Enjoying Unique Cuisine in Taiwan

Now that Thanksgiving dinner is behind us and Christmas dinner is fast approaching, I find myself thinking of food quite a lot lately.  With that in mind, I thought I’d pick up where my last blog left off, and tell you all about the wondrous meals I enjoyed during my trips.

 

Let me start by setting the scene: my family and I were staying at a hotel right above the local market. The shops and stands all opened for business bright and early, with lights turning on and scooters driving orders around as early as 3 am. This neighborhood was technically the ghetto, yet was still very clean and safe to travel through, demonstrating why Taiwan was voted one of the safest countries in the world. In fact, my family and I were able to explore the markets without even so much as curious glances from the locals, a far cry from the more judgmental stares we earned during our travels through India.

 

I must admit, I feel a little guilty I couldn’t always return the favor.

 

I do try to be open-minded, but I couldn’t entirely hide my shock at the sight of pythons being butchered and sold by the kilogram. Fresh meat is very important to local cuisine, and there is a wide variety of choices on display, as almost all the shops and restaurants based their sales around meat. I may be a vegetarian, but even I could appreciate the wonderful aroma wafting off the many stews and soups being prepared.

 

I understand that all those hearty soups and stews keep the locals healthy in the changing weather, wetting their throats in the sweaty heat and warming their bellies during the cold rains. However, what truly blew my mind was tasting some of the best pizza I’ve ever had in Taiwan of all places.

 

I’d made a good impression on the hotel staff, and they were the ones who recommended I stop by a nearby pizza place for a slice. My family and I were surprised to say the least, we never imagined they’d serve pizza in that country, let alone that it would be so good. Not only was the suggested stand a delicious first try, but the three or four other shops we visited were just as good, and vegetarian friendly! Since we don’t eat meat, we were extremely thankful to find so many vegetarian options, it’s always nice when regions are accommodating to specific dietary needs.

 

Now, while the pizza was a wonderful culture shock, not all our culinary surprises were as pleasant.



On the last day of our trip, we took a train out to visit a famous tea village nestled in the mountains. Riding the glass floor tram was quite the experience, as many other tourists enjoyed the ride, but the village itself had little to offer. There were no local tea tastings or anything like that, the village had become modernized and commercialized, they even had a shop making green tea flavored ice cream. We were expecting an authentic cultural experience, yet we were greeted with little local flair, though I will admit the view of the mountains and temples was lovely. There were certain stops at the temples, and even a zoo, but I’m sorry to say we didn’t have time to visit them.

 

Oddly enough, the best orange iced tea and lemon iced tea I ever had was there, served by our videographer who’d made it himself. My Mother in Law and I don’t usually like iced tea, especially not the stuff sold in the US, but our videographer’s blend has made us into instant fans.

 

Sweet Tips with Ally:

 

-Recognize that different cultures have different views on eating animals, meat that may seem sacred or taboo to one culture could be totally acceptable in another. Try to remain open minded when encountering cuts of meat you’re not used to, but at the same time, try to avoid eating or ordering meats that will offend the locals.

 

-Research the area’s cuisine to ensure you will have access to specific foods if you have special dietary requirements. If local markets or restaurants do not typically serve your specific foods, plan ahead and bring your own.

 

-Keep in mind that your expectations of a country’s traditional culture may not always be accurate. Just as time marches on in our home countries, so too are old fashioned traditions lost to modernization in other countries around the world.