Mexican Night In

When you spend significant time, and/or your formative years, in California you develop an enjoyment for Mexican food. For most of 2009, I was on a quest in the Bay Area to find my favorite burrito. So far, that award goes to Sancho's Taqueria, which also has my favorite Fish Tacos.

Since I've been here in Asia, I have had several cravings for quality Mexican food. I have yet to find a place here that creates an authentic taste. So what can I do about? Make it at home! We had some Snake River steaks in the freezer, so I made Fajitas for dinner. Fajitas aren't authentically Mexican; it's actually a Tex-Mex cuisine. But it still hits the spot and fulfills that craving, especially when paired with a strong Margarita, or two or three...

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Home Cooking after a Trip

Whenever I come back from a trip, I always spend majority of that week at home with some comforting home cooked meals. I always crave a lot of vegetables! I guess I consider these meals to be my "post-trip cleanse", even though I try my best to eat healthy during trips.

I really enjoy eating at home because the food that is made, whether by myself, my parents, or my brothers, is as good as in any quality restaurant.

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Hotel Food in Yangshuo

For our last two lunches in Yangshuo, we decided to eat at our hotel for two reasons: 1) Our breakfasts in the past couple mornings have been surprisingly good; and 2) We didn't want to waste time driving into the center of town and wandering for a place to eat. We wanted to maximize our time after lunch.

Just like with breakfast, our lunches were satisfying. All the ingredients tasted like they either came fresh from the market or straight from the farms. The execution of the food was delicious, too. On top of the that, we enjoyed eating in a nice atmosphere with the most beautiful view of the mountains.

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This post concludes my trip to Yangshuo! On to the next adventure!

Local Dessert in Yangshuo

Having about 15 minutes before our ride back to the airport, we decided to eat some more! We stopped by the River View Dessert House for some Hot Osmanthus Syrup with Glutinous Rice Balls. This is one of my favorite Chinese desserts. It's warm, light, and comforting. Osmanthus has such a unique fragrance and fruitful taste. If I ever have the chance during a fall season, I would love to visit a town, like Yangshuo, full of Osmanthus blossoms.

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A Great Find for Dinner at West Street, Yangshuo

On our second night in Yangshuo, we walked all around West Street evaluating the restaurants for a nice, authentic dinner. A lot of the restaurants were Western cuisine or loud bars. Others were places that served both Chinese and Western cuisines. After circling the streets twice, we came across a nice restaurant, called Lung Kee, that had seating outside by the river. And, the menu looked pretty authentic and local. The food was so good, that on our third and last night we came back here again!

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Late Night Dinner in West Street, Yangshuo

After watching Zhang Yimou's Impressions, it was late and we were more than ready for dinner. Our driver dropped us off at West Street because a couple restaurants were still open (it was past 11pm at this point). After walking past a few restaurants, we decided on one that had the most appealing menu (plus, we didn't want to walk any further because we were too hungry).

It was a nice find! The menu had an extensive list, and we made sure to have Yangshuo's signature dish for our first meal: beer fish. We discovered that much of this southern Chinese cuisine is filled with chilies and spice!

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West Street, Yangshuo

Even though Yangshuo can be considered part of "rural China," the town has a history of generating a large number of tourists each year (over 100,000). So much so, since the 80s, the oldest street, which is about 1400 years old, developed into the tourist hub. West Street has been known as a foreigners haven. Local food, mostly western food, bars, and souvenir shops are all along the street to attract tourists.

We grabbed a ride each night to West Street to have some dinner. Before I get into the meals, here are some photos of the scene at West Street.

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Getting Lost

In planning this trip, Alvin told me, "Let's rent some bikes in Yangshuo and get lost!" On our last day, we unintentionally did just that. We got lost, with a map. Our plan was to bike along the river and visit the local villages. Thanks to Alvin's proficiency in Mandarin and to helpful locals, we eventually found our way along the river. We came across a small limestone cave and Mushan Village, where the houses date back to 500 years ago.

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Sunset in Xing Ping

While walking through Xing Ping we saw the sky starting to change colors, so we hurriedly ran to the river to enjoy the sunset. Sunsets have become one of my favorite sights to do when traveling around the world. It's so unique in each city and on each day. To see the sun drop behind these mountain formations and reflect on the river was breathtaking.

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Osmanthus Wine in Xing Ping

Along our walk through Xing Ping, we passed by an osmanthus wine factory, where they produced and sold local osmanthus wine. Osmanthus trees and flowers bloom in the fall in this area, when I heard is a beautiful time of the year to visit. Aside from tea flowers and in desserts, the osmanthus flowers are also used to produced wine.

It's a sweet wine, as sweet as a dessert wine but not as thick and heavy. This particular batch that we tasted was so smooth, light, and refreshing! We promised the ladies of the factory and ourselves that we would stop by before they closed. Unfortunately, we got there just after it closed! We bought a few cheaper bottles in the market across the street - it was just not the same. It was rough and cheap tasting. Next time I encounter a variety of osmanthus wine, I'll definitely invest in a quality bottle.

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A Walk Back in Time in Xing Ping

After lunch, we arranged for a hotel car to drive us one hour north to the town of Xing Ping, which still has structures over 500 years old! And, the locals still live in this dwellings! We visited a fishing village, where Bill Clinton and his family visited in 1997. (Speaking of former President Clinton, it was his birthday yesterday and I found his birthday wish very inspiring.)

For the rest of the afternoon we enjoyed leisurely walking through Xing Ping amongst the tourists and locals alike.

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Bamboo Rafting along the Li River

Another main tourist activity in Yangshuo is Bamboo Rafting down the Li River. This is definitely a great activity to take in the beautiful sights all along the river. Our rafter held a long bamboo stick to guide us along the river. Most of the river is so shallow that the stick barely went deep into the water before hitting the surface. If you go, get ready to get your feet wet!

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Cormorant Fishing in the Li River

Aside from seeing Zhang Yimou's "Impressions", another recommended night time activity was to see the cormorants fish in the Li River. We got on a boat and watched first hand how the cormorant birds swam around the shallow waters and fished. Their necks are tied a bit so they don't fully swallow the fish they catch. The fishermen then get the bird from the water and shake out the fish from its throat and into a basket - cormorant fishing! It was fascinating to see this all in person.

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Climbing to the Moon (Moon Hill, that is)

After getting some sustenance in our bodies, we were ready to trek up Moon Hill! 380 m, and 800 steps up! A sweaty and tiresome walk especially in the heat; but wow, what a worthwhile sight from the top!

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Moon Hill Cafe

After the Gaotian market and our walk through Longtan village, we decided to grab a bite before trekking up Moon Hill. So we ate at Moon Hill Cafe - a tourist restaurant right next to the entrance of Moon Hill. The food wasn't spectacular, but all the ingredients were so fresh tasting! It was really straight from the farm to the table.

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Longtan Village

On our ride back from the Gaotian market, we took a spontaneous turn into a side street. After crossing a bridge, we biked even further and found ourselves in Longtan village. The village is named after the pond, Dragon Pond. The locals still live in these houses which are about 500 years old!

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Gaotian Market

On our first full day, we grabbed a few of the hotel bikes and headed out. Our first stop was the market! We heard that a town, Gaotian, about 3 km away was having their bi-monthly Wednesday market. We had to go! I love visiting markets in different countries because it represents the food culture of that region and the nation.

For such a small town, this market had some of the freshest and biggest vegetables! I'm glad we saw this market at the beginning of our trip because throughout our stay I was so excited to order vegetables. The locals here really live by the saying, "Grow local. Eat local." When you have food this fresh, you really don't find the desire to consume processed or adulterated foods. This is real food.

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Zhang Yimou's Impressions

Because of work and traveling, I was unable to really research much for this particular trip. Thanks to Alvin, he knew exactly what we should squeeze into our four days. So on our first night, we bought tickets for the Light Show. At first, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew is that I spent 198RMB (about $30 USD). That's a lot of money for one show in the middle of rural China, so I was clearly anxious to see what I had spent my money on. As soon as we arrived at our destination, I was getting slightly relieved - the structures that welcomed us were impressive.

And then the show began. WOW. This was a Zhang Yimou production!! Zhang Yimou as in the world renowned director of the films House of Flying Daggers and Hero. And, as in the guy who directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Yeah, that genius.

In 2004, he directed the show "Impressions" here Yangshuo. It became such a success that there are now five "Impressions" shows throughout China - each one with a different story reflective on its setting. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. I have seen some amazing productions - Broadway shows in Manhattan, Vegas Cirque de Soleil productions, San Francisco plays, musicals, and operas....This puts them all to shame. There were no jaw-dropping stunts. The awe factor of this production was in the use of the natural environment and of the endless upon endless performers (600+ performers!!). Yimou's style focuses on color themes and on nature. Both were evident in this production. At least four color themes were boldly presented (red, green, blue, silver). As for nature - he used the river AS the stage. The Li River!! Performers balanced on rafts! Plus, the beauty of how the hills and mountains were lit just added to the beauty of the "stage."

What a privilege to see a Zhang Yimou production in person! I highly recommend this show to everyone!! And if not this particular one in Yangshuo, he has four other productions in Lijiang, Hangzhou, Hainan, and Mount Wuyi - all in China.

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Destination: Yangshuo, China

Just after settling down from our last trip around the Philippines, Alvin and I started planning for our next adventure. This time: China! For the past year, he had mentioned that he's always wanted to see Guilin at some point in his life. This area in China is a famous setting for classic Chinese art pieces. Well, seize the moment and here we were!

Along with another friend, the three of us decided to get away from the bulk of the tourists and spend all our days in Yangshuo, about an hour's drive away from Guilin. Yangshuo is a tourist destination, but much of the beauty is away from the center of the city where you can watch and interact with locals living their lives in "rural China."

If you're the kind of traveler who loves adventure - biking, hiking, getting on rafts and boats - then I highly recommend putting Yangshuo on your list of places to visit. The scenery was picturesque and amazingly endless! Over the next two weeks, I'll be featuring entries from this trip.

Here are pictures from the moment we landed, as well as a feature of our hotel. Place your cursor on "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Korean Food!

The Hong Kong Airport has so many food choices, all of which are decently priced, too. It's one airport that I wouldn't mind being stranded at if my flight was delayed. After arriving from my most recent trip, my best friend, Alvin, and I decided to eat at Sorabol for dinner before heading to his place.

The location of my college and post college years in Santa Clara introduced me to some pretty good Korean places - whether it was barbeque, fried chicken, etc. I was exposed to the South Bay's local eats for a solid 7 years. So, I was happy to eat at Sorabol to fulfill my Korean food craving. I usually wait until I'm back in the Bay Area because Manila's Korean restaurants all look pretty run down.

For it's price, the quality is pretty good. It's authentic Korean food with all the sides and sauces. I love cuisines that balance the meal with lots of fresh vegetables.

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Hip Katsu

Location, location, location. Three vital factors for the success of any restaurant. We came across Hip Katsu because of it's location in the Gateway Arcade in Tsim Sha Tsui. It's right in the middle of a walking path in the mall. So every time we this part of Kowloon, we pass this restaurant.

The restaurant has a casual modern atmosphere and the food is authentic! The katsu is excellent at a pretty good price for quality katsu.

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Happy Hour

One of the reasons Hong Kong is my number one favorite food city in the world is because it houses an excellent variety of cuisines from around the world. That means, you'll never get tired of eating in this city!

Before heading out for more shopping, my dad and I made a quick stop at El Pomposo for a little happy hour. Here are a couple of pictures. Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more on each picture.

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More from Hong Kong

This year, Hong Kong has officially become one of the cities around the world that I can call "home." (The Bay Area and Manila are the other two placess I consider to be "home".) I feel antsy when I don't get a chance to visit HK at least every other month. I crave that city life, the ease of transportation, and, of course, the food!

On this most recent trip, we revisited Xia Mian Guan for some more fresh handmade noodles and a little dim sum. The food was just as delicious and fresh as the first time! I love consistency!

Here are pictures from the meal. Remember, place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Updated Top 10 List

Before going to Taipei, I knew the city would make it on my top 10 list from reading about its vibrant food scene. And sure enough, after the trip, Taipei is definitely on my top list of amazing food cities!


The Criteria
- Cities that I've visited
- Authenticity of the foods/cuisines
- Freshness and quality of the ingredients/products. (Say "No!" to processed foods!)
- Repeatability
- Forward-Thinking and Creativity in Presentation and Modernization


The New Top 10 List
1. Hong Kong
2. Madrid
3. Tokyo
4. Bangkok
5. Taipei
6. New York City
7. San Francisco
8. Paris
9. Ho Chi Minh City
10. Los Angeles

Desserts and Fruits in Taipei

While planning this trip, I knew I had to try Taiwan's Shaved Ice. Jeff and Joan recommended a place for Mango Ice (Yong Kang 15, formerly Ice Monster). The serving size was huge, but it was so delicious, light and refreshing that we could have had one each! This is such an ideal dessert for a hot and humid climate.

When I go on trips, I try to make an effort to keep up my healthy lifestyle - drinking enough water each day and having a good amount of fruits and vegetables. To satisfy our fruit intake, we usually stop by a local market or grocery for some local fruit. The selections were so clean and huge! It is so refreshing to see fresh and healthy looking fruits, especially coming from Manila.

Here are a few pictures. Remember, place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Shabu Shabu in Taipei!

Japanese cuisine is all over Taipei. Sushi, teppanyaki, shabu shabu, and so on. For a late lunch one afternoon, we decided to try out Shabu Shabu at the Q Square Mall right next to our hotel. What a find! We ended up going back a second time because we enjoyed it so much. It's so great to have a huge plate of fresh vegetables, especially while you're on a trip.

Here are pictures from our meal. Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Dim Sum Craving - Satisfied!

For as long as I can remember, my brother's best friend, Jeff, has always recommended some of the best dim sum restaurants. Whenever we ate out with him in the Bay Area, we knew we'd be in for a treat. So I knew that any place that he recommended for us in Taipei would automatically mean a happy stomach. Plus, Hungry in Taipei, has written up some delicious blog entries about all that they recommended to us.

For a late and spontaneous dim sum, we ventured to Taipei 101 to try out Shin Yeh 101 on the 85th floor. Unfortunately, the place was fully committed for the rest of the afternoon. I guess we'll have to try that place out next time, and with reservations. So we took a cab to the San Want Hotel and tried out Chao Pi Ji's Cantonese Dim Sum. Our weeks of dim sum cravings in Manila were finally fulfilled here in Taipei! What a satisfying meal! From the places that we've eaten at so far, we noticed that the foods are less salty, but still have incredible flavor. That was definitely the case here, as well. I really can't wait to go back to Taipei to eat some more!

Here are pictures from our afternoon meal. Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Din Tai Fung - The Original Location

For my first trip to Taipei, I knew I had to visit Din Tai Fung. I first tried the restaurant in Shanghai - it was some of the best xiao long bao that I've encountered. Taipei houses the original location. So, a visit here was a must!

The xiao long bao were even better than in Shanghai! Delicately thin wrapper, a delicious pork flavored soup inside, and a succulent pork filling. This applies to everything: After eating some of the best, it is so hard to eat something that is just average - I'd rather not waste my calorie intake. My mark for good xiao long bao now stands with Taipei's Din Tai Fung.

Here are pictures from our memorable meal. Place your cursor on "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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A Weekend in Taipei

My first visit to Taipei! I had high expectations for this city and its eats! My parents and I spent the weekend there and had an incredible time! We're so excited to go back very soon to discover more of the city! My brother's best friend and his wife were our virtual tour guides, as they were unfortunately out of town that weekend (next time, guys!!). We visited some quality shopping malls with food centers and stayed at a beautiful hotel - all thanks to their recommendations.

Here is a brief slideshow of a few of the places we visited. When we go back to Taipei, I'll make sure to take more pictures for next time! (Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Here is another slideshow with pictures of our hotel. We stayed at the brand new Palais de Chine, which opened in May 2010. What a beautiful hotel! And, their service was excellent!!

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