Eat the Feet?

With only two days left, I'm attempting to absorb my favorite part of Taiwan's culture - The People. Every day for the last couple weeks I've been out and about spending time with as many friends as I can. It's turned into the family joke, every day they ask "So where you going to night?" (Roughly translated..)

On Saturday, my friend Ring brought me to a part of town I'd yet to visit. Before we ventured down "Art Street" - much reminiscent of Laguna Beach... minus the beach... and the blonde hair - she told me "Every time I come here, I always get three things to eat."

The first was a Taiwanese Hamburger of sorts. No problems there.
The last was an iced desert. Delish.

But between those two tasty treats, she said, "Now we're going to have Ji-Jiao"

"What's Ji-Jiao?" I asked hesitant, as I translated it in my mind.

"Chicken Feet~!"

51 weeks in Taiwan, and I'd avoided this "delicacy" until then. Ring wouldn't take no for an answer, I knew, so I buckled down and tried to enjoy...

But she loves it! As do many Taiwanese...

(that's a toenail in her mouth, by the way)

I'm thankful I tried. But it's not going to become a dietary habit, by any means. If you must know, well, it tasted like chicken. Pun only slightly intended.

Here's my beef. Let's forget the mental image of what this chicken was stepping in when it was alive and cluckin', I'm not crazy about savagely eating meat off the bone (boneless buffalo wings, please), and I've been known to peel even my grapes of their skin. So, the idea of gnawing on some sagging loose ankle flesh is just less than appealing to me.

But I did it.

Frankly, I prefer the Stinky (fermented) Tofu.

Reasons I Miss the States - Mexican Food

Recently, my family asked me what my first meal would be when I return to the States. For sure, they thought, I would choose In'n'Out. While it was a fair and worthy choice on their part, I frankly don't know if my stomach could handle that weighty of a meal after such a hiatus as mine. If you don't know what In'n'Out is, you are undoubtedly missing out on the best burger joint of your life. Ever.

Instead, I surprised them by requesting Mexican Food. In Taiwan, Mexican food is the one ethnic dish that is hard to find, and harder to find done well. Japanese? No problem. Thai? We've got that. But Mexican... well, let's just say there isn't a Taco Bell down the street.

There is, however, a Nightmarket. And in this particular Nightmarket there is a Turkish couple who have immigrated to Taiwan. This Turkish couple have a small stand with a banner that hangs above head. The banner reads Authentic Mexican Burritos. And it couldn't make me happier.

To begin with, they're great people, that couple. But then again, I tend to believe food tastes better when you enjoy the people involved in its creation. Heck, I believe life tastes better when you enjoy the people involved in creating life around you.

But, good queue-conversation aside, the burrito is consistently fantastic. Authentic or not, it's hard to take qualms with a chicken burrito with a tortilla rolled from dough.

Fajitas, Tacos, Quesadillas, and heck, Nacho Cheese Chalupas, are all foods I've involuntarily fasted from for the span of a year, but I've certainly been held over by the Wen Xin Nightmarket Authentic Mexican Burritos. 好吃!

I just spent $355 on a half gallon of Eggnog, Ctd.

Eggnog Blog Update

So, believe it or not, they liked it. The only complaint I received (which kept most of them from asking for a second pixie-cup helping) was that it tasted too sweet.

I'll give it to them. It's a sweet drink.

Being in Taiwan makes me realize how over-addicted to sugar we are in the States. Everything is saturated with artificial sweeteners and neon-florescent colors.

You know what's considered ingredients for a good dessert here in Taiwan?
Red Beans
Corn
and Fresh Fruit.

I'm learning to take that over any artificial concoction offered to me back home.
(that said, I should make a note that I just snuck half a bag of Peach Rings out of the Christmas package my family sent me . . . hey! I said I'm learning!!)

Anyways, their less-than-enthusiastic reaction left me plenty in the carton to get my eggnog fix for the Season. (Yeah, that means I drank more than my fair share, and regretted it an hour later)




Being detached from familiarity - especially this time of year - has given me ample time to observe life-as-I-knew-it from the outside. Watching America's financial crisis spread throughout the World; Seeing a global perspective on politics; Unhinging eyes from any glamor in Hollywood or any hold in "trends," I have a unique chance to observe the culture I'd been unable to separate myself from - or really, know anything different.
One thing I am now sure of: The Hamster Wheel of "9-5, repeat" has no appeal to me.
(Nor does the "5-9" of retail, but that's a given. I weathered that battle already.)

While discussing "Stage Musicals" with Jimmy, I searched Cirque Du Soliel clips on YouTube. I found this Allegoric gem...

What are your thoughts?



BTW... completely unrelated, but since this is an update blog, I figured I'd let you all know my favorite tracks from the new BG record are now:
The title track, "I'll be Home for Christmas" (it's only fitting), and
The Jazzy, down-tempo "What Child is This" (what can I say... I'm a sucker for a good Jazz tune, and I didn't know the girls had it in them.)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

I just spent $355 on a half gallon of Eggnog

Tomorrow... I will be drinking Eggnog.

[Taken from RachelRay.com]

I am incredibly excited. So excited that I thought it worth telling all of you about how excited I am.
(And to prove wrong my prediction about an eggnog-less Christmas)

Costco is the only place in Taiwan that carries this wonderful holiday treat. For that I'm certain. However, I did have to shell out $355nt for the carton. Supply and Demand, I guess. (fyi: $355= about $11us.)

But it's worth it. You see, I asked my class if they've ever heard of Eggnog, and their noses curled upwards.

"Ew! Does it really have eggs in it???"

I said, "Are you kidding me?! You're Taiwanese!! You eat pigs' feet and gall bladder!"

So I ventured down the road to Costco, used my American Costco card to get in, resisted the temptation to buy ice cream and pizza, and fought the insane crowds (see 17i), and found myself staring at the one stack of off-brand half gallon cartons of $355 Eggnog.


I'm banking on the hope that my class will be repulsed at the taste, and I'll get more than a few mugs out of it.
Selfish, I know. But at least I'm giving them a fair shot at an exotic cultural experience.



In other news... the Holiday's are in full swing. There's translated Christmas music on the radio, and plastic tree's in every Starbucks and McDonald's. The Vineyard of Harvest Church on my block was the first to put up lights and start projecting Kenny G's Christmas album onto the sidewalk (I have mixed feelings about that), but the Condo Complex and the bright orange underwear store on the corner have followed suite.

The funny thing is... no one celebrates Christmas. No one gets a day off work, or school. It's just another day. Traditions, huh?

Thinking of you all. Would love to hear from you as to what you're doing this holiday season.
Til then... Merry Christmas.

Reasons I Miss the States - Breakfast

What I'm used to:












What I eat now:



I rest my case.

Do you know where those have been?

I was just served pig's feet.

It's my fault, really. I should have picked up on the cues when they said "Are you sure? I don't think you'll like it." In my defense, I was told it was "pork," not "Porky's Toes."

I poked around at the two lumps in my bowl and sipped at the soup, trying not to think about what would secrete when you boil feet. David asked, "So you don't like it?" I tried to feed him an "I'm working on it" line by saying, "Well, I just can't find the meat..."

"No meat," he said, "just skin."
Just then, something bent and snapped. I think I broke Squealer's ankle.

I've never been a huge fan of pork grinds, but at least those are fried and crunchy. You see, I don't enjoy skin. Chicken, pork, turkey... I'll pass. Give me meat, not skin. I've even been known to skin grapes before eating.

But besides that... why feet? Do we really have to consume all of the animal? I mean, A+ for frugality and conservation... but feet? I draw my line after stomach or gall bladder.

This is all to say that Babe, Wilbur and their potbelly friends are safe when stepping onto my plate...

Mixed Meat, Idolly Speaking

Yesterday, I ate a Pig's Gall Bladder.

It was meaty, with some fat. A little chewy.

I was told it had been dedicated to Buddha in a Temple Festival a day or so prior.
I thought about Paul when he talked about eating meat sacrificed to idols. I didn't remember all the ins and outs of what he had to say, so I just ate it anyways. I didn't want to be rude.
I asked them if it was going to give me magical powers or something. They said, no, it's just special. That made me feel better about eating it.

It wasn't bad, but I don't think I'm going to make Gall Bladder a dietary habit.

Later that night, I had chicken rump, and chicken stomach. It was from the nice lady at the mixed meat stand.

I made up for it, though. Finished my night with a big American Chili's burger, topped off with a White Chocolate Molten Cake... and some Carmel Popcorn while I watched the new 007 flick.

Worth it.