked repeatedly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOtggqA5LpYiyo4ajYGBYndavy_qcoQy0bOsxz0bm9jHg_v8qdEaa3g9Q6oZ3nU_9Zqahi7-ptduVE47Yp1KHxsr8wTovOTTSJ-mpjpQOB8g1m-dctgkcGTkXSbTKfmjPyoM7qfF6-cI/s1600/Roti+Canai+-+Plate.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOtggqA5LpYiyo4ajYGBYndavy_qcoQy0bOsxz0bm9jHg_v8qdEaa3g9Q6oZ3nU_9Zqahi7-ptduVE47Yp1KHxsr8wTovOTTSJ-mpjpQOB8g1m-dctgkcGTkXSbTKfmjPyoM7qfF6-cI/s640/Roti+Canai+-+Plate.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There was also a much milder dal sauce with a few chunks of potato. I finished it off one spoonful at a time. We had a few glasses of teh tarik (pulled tea) which was very sweet, adding an extra boost to my wake up efforts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn2qMOVEiRfaRFfa42BjpRB2m3k8UaoTR8dcYaoTiA1LZNc5N1FN-6N3Z2Ea125YflXw7tbCZ_246IYiNVV0xBAZoHpvI4osQ0Ml_S7uUJ2RA_0-7oWP6J0mZSdUtqvqTe9jhSlbKJfk/s1600/Roti+Canai+-+Mild.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn2qMOVEiRfaRFfa42BjpRB2m3k8UaoTR8dcYaoTiA1LZNc5N1FN-6N3Z2Ea125YflXw7tbCZ_246IYiNVV0xBAZoHpvI4osQ0Ml_S7uUJ2RA_0-7oWP6J0mZSdUtqvqTe9jhSlbKJfk/s640/Roti+Canai+-+Mild.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>All in, breakfast for two, about $1.50. Gotta love that. Ok, off to do touristy stuff, check in with you later.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTBkKxVTy6eiDM938Jhbz70c5KWI2ck4D83Nt336lNr3wELmc0C8KA3RF2Fxd8DaxbYYl4LcW_kH3_QQzPDfuMY7U_Smo7gfC2XcnLdfCnDxHqKh4yEiKhLEfS4gXqWDS9hoEABcRsRc/s1600/KL+-+Landed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTBkKxVTy6eiDM938Jhbz70c5KWI2ck4D83Nt336lNr3wELmc0C8KA3RF2Fxd8DaxbYYl4LcW_kH3_QQzPDfuMY7U_Smo7gfC2XcnLdfCnDxHqKh4yEiKhLEfS4gXqWDS9hoEABcRsRc/s640/KL+-+Landed.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Jalan+Gading+Kuala+Lumpur+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur+Malaysia&hl=en&ll=3.147072,101.713786&spn=0.011313,0.019205&sll=3.146363,101.714328&sspn=0.001414,0.002401&oq=Jalan+Gad+Kuala+Lumpur+Federal+Territory+of+Kuala+Lumpur+Malaysia&hnear=Jalan+Gading,+55100+Kuala+Lumpur,+Kuala+Lumpur+Wilayah+Persekutuan,+Malaysia&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Jalan Gading</a></u><br />
Kuala LumpurFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-83211530073743518572012-02-15T13:26:00.000-05:002012-02-15T13:26:41.467-05:00Cafe Einstein - Berlin<strong><u>Einstein's Closet</u></strong><br />
I've heard stories, don't know if they're true, that Einstein kept a closet full of identical dark suits. One less choice he had to make when he got dressed for work. The cafe that bares his name takes the same approach with their meals. Everything I ate in <strong><u><a href="http://www.cafeeinstein.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Einstein</a></u></strong> tasted the same - like nothing. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuk1vTePJhb3ieaA_JIanHZiHodemhEUjZ5AlBmvG2TfkxFBBz3oWX_6HR0tt-YgaMfAhOdSKAtymKAhhBq4oZ_YlTHfP-aIoqsv7L3jMLkTzNijUEB4TvLi1POrTRaa3geRvarHEb9U/s1600/Cafe+Einstein+-+Scallops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuk1vTePJhb3ieaA_JIanHZiHodemhEUjZ5AlBmvG2TfkxFBBz3oWX_6HR0tt-YgaMfAhOdSKAtymKAhhBq4oZ_YlTHfP-aIoqsv7L3jMLkTzNijUEB4TvLi1POrTRaa3geRvarHEb9U/s640/Cafe+Einstein+-+Scallops.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>Everything, that is, except the beer. The beer was quite nice and made for a happy diner, food notwithstanding. My German friends make some damned good beer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZZLb8THO8LbEV67Hohm-9Mx18gAqypXVR_E3MKK7WqLFrG6Z0TEsmUwgg5GiOn591WrHR24YLjggU5xA7B6YtQ7oQOB3W4dYLUNey1VIqVzRQzQ3wLv4qrkTzwZV0wgH4NWPvSJSV4k/s1600/Cafe+Einstein+-+Beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZZLb8THO8LbEV67Hohm-9Mx18gAqypXVR_E3MKK7WqLFrG6Z0TEsmUwgg5GiOn591WrHR24YLjggU5xA7B6YtQ7oQOB3W4dYLUNey1VIqVzRQzQ3wLv4qrkTzwZV0wgH4NWPvSJSV4k/s640/Cafe+Einstein+-+Beer.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>The monkfish below tasted exactly like the St Jaques in the first picture. I wondered if there were a factory nearby stamping out different shaped meals from the same underlying food mix.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmRbE3qe0WMPOph0XbLYhpBblwNdZGOUffQZF-fMHugH6RweYN-jXCIKCnxa2dY4dpL2zukTmCqkZZlwbLjtWKzKcJNOlai-WnIDXFLCzM8g0u3V-WX3smw43v5LpfI0STHZmbPl2IVk/s1600/Cafe+Einstein+-+Monk+Fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmRbE3qe0WMPOph0XbLYhpBblwNdZGOUffQZF-fMHugH6RweYN-jXCIKCnxa2dY4dpL2zukTmCqkZZlwbLjtWKzKcJNOlai-WnIDXFLCzM8g0u3V-WX3smw43v5LpfI0STHZmbPl2IVk/s640/Cafe+Einstein+-+Monk+Fish.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>When I bit into the cheese curd strudel I paused. I looked for the hidden camera. Someone was messing with me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-EpMnGM9A2-74LNlAMvQ7a-Fw1E314mnH_H5nX16L-H403WLrffgZrL_i8WIW6O3-F3id105E0uAPfYKy_SN3vNrQMLIQzb_ngenRTcwJpp3ltxQ5UhrAh5ZCWi6om-Z_FI_J6l4kF4/s1600/Cafe+Einstein+-+Cheese+Curd+Streudel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-EpMnGM9A2-74LNlAMvQ7a-Fw1E314mnH_H5nX16L-H403WLrffgZrL_i8WIW6O3-F3id105E0uAPfYKy_SN3vNrQMLIQzb_ngenRTcwJpp3ltxQ5UhrAh5ZCWi6om-Z_FI_J6l4kF4/s640/Cafe+Einstein+-+Cheese+Curd+Streudel.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div>They were a friendly, efficient bunch. More than I can say for most of my Frenchy experiences, so that's something. The food? No. Not even close.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F36DNxbJRyq4PGVa2y77GRmqrm2ZNRczle82AYW3SJnsaQ4MznoGyxyKdpKvGZsviXNVxRI-pxGJ9Ld3qwe110Y-Ep1xGjfUbXFzSDFsr03RKvhYi5c3VM-PaTfj9ug_XGiojEgAy7w/s1600/Cafe+Einstein+-+Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6F36DNxbJRyq4PGVa2y77GRmqrm2ZNRczle82AYW3SJnsaQ4MznoGyxyKdpKvGZsviXNVxRI-pxGJ9Ld3qwe110Y-Ep1xGjfUbXFzSDFsr03RKvhYi5c3VM-PaTfj9ug_XGiojEgAy7w/s640/Cafe+Einstein+-+Welcome.jpg" width="640" yda="true" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Kurf%C3%BCrstenstra%C3%9Fe+58,+Berlin,+Deutschland&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,78.662109&oq=Kurf%C3%BCrstenstra%C3%9Fe+58,+ber&hnear=Kurf%C3%BCrstenstra%C3%9Fe+58,+10785+Berlin,+Germany&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Kurfürstenstraße 58</a></u><br />
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BerlinFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-10484351877539272492012-02-14T03:55:00.000-05:002012-02-14T03:55:35.826-05:00Mom's Favorite - Berlin<strong><u>Inter-Movie Snack</u></strong><br />
I'm not the best planner and when it comes to film festivals I'm overly ambitious. On Saturday, I loaded myself up with back-to-back Berlinale movies with nary a space in between. <strong><u><a href="http://de-de.facebook.com/pages/Moms-Favourite/284940828194680" target="_blank">Mom's Favorite</a></u></strong> came to my rescue. They quickly set me up with a slice of cake bigger than my big head and a bowl of coffee they call milchkaffee in these parts. Now, I don't know about momma, but this one didn't quite end up as a favorite.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsqpCYYN0OzZ_BOOxuAvTU-nKe9HtdG0sGf0sFcS2Mz1EQDF6I6JJEi_O-kqFLsThBGmCy-TCD5mjM0mMP_yU_SvvileXT5klHimew0uVJT2oJsNpm3u7BuwT6nV86xSyRtuXbRMeiMA/s1600/Moms+Favorite+-+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsqpCYYN0OzZ_BOOxuAvTU-nKe9HtdG0sGf0sFcS2Mz1EQDF6I6JJEi_O-kqFLsThBGmCy-TCD5mjM0mMP_yU_SvvileXT5klHimew0uVJT2oJsNpm3u7BuwT6nV86xSyRtuXbRMeiMA/s640/Moms+Favorite+-+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I'm still waiting for that German "ah-ha" moment, the one where I stumble into something delicious and take it all back. As it stands, I liked the bowl of coffee with milk, a definite improvement over the nasty lattes I've had here, but the cake didn't do much for me. Definitely, function over form. It was calorific but sadly tasteless. However, it did keep me going during my second movie, <u><a href="http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/berlinale_programm/datenblatt.php?film_id=20126700" target="_blank">a strange Frenchie film</a></u> about a young girl who gets kidnapped and kept in a cellar for over a decade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJdszWDE_CTAwq7TIW4GLHSZAEOymaD7fUsWARQSGc1tMxs6O-l6138i1OjIDrrUG0Vd9mBCkeSCajqyT9sj2SZqXon-Ftzs9LGE5bJJ6o-vATG55D9qgnuzJ5uaQ8aqwA4LQP7mHnzw/s1600/Moms+Favorite+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJdszWDE_CTAwq7TIW4GLHSZAEOymaD7fUsWARQSGc1tMxs6O-l6138i1OjIDrrUG0Vd9mBCkeSCajqyT9sj2SZqXon-Ftzs9LGE5bJJ6o-vATG55D9qgnuzJ5uaQ8aqwA4LQP7mHnzw/s640/Moms+Favorite+-+Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=+Voxstr.+2,+10785+Berlin,+Germany+&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.546691,78.662109&hnear=Voxstra%C3%9Fe+2,+Germany&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Voxstrasse 2</a></u><br />
BerlinFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-60296830609295220822012-02-12T09:15:00.000-05:002012-02-13T03:36:55.126-05:00Miss HoneyPenny - Berlin<strong><u>From Cold to Colder</u></strong><br />
I was so enthralled by the idea of the Berlin Film Festival that I didn't stop to consider that it's held in Berlin, in <u>February</u>. I was already cold when I arrived and I still haven't warmed up. I've been eating non-stop, not because I find German food that enticing, but because I need protection against the German winter. <strong><u><a href="http://miss-honeypenny.de/Website_2/Willkommen.html" target="_blank">Miss HoneyPenny</a></u></strong> was close to the hotel and open early so I gave it a try.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmhzgaG7bA9fdzKAcda6f5HG9wrG0a5JAXOMfYk7uWrikNrDuGDJjLqnAoBJE_E-TRpsnj3DOTGUmYlhmD9nS7bMU_KDxo1PFhR_CHQJebNvVP1n0WwUF-2SPxAoLg3UJ7eaOvN-aTYc/s1600/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Eggs+and+Bacon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmhzgaG7bA9fdzKAcda6f5HG9wrG0a5JAXOMfYk7uWrikNrDuGDJjLqnAoBJE_E-TRpsnj3DOTGUmYlhmD9nS7bMU_KDxo1PFhR_CHQJebNvVP1n0WwUF-2SPxAoLg3UJ7eaOvN-aTYc/s640/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Eggs+and+Bacon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I travel to Germany from time to time for work and have never really warmed up to the food. It seems like it should be good - lots of sausages and fried stuff. I hoped a vacation there might change my mind but it hasn't so far. German food is really not so interesting. Now, at Miss HoneyPenny, they served me up a nice scrambled with bacon and a side salad. I really liked the salad, surprisingly. It's hard to mess up a breakfast, isn't it? It was ok. Just ok. To be honest, I was so happy to be sitting in a warm place I didn't even focus that much on the food.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFYQfm1qypqim0VyApHGlqXJD6uIVv3ABODBa3k7e_ejGZ3Eer1Dm3zP0CfEsijdCm8-TR85AEm7ACRY5VG40OYPYLhx9_gR4U_bn1H4tVLpXIwNYYGZNvAtsqxwlVRXDNfc1x23id24/s1600/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFYQfm1qypqim0VyApHGlqXJD6uIVv3ABODBa3k7e_ejGZ3Eer1Dm3zP0CfEsijdCm8-TR85AEm7ACRY5VG40OYPYLhx9_gR4U_bn1H4tVLpXIwNYYGZNvAtsqxwlVRXDNfc1x23id24/s640/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see, they take their faux sixties look seriously here. Seems to be a trend in Berlin. If you go to the eastern part of the city they will sell you this nostalgia for a high price. You want a vintage East Berlin typewriter from 62? They got em, but you better clear your Mastercard balance first. On the contrary, food is reasonably priced here. Or shall I say, reasonable compared to Paris. I am so used to getting ripped off in the City of Dark that my price discomfort point has moved.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS4XVy9ZWePVLZcqF08T7kLwp8dElc-xZ8ZkKUF5Wkm-Nk-c5ZmZO5YaF9BulHcZ8dTOp5sDH4QgxSb5zk4ZtxXUOb6htvgMB7aXM_avqe5L55SwQf7OamDxr7a5s2GA3OlEefgCP8xs/s1600/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Interior2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS4XVy9ZWePVLZcqF08T7kLwp8dElc-xZ8ZkKUF5Wkm-Nk-c5ZmZO5YaF9BulHcZ8dTOp5sDH4QgxSb5zk4ZtxXUOb6htvgMB7aXM_avqe5L55SwQf7OamDxr7a5s2GA3OlEefgCP8xs/s640/Miss+HoneyPenny+-+Interior2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr"><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=miss+honeypenny+berlin&ll=52.497701,13.353667&spn=0.007054,0.019205&oe=UTF-8&fb=1&hq=miss+honeypenny&hnear=0x47a84e373f035901:0x42120465b5e3b70,Berlin,+Germany&cid=0,0,10895243266294215501&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Winterfeldtstraße 44</a></u></span><br />
<span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr">Berlin</span>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-53242700305689216982012-02-09T07:09:00.000-05:002012-02-09T07:09:13.345-05:00Piment D'Or - Paris<strong><u>Welcome to the Deep Freeze!</u></strong><br />
Air France is on strike - what's new? I got swapped over to a Singapore Airlines flight, which is like escaping the slums for a penthouse. When we landed it took me a while to calculate what the pilot said. "Moins neuf" - multiply by two, subtract 33, carry the nine and, and..... SIXTEEN DEGREES?? What the fuck? I thought of hiding in the bathroom on the outbound back to Singapore. I didn't bring a coat so it was an extra joy shivering at the empty taxi stand for 20 minutes. Strikes, freezing cold, non-existent taxis.....welcome back to the 3rd world, kid. At least I can warm up with a delicious bowl at Piment D'Or!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq2VUhVkc6ZlOs3rThqteLA0EuEMds4vCV5G6t1oeAGEuvvjy_0vNt3Clv8ClfaAecPakC8ok2IOL0sLOqGUQly9gE8QgAFDrItIAzCkn8F8onvdpZ046NTK9Yp8dkEeiv8-Zrtm1t6g/s1600/Piment+Dor+-+Soup+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq2VUhVkc6ZlOs3rThqteLA0EuEMds4vCV5G6t1oeAGEuvvjy_0vNt3Clv8ClfaAecPakC8ok2IOL0sLOqGUQly9gE8QgAFDrItIAzCkn8F8onvdpZ046NTK9Yp8dkEeiv8-Zrtm1t6g/s640/Piment+Dor+-+Soup+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>I was introduced to Piment D'Or by my golf posse, a group of Vietnamese who answered in unison when I asked for a restaurant recommendation. The name translates to "golden spice" and I'm going to need a lot of it to keep the cold at bay. Their Bo Bun is point but for "stick-to-the-ribness" you're better off with the hearty noodle soup.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh847-xpsDyVOqbAyRYyaLEoqGTNwpSxiwHmaPNrsEJ2BPtIz5djGhYubc9gWqZp4pBYOaxcOOL9gE7VAapljKohSBKn16jgCdsV0ncEd0pBwNxTIvfek55PsMbEF3LI8bh-lSs2mO5TR4/s1600/Piment+Dor+-+Bo+Bun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh847-xpsDyVOqbAyRYyaLEoqGTNwpSxiwHmaPNrsEJ2BPtIz5djGhYubc9gWqZp4pBYOaxcOOL9gE7VAapljKohSBKn16jgCdsV0ncEd0pBwNxTIvfek55PsMbEF3LI8bh-lSs2mO5TR4/s640/Piment+Dor+-+Bo+Bun.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has both beef and pork and if you like you can load it up with diced chillis. I think I'll head over there soon, I need something to get the pores open and the sweat flowing. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT0pW6eZdc3Jaj7UCwnBRuGXvOp3BYMX_TOMGlc92cqmz98iZ4FuuaRKB0lukhFvLsx3LfSSOAMBeB9cdVqyMX1ARsz9sh1wxXQiTucSqizuVuba_370KCgpxwiHFhQVsdDHHZJjdl9w/s1600/Piment+Dor+-+Soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYT0pW6eZdc3Jaj7UCwnBRuGXvOp3BYMX_TOMGlc92cqmz98iZ4FuuaRKB0lukhFvLsx3LfSSOAMBeB9cdVqyMX1ARsz9sh1wxXQiTucSqizuVuba_370KCgpxwiHFhQVsdDHHZJjdl9w/s640/Piment+Dor+-+Soup.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=piment+d'or+paris&fb=1&hq=piment+d'or&hnear=0x47e66e1f06e2b70f:0x40b82c3688c9460,Paris,+France&cid=0,0,15112555927416582540&ei=BbczT-WEOeHb0QGH17i5Ag&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CBMQ_BI" target="_blank">111 Avenue d'Ivry</a></u><br />
13th Arondissement<br />
ParisFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-48951619241703584452012-02-05T04:57:00.000-05:002012-02-05T04:57:21.158-05:00The Kid Survives - Bangkok<strong><u>Steel Stomach Prevails</u></strong><br />
Now that I'm safely back in Singapore, I'm bragging. Puffing out my chest, lording it over the Dodo, aka "weak link." I survived all the street food: the street meat sausages, deep-fried bananas, runny egged rice bowls, wok-fried spicy pork, buttered charcoal bread and iced coffee. My only regret? Not going for some deep-fried crickets when I had the chance. Next time....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BRvmh3wPGPLtVodMUntW84hWp3v6Z5empOok_eFe043VITGIvewc3NgcuijwzZItixYbffeKFTh8Q79TEPwz5w-b4guYUPe48xYghuwN_v6q_VhdhVMQnOmYCTOy1ATQkb8eCkf0iTY/s1600/Bangkok+Street+Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BRvmh3wPGPLtVodMUntW84hWp3v6Z5empOok_eFe043VITGIvewc3NgcuijwzZItixYbffeKFTh8Q79TEPwz5w-b4guYUPe48xYghuwN_v6q_VhdhVMQnOmYCTOy1ATQkb8eCkf0iTY/s640/Bangkok+Street+Dog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-75885456084042556012012-02-01T12:03:00.000-05:002012-02-01T12:03:19.218-05:00Little Spoon - Bangkok<strong><u>Monsoon Protection</u></strong><br />
Sunny Bangkok can take a turn for the soggier faster than you can duck into a cafe for cover. When I sat down at <strong><u><a href="http://www.facebook.com/cafelittlespoon" target="_blank">Little Spoon</a></u></strong> I was a bit damp but fared better than most. Thai rain attacks from all angles - even upwards. The unfortunate were stuck outside, caught like laundry in a violent rinse cycle. I patted myself dry while waiting for my latte and blueberry cream cake to arrive.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VXWqWQ21YcGAty_70sQVayXy2DTb8MsoaC23wAw2UdRCu3uj7zUmYHp1rQRxvyxO2WL5W4IS2Fv6TV5tRJgMzKDyrz-_GFhacJmZVjKZBHzCj_owkncuKebXBpwuINBFRq4Sh6IkIZ4/s1600/Little+Spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VXWqWQ21YcGAty_70sQVayXy2DTb8MsoaC23wAw2UdRCu3uj7zUmYHp1rQRxvyxO2WL5W4IS2Fv6TV5tRJgMzKDyrz-_GFhacJmZVjKZBHzCj_owkncuKebXBpwuINBFRq4Sh6IkIZ4/s640/Little+Spoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>Little Spoon looks like a small piece of Tokyo with its whitewashed walls, wooden furniture and cutesie decoration. A peek at their menu revealed some savory items such as curry rice, etc. I was more than happy to stay on the sweeter side of the menu.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIz-ge4HsUvDJaafmQn4Nw6fd0Ht4K8eWvihdkkMeGNpaFQ0UyDJIybf4AKu-fKLwCBC4Fy264f0Yi2ofDDz_fQr3l49h0fLbZYm-37SDFCgLP7aTkkyIw2L40kInUwnr_tKFpSI931M/s1600/Little+Spoon+-+Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIz-ge4HsUvDJaafmQn4Nw6fd0Ht4K8eWvihdkkMeGNpaFQ0UyDJIybf4AKu-fKLwCBC4Fy264f0Yi2ofDDz_fQr3l49h0fLbZYm-37SDFCgLP7aTkkyIw2L40kInUwnr_tKFpSI931M/s640/Little+Spoon+-+Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Tokyo cutesie-poo-ness extended all the way to the spoon.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc1uXp1fL8sDc8LH0x-j_KeQ02qmV44_UV8zbaTMj2gV37LWVne83MMZZp4EiirWHLju4DY2HAsIjfpwtrUATk8b_azOaCSAjClriTK4B_NUIVRbYVyJVdLJNNWXyNdp5giLRV9Lpvq0/s1600/Little+Spoon+-+Happy+Spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc1uXp1fL8sDc8LH0x-j_KeQ02qmV44_UV8zbaTMj2gV37LWVne83MMZZp4EiirWHLju4DY2HAsIjfpwtrUATk8b_azOaCSAjClriTK4B_NUIVRbYVyJVdLJNNWXyNdp5giLRV9Lpvq0/s640/Little+Spoon+-+Happy+Spoon.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't wait in vain. The cream cake was better than expected. I always worry that Jap-style cakes will be on the dull side, but this is Bangkok so perhaps they zest them up a bit. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhialI_JAph4nFns1U8mEKl99lBf8dL0h2JGwTVLWYBliMN7URpexJY5mvm1gzvqYazs3AKFhNfAeGzIBOpzzviG4kTGymzt74o8U8qvtvgPuI8BudM7Y6mP3H8aQDhGAcRK5Yi9SaWMNM/s1600/Little+Spoon+-+Damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhialI_JAph4nFns1U8mEKl99lBf8dL0h2JGwTVLWYBliMN7URpexJY5mvm1gzvqYazs3AKFhNfAeGzIBOpzzviG4kTGymzt74o8U8qvtvgPuI8BudM7Y6mP3H8aQDhGAcRK5Yi9SaWMNM/s640/Little+Spoon+-+Damage.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, a very nice place to wait out a monsoon and a needed respite from all the street food I've been eating. By my last latte sip, the sky had already begun to clear.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb-3wq7cleBKIw5wcOluPQSlSkWxNyCk7kS40tDmf46wR31xU_1mae-OK5NBD0dBTeBmonk2ysvORI_syuS7w6D97Vyqyrd0H5gUmVHwAwJpe7cogCOMYXhFQ1ybQvyrSW69UpwObFig/s1600/Little+Spoon+-+Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb-3wq7cleBKIw5wcOluPQSlSkWxNyCk7kS40tDmf46wR31xU_1mae-OK5NBD0dBTeBmonk2ysvORI_syuS7w6D97Vyqyrd0H5gUmVHwAwJpe7cogCOMYXhFQ1ybQvyrSW69UpwObFig/s640/Little+Spoon+-+Window.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sukhumvit+soi+21,+Bangkok,+Thailand&hl=en&sll=13.753776,100.589913&sspn=0.180078,0.307274&hnear=Sukhumvit+21+Soi+3,+Khlong+Tan+Nuea,+Vadhana,+Bangkok+10110,+Thailand&t=m&z=16" target="_blank">Sukhumvit 21 soi 3 (Asok)</a></u><br />
BangkokFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-72703973547695370372012-01-26T00:23:00.000-05:002012-01-26T00:23:51.981-05:00Victim One of Two - Bangkok<strong><u>Was it the Street Breakfast?</u></strong><br />
We're hardcore street eaters. We know we'll eventually pay. Rather, I know <strong><u>I</u></strong> will eventually pay - I've a much weaker stomach. So, it came as a surprise that Dodo got knocked out of the game this morning. It's hard to say what did it. Was it the pork porridge she had for breakfast? It looked pretty good coming out of the bag, into the bowl. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nY61SuCp8zZIWuj33dxQbGxhlWhNyud4zKCvhT9VN2a0yz0wIiSBASd41a-PW7_ADQMTyv0IRLb5OlFMtbUjZ5YnjCayGaI3Qs32kYUotDOLHwyjgLc5NzelytUjGdMAAzEObyuOKkY/s1600/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Pork+Porridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nY61SuCp8zZIWuj33dxQbGxhlWhNyud4zKCvhT9VN2a0yz0wIiSBASd41a-PW7_ADQMTyv0IRLb5OlFMtbUjZ5YnjCayGaI3Qs32kYUotDOLHwyjgLc5NzelytUjGdMAAzEObyuOKkY/s640/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Pork+Porridge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>We bought from under the skytrain and sat in a nearby plaza to eat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVRC0e5iFkFFbukz-xsTwLlMUPwxMlUlNfvPNSaqjqSBT_KaWNs2gvjvhVs1G2vOgJOvmiVZqtoIRM2nXF29v3GXqAk3NZAzk2jLdcnrjmZwztU4IU0QuoxwBX2f7G21mpBnqePVMGlU/s1600/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVRC0e5iFkFFbukz-xsTwLlMUPwxMlUlNfvPNSaqjqSBT_KaWNs2gvjvhVs1G2vOgJOvmiVZqtoIRM2nXF29v3GXqAk3NZAzk2jLdcnrjmZwztU4IU0QuoxwBX2f7G21mpBnqePVMGlU/s640/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Plaza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Pork porridge is comfort food for the Dodo, she kicked off the shoes and folded herself into a pretzel before taking the first spoon dip. She later bought a few chicken wings that we both tried. Delicious as usual.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSahzeyXGXkXw0O3mxcbuNxVlvZxhKi4RSwRVE8iJ3sc1iv7JCZY1CZYIye_Z9c46bPk0m-xTMNzAa3u607dT_nLHPNGf2DeTWS8Og-AdKoNnRN_i-m9GtRv_FyEVHKN95zzSWYidGmKc/s1600/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Shoes+Off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSahzeyXGXkXw0O3mxcbuNxVlvZxhKi4RSwRVE8iJ3sc1iv7JCZY1CZYIye_Z9c46bPk0m-xTMNzAa3u607dT_nLHPNGf2DeTWS8Og-AdKoNnRN_i-m9GtRv_FyEVHKN95zzSWYidGmKc/s640/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Shoes+Off.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I went with something seemingly more dangerous. My over easy was super easy - as in runny to the max. I thought about that as I mixed the goo into my rice. Very delicious! I'm happy to report that I feel great. "Strong as bull" I bluffed, apologizing to my better half. She will be missing lunch today and hoping for dinner. The kid, meantime, will be out and about, trying his luck.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWikfhMTPVwY7eIJd7Y96dyryVffB5_QO1VQcSeTlNz9gzoqdf9F-pu3iY0HGjOehpTjH-ymeQlLkPUShXjz9vxH0zZwv3gt6mEkpK3noTG2bf6d8Kq8xJtbOMh72O756WRp6ONPi994c/s1600/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Eggs+and+Sausages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWikfhMTPVwY7eIJd7Y96dyryVffB5_QO1VQcSeTlNz9gzoqdf9F-pu3iY0HGjOehpTjH-ymeQlLkPUShXjz9vxH0zZwv3gt6mEkpK3noTG2bf6d8Kq8xJtbOMh72O756WRp6ONPi994c/s640/Bangkok+Breakfast+-+Eggs+and+Sausages.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-8206501066564563552012-01-25T09:50:00.000-05:002012-01-25T09:50:59.339-05:00Sukhumvit Soi 38 - Bangkok<strong><u>Street Food for Dummies</u></strong><br />
As luck would have it, we are staying just two map dots away on the skytrain from a nice eating street, Sukhumvit Soi 38. The nice thing about the street is that the vendors have picture menus with English translations. So, instead of ordering like a mime, pointing at unknown foods and making thumbs up signs, all I had to do was use my finger to point at a picture. First up - fried chicken chunks with rice. Not quite as good as the chicken we had on Day One, but not bad at all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwt4CzsR9wzbGEZq06I7smTMT84NYoeTAeabUWSUd7mmc3DNTPAwbVWWNWAjeJsZA6pT0vxu3nonXgvAsIG-93vyP4DxMTeu0QKN-TkSgTnls-HLCEeHNoXxCLS7pTQasF2NK2Erd160/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Roast+Chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwt4CzsR9wzbGEZq06I7smTMT84NYoeTAeabUWSUd7mmc3DNTPAwbVWWNWAjeJsZA6pT0vxu3nonXgvAsIG-93vyP4DxMTeu0QKN-TkSgTnls-HLCEeHNoXxCLS7pTQasF2NK2Erd160/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Roast+Chicken.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>We then let our greed steer us. The street is lined on both sides with food stalls.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqZRHh9LE3wHkQO66OlLRFmx9P0oi6H7zcyeeUodzkj6mLU2lMc8gwOjZ0elB4QJ9jZ-SiKvuyYJSQcBeLz__rggBVT74Kf6ixwnYP9r9qHqpZ4N6iGtMcOjGjHF0HucOgTCkpNav5pU/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqZRHh9LE3wHkQO66OlLRFmx9P0oi6H7zcyeeUodzkj6mLU2lMc8gwOjZ0elB4QJ9jZ-SiKvuyYJSQcBeLz__rggBVT74Kf6ixwnYP9r9qHqpZ4N6iGtMcOjGjHF0HucOgTCkpNav5pU/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Street.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Some lead into a covered store front, which comes in handy during downpours. We stopped inside this place for a plate of duck rice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU0vF5Rh49qcBO8xRuVVB2IpHVSWlcWY8HVbEaDZ-NDDaqBC5zm2QtbB7x-csvIyAPddoi-Wjy7RG0SNhj2EdKoo9yibvBNgJBG4BwBncr8-bKXin3h4xcO5if2hAuzjHhcUfEbCSjt4/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU0vF5Rh49qcBO8xRuVVB2IpHVSWlcWY8HVbEaDZ-NDDaqBC5zm2QtbB7x-csvIyAPddoi-Wjy7RG0SNhj2EdKoo9yibvBNgJBG4BwBncr8-bKXin3h4xcO5if2hAuzjHhcUfEbCSjt4/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Inside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Other than the stingy-fied lack of skin, this was damned good. I chased it with a large Singha beer which only cost about 3 bucks. At that specific moment I confirmed out loud that I could live in Bangkok.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiK6oALBIrzsRjSfQqpSf-kdkcsXD-KxPN-o7D376MttT-JPVmWXLtzr3R0NlfydlnKFbsNunguzvvteMo1Oxx8cVfoV7oqWEWSaOLg6M7bFNVycvo6Z3E_FAFzxhLQIRK71C1jXhpKI/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiK6oALBIrzsRjSfQqpSf-kdkcsXD-KxPN-o7D376MttT-JPVmWXLtzr3R0NlfydlnKFbsNunguzvvteMo1Oxx8cVfoV7oqWEWSaOLg6M7bFNVycvo6Z3E_FAFzxhLQIRK71C1jXhpKI/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Duck.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The best of the night, however, was this mango sticky rice. They serve a ripe, juicy mango with sticky rice and sweetened condensed milk. This immediately became my new love. I have already spoken to the Dodo about going back for more tomorrow night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw_jbkSkq6gUuo0F_meZi_sdQpoCU6BqHe1UTQU4KFDmtkS8L3c2MFSeG1QNIr4M0akBQ7RULx6PdcmqoPcB26LhNm4E3OCQpc4MOq5_pw324AjMCTw8ncxKtBTLfEU-ku83OaqInkfA/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Sticky+Mango+Rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw_jbkSkq6gUuo0F_meZi_sdQpoCU6BqHe1UTQU4KFDmtkS8L3c2MFSeG1QNIr4M0akBQ7RULx6PdcmqoPcB26LhNm4E3OCQpc4MOq5_pw324AjMCTw8ncxKtBTLfEU-ku83OaqInkfA/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Sticky+Mango+Rice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This was a successful street food adventure. I wedged it in between two boring conference calls, muting the latter call so that I could burp and sigh as I rubbed my stomach. Long Live Bangkok!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJWxfToD7YB2gjze13GObfHf0JUG2msL00shWwlrMZlYHY75kut_E-Bji2ieqe8ThFwtIA844-TaCZfDmMLgjCDN43IL5jpUxMrxGSYrOpbAKlkLlEA4D5HvJ59y_mAiCYas2yH_YDJY/s1600/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Dessert+Vendor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJWxfToD7YB2gjze13GObfHf0JUG2msL00shWwlrMZlYHY75kut_E-Bji2ieqe8ThFwtIA844-TaCZfDmMLgjCDN43IL5jpUxMrxGSYrOpbAKlkLlEA4D5HvJ59y_mAiCYas2yH_YDJY/s640/Sukhumvit+Soi+38+-+Dessert+Vendor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%22sukhumvit+soi+38%22+bangkok&hl=en&sll=13.732597,100.52778&sspn=0.090047,0.153637&vpsrc=0&hnear=Sukhumvit+38,+Bangkok+10110,+Thailand&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Sukhumvit Soi 38</a><br />
BangkokFNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-65537676163973099922012-01-24T01:06:00.000-05:002012-01-24T01:06:21.187-05:00Street Food - Bangkok<strong><u>Bangkok, I've Missed You</u></strong><br />
It's been two eventful years. Though it's not obvious to this visitor, there were riots and floods and a change of government since my last visit. Mostly, it looks like it did. There is still a gentle thrum to this large metropolis with its tree-shaded lanes and famed street stalls. It's a city that is easy to fall in love with. Let's call it an affair, since I'm here for just a few days. It's not a coincidence that the first foray involved both pork and egg, two of my favorite food groups.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzWCkuDlW3d3mvaakg2Xx0939eZ7MFUKHqkGmLn7AmAscNp9mmHRt6tV1v1vIB5iwbAgw_RKrkx8fYYm4BWpymVGWu57f488HSenrVjgs8jNVqdZik0y2Py4U_AY7Cnc5vYvnHf6Z7O8/s1600/Street+Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzWCkuDlW3d3mvaakg2Xx0939eZ7MFUKHqkGmLn7AmAscNp9mmHRt6tV1v1vIB5iwbAgw_RKrkx8fYYm4BWpymVGWu57f488HSenrVjgs8jNVqdZik0y2Py4U_AY7Cnc5vYvnHf6Z7O8/s640/Street+Food.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>A volcanic mix of grilled pork, chillies, and string beans topped by a golden yolk lava flow. We agreed it was good but only second to the deep-fried chicken. I didn't even snap a photo of the latter, we pulverized it and agreed to return tomorrow. I promise to post that, it was tremendous. You will have to make do with this dessert - sesame-laden dough balls with yellow bean inside. These were good warm.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMklP6QTqnZWqyiU-wX47HSZ4lyA7ka4_HVch2oU2FKn16amLyD_eXBwxWdd5GrMxOlURK4xOOVqVc7XbEE25KoANcfhPx-wur-p4lI3Q8_gdD92FuMtbwme_Cg4B5gmf7sZxa1lHWuA/s1600/Street+Food+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMklP6QTqnZWqyiU-wX47HSZ4lyA7ka4_HVch2oU2FKn16amLyD_eXBwxWdd5GrMxOlURK4xOOVqVc7XbEE25KoANcfhPx-wur-p4lI3Q8_gdD92FuMtbwme_Cg4B5gmf7sZxa1lHWuA/s640/Street+Food+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD-x2e82SZkwIybocr8dVvF4Ec3-x9qG6mG-LuJzYmuFxmu5Vf01X6KEXMkOfEvLdXVpzTTxsa_nGs8cp4yelhhPOOxdNbryHb93GkvMKHLf797ZiTlU18uGMKljJEmND3knc3rAcC7o/s1600/Street+Food+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD-x2e82SZkwIybocr8dVvF4Ec3-x9qG6mG-LuJzYmuFxmu5Vf01X6KEXMkOfEvLdXVpzTTxsa_nGs8cp4yelhhPOOxdNbryHb93GkvMKHLf797ZiTlU18uGMKljJEmND3knc3rAcC7o/s640/Street+Food+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I've already made two bags of peanuts disappear. It's dangerous to sell me honey-glazed peanuts for a buck. I'm contemplating setting a record for peanut eating while in town. Memo to self - time to double-down on the treadmill minutes. Stay tuned, more street food to come....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJVqLOdzHF6I-aVV-gyADKZHDepPNdN8eh_aLfQ0uhGizCmfJsjIiNSF6Qj8dxt__MxFrt5JT2QqBCisIDA9CYYdZk3UYUc0uMeWikEDU3aHa74z_55dKKCMHn1e7qev5B5nRLFdEZws/s1600/Street+Food+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJVqLOdzHF6I-aVV-gyADKZHDepPNdN8eh_aLfQ0uhGizCmfJsjIiNSF6Qj8dxt__MxFrt5JT2QqBCisIDA9CYYdZk3UYUc0uMeWikEDU3aHa74z_55dKKCMHn1e7qev5B5nRLFdEZws/s640/Street+Food+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4659804594932644350.post-59052289117840719292012-01-16T07:40:00.001-05:002012-01-16T07:43:25.083-05:00Passion 5 Patisserie (패션5) - Seoul<strong><u>I Won't Be Controlled</u></strong><br />
My parents passed me their stubbornness genetically and nurtured it through upbringing. So, when one of the chef's at Passion 5 formed an X with his forearms to warn me off taking photos, I smiled and complied. Or so he thought. I was angry and intent on taking even more photos than I normally do. I hate places which have an anti-photo rule - it's so stupid in this day and age. I hoped to despise their goods and slam them but guess what? Anti-photo rule or not, they craft some scrumptious goodies, both savory and sweet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6UaNF8ISVOEkWi4JPg4k2Y6_MN1NqPwyQwLjFehTo6_aUEfUUBzOA391Esewu1nAfnndBgX-5RDM4vuAGrijkn3FtFhXBEcj2X7TOW3kwUs-etkd3jQcyWCGukpvxzQRG525fGsnO00/s1600/IMG_1212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6UaNF8ISVOEkWi4JPg4k2Y6_MN1NqPwyQwLjFehTo6_aUEfUUBzOA391Esewu1nAfnndBgX-5RDM4vuAGrijkn3FtFhXBEcj2X7TOW3kwUs-etkd3jQcyWCGukpvxzQRG525fGsnO00/s640/IMG_1212.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a>Just about everything we tried was a hit. From left to right, piggie in a filo blanket, bacon in a dough shawl, a crepe sack filled with strawberries and cream, tied with a vanilla bean and a hot cheese pocket.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbm0_e7A-_gCHYS6zRqOegm7PF_mGcyE04Bg8oEhKvLExs6MqO2SrVQjOUvcg9fdLStOLXMEr6h5rJIIQ2P6O-TcnmoniiM-NpOdyF0MHbW5ggWL-3RuBoHvbSBs9UBL1xB3nee8HUdk/s1600/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbm0_e7A-_gCHYS6zRqOegm7PF_mGcyE04Bg8oEhKvLExs6MqO2SrVQjOUvcg9fdLStOLXMEr6h5rJIIQ2P6O-TcnmoniiM-NpOdyF0MHbW5ggWL-3RuBoHvbSBs9UBL1xB3nee8HUdk/s640/IMG_1210.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Filo dough cradling a juicy sausage. Genius. Un-toppable until.....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvgKB9lWGY5iINPVBPhb6EcV5_bVmdlxtu6YwAb8U_K5_X4nnG8vgQX3gMMigsY-u_7ei5cl99lV61gvEoiKqkDaFOEyjDX-w0HFsZ43POwd7sKLrg8liD2xAyzvNaz8rEFbDbUiagoA/s1600/IMG_1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvgKB9lWGY5iINPVBPhb6EcV5_bVmdlxtu6YwAb8U_K5_X4nnG8vgQX3gMMigsY-u_7ei5cl99lV61gvEoiKqkDaFOEyjDX-w0HFsZ43POwd7sKLrg8liD2xAyzvNaz8rEFbDbUiagoA/s640/IMG_1211.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.....we tried an even juicier sausage wrapped in a lighter jacket.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w4MLp6rdf8x6wPlZvDUsiVio-zW-3OorDTebDGv_5-AbUtyzry1nkRsKrfCea-MGwAT1ZGwsQ_XuW8MgNHi8jWSEjOjFaOnpr4G8ZpdAtiy6vgVzZfg6a-Q_0GvCzvTxMiZANuH1L8Q/s1600/IMG_1214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w4MLp6rdf8x6wPlZvDUsiVio-zW-3OorDTebDGv_5-AbUtyzry1nkRsKrfCea-MGwAT1ZGwsQ_XuW8MgNHi8jWSEjOjFaOnpr4G8ZpdAtiy6vgVzZfg6a-Q_0GvCzvTxMiZANuH1L8Q/s640/IMG_1214.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This little piggie was top of the food chain, we agreed. So juicy and tender. Of course, we're biased - we're pork-addicts.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0-Q9Z6iZmqMYDvix4HmGXphS5ihyphenhyphen6OP0Vpau6YQpN-omOF6LN_yIZmoXp9C1xWnXUpobuh22uoiYfMK6Hg9ACVWeQ4N0lFkGERtzOimi9oQRbzahCcFfKIto071UhhjEgG2yqd8m3Lc/s1600/IMG_1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0-Q9Z6iZmqMYDvix4HmGXphS5ihyphenhyphen6OP0Vpau6YQpN-omOF6LN_yIZmoXp9C1xWnXUpobuh22uoiYfMK6Hg9ACVWeQ4N0lFkGERtzOimi9oQRbzahCcFfKIto071UhhjEgG2yqd8m3Lc/s640/IMG_1216.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
As Dodo kept buying, I kept clicking. I hid my camera on my lap and snapped whenever the waiter disappeared. The boomerang in the foreground was the runt of the litter - we selected it not realizing it was filled with olives - neither of us cares for olives. The strawberry pastry was better than it had a right to be - strawberries in the middle of winter?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXssQrkWtcPg6VrseIQSyxZjvuDEdBWSRTOOiOiZLloO5jWA_sFwVy-boWOt8xNFg_x9ZE4ucuhcTatGAg77rQTULllwNVxAfpXLPUN8bdjLd4pQZhziywrxK8lSF4oGQRacvPNGucrU/s1600/IMG_1215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXssQrkWtcPg6VrseIQSyxZjvuDEdBWSRTOOiOiZLloO5jWA_sFwVy-boWOt8xNFg_x9ZE4ucuhcTatGAg77rQTULllwNVxAfpXLPUN8bdjLd4pQZhziywrxK8lSF4oGQRacvPNGucrU/s640/IMG_1215.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The coffee wasn't half-bad either. After about an hour of filling my belly, the anger started to recede. I was taking photos, eating like a king. I get a perverse pleasure in not following the rules. It sometimes works for me and other times against me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_6YQUQrnhv2i99l-aipz1G8vsGocCXInANwBylWFigTbDRNGnKgS64P9_8oFK1GIthKIXw5zy1yenpJvrBA7-kO-ttcy-rqLSKKoiIOamNiqvXJNHwG7lIARICA0DxMKfhwDlXZj2RA/s1600/IMG_1217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_6YQUQrnhv2i99l-aipz1G8vsGocCXInANwBylWFigTbDRNGnKgS64P9_8oFK1GIthKIXw5zy1yenpJvrBA7-kO-ttcy-rqLSKKoiIOamNiqvXJNHwG7lIARICA0DxMKfhwDlXZj2RA/s640/IMG_1217.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We sat upstairs after selecting our eats on the first floor. As you can see, it's schwanksville - a step up from their other chain - Paris Baguette, which I didn't try.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCEcJ9SjZeTRqD0jSn6v3Ta0LmT_NRCNGyFdzuoBepvpUSCZuCSFLjMAL9LR5QydojUQ3Z0zE1rzbUvmHYj2GIXPECXjtEYH_kol3T8LI-fDqCJZ6hc5YI7u3M3jhebP7OB3E7AvTmmk/s1600/IMG_1209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCEcJ9SjZeTRqD0jSn6v3Ta0LmT_NRCNGyFdzuoBepvpUSCZuCSFLjMAL9LR5QydojUQ3Z0zE1rzbUvmHYj2GIXPECXjtEYH_kol3T8LI-fDqCJZ6hc5YI7u3M3jhebP7OB3E7AvTmmk/s640/IMG_1209.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not positive about the address, so just look for the red birdie out front.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L8UIfM6QJF9mzmmz8WiLdU_SMZu7sMUINaB5mEjqbFzR4ZZDp-4QXBZsVcmcmIwFcA4PK4h0nlMouTaumx_bwy9x7BkrIHqTNXTlz1VQHPs9JxMsbKvc5zRtDSSyHfBDVH7vzGBjGrE/s1600/IMG_1218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L8UIfM6QJF9mzmmz8WiLdU_SMZu7sMUINaB5mEjqbFzR4ZZDp-4QXBZsVcmcmIwFcA4PK4h0nlMouTaumx_bwy9x7BkrIHqTNXTlz1VQHPs9JxMsbKvc5zRtDSSyHfBDVH7vzGBjGrE/s640/IMG_1218.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<u><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=passion+5+patisserie+seoul&hl=en&ll=37.539201,127.001975&spn=0.009392,0.021136&fb=1&hq=passion+5+patisserie&hnear=0x357ca28b61c565cd:0x858aedb4e4ea83eb,Seoul,+South+Korea&view=map&cid=11445577374345914044&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=0&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Yongsan-gu Hannam-Dong 72-74</a></u><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Itaewon, Seoul</div>FNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08063651163439466590noreply@blogger.com2