Taipei: the Food

Taiwanese food, man. It is so good. We ate mainly street or market food, but that didn't mean it was not awesome. I had easily the best dumplings I've ever tasted, both of the large soup dumpling variety and of the tiny, delicate-skinned in a broth variety.

Our food on the short plane ride: an omelet with spicy tomato sauce, roasted potatoes, and chicken sausage along with fruit and yogurt. It was only a sign of things to come.

I got this dumpling on the street near our hostel. Inside was a thick broth, a slice of tender marinated pork, and sauteed vegetables, all tucked inside a chewy dough dumpling with a crispy sesame shell. It spilled all over my clothes, but it was totally worth it.

snails from the night market with a garlicky, sesame-scented broth

These shrimp, pork, and vegetable dumplings came in a delicate broth flavored with ginger, lemon, and chili. They were then topped with crispy sauteed bean sprouts and fresh cilantro sprigs.

The various smoothie sellers all had their displays of fruit out; you could also buy portions of beautifully diced fresh fruit. They would hand out little samples on long toothpicks, so I got to try a variety of fruits that I'd never had before.

Thai iced tea: the smoothies and drinks were all handed out in these convenient little carrying bags.

Not pictured: the dozen or so Hazelnut lattes I had from the 7-11, which were the perfect blend of frothy milk and hazlenut flavor with no cloying sweetness and could be had for 1.60 USD. My breakfast rolls of sweet rice and barbecued meats, all wrapped up in smokey seaweed. Various pastries from the bakeries scattered across town, all of which made prodigious use of butter.