I’m not here for the food. In general. I do like the steamed buns with sweet red bean paste. Fried dumplings for lunch or onion flat bread is delicious, but I can’t eat all those strange vegetables for breakfast, or various slimy looking things at all. So every time I go out to look for a meal, it is with apprehension.
In a hurry to grab a late lunch before the eateries all closed for the afternoon, I was headed for a TGIF restaurant that the map placed just around the corner. I had already passed several of the common closet sized cafes that display oddly colored and shaped pieces of meat. Then some red lettering caught my eye. It said ‘Tasty Tasty’. I glanced at the menu and saw a few things that made my mouth water. A small voice in my head reminded me that it never tastes like it looks in the picture, but inside the establishment was very clean and neat. I went in.
The menu was the type where you chose from two – four items in each category. I can’t tell you for sure what was in each dish, but I can tell you it was gently delicious and elegantly presented.
My first choice was shrimp and asparagus in a mild Dijon honey mustard sauce –
It was only a few small pieces, a perfect appetizer. Then came a fruit dish. The melons, one of which was honeydew, were exactly crisp and sweet. There was a barely sweet dip that I used on every piece.
Then came the quaint pizza like Danish pastry. None of the flavors were what I would call strong, but they were distinct and made me want to savor each bite. The crust was light, with a touch of crisp on the outside. The top was a very thin layer of meat, cheesed, and spices. I ate the whole thing.
Next came pumpkin soup. It was creamy without being rich, not heavily pumpkin flavored while still orange, and had body without being thick. There were a few thin pieces of something I cannot identify, maybe potato-like. This was accompanied by a pallet cleanser, but I expose my ignorance when I say I don’t know if it was before or after the soup.
After that, the ‘main’ course of beef. No one ever asked me how I wanted it cooked, and it looked a little well done, so I was preparing myself for a chewy experience. However, it turned out to be quite tender and, again, carefully seasoned. I couldn’t eat it all and got to practice some Chinese listening skills when the young lady asked if I wanted it ‘take out’.
Lastly came the chocolate cake, which was about as light and creamy as can be done and still have something sit on the plate. The little logo sign on top was a gourmet tasting candy. It was the first thing to go. I couldn’t finish the cake either, but no one offered to let me take it. Oh, and fruit tea with the cake. Don’t forget the lovely fruit tea!
I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in Taipei. With several more days ahead of us here, maybe I will have a chance to take Greg there.
