burgers/brunch: i strongly recommend M ONE CAFE

M ONE CAFE 

No. 6-1 Lane 6, RenAir Rd, Sec. 4
台北市仁愛路四段27巷6號之1
(02)-8773-2136

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua or ZhongXiao/FuXing

hours: 7AM - 12AM midnight

$$ (about NT$300/person)

kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted. booths available.

visits reviewed: 5/4/2011,  6/21/2011 and 8/28/2012

Not too far from the RenAi circle, M One Cafe is a modern cafe that serves solid breakfasts and burgers in an intimate space with about 20 or so seats. Decor feels more upscale than a typical burger brunch place with warm wood paneling and glass tables paired with lots of black. Passerbys might not even know that a restaurant was inside, as it's right next to the M One Spa, which shares the same owner.

Two of the best things about M One is that it's open early (you'd be surprised at the number of Taipei Western breakfast spots that are not open at 8AM) and the other is that the omelets can come with a small side of French toast or pancakes as your "bread" as part of the price (or bagel, toast or croissant if you prefer).

A funny thing is that the first time I went the TV played a rotation of popular US music videos as a soundtrack, and I saw Ke$ha, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and more hypnotizing music videos that I had seen in a really long time. But the TV wasn't on during following visits.

When uploading photos, I noticed that prices went up a couple dollars since last year- most of breakfast items are NT$30-60 more than last year's menu. So not as much a steal as before, but still not a bad price for the set. Egg brunch items come with a small juice, coffee or tea and "bread" although not with the eggs benedict regrettably since they already have bread (the english muffins). 

But the Eggs Benedicts with Spinach (NT$280) are worth getting, as they are probably one of the best in Taipei with a toasty muffin and hollandaise sauce that's the right creamy consistency and generous amount. The last time I got Eggs Benedict at a different popular brunch spot, the sauce was so watery, it pooled onto the plate and I had to send it back to be redone.

Generous amounts of spinach underneath to start the day with some greens.

The Turkey mushroom omelette (NT$220 then, NT$280 now) is light and fluffy, with thin layers rolled into a long rectangle and topped with cheese. The hash browns are perfectly crispy. The first time I ate at M One, I loved their potato salad, but sadly they replaced it fruit on my visits afterwards. Maybe it was too much potato on one plate for some, but it was so good since it reminded me of the way my mom made potato salad when I was a kid.

Not too thick, not too thin, the side of French toast is just right with the meal. I love it since I usually can't decide between eggs or french toast or pancakes, and this way you get the best of both worlds. 

At lunch, be sure to order the burger as it was a surprisingly good burger. Cut in half to reveal the medium rare pinkness, the mushroom cheese burger (NT$260) had a good layer of toppings and great texture to the meat and wheaty bun.

There's also toppings like blue cheese (for those craving Father's Office?), avocado bacon, and I spotted kimchi as a new topping on my most recent visit.

Wouldn't order the cheesy wedge fries again that my friend got, too heavy.

Revisited M One Cafe after a long absence, but thankfully it was still good. Thanks to @thethousandthgirl for joining me for breakfast. The sets start off with a mini orange juice and coffee or tea. 

This time I opted for a side of pancakes, which were cute and mini and came with syrup.

The turkey mushroom omelette (NT$280)  still had enough bite sized toppings inside though it was a bit bland this time, but the hash browns were still perfectly crispy. It's funny to see that I ordered the same thing as my past visit without even realizing it! LOL.

I split my plate with a friend and she gave me one of her spinach eggs benedict which tasted better than I remembered. It's all about the sauce and the runny poached egg once the fork cuts open the first bite.

Tastes like food from back home and that's a good thing. Reservations recommended as the space is pretty tiny.

CLOSED! new in town/mexican: i strongly recommend JUANITA BURRITO AND TACOS

CLOSED! a/o 2015

JUANITA BURRITOS AND TACOS

No. 51-1, Lane 160, Dunhua S. Rd, Sec. 1

大安區敦化南路一段160巷51之1號 

(02) 2752-7576

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua

website: Juanita's FB page

hours: 11AM - 10PM

$ (about NT$200/person)

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted but some room for strollers. kid friendly options on menu like rice

Visit reviewed: 9/24/2012

This is what a typical Taipei alley looks like- long and narrow, lined with pedestrians and parked motorcycles, with an array of endless colorful storefront signs in Chinese characters for hotpot, noodles, tea shops or cafes.

This is NOT a typical sight in Taipei- an English only sign for Mexican food, the newly opened Juanita Burritos and Tacos, in an alley not too far behind old Sogo on Zhongxiao East Road. The name is an interesting choice as I can't even imagine how Taiwanese people will butcher the name, trying to pronounciate "Juanita," not to mention that the J sounds different in Spanish than it does in English, as do double LLs like in "tortilla."  (I had a co-worker tell me recently that the name Heather was too hard to say, but that's a story for another day). But the name is memorable and stands out.

The warm wood paneling storefront is an unusual, but welcome sight for me and for other burrito lovers in Taipei, as I am happy to see more and more entrepreneurs try to make finding good Mexican food in Taipei a reality after it being so many years an impossible dream. It's definitely interesting seeing more burrito places like Juanita open up this past year, as well as Barrito at ATT4Fun.

Juanita's kitchen and counter takes up most of the shop, with some seating in the front and back. It's a tad roomier than Macho Tacos, seating about 20 people or so.

I admit that I was quite surprised to see only English on all the red and white signs above the counter. Perhaps they expect customers who step foot inside to already be interested and kind of know what they are getting into. Anyone who has been to US fast casual chain Chipotle will definitely be drawing comparisons, since Juanita has pretty much ripped a page (or the whole book) from their menu. 

You start by ordering choosing a meat (or vegetarian), then what form you want it in (burrito, fajita burrito, burrito bowl, salad or tacos) and then your toppings/salsas which are all in view behind the glass counter. Prices are competitive, ranging from NT$150-170. There's no nachos or quesadillas (which are two of the most popular things my local friends usually order), but I'm curious about the fajita burrito.

There's a choice of pinto or black beans, only one choice of cilantro lime rice and a range of salsas including roasted chile corn as well as fresh Haas avocado guacamole. I also liked that the option to add in cheese was free. Horchata, frozen margaritas and beers are also available, along with soft drinks.

I ordered guacamole on the side (NT$30) for my barbacoa beef burrito, as well as the free side of chips we were given for the soft opening period. Without specifically asking for it on the side, I was also given some pico de gallo and tomatillo green chili salsa, both fresh and flavorful. Just the sight of the right colors and the right textures of the sauces was a great sign and integral part of the meal. Fresh green guacamole not made with Taiwan avocados!!

The burrito was a decent size, though some might might think too small or not enough meat if comparing to the heartier sizes in the states. I would have appreciated more meat though I was adequately full (and satisfied) afterwards and enjoying my chips with the guac and salsas. Juanita actually reminded me of when Taipei counter burrito pioneer Oola first opened, before the owners parted and it went downhill (and transformed from Taipei's first Chipotle clone into some weird nightclub/mexican + burgers/pizza place).

So hopefully Juanita can avoid their fate and keep the customers happy with good food and service. Keep things fresh, keep things consistent and keep portions sizeable. Opened over a month ago, they are still quite new, so we were even handed some customer satisfaction surveys (in English!) to fill out. One of my comments was to keep giving us free chips! (Haha, we'll see if they listen)

Reader Diane was the first to message me, saying Juanita did a good job being "Chipotle in Taipei." Most Taiwanese people (and some non-American expats) have probably have never heard of Chipotle, let alone eaten there. But I know a number of you have been craving it. Who's tried it and what do you think? Where is your favorite Mexican spot in Taipei, or are you still waiting?

my kitchen: baked eggs in toast cups

I'd spied this recipe a long time ago in a magazine, probably Rachael Ray or Food Magazine when I still had a subscription. It looked easy to do, but for some reason I never found the motivation to do it. Finally this past Sunday, I was craving quiche and used this as a substitute for the craving. It's pretty quick and you could make your own combination of flavors for the eggs or just enjoy the simplicity of the baked egg. The possibilities are seriously endless!

I made two versions, one with just plain eggs scrambled, and the other was was more custard-like, like a creamy crustless quiche. The toast works a quick crust, for those of us too lazy busy to work up a pie dough.

BAKED EGGS IN TOAST CUPS

- Egg
- Slice of toast with edges cut off
- Cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Butter

Additional ingredients for crustless egg quiche
- Milk
- Ham
- Mushrooms
- Pesto
- Bacon or Proscuitto
- Flour

Ingredients for baked french toast cups

- Eggs
- Bread crusts
- Milk
- Sugar
- Cinnamon

1. Cut off crusts off of the slice of bread. Butter the muffin pan and press bread into the muffin pan.

2. Crack egg directly into muffin pan, or scramble in a bowl. Stir in cheese and put some atop. I used grated cheddar, but you could use anything. Next time I might try goat cheese or colby jack. Gruyere or mozzarella would be great too. If you have any bacon on hand, you could swirl it atop as well.

3. For a custard type egg, add milk to scramble egg. I also added chopped mushrooms and ham and a spoonful of pesto for 2-3 eggs. Other options could be tomatoes, red pepper, broccoli, anything you'd toss into a quiche. I added a little bit of flour as well, since I ran out of toast and didn't have a crust for these.

4. Bake at 180C/35F degrees for 15-20 minutes, depending on how well done you like your eggs.

5. You can also chop up the bread crusts to put in the muffin pan and add sugar and cinnamon to the milk and eggs and pour atop for a baked french toast custard cup. I had poured some leftover milk, egg and cheese mixture on the bread crusts and it was surprisingly tasty as a savory casserole, but next time I'm going to make it sweet to go with the egg dish.

CLOSED! new in town/bakery: i strongly recommend LES BEBES CUPCAKERY

LES BEBES CUPCAKERY 貝貝西點（杯子蛋糕）

No. 149-4, ChaoZhou St  台北市潮州街149-4號 

(02)2358-2226

CLOSED!

MRT: DaAn (Les Bebes is near Yong Kang St, so about 20 minute walk from nearest MRT)

website: Les Bebes FB page

hours: 11 AM - 8 PM

$

Kid friendliness: cupcakes come in both mini and regular and lots of sweet flavors kids will love

Visit reviewed: 9/16/2012

Before I even stepped foot into Les Bebes Cupcakery's shop, I loved their cupcakes. I had received a box of six as a gift and even though not all the frosting survived intact, it didn't change that the cupcakes were moist, sweet and fluffy, unlike many of the pretty, but dense and not sweet enough cupcakes I've tasted in Taipei.

Opened a little over a month ago, Les Bebes Cupcakery is adorable inside out- from its cupcakes to its presentation to its store. Even the storefront looked like the entrance to a giant dollhouse on an unassuming, old school alley near Yong Kang St. The owner also founded the cooking studio Mise En Place, and when they kept getting custom order after order for their cupcakes, she decided that they might as well open a cupcake shop for everyone to be able to buy them.

Once you step in the narrow store, you are drawn to the countertop where rows and rows of cupcakes sit under the glass, wearing little hats and crowns of frosting, waiting to be chosen. 

Both regular (NT$80) and mini cupcake (NT$30) sizes are available in about 10 or so flavors, with favorites like chocolate, red velvet, carrot cake (called Bunny Eats), strawberry shortcake and more unique ones like Bailey's or Earl Grey. I love how the frosting on the cupcakes is simple yet elegant and different for the various cupcakes with the tiniest of sprinkles as a finishing touch.

Carrot cake is foreign to a lot of Taiwanese people, as is red velvet, so there's a small learning curve for locals. "Why is the cupcake red?" "Is the carrot cake sweet?" I could hear the other customers asking the shop. 

My favorite cupcake and must order is the peanut butter chocolate which comes with creamy peanut butter frosting atop a chocolate cupcake, perfect for those who love Reese Peanut Butter Cups or spooning peanut butter straight out of the jar. (I gotta figure out the recipe!!) Close seconds are the red velvet and the carrot cake.

Their Kitchen Aid mixer even fits in Les Bebes' color scheme in the shop and packaging, where bright yellows pop out from the white and grey. I totally covet this!

Once you decide what flavors of cupcakes you want and how many, they take them out and put them on a wooden tray to pack up. Mini cupcakes boxes come in 1, 3, 5 or 10, while regular cupcake boxes come in 1, 3 or 6. I asked for a sample when I saw others getting a mini cupcake as a tasting sample and for a limited time, if you post a photo on your Facebook or check in, they will give you a free large cupcake or 3 minis free (the signs were in Chinese so I didn't know until I asked).

I ended up getting 10 mini cupcakes- the red velvet and carrot cake came with sweet cream cheese frosting, the coffee cupcake had what tasted like ground espresso beans in it and the chocolate cupcake was rich on the darker chocolate side. That way you can find out which one is your favorite. The cupcakes and frosting are the closest I've found in Taipei to taste like the ones that I make myself.

I love the bright, mod patterned packaging too, where the cupcakes sit into little slots that then fit perfectly in the takeaway box that comes with a handle. It keeps most of the frosting from getting mussed up, but you still do have to be careful not to tip it over. I even saved some of the packaging to transport my own baked mini cupcakes a week later.

We celebrated a girlfriend's birthday at mala hotpot and the mini cupcakes were the perfect bite to end the meal. Mostly everyone tried Les Bebes' cupcakes for the first time and oohed and ahhed at the cuteness and then became fans after eating them. A few even returned to buy a week later.

Cupcake lovers will flock to Les Bebes Cupcakery and fall in love too. 

Happy mooncake festival!

Happy mid-autumn festival! Who's been bbq'ing or eating mooncakes? 

Thanks to all my friends who gave me mooncakes! I've been admiring all the different packaging (Sherwood Hotel) and not sure how to feel about the new wave of flavors (chocolate, XO sauce, raspberry with rose petals?! instead of the traditional paste with egg yolk)... 

But one thing is undebateable and that's how amazing and full the moon looks! Be sure to take the time for some moon gazing in person, but don't point at it! (Why? It's an old Chinese superstition that I remember hearing growing up, and once I did point at the moon and got what felt like a papercut near my ear the next day or after. True story!)