The inimitable establishment of fine Taiwanese dining, Din Tai Fung, was our destination for our lunch/dinner on Saturday. I've raved about this place before, but we were excited to see that a fifth Sydney branch is opening this week, and that one, in Chatswood, is within easy reach of Novocastrians desiring a real, quality, Taiwanese meal. The taste is superior, the dumplings finely crafted and identical each time, while the signature xiao long bao are perfectly cooked with a soup serving encased inside each dumpling which explodes a little taste bomb at a perfect temperature with each mouthful.
There is another interesting thing about Taiwan's Din Tai Fung restaurants that I would be interested to see if it is replicated in Australia. The wait staff (young people in the main) have a distinct look. Taiwan is well known for its good looking youngsters as well as an abundance of employable young folk seeking jobs. It is noticeable, however, that DTF's staff, while attractive, are never really handsome, or indeed, pretty. It seems the hiring policy is directed at a pleasant looking, efficient type. Our theory (or mine actually!), is that it is neither distracting nor envy inducing for customers of either sex to have such staff, and the status quo of dining can continue unabated.There is an uncanny sameness in the "look" of these young people that bears commenting upon!
I do know that some other things just will not be replicated. The price point for the meal we invariably order is just $1,100NT (about $35A) and I have massive doubt whether the same fare would be anything less than twice that price back home. In addition, the meal in Taiwan is served as a quick eat, not a full-blown sit down, drag out meal and we've only ever seen people have Taiwanese tea as a drinks accompaniment. I would assume that the Australian equivalent would be a longer stay and almost always accompanied by wine or beer: it doesn't really suit the food in our opinion. We've never had a drink apart from tea with our meals here and we haven't longed for anything else.
We had a very relaxing stroll through the suburb to Eddie's Cantina on Sunday afternoon and delighted in the spring weather, sitting on their expansive verandah and relaxing in a cool breeze under clear, blue skies. Again, we're slaves to habit, having locked on to some delectable menu items here as well, so we ordered up just the same after I initially flirted with, then threatened to order, something different!. On the way home we bought a couple of muffins and slices of apple flan for supper, made by the French bakers at Lutetia Bakery round the corner. A small tub of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice-cream from the 7/11 and we were all set....where do we live again?!
Earlier in the afternoon I'd braved the "1,000 steps" of Tienmu Gudao. I find this a good barometer of my overall level of fitness and although I was dreading the worst, I was surprised at my ability to at least keep moving ever upwards and not pausing for a break. Although many minutes off my "PB", I still managed a reasonable time, though my legs are aching today in late protest! The signs at the top of the steps where the path forks off into Macaque country have been unceremoniously dumped in the foliage beside the path. A new artisic impression map of the trail, along with alien looking monkeys, has been imprinted into a large round cement slab instead. The old water trough has been replaced with a rustic, granite chunk of a basin for washing up and cooling down. The serenity up top, as well as the sense of accomplishment never wanes, and, as I often do when I reach the summit, I exhorted myself to do this more regularly.
The heady scent of freshly scythed grass, the lulling trickle of water and the lurking threat of monkey action is an intoxicating mix, especially on such a fine spring day. On the way down, I marvelled at some of the clever bush engineering, the lattice work made from bamboo, twigs and vines for the market gardens and the intricate, irrigation schemes channeling precious water across terraces, then spilling into muddy furrows and tiny dams along the way.
Our friend, Wal, experienced the wonderful, caring and honest nature of the Taiwanese yet again this weekend. Losing his wallet with all his cards and the cash equivalent of a month of local wages, it has been found, handed in, intact! He just needs to make his way down to a station in the south of the city to collect it. On a related but lesser note, check the photo up top of a scoop conveniently hung on a hook on a tree along the trail: brand new, obviously just bought to be used to "scoop the poop". How long would this last anywhere else?!
Photos: a pensive Dave, photos of the trail. None of my usual model today....she must be getting shy! Cass is reading the second Harry Hole book, Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo, while I'm still enjoying a reprised fascination with Charles Manson!
P.S. We both had very quiet birthday celebrations recently, but were thrilled that a few people still remembered to send us a card, message, shout out etc. Thank you to everyone!