So about posting more...

Maybe I got lazy today (I got up to run though!). Anyway, just checking in to update my run counter. Oh yeah, good news, I won't have to do any math in the Fall with regards to my biking counter, I plan on getting a computer to do that for me lol.

distance for the day: 5.49 miles
distance biked for the day: 0.00 miles

distance on the year: 458.65 miles
distance biked on the year: 142.68 miles
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Do my friend a favor

I realize I have a pittance of a reader base, so this probably won't help much... but if you're in need of awesome translations (read: want something a bit more useful than babelfish), use Middish. Happy translating.

distance for the day: 4.38 miles
distance biked for the day: 0.00 miles

distance on the year: 453.16 miles
distance biked on the year: 142.68 miles
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咖哩屋 (Curry House)

Go go curry! Step aside... you've been topped. On a return trip to 一一八巷, I had to settle my stomach, but with what? I've gotten kind of bored with beef noodle soup... I mean, awesomeness has its bounds, and when everything tastes exponentially great, at some point, it loses its appeal, you know? My new found addiction... Japanese style curry. That's right, I've fallen in love with katsu, I could eat it for pretty much every meal (and from my future marathon of posting... think 50 or so restaurants in the next month), you'll realize just how much of it I actually ate. One of the more famous places, that is... having been on the news, for curry is 咖哩屋... located conveniently on 和平東路 一一八巷. Compared to most places, Curry House has a relatively nice exterior (and interior to boot!). It sits right next door to a relatively well known beef noodle place, so I had to be sort of impressed just to ignore that and walk in. Inside, the place looks fairly snazzy, pretty fancy really... glass tables, neon plastic chairs, mood lighting. It actually kind of reminds me of a NYC shop to be honest... so take that for how you will, good or bad.


Since I'm too lazy to explain the whole thing about prices, I just took a snapshot of the menu... remember, it's about 33 NT per US dollar. See? Even the menu looks nicer than that of most places. For that reason, I expected it to be slightly more expensive than other places, as most dine in options run a bit higher, but they turned out to be reasonable... virtually nothing over 110 NT.


As for the food... it lives up to its expectations. Furthermore, because the prices aren't insane like some other Japanese restaurants (you pay for exoticism I guess), the food seems to taste that much better. My mom went with the beef and chicken curry combo, with which she was displeased. I ate some and thought it was good... a nice blend of heat and sweetness, not overpowering in any manner, but at the same time... adequately flavorful. The beef and chicken were both nice and juicy, so I'm not sure what she was complaining about (she kept saying that even she could cook it... debatable). As for me, I got the pork katsu curry... the pork chop was exactly as I imagine a cutlet should be. Pounded thinly into something less than a centimeter in thickness, then fried to golden brown, it came out crispy and still sizzling. No joke, this would cost about 250 NT ($8) if you went to SOGO. So if you're in the area, and have no inclination for beef noodle soup... go here.
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Why midtown might have an edge on Taiwan

This is the only reason I hate my job. There is absolutely nothing good to eat around my workplace, which is part of the reason I go to 7-11 all the time. Anyway, as part of my first week in the lab (see how long ago this should've been put up?), I went out to lunch with my coworkers a few times. One of the first places they took me was a noodle shop called 老家好麵 (Old Family Good Noodles... it's official, I give up on trying to translate properly). In any case, it's just like every other noodle shop you might see. Small, dimly lit, poorly air conditioned, and cramped to boot. There is absolutely nothing that would draw you into this store, yet I'm sure they make an absolute killing in terms of profits. A number of factors plays into this, Academia Sinica has no other good food options, it is the first shop along a line of mediocre food establishments, and did I mention that the people in Taiwan are incredibly lazy? To explain how bad the area is for eating, I would be indescribably happy if only a Mos Burger would be right across the street (nevermind the fact that I love Mos Burger... it's still fast food!).


Onto the food! For 55 NT (just a shade under $2), you can get their special... something called 'biang biang noodles.' Of course you could also get their beef noodles for 100 NT ($3), but after having so many better options, I figured I might as well not disappoint my tastebuds with more mediocrity. Did I succeed? Hell no, this bowl of noodles was terrible. Imagine store bought Chinese flat noodles, minced pork meat sauce tossed with some tofu pieces, mixed with an egg and tomato sauce mixture, with a side of scallions and bean sprouts. Does that sound awesome to you? because I assure you it's not. To be fair, it didn't taste terrible, but it's also not something I would want to pay for (or buy again). If I had made this at home, I would gladly finish it, but it's definitely not a dish I'd try to replicate. So listen, do yourself a favor, if you're ever in the area around Academia Sinica, just go to 7-11... your stomach (and wallet) will thank you.
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