Around bustling Yongkang Street, the value of human relationships takes precedence over making money at some small businesses, coffee shops, tea houses and restaurants; these places exude peculiar auras and ambiances, which reflect their owners’ idiosyncrasies.
James Kitchen is one such establishment. When the red lamp outside the door is lit (usually around dinner time) you’ll know it’s open. The restaurant closes when the day’s patrons, usually habitues, are sufficiently intoxicated after imbibing local brews and satiated after eating hearty Taiwanese fare.
My dining partner and I visited on a Monday night to avoid queuing. The interior is nostalgic in a cozy way, with old Taiwanese and Japanese ballads playing in the background. The simple decorations, wooden tables and stools create soothing vibe.
PHOTO: HO YI, TAIPEI TIMES
The kitchen specializes in preparing fresh fish with strange names. What the chefs have in stock for the day is written on a blackboard. Diners can choose the cooking method. Steaming is usually the best way to go with a fresh catch, but there are other options on the menu, such as the popular roasted threadfin perch (午魚一夜干, NT$225).
The assorted sashimi (綜合生魚片, NT$250) is an easy way to sample the day’s fresh harvest, while the fish skin salad (涼拌魚皮, NT$125) is made from premium brown croaker. Served with kumquat and ginger sauce, the gelatin-rich dish, accompanied by cucumber slices, is a light, summery option.
On the non-seafood section of the menu, beef with rock salt (岩鹽牛小排, NT$220) brings out the meat’s natural flavor with simple seasoning. Bamboo shoot with pig intestines (鮮筍燒大腸, NT$220) is a favorite among restaurant regulars, as the crisp shoots’ texture contrasts well with that of the tender intestines. A Hakka classic, pork with kumquat sauce (結醬白切肉, NT$175) tones down the oily meat with sweet-and-sour flavors.
For Taiwanese of a certain age, rice with lard (蔥香豬油飯, NT$20) is a nostalgic dish, and though appetite-enticing, it’s not favored by younger generations of diners. Braised pork rice with abalone (干貝肉燥飯, NT$35) is a fancier version of this classic.
As the night advanced, the bearded patron dimmed the lights. “It means we can smoke now,” he said. We were treated to bottles of sake and invited to join in the conversation.
This is probably what James Kitchen is all about: friendliness. And if you’re feeling in a solitary mood, there’s always a quiet corner.
Cheng Ching-hsiang (鄭青祥) turned a small triangle of concrete jammed between two old shops into a cool little bar called 9dimension. In front of the shop, a steampunk-like structure was welded by himself to serve as a booth where he prepares cocktails. “Yancheng used to be just old people,” he says, “but now young people are coming and creating the New Yancheng.” Around the corner, Yu Hsiu-jao (饒毓琇), opened Tiny Cafe. True to its name, it is the size of a cupboard and serves cold-brewed coffee. “Small shops are so special and have personality,” she says, “people come to Yancheng to find such treasures.” She
Late last month Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro told the Philippine Senate that the nation has sufficient funds to evacuate the nearly 170,000 Filipino residents in Taiwan, 84 percent of whom are migrant workers, in the event of war. Agencies have been exploring evacuation scenarios since early this year, she said. She also observed that since the Philippines has only limited ships, the government is consulting security agencies for alternatives. Filipinos are a distant third in overall migrant worker population. Indonesia has over 248,000 workers, followed by roughly 240,000 Vietnamese. It should be noted that there are another 170,000
Hannah Liao (廖宸萱) recalls the harassment she experienced on dating apps, an experience that left her frightened and disgusted. “I’ve tried some voice-based dating apps,” the 30-year-old says. “Right away, some guys would say things like, ‘Wanna talk dirty?’ or ‘Wanna suck my d**k?’” she says. Liao’s story is not unique. Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics show a more than 50 percent rise in sexual assault cases related to online encounters over the past five years. In 2023 alone, women comprised 7,698 of the 9,413 reported victims. Faced with a dating landscape that can feel more predatory than promising, many in
Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) attendance at the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPP) “Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War” parade in Beijing is infuriating, embarrassing and insulting to nearly everyone in Taiwan, and Taiwan’s friends and allies. She is also ripping off bandages and pouring salt into old wounds. In the process she managed to tie both the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) into uncomfortable knots. The KMT continues to honor their heroic fighters, who defended China against the invading Japanese Empire, which inflicted unimaginable horrors on the
RSS