Lonely Gourmet: Taipei (孤獨的美食家/ Gu Du De Mei Shi Jia)

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Taipei Da'an District - Shi Da Night Market

Farmhouse, the Farmhouse nestled in the center of the city?

Celebrate Christmas. Shi Da, Long Quan Business District, accompanying you towards 2015.

Jazz Trio

I'm very sorry. Are you okay?

I'm fine. It's okay. I can do this myself.

Thank you, anyway.

Eh?

This is your reed.

This time, I really have to thank you.

Excuse me. Can I ask is the Farmhouse anywhere nearby?

Mister, are you also wanting to go to the Farmhouse? - Yes.

Let's go.

Mister, you look so old-fashioned.

You don't look like someone who would go watch a live band.

I'm not looking to watch it live. I want to go—

I know! You look like a boss of a big company.

You're here to talk about business, right?

I'm going— - Wait, wait, wait! Let me ask you...

Let's say, I'm an employee of yours and I suddenly resign today,

but I regret resigning now, what's the best way to speak to you about it?

You just need to tell it straight, but you must say it earnestly and sincerely.

Is that right? Earnestly and sincerely...

We've arrived at the Farmhouse.

True. It almost slipped my mind.

[ Farmhouse music bar is located on Taipei's famous pub street, Shuangcheng Street, opening in 1982. ]

It's no use having sincerity now. Boss has already found someone to replace me.

I'm really an idiot! [ It has been a nightly destination for drinks for Taipei pub patrons and jazz fans. ]

Why did I resign from performing here when I haven't signed the contract?

Hello? Boss, I'm here.

Alright. Then I'll come over again tonight during performance time at nine.

Don't worry. It will definitely be a masterful sound. You'll agree once you hear it.

Oh, my gosh! So he's a special guest.

No wonder he said he didn't come to listen to it live.

Musicians are truly laid back.

We had clearly arranged the meet up for 5 o'clock, yet they casually call in to change the time.

But this is good as well. It allows me time to look for something to eat.

I'll go find something extremely tasty to eat. [ Farmhouse Pub - Address: No. 5 Ln. 32 Shuangcheng St, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 104. Ph: 0086-2-25951754. ]

It looks like you've also gone on a wild goose chase.

Worthy of being called, Shi Da Night Market: charboiled food, [Shi Da Night Market is situated next to National Taiwan Normal University. It has a strong cultural atmosphere with many clothes stores ]

fried chive cake, Taiwanese-style fried chicken, [ and secondhand bookstores geared towards the young. The selection of food on offer at the night market is too numerous to mention individually.]

and there's also braised food. [ Lantern Braised Stew (Deng Long Lu Wei), Taiwanese Fried Chicken, Zhen Ping Wei Thai-Style BBQ House are all equally delicious must-eat places. ]

I want to eat every one of them. I don't want to pass up on any of them.

This sort of eating style, from a foodies point of view,

all of it is plain showing off.

But when the night market comes, there are a lot of tasty things to eat.

Trouble then comes.

What should I eat? It's hard to choose.

Oh, no! I'll be constantly wondering what I should choose to eat.

In the end, the further I walked, the further I got. I was not careful and walked till Yongkang Street.

My stomach is getting really, really hungry.

Da Yin Jiu Shi (James Kitchen)

Da Yin Jiu Shi? [James Kitchen - Xiao Yin Si Chu (Little Secret Kitchen). James, a Taiwanese operating in the US for 16 years, ]

Thinking about it, this place was featured in articles. [ Because he was nostalgic for 'his mother's cooking flavor,' he returned to Taipei in 2006. ]

I remember the same owner opening Xiao Yin Si Chu at a second location. [ On Yongkang Street, he opened a traditional Taiwanese family restaurant called James Kitchen that seated up to 20 people. ]

I'll go have a look.

Da Yin (big secret)? Xiao Yin (little secret)?

Is 'hidden from the world' the Boss' meaning for this?

If that's the case, for my circumstances, it's more fitting I come here to eat.

[ James Kitchen - Little Secret Kitchen. James felt very sorry towards patrons who waited in line at the door. Twenty steps away, he opened a room, 'James Kitchen' to accommodate even more patrons. ]

[ Presently, Da Yin (big secrets) already turned into the main restaurant while Xiao Yin (little secrets) more often than not is used to arrange the patrons when Da Yin is full. ]

Hmm...

It feels like I'm eating in a countryside village kitchen.

It feels really close, really warm.

H! You can just write down your order on the slip here. Once you're done, call me over.

Okay, thank you. - Thank you.

It really is the feeling of eating at home.

I should order what I liked when I was younger.

"Lard Rice."

"Stewed Chinese Cabbage."

"Clam Soup."

Or maybe some "Homemade Salted Pork."

But it'll be pork again.

Will the Pork Lard Rice flavors overlap?

I've decided.

"Lard Rice."

"Homemade Salted Pork." I'll eat both!

I'll just add a Stewed Chinese Cabbage and a Roselle Tea to wash the meal down.

I've finished ordering.

I've completed my order. - Okay, I'm coming!

Thank you, we'll prepare it right away.

Lard Rice - traditional staple of the southern region. Main ingredients are usually lard, soy sauce and rice.

Flat Fish Stewed Chinese Cabbage. Fish from Minnan and preserved vegetables. Traditional Taiwanese cuisine.

Homemade Salted Pork. Chinese herbs and rock salt cured warm wild boar meat.

Hi, your dish is ready.

Thank you.

Please enjoy. - Thank you.

The aroma of lard and red onions immediately greets my nostrils.

It really has a smooth, sweet taste.

Lard from the day pork that is fried and rested for just the right amount of time was probably used,

preserving the lard's distinctive strong flavour and soft texture.

Hibiscus tea - sour, sweet, and appetizing.

It gets rid of the lard's greasiness.

Inside this Stewed Chinese Cabbage, they even put in some pork skin.

Very authentic and tasty.

Today, not one dish was without pork.

Fortunately, inside the Salty Pork, there's a faint taste of Chinese herbal medicine.

I definitely do not find this savory flavor tiresome.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by the Lonely Gourmet Team @ Viki

Xiao Yin Si Chu

James Kitchen - Little Secret Kitchen Address: 65 Yongkang Street, Da'an District, Taipei. Telephone: 00886-2-23432275

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30 – 14:00, 17:00 – 22:00 Monday Closed

Sorry.

It's okay.

The people there, the way they act is the same as this place: very subtle.

Hi, Mister! Hi, Mister!

It seems like you dropped this reed.

It's mine. Thank you!

It's no problem.

The musicians here seem to also have the same branded reed.

You must think it's quite weird, right?

Let me tell you. It was my granddaughter who taught me.

She said to use this method to treat my lower back.

But I feel running is more fun than walking.

That's why I run.

But my granddaughter uses this method to treat her nervousness.

Granddaughter? It can't be that much of a coincidence!

Is it that girl who I met walking backwards this afternoon?

Are you here to listen to the live band?

Tonight's entertainment is not too bad.

I'm here to deliver something.

A vinyl record.

That's right.

May I ask, was it Boss Cai who had you listen to the quality of the record?

Did I tell you it like that?

Lan Grandpa, why are you using this record player to play the record?

This one always has problems. If the needle breaks, it'll be hard to replace.

If the boss finds out, he will certainly yell at us.

He gave it to me for me to try.

Sorry. Boss did call me to let me know there will be someone bringing over a record.

He'll be here soon. Could you wait for a moment?

You can either walk around or sit down to drink something if you like.

I'll go ahead and just walk around.

Thank you. - No problem.

Do you know who today's mystery guest is?

Besides you, who else could it be?

Completely correct!

But today there will be someone who will come over for a jazz showcase with me.

Who dares to do such a thing? They're asking for it.

An enemy from his previous life.

This guy was specifically born to anger me.

The person you're talking about, it can't be Xiao Ben's dad?

Does he know jazz?

Back in those days, Xiao Ben's father, Lan Ben, was the number one jazz figure in all of Taiwan.

A saxophone maestro. - What?!

A jazz legend.

Then why does Xiao Ben always complain about her dad not understanding music?

Xiao Ben doesn't know a lot of things.

Jazz legend. We'll have someone else take that title today.

You and I are already very clear about how much prominence Xiao Ben has.

Waiting until after graduating then slowly perfecting it.

It's also not too late for a debut.

It's you who don't understand this well. But I understand this very well.

Ever since Xiao Ben's mother passed away, you haven't gone near a saxophone since then.

I seriously doubt your ability to judge music and performers well.

Unless, you can prove it to me yourself.

Hello?

Hey Xiao Ben, something big happened!

Something big happened to me.

I'm in such a bad mood right now!