Decision I went to Taipei to learn Mandarin frankly surprise yourself. Although dengue China, I never felt wanted to learn Mandarin so that once had concocted a thousand reasons to parents to not learn it. However, I finally decided to learn the language of the second largest in the world. Learning was unsparing, direct native speakers in the country by settling for a year at Taipei.

Find warmth

The one that makes me uncomfortable is the food and when he got in Taipei, one of the first local food I tried was huo guo aka hot pot or shabu-shabu in Shi Da Night Market. I came when Taipei middle of winter, so the hot pot be the perfect choice as it is. Chinese characters word “huo guo” literally means a cauldron of fire, so this dish was a favorite food in the winter. In Taipei, mostly methamphetamine restaurant serves soup in a small skillet for each person on a portable stove, so no need to share one big cauldron.

What of hot pot restaurants in Taipei is the main choice of toppings ranging from beef, chicken, pork, fish, until scallops, accompanied by pieces of cabbage, enoki mushrooms, veal meatballs, dumplings, and tofu. For the sauce options also available broth is tasty, spicy mala sauce and creamy milk sauce. My choice when it fell to the mala spicy sauce. Understandably, Indonesia tongue I was not familiar with the taste of Taipei were bland.

As someone who likes spicy taste, when first entering I immediately glanced at the dressing options provided in a table. Turns out it is a spice blend that can be added or be cocolan of huo guo we ordered. Taiwanese people in general use Sha Cha sauce is tasty and a little spicy, but I prefer the classic concoction of chili slices and spicy soy sauce that is more fitting to my tongue, if only taste the sauce does not fit on my tongue. After a satisfying meal huo guo, in restaurants usually provided ice cream can also be taken as much.

When you want to order white rice, my friend told me that it turns almost any restaurant hot pot of rice that can be taken to provide as much and sometimes even provided gravy that can be sprayed onto the rice. In addition to rice, hot meal at the restaurant was also included drinks. Although mostly just sweet tea, but there is also a supply of orange juice or soft drinks.

Hot Pot

Hot Pot himself already in Mongolia since more than 1000 years ago. Originally served with beef, goat, or horse, the food is then spread widely in the reign of the Tang Dynasty and is expanding again in the Qing Dynasty. As more and extent of the circulation of hot pot, the ingredients used were also adjusted to those in their respective regions.

In Taipei, huo guo can be ordered to provide a menu and there is a can-eat package, including a choice of ice cream Haagen Dazs Movenpick or as a dessert. All You Can Eat Restaurants are usually given a time limit, typically two hours, so that guests do not sit too long. If you want to taste hot pot in Taipei, prepare approximately 100-200 NTD (New Taiwan Dollars) per person and if you want to eat as much about 400-700 NTD. For those who want to try the hot pot concept All You Can Eat, I recommend Ma La Yuan Yang Hot Pot in the area of ​​Xi Men. Visit for dinner before or after a walk in Xi Men Ding, one of the most popular night markets in Taipei.

Find Simplicity

After a few days traveling around Taipei while trying to fit in, I often see a sign that reads restaurant as “lu rou fan”. Out of curiosity, I idly tried menu which is only appreciated between 35-50 NTD’s. Once the food was delivered to the table, I understand why the food is priced as cheaply as that. The interface is very simple, which only consists of white rice smothered in finely chopped pork with brown gravy-like stew. Although simple, it immediately makes homesick because it reminds me of my mother’s cooking stews. Savory blend with a hint of sweetness that poured onto white rice, lu rou fan can also be eaten with boiled eggs extra ketchup. If you can not consume pork, the restaurant provides a menu also provides a similar menu using shredded chicken with cheaper prices between five to ten NTD.

Everywhere in Taipei, lu rou fan peddled everywhere. Ranging from roadside carts up at food stalls, so the rice with braised pork is listed in the Michelin Green Guide Taiwan 2011. The menu is actually derived from Shandong Province in China, causing a fierce debate because, according to the Taiwanese, this menu has become an icon of pride Taiwan.

Such as fried rice in Indonesia, the taste of each bowl Lu Rou Fan varies, depending on the origin of the cook. Although still using basic ingredients minced meat marinated in soy sauce, anyone can give a touch of distinctive flavor on the meat sauce. Most people prefer meat that is not too fatty to make this menu, but people in northern Taiwan would prefer lu rou fan with fatty meats.

Comfort food was actually simple foods that are easy to prepare and make everyone feel good. Whether it’s remembering comfort or someone at home or as ingredients in the food warm, literally or parable. That is why, comfort food provides comfort that can only be understood personally by the person concerned. Located in Taipei, I find it easier to adapt because locals know the comfort food that one step ahead in the face of the new world around me that for the year ahead should I call home.