Taipei | Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店

Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店

No. 23, Lane 8, Tian Mu East Road, Taipei, Taiwan

台北市士林區天母東路8巷23號

Price: $

Recommendation: 4 Star

Walking distance from my apartment in Taipei, Tian Mu Goose 天母大頭鵝鵝肉專賣店 is one of Tian Mu residents' favorites. As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in Taiwanese goose cuisine. Tian Mu Goose opens at 3:00pm in the afternoon and will often be out of their famous geese by 7:00pm. Many have to rush to this busy street shop after work - a second late, you will have to come back tomorrow!

2 cooking stations

Geese!

All of their delicious geese are wrapped in plastic bags - it was quite a scene!

Tian Mu Goose prepares their geese in simply two ways: Salt Water Goose 鹹水鵝 and Tea Smoked Goose 煙薰茶鵝. Salt Water style keeps the original sweetness of goose meat; the poultry is only lightly salted. It is my preferred style! Similar to European smoked meats, the tea smoked goose has a strong smokey fragrance; however, with a hint of calming tea scent. Because of the smoking process, the aromatic meat is even more tender and juicier.

Since both styles are irresistible, I ordered the salt water goose and tea smoked goose combo. You can also pick which part of the goose you want: leg, chest, or wing. As an Asian, of course, I asked for the dark meat/ leg.

Goose Plate

Salt Water Goose & Tea Smoked Goose

鹹水鵝 & 煙薰茶鵝

The golden brown skin is tea smoked, while the white skinned meat is the salt water style.

It is pretty much required to have a bowl of noodle soup (whether traditional noodle, rice noodle, or vermicelli) when eating goose meat. The clear and refreshing soup washes out the saltiness of the goose meat, so that you can have another plate of it!

Flat Rice Noodle Soup 板條

finished the entire plate myself

Taipei | Boulangerie Le Goût 那個 麵包

Boulangerie Le Goût 那個 麵包

No. 58, Lane 188, Ruiguang Road, Taipei, Taiwan

台北市內湖區瑞光路188巷58號

http://www.legout.com.tw/

Price: $$

Recommendation: 4.5 Stars

Located in Neihu's hidden alley, Boulangerie Le Goût is one of the most loved and desired bakeries in Taiwan, selling recipes and breads directed by Taiwanese Master pastry chef Wu Paochun 吳寶春, who won 1st place (2010) and 2nd place (2008) at the Coupe du Monde la Boulangerie, an international, invitational artisan baking competition held in Paris, France every couple years, a.k.a the Olympics of Baking!

This comfortably designed shop bakes a wide variety of tasty breads and pastries by using local delicacies as well as the best ingredients around the world. The mouth-watering bagels, croissants, and rolls are presented beautifully with a touch of the chef's inspiration and creativity. More importantly, many of their products are sold out by late afternoon, especially Master chef Wu Paochun's award winning creations.

Boulangerie Le Goût

On the wall of Le Goût showcases different breads from all over the world, including the butterfly decorated bread that earned Wu Paochun the world championship.

Showcase of Breads from all over the World

deciding what to buy

pastries!

Spread with glowing cod roes from Japan, the Mintako French Baguette is toasted to perfection and has a great texture. The strong savory taste of cod roe works perfectly with the crunchy baguette. Definitely a favorite!

Mintako French Baguette 明太子法國

Dum dum dum! The award-winning Longan and Wine Bread of Wu Paochun (2nd place)! The costly bread at NT$ 400 (~ US$13.5) uses Wufung's longan, red wine, and natural grape yeast with a base of wheat germ flour. A bite of this doughy delicacy comes a mesmerizing red wine aroma and taste. The fresh and lightly sweetened longans are generously diffused within the bread and surprisingly delicious!

Longan and Wine Bread 桂圓酒韻

Longan and Wine Bread 桂圓酒韻

Unfortunately, when I visited Le Goût, the champion "butterfly" bread is sold out - which gives me another reason to return to this awesome bakery shop!

Taipei | Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐

The unique blend of ethnic demographics in Taiwan allowed many Chinese provincial cuisines to evolve and prosper on this island. Amusingly, Taiwan's Din Tai Fung is considered the best Shanghainese dumpling house in the world. With restaurants in 10 different countries, Din Tai Fung is honored with 1 Michelin Star and is often featured in international journals!

Din Tai Fung is one of the few restaurants that I religiously visit whenever I go back to Taiwan. The delicate dumpling skin as well as the juicy and flavorful fillings satisfy every craving in your palate. This time, I have a special mission in mind - it is to try their new creation: "black truffle xiao long bao"!

Xiao Long Bao 小籠包

Steamed Pork Dumplings

Xiao long bao is the most popular offering from the restaurant. I wonder how many dumplings they make each day?

Luffa & Shrimp Xiao Long Bao 絲瓜蝦仁小籠包

Unlike the greasy pork fillings in xiao long bao, luffa and shrimp xiao long bao is very smooth and light with a fresh luffa aroma.

Luffa & Shrimp Xiao Long Bao 絲瓜蝦仁小籠包

Steamed Crabmeat & Pork Xiao Long Bao 蟹粉小籠包

With the orange crab roe on the tip, steamed crabmeat and pork xiao long bao is my favorite of all. The savoriness of crab roe escalates the flavor of the dumpling to the next level!

Steamed Crabmeat & Pork Xiao Long Bao 蟹粉小籠包

Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao!!! 黑松露小籠包

Now comes the black truffle xiao long bao. With more than 3 grams of black truffle, each tiny truffle xiao long bao costs approximately US $2.70. Let's just say it was only worth the experience and excitement. I will probably never order again. The truffle doesn't complement the taste of the xiao long bao - it just left my tongue with an interesting feeling.

Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao 黑松露小籠包

One of the best fried rice I have. The rice has a great texture and doesn't stick together.

Shrimp & Egg Fried Rice 蝦仁蛋炒飯

Chicken Soup 元盅雞湯

Sauteed Taiwanese Cabbage

For all Americans, this is how a bowl of sweet and sour soup should look like!

Hot and Sour Soup 酸辣湯

Dessert:

Ba Bao Fan 八寶飯

"Eight Treasures Rice"

Ba bao fan is steamed sticky rice filled with sweet red bean paste and topped with 8 "treasures" (beans).

Steamed Red Bean Cake 赤豆鬆糕

Everyone in the table hurries to take a piece of the traditional Shanghainese dessert.

Steamed Red Bean Cake 赤豆鬆糕

chefs making xiao long baos

Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐
No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Taipei, Taiwan
台北市信義路二段194號 (永康街口)
http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/

Price: $$
Recommendation: 5 Stars
Not only the best Shanghainese dumpling house in the world, but also one of the most famous restaurants from Taiwan!!

also in various international locations: Los Angeles, Seattle, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and etc.

Chicago | Lawry's The Prime Rib

As my spring getaway, I flew to Chicago to visit some of my best friends in the area. Although it seemed as if I was there to explore the windy city and catch up with friends, Jon and I, both know that it's for the tender and juicy cut of prime ribs at the Lawry's.

Lawry's The Prime Rib is my ultimate favorite steakhouse. Period. Writing this review even makes my mouth water and crave for a generous and thick slice of their famous roast beef. Unlike many chained steakhouses, such as Ruth's Chris, Outback, and Morton's, the classic and elegant restaurant operates in very few locations (only 4 in the US). As loyal as a customer can be, I have been to Lawry's in Beverley Hills (where it all started), Las Vegas, Chicago, and Taipei. Known for its top notch service, the restaurant prepares the prime ribs and side dishes to the highest quality across all locations.

Situated on the glamourous Magnificent Miles, the Chicago outpost occupies the historic light opera house, which made it the finest and most lavish branch of the Lawry's. When you enter this "magnificent" building, you will immediately be captured by the old English decor with beautiful chandeliers and aesthetic wood frames. Our host kindly led us to the dining room, which is further inside the building. Along with the shiny silverwares and antique high-back chairs, the high ceiling in the dining room elegantly established the superior and high class atmosphere at Lawry's.

Lawry's The Prime Rib

the dining room

The menu at Lawry's is simple. The only things I needed to decide were the portion of my steak and how I liked it prepared. There were also other options available. For example, a popular side order is two Australian lobster tails for just $21.

My meal started with the Famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad, which was accompanied by an elaborate presentation. First, the server gave us icy "chilled forks", so that we could enjoy the salad at its cold temperature. Immediately, he brought out a cart filled with the freshest ingredients and tools to perform a salad mixing show! Most people found it amusing, but I felt really awkward when I saw the server "spin the bowl."

waiter preparing our spinning bowl salad

As seen from the picture, a big steel pot was placed on top of a bowl of ice. The server filled the silver bowl with chopped romaine, beets, hard boiled eggs, croutons, and other ingredients. Then, he gave a forceful spin to the pot. As the bowl furiously spun, he drizzled the pink house made dressing and mix it with a spatula. Voila! The famous spinning bowl salad was made! The salad was amazing and a great starter for my dinner. I really liked the beets and the lightly sour dressing. Remember to season the salad with Lawry's famous pepper!

Famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad

Now came the moment I had been waiting for all night - The Prime Rib. The certified chef rolled out a spaceship looking "silver" cart, which is ridiculously expensive. The cart is used to not only preserve the temperature and juice of the meat but also allow the chef to hand carve the prime rib in front of us. The chef cordially greeted us and proceeded to prepare our prime ribs. It was really fun to interact with the chef and actually see the racks of prime ribs in the cart. I wished I could have a whole rack to myself...

"Silver" Cart

I ordered the thick 16 oz. bone-in Diamond Jim Brady Cut. I used to always get the largest Beef Bowl Cut (24 oz.), named in honor of Lawry's tradition to serve super thick slices of prime rib to the football players in the annual Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Sadly, I can't finish it anymore. I guess I'm getting old!

Seasoned with Lawry's famous pepper and other spices, the mouth watering prime rib was divinely roasted to perfection. The temperature was perfect, the texture was excellent, and the smell of the roast beef would make you go crazy. A bite of the tender and juicy steak with its natural beef au jus literally made me the happiest person on Earth. The prime rib at Lawry's was truly addicting.

The "Diamond Jim Brady" Cut

with mashed potatoes

In addition to the salad, the roast beef came with mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. The Yorkshire pudding is a special savory dish at Lawry's. I didn't like it at first, but I actually quite enjoy it now. The soft and puffy pastry dipped in prime rib au jus brought out an interesting texture with the full flavor of the prime rib.

Yorkshire Pudding

Lawry's also have a selection of tasty sides, including creamed corn, creamed spinach, sauteed mushroom, and etc. Their creamed corn was absolutely to die for. I couldn't stop munching on the fragrant extra creamy and buttery sweat corn. I even tried to make it myself; everyone loved it! You can find the recipe here.

Creamed Corn

The Best!

Lawry's The Prime Rib in Chicago

I simply adore Lawry's The Prime Rib. The restaurant has elaborate presentations for its famous spinning bowl salad as well as the roast beef, which is hand-carved in front of you from an expensive silver cart. Without a doubt in my mind, Lawry's perfect roast beef is unquestionably the best I have ever tasted. The service was attentive and excellent. More importantly, the server always kept a smile on his face; it definitely added to the already awesome dining experience. To all the meat lovers, Lawry's is a must try!!

Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
http://www.lawrysonline.com/

Price: $$$$
Recommendation: 4.5 Stars
The number one roast beef in the world.
The tender and juicy cut of prime rib will definitely keep you coming back for more!

also in various international locations: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, and Singapore

New York | M Bar at the Mansfield Hotel

I love recruiting season. Not because I look forward to joining the workforce, but it is all about the perks that come along when interviewing. To me, on-site interviews are like free trips to New York City or wherever the company is. Typically, the firm will provide you with airfare, hotel accommodation, taxi, as well as reasonable food expenses. Seriously, what do you want more? Last January, I think I expensed as much as $2,000 in the span of a few days when I was interviewing with banks.

For my interview with Morgan Stanley, I was put into the Mansfield Hotel, a boutique hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel is situated in the historic and prestigious Club Row, where many ivy leagues' alumni clubs reside in New York, and it is just blocks away from the touristy Time Square. Instead of having a stipend for my breakfast, Morgan Stanley paid for a nice morning meal at the hotel's lounge - the M Bar.

I woke up a bit early on the day of my interview and went to breakfast with my casual clothes. The M Bar is a small and intimate room on the lobby level of the hotel. The grand dark wood finishing at the bar brings out the sophisticated and classy vibe of this historic site. I sat at the table next to the window, which overlooked the 44th street.

The M Bar from mansfieldhotel.com

The waiter approached me with a smile and greeted me immediately. The breakfast selection on the menu all seemed very tasty and appealing. I decided to order the poached egg brioche with truffle oil, which came with applewood smoked bacon and a side salad. Coffee or tea was also included with the order.

I absolutely loved the truffle essence that instantly transformed the simple egg dish to something exquisite and more appetizing. The smokey bacon was fried to the perfect crispy state. Not to mention, the soft texture of the brioche bread was my favorite. A bite of the half cooked egg and toasty brioche with bacon brought a complex divine taste that would literally bring you to heaven.

Poached Egg Brioche with Truffle Oil, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Side Salad

As I enjoyed my dark and robust English breakfast tea, I casually read through the Wall Street Journal and checked out recent exciting IPO and M&A deals on my iPad to prepare for my coming interview. When I asked the waiter for more hot water, he also brought me extra tea bags, which was really nice of him. I am never a morning person; however, I actually really enjoyed this early meal at the M Bar.

Though known for its classy and high end night lounge, the breakfast at the M Bar is deliciously prepared, and the waiting staff is very attentive and made me felt very cozy and relaxed as I enjoyed my meal. It was definitely a very special breakfast experience in New York City. Thanks to Morgan Stanley!

M Bar at the Mansfield Hotel
12 West 44th Street
New York, NY10036
http://www.mansfieldhotel.com

Recommendation: 4 Stars
Very classy and cozy hotel lounge in Midtown Manhattan, which offers delicate meals and a great selection of cocktails and wines.

The hotel room at the Mansfield is tiny though......