western/italian: i recommend VVG THINKING

VVG THINKING
at Huashan 1914 Cultural Creative Park
No. 1, Bade Road Sec. 1
華山文創產業園區．
紅磚六合院 / C 棟 ( 杭州北路．北平東路口 )
(02) 2322-5573


MRT: ZhongXiao/XinSheng

website: VVG's FB

hours: Noon- 9:00pm

$$

Kid friendliness: room for strollers. pastas and risottos and dessert fare

Visit reviewed: 1/25/2013

Sometimes you need a quiet place to be alone with your thoughts, with a cup of coffee and some atmosphere. Where to find that among the hustle and bustle of crowded cafes and diners and food courts in Taipei? 

Deep inside the Huashan 1914 Creative Park is VVG Thinking, the latest restaurant from the VVG empire, which may be the biggest, most eclectic and hipster of them all. I was meeting friends there and got a bit lost as VVG Thinking wasn't on the map as there are two sides to Huashan Park. A phone call and some directions led me to a row of red bricked buildings and a pair of angel statues to point me to the entrance.

Once inside, you might find your eyes wandering up as the ceiling at the entrance, at the grand two story ceiling and the industrial meets vintage chic warehouse space.  VVG Thinking transformed the former factory space into a first floor bistro and second floor shop. I didn't even know there was a shop upstairs until my friends mentioned that I should check it out, so be sure not to miss it.

And in true VVG fashion, presentation sets the tone for the meal. Even the potato bread comes in an aluminum tin can, wrapped in layers of paper.

The menu has various lunch sets available at NT$880-1480 (available only from 12noon to 2PM), depending on how many courses you choose, as well as a la carte soups, pastas, salads, risottos and main dishes, mostly around NT$300-500. But the portions run on the small side, so you might find yourself ordering more than one dish to be full, or thinking about a post meal snack elsewhere, so you might consider ordering a set.

The salads come in a glass tumbler, capped with a wooden lid so you can shake and mix the dressing in. It's really a cool way to present the salad, which doesn't look as fancy when it's poured onto the plate with the slim toppings.

The pink shrimp and grapefruit salad (NT$320) comes with a spicy Thai chili dressing which did have a kick to it. We also tried the apple and prosciutto salad (NT$320) which came with long paper thin shavings of apple and a shiso and yuzu dressing. Between the two, I'd order the apple and prosciutto again first.

The dishes slowly made their way to the table one by one and we were getting a bit impatient and hungry. So prepare to share a bit of your food, or don't come too hungry. 

The mentaiko, scallop and mushroom linguine (NT$420) came drizzled with mentaiko sauce (mayo?).

I thought the scallop and mushroom risotto with white truffle oil (NT$420) would be a good dish to share, as the waitress said it was one of the more filling dishes, but it turned out to be a quarter the size I thought it would be. The flavor was on point, but for the price I wished there was a lot more than a few spoonfuls. (For a fuller plate of risotto, check out Bianco or Sonnetor Cafe)

The porcini linguine with white truffle oil (NT$380) came with more greens and pepper seasoning than my friend expected.

The zucchini and shrimp linguine (NT$360) was fairly light, but probably more filling among the dishes we ordered.

Time to go explore...

Looking up at the loft like shelves and second floor...

Looking down at the desserts...

You could instagram here the whole afternoon and not have to post one photo of the food.

Always love thumbing through cookbooks.

All in all, a very cool place to explore and maybe do a bit of thinking, browsing, eating and have a conversation with friends.

japanese: i recommend CUISINE M

CUISINE M 信義三井

No.1, Songzhi Road Xinyi District Taipei City

台北市松智路1號1樓

(02) 2345-1101

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: mitsuitaipei.com.tw

hours: 11:30AM- 3PM; 5:30PM- 10PM

$$$ (about NT$1500-2000/person)

Kid friendliness: high chairs available.

Visit reviewed: 4/11/2013

Cuisine M is the Xinyi branch of Taipei's popular Japanese restaurant Mitsui, which is known for their high end, posh decor and elegant, fresh food. Mitsui is also the group that revamped Taipei's Fish Market into a gourmet market, sushi bar and destination- Acquatic Addiction Development (a post to come that I have way too many photos for!). 

Cuisine M is actually a bit hard to find, as its entrance is not on the main streets and not a part of one of the many malls near 101. Instead it sits right in the middle of them, the first floor of a bank high rise. Inside is a cavernous space with high ceilings and a shiny sushi bar in the back with a wall of alcohol above that would be at home in Vegas or LA. Cuisine M feels bigger than the Mitsui location in Neihu and more modern and glittery.

At Cuisine M, Mitsui, Sumie and other restaurants like them in Taipei, I usually go with the cheapest set menu (which varies at the different price points) since you get sashimi and a few cooked dishes that would end up costing more if you ordered ala carte. Of course if there is specific sashimi or dishes that you like, you're better off ordering off the menu or asking if the set can accommodate you. Having been to the other Mitsui, I know they can swap out certain grilled items and also do vegetarian sets. 

Everything is fresh and portioned for a multi course meal and quite filling. Service is relatively attentive and everyone usually gets their food at the same time, which doesn't always happen in Taipei.

Set solo salad is the perfect size and comes with a huge piece of king crab leg.

The flavors are relatively light so you can taste the natural flavors of the abalone, fish or beef.

I was pretty full by the time we got the nigiris.. so save room!

While I know Mitsui is a favorite for many and that Cuisine M is a branch of it, I actually have enjoyed my meals at Cuisine M more than my experiences at the original Mitsui. For those looking for Japanese in town (and there are a lot of amazing options in Taipei), it is a solid choice for a family or business meal, especially if you are looking for ambiance to impress and Cuisine M's Xinyi location makes it convenient for those working or visiting in the area.

american/bbq: i strongly recommend ED'S DINER

ED'S DINER
No. 216, Lequn 2nd Rd, Neihu
台北市樂群二路216號
(02) 8502-6969

MRT: Jiannan (about 10-15 minute walk away)

website: Ed's Diner's FB page

hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11AM - 2PM; 5PM - 9PM. Closed Mondays.

$$ (Cash only)

Kid friendliness: minimum charge of NT$100 for kids on weekends

Visit reviewed: 4/18/2013 and 4/26/2013

American BBQ and ribs in Taipei. For the longest time, your options were Tony Roma's (which is now closed), Chili's, or the Jack Daniel ribs at TGIF- and those places aren't going to give you slow cooked, woodfire bbq. Baba Kevin offers a great bbq via catering or delivery, but then the ribs need to be reheated.

Those of you who love pulled pork, brisket and baked beans will be excited to see the menu from the popular Ed's Diner in Neihu. (Make your July 4th reservations now and tell them where you found it!)

You might even spy the logs on the side outside the restaurant that they use to smoke the meat and also realize that you smell like bbq when you head home. 

Ed's Diner uses the "same rubs and sauces as the six time winner of the Barbecue World Championship" and learned the secret winning recipe to use for the slow cooked, wood fire bbq. After a few bites, you can see why the recipe was a winner. 

I actually brought out my fancy DSLR to get some glamour shots and then my memory card got corrupted when I was uploading photos. BOOO! I already tried to recover it, but it's a lost cause. Thankfully, I have lots of iphone photos that will give you a general idea. I lost the interior and storefront shots, but you can just scroll down to the meat!

I knew I was going to want to try a little of everything so I rounded up a group of excited, ravenous friends so that we could order almost everything on the menu. Pork ribs, beef ribs, bbq pork, bbq chicken, beef brisket, pulled pork sandwich and a plethora of side dishes- my favorites were the baked sweet potato topped with butter and cheese (!!), baked beans and baked potato.

Service is relatively friendly and prompt and most of the waiters speak English, so ask for an English menu if you need one. Plate specials include soup, salad, bread roll and a drink- which is a soft drink or ice lemon or peach tea. Set soup changes daily, this was a pumpkin soup.

I loved the pulled pork sandwich (NT$300) and I think if you're dining solo and can only order one thing, it will be more than satisfying. Overflowing with pulled pork and topped with coleslaw, it is saucy and tender with the bun holding it all together. The side of veggies was us trying to be healthy- but go for the sweet potato!

Full slab pork ribs (NT$950) is the best for sharing, with lots of ribs to go around.

On my first visit, I had wished that there was more sauce atop or on the side, since the ribs have a dry rub, but on our second visit, we figured out you just have to ask. There's spicy or regular bbq sauce available for those that want a little more.

BBQ chicken (NT$280)

Waygu Beef ribs (NT$790)- I wasn't as crazy about these and they are a bit on the expensive side, so I'd recommend the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket for first timers.

BBQ brisket (NT$380) - a bit fatty but oh so good. I remember the bbq brisket I've had in the states being pulled apart already, but it's not a big deal to cut the tender beef myself and bathe it in some sauce. It's great with the baked beans, which have a sweetness and tomato flavor.

With such reasonable prices, good portions and delicious bbq for carnivores, Ed's Diner is packed during lunch and dinner hours, but takes reservations for parties of four or more. When we left around 2pm, the lunch crowd had cleared out, so if you don't want to wait or grab a table outside, then I'd recommend coming early when they open and having everyone in your party there ready to sit down and grub.