Lauren and Yi-Ting Eat (oh--and Drink!) Their Way Through the South of Taiwan

It began at this vendor's stand outside of Fort Zeelandia.  If you look closely, you can see it on the counter there, the giant cup in the plastic bag.  The Winter Squash Juice.  And yes, you are thinking correctly--it is squash, as in the vegetable.  But are you thinking that it is pure bliss, as in--so good?  Because you'd be correct then as well.

It sustained me up until lunch, which I was so excited to eat.  Shrimp rolls, noodles with some sort of incredible pork concoction, and almond tofu for dessert.
(Start drooling people--this is food unlike any other.)

Mid-afternoon found us burnt out from browsing the local department store, so it was a good thing we'd picked up this sesame creme-brulee on our way in.  It was black and creamy. It was also, however, divine.

Combined with these toasted bits from the local french bakery, we were set for life.

But later, in anticipation of dinner, 

Yi-Ting's brother-in-law asked me if I ate seafood.  

I said "Yes! Love it!"  

["Doi! Ga-e!"]

I, of course, meant seafood like shrimp.  Salmon.  

Maybe some talapia.

He, of course, meant the kind of seafood I'd managed to avoid in my 32 years:  oysters, clams, mussels.  Squid.

Oh, and, these pretty little octopuses.  

(I ate everything except the octopi.  For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to crunch down on their little heads. And legs. As pretty as they were...)  

"No, thank you."
["Boo yow! Tshei tshei"]

Following this dinner, Yi-Ting and I drove to her parent's place where her mother met me with a plate of delectable fruit (Chinese pears, mango, and grape tomatoes), and cold bean soup--perhaps the most refreshing thing one could ask for in the humidity of Taiwan.  (Sorry, no pictures.)

The next day Yi-Ting and I needed some protein to get us up the trails on our bamboo forest adventure, so on our drive up the mountain we stopped at a roadside vendor for rice & pork in a convenient bamboo container. At this point you should have an idea of what I'm going to say: Tasty.

After a long day, we were ready for more.  We found it at the Night Market--a standard Taiwanese event, which I found to be slightly overwhelming, but worth it.  With booth after booth of goods and goodies, there were a ton of food options.  When Yi-Ting asked me where I wanted to get dinner, I pointed my finger in desperation and said "That one!".  

Mongolian Barbecue.  (Pause for a commemorative sigh...) 

From a thousand little bins full of vegetable options I piled my bowl high and handed it over.  I watched as the vendors fried it up on a giant circular heat stone.  And then--I ate it in wonder.  

We finished our evening (and, coincidently my Taiwan/Yi-Ting time) in the same way we'd started the weekend: with Winter Squash Juice, as we meandered through the Market, perusing the variety of things it had to offer.  

We went home, and I laid my weary head on my wooden bed and slept like the well-fed and satisfied girl that I was.  The next morning I was given my 4th traditional (and 4th DELICIOUS) Taiwanese breakfast (who knew one place could have so many traditional breakfast items?), and was then deposited in a van on it's way to the airport.  

Why, you ask? Because Beijing was on my to-do list for that day.  And for the next 2 weeks, as a matter of fact. So guess what's coming up in this little saga?  Lauren Meets Beijing.  

Bet you can't wait ;-)