Taipei | Yu Dow Son Aesthetics Japanese Cuisine 魚道生美學日本料理

Yu Dow Son Aesthetics Japanese Cuisine 魚道生美學日本料理
No. 13, Lane 199, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Taipei, Taiwan
台北市信義路四段199巷13號
(02) 2707-4323

Price: NT$ 1,200+
Recommendation: 4 Stars

Because of Jon Chiu's short stay in Taiwan, we planned an insane food marathon in hope to have a taste of the many new and awesome restaurants in Taipei. As the first stop of our journey, we find it appropriate to begin at Yu Dow Son Aesthetics Japanese Cuisine 魚道生美學日本料理, one of the hottest additions to Taipei's competitive sushi scene. Owner and Chef Liu Ji-an was a senior sushi chef at No Sushi 野壽司, a premier Edomae 江戶前 sushi house in Taipei.

Yu Dow Son 魚道生 (Japanese: Gyodouike) represents a technique of Japanese "flower-do" (the way of flower) that stresses the harmony of ying and yang. The combination of exquisite Japanese cuisine and elegant flower-do is the immediate theme of the restaurant. In addition to the hearty wood furnitures and spacious dining atmosphere, state-of-the-art flower decors can be seen at every corner of the restaurant!

Owner and Chef Liu Ji-an 劉濟安師傅

Jon and I ordered the NT$ 1,800 omakase - the chef decides what to serve us based on the freshest available ingredients. We also made a reservation a couple days in advance, so we can sit at the sushi bar and see Chef Ji-an in action.

Appetizer Platter

Flatfish & Torched Yellowtail Sashimi 比目魚 & 黃鰭鮪魚

In addition to the usual ginger and radish garnishes, the chef offered us to try some sea grapes. The radish was particularly delicious!

Sea Grapes 海葡萄, Ginger 薑, Radish 醃蘿蔔

For many Asians, Cod milt is considered a delicacy (I am not sure if I agree with that). However, if you don't think about what you are actually eating, it really doesn't taste that bad.

Cod Milt 鱈魚白子

Slightly Torched Scallop Sashimi 干貝

Blended with exotic spices from abroad, the bonito carpaccio was flavorful and whetted my appetite.

Bonito Carpaccio 醃製鰹魚

Black Cod Saikyo Yaki 圓鱈西京燒

Steak with Taro Sauce 牛肉佐芋頭醬汁

Fried Tofu 炸豆腐 (on the house!)

Unlike traditional sushi masters, chefs at Yu Dao Son dress in stylishly black - bringing some swag.

chopping up a piece of tuna

The fresh and tasty nigiris demonstrated the masterful skills of Chef Ji-an. Before serving, he beautifully flavored and garnished each nigiri with the most complementary seasonings. Quite interestingly, Yu Dow Son's sushi rice is warm instead of the typical dead-cold state. The temperatured rice escalated the tastiness of the fish and made the sushi more smoothing to take. Chef Ji-an jokingly asked, "Don't you think it tasted better?"

Cuttlefish Nigiri 軟絲握壽司

Chef Ji-an proudly presented his cuttlefish nigiri and told me that he carefully scored it 60 times!

Sweet Shrimp Nigiri 甜蝦握壽司

The ruby-like tuna as well as the sharp cuts made it the most awesome tuna nigiri.

Tuna Nigiri 鮪魚握壽司

nigiri

nigiri

Mackerel Nigiri 白昆布青花魚握壽司

topped with marinated white seaweed

White Miso Soup with Clams 蛤蜊白味增湯

Red Bean Soup with Mochi 紅豆湯麻薯

Macha Green Tea 抹茶

Yu Dao Son 魚道生

Yu Dow Son stands out as one of the finest and most traditional sushi houses in the city. I will definitely come back for more!

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.