Gastro Monkey // 美食家

Folks, the main reason Noodle in a Haystack caught my eye was their clam ramen that they had their first year of business (while I have come to love their other ramen offerings, I was still sad about the one that got away). I am happy to report back that I have finally tried it and it was fantastic. I am a huge clam fan and can put away a few pounds of clams in one sitting (it's all shell weight, anyway). Tried as I might, I could not get a reservation while they served that original clam ramen. When I heard that it was going to make a comeback, I cleared what I could of my July in anticipation of that weekend that I would head out to the Bay to get some. Thankfully my schedule worked out with the last Sunday of July! In case you missed it, I have posted about Clint and Yoko's ramen in detail here: Noodle in a Haystack Shio Ramen Then, there's this post also: Noodle in a Haystack Duck Shoyu and Foie Gras This post will focus on the July seating of their shio bu...

Every summer that I went back to Taiwan was spent with family. The best part of being with family and just letting them take me everywhere. While there are a lot of people who don't really explore, my family loves food and loves trying new places along with their tried and true favorites. The bad part is not being really able to go off and do things on my own at farther locations. Keelung was one of those farther away locations I never had a chance to visit. Although, I have to say, I wouldn't trade the other places I went instead (Taroko Gorge, Hualien, and a good chunk of the East Coast).  Now, when I go back to Taiwan, I stay a few days in Taipei which leaves me time to pop over to Keelung. Keelung's Miao Kou Night Market is arguably, one of the best night markets in Taiwan. The seafood alone is already a huge draw. Most of Taipei's fresh seafood comes from Keelung. Aside from seafood, they have a plethora of other options based on rice, pork, or beef. There is ...

Hands down my favorite place to get pork belly over rice in Taipei - 金峰. When my cousin first introduced it to me she said the reviews all said it "tastes like heaven." This was at least seven or eight years ago. Since then I have gone every trip (close to annual) and have either eaten it there or taken it to go. When it's very busy, they'll combine stray diners with each other at the same table. Otherwise, you and your party get your own small steel table. Eating there is best since the food is served hot. If you take it to go, you run the chance of it cooling enough that it isn't as good. Sometimes it's worth it though. For me, it depends on my mood. Sometimes on a hot night it's actually cooler outside in the big open area at CKS Memorial. The pork belly here is my favorite because they have such a good blend of lean and fat meat. The flavor is perfect also. Not too sweet like some of the other shops. It's one of those foods where if you haven...