food glistening food

Although I've only posted a few times so far, it's possible that you have begun to notice a bit of a food bias on Sweet Potato Island. There's a very simple reason for that: Taiwanese food is not of this world. The variety, the freshness, in some cases the intentional stinkiness. It's difficult to describe in words. Photos will have to suffice. Pictured above is one of Taiwan's most famous dessert inventions, the mango ice. In its standard form it consists of shaved ice drizzled with sweet condensed milk and topped with fresh mango, mango ice cream, and bits of fruit jelly.

The best Taiwanese food often lurks in the basementiest of places. My friend Nellie's mother took us to a subterranean market to try some of her favorite tian bu la (a kind of fried fish cake served here with a sweet sauce and some fresh marinated cucumbers).

This is a meaty sausage served in a rice sausage bun. I will say no more.