吃飯了嗎？

騷豆花

It's a little shack serving up new twists on the classic Chinese silken tofu 豆花 desserts. The spot is right near the CTV television studios, so various stars and celebrities have stopped by and left their signatures on the back wall, and there's a patio overlooking a little park for outdoor seating as well.

Between the four of us we were able to try pretty much their entire offering. The SIL's classic style 豆花 in syrup seemed okay but I didn't really get much of a taste. SO's silken tofu in sesame sauce is a real treat that you'd usually only find in much fancier places. The thick black sesame soup was warm and hearty without being overly sweet and cloying, perfect for the chilly evening. The silken tofu in sweet azuki bean soup has a similar effect, but the sweet red-bean soup is a common offering, and the sweetness covered up the tofu flavor a bit. I took one for the team and got the signature strawberry-ice 豆花 with a scoop of shaved ice, tapioca, fresh strawberries, and cream stacked on top of the tofu. It was a bit overwhelming but very good, in its teeth-chattering way. Would be absolutely amazing in the summer heat, when they also offer a mango version which we'll have to try then. So couldn't really determine the quality of the tofu itself, but it seemed competent enough and the variety is cool, and it's close to home so it'll make for a nice take-out or after-dinner dessert option.

騷豆花
台北市大安區延吉街131巷26號
(華視後面)
02-87718901

無名清粥

One of many congee shops along 復興南路 near the DaAn MRT station. Each table gets a big pot of all-you-can-eat yam-and-rice gruel. You can then go up to the counter to choose from a huge variety of dishes ranging from tasty little pickles to more substantial fare. Not the fanciest dishes in the world, and some looks to have been sitting out for a while, but all very 下飯 designed to go with the congee. Nice for a light dinner and perfect for the late-night 宵夜. The dad-in-law managed to tie his personal record with six bowls of congee, understandable after a long day of bike-riding around Taipei.

無名子清粥小菜
台北市復興南路二段 130 號
02-2784 - 6735

新幹線列車站

The sis-in-law's new boyfriend was smart enough to try to earn points with the family by taking us out on a weekend outing to Taichung. SO's cousin also had a hand in suggesting the itinerary and they both recommended this place as a nice spot in 后里 for lunch.

It is a combination of B&B and restaurant with a railroad theme. A railroad car is parked outside to draw the attention of the visitors and there's a train-shaped wooden pavilion in the central courtyard garden. The hotel rooms and the restaurant itself are all converted TRA railroad cars. The food is served in a multi-layer steel bento box, and the food itself is basically an upgraded version of typical eki-ben fare. Ideal for a casual lunch with a cool vibe.

新幹線列車站
台中縣后里鄉安眉路37之21號
04-25587588