You know how it is to yearn for a dish with a distinctive taste and nothing else will satisfy.
This was the case a few weeks ago in Ximending when the unmistakable smell of sesame oil chicken soup wafted up to the 11th floor. It was lunchtime so we looked around but found no restaurants in the area that served this traditional Taiwanese offering.
It turned out the only place you could buy the meal locally was at 7-Eleven, where you have to order two days in advance. It's not bad if you like your food microwaved and served in a plastic container, but Lung Hsian Chu in bustling Yongkang Street is much better.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
The Taiwanese version of sesame oil chicken uses stock boosted by various herbs. The result is a dish reeking of sesame that is served up in an earthenware chafing pot. It's simple but effective and goes best with plain rice and an order of vegetables.
Other chicken dishes on offer includes chicken with heshouwu (
The poultry ranges from the cheapest, regular chicken (NT$110), to free-range chicken (NT$140) and finally black-skinned chicken (NT$160) -- which is said to be the best of the lot.
The adventurous may want to try some of the side dishes, which include sesame oil dried blood, dried cured tofu, or fragrant soft eggs. Wash it all down with the honeyed green tea or plum juice.
Lung Hsian Chu is a pleasant two-story restaurant with around 25 tables that's been open for a year-and-a-half. It's popular among students and local mothers who pop in for a takeaway to put on the table for the family's evening meal.
The decor is unassuming with dark wooden tables and white paper lanterns, large Japanese colonial-era windows and bare walls. The wait staff are reasonably helpful and friendly when you get to know them.
This is unpretentious eating and the Taiwanese version of chicken soup that is good for the soul. A meal at Lung Hsian Chu more than fills the gap, as it also delivers a healthy dose of Chinese medicine.
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the fairest Disney live-action remake of them all? Wait, mirror. Hold on a second. Maybe choosing from the likes of Alice in Wonderland (2010), Mulan (2020) and The Lion King (2019) isn’t such a good idea. Mirror, on second thought, what’s on Netflix? Even the most devoted fans would have to acknowledge that these have not been the most illustrious illustrations of Disney magic. At their best (Pete’s Dragon? Cinderella?) they breathe life into old classics that could use a little updating. At their worst, well, blue Will Smith. Given the rapacious rate of remakes in modern