il Giardino Romantico

雖然過生日的那一整天老天很給面子的只下了幾滴雨，到了隔天，終究還是下了雨。因為是機遊，雖然穿著雨衣，不過這雨水透過騎車的風速打在臉上還真是疼啊～ 所以決定了這天的行程不要排太多。早點回台北好了。只是，原本預計要去蘭陽博物館，但到了才發現兩個人身上都沒現金了！一問之下得知也不能刷卡。於是我們用信用卡買了杯咖啡，喝了之後就準備去覓食了。沒想到餐廳也是只收現金的！只好就先騎車去找個最近的提款機先領錢再說。領了錢之後決定還是回到烏石漁港那兒去吃好了！也懶得再找別間了。我說少了那麼點兒人情味的意思，就是原本第一回拉客的時候，感覺還挺熱情的。怎麼看我們特地跑去領錢還願意回來，卻一點都沒有被我們感動到耶！唉！真是千金難買早知道啊！
It had been nice all day during my birthday, and for this, I was sincerely thankful. We weren't so lucky the next day. Since we were on our scooter, with the speed of the scooter, the raindrops were quite painful when they hit your face. We decided to curtail our second day and return to Taipei sooner than we had originally anticipated. However, when we got to the Ilan Museum, we realised that we had used up all our cash, and that they didn't accept credit cards... So we paid our coffee with our credit card, and decided to head to lunch. Little did we know, the restaurants didn't accept credit cards either! It was enevitable that we had to get some cash. So we hopped on the scooter, found an ATM, and got some cash. Then, we went back to the restaurant, thinking they'd be so touched that we came back. Well, they weren't at all touched. If I had known they were such ungrateful dudes, we should've just went to the one next to it... 
反正都已經決定了，肚子也跟著餓了起來。將就點就吃了吧！
Oh well! Since we were hungry, we might as well... 
點完餐後，店家告訴我們因為附近台電施工的關係，所以會停電。雖然說這也不是店家的錯，而且附近的每一間餐廳都會停電，但怎麼我還是覺得少了那麼點人情味。
After we made our order, they told us because of construction work, the electricity would be out. I know this was not their fault, but somehow, I was still feeling a bit cranky about how they were not at all touched by our return.
首先登場的是蔥油雞。基於只有兩個人吃，所以吃得很過癮。某人知道這是我愛吃的，所以也是絕對不會跟我搶的。
First up - cold chicken. There were only two of us, and seeing that this was one of my all time favorites, I ate as much as I could! Very satisfying!
炒海瓜子。味道一般般。可能是平常吃慣我姑姑炒的，因此很少會覺得外面的炒的好吃。
Fried clams. Tasted normal. I think I've been spoiled by my aunt's fried clams, so I rarely find other places' fried clams any good.
本餐青菜：炒海菜。沒什麼特別好講的。看到肉絲有點愣住（我不吃肉）。不過這也在意料之中啦。
Fried sea veggies. I was a bit stunned by the meat in the veggie dish. But, it was sort of expected in these places, I guess.
海鮮炒麵。好像還挺不錯的。不過在寫這篇的過程，我一直對他們沒有很感動我們回來這件事情很在意耶 XD
Seafood fried noodles. It was rather good. But even until now, during the write up of this article, I'm still holding my grudge against them!
雖然已經隔天了，但假期還沒結束，所以啤酒還是要的啦！
I know it was the day after my birthday. But the trip wasn't over! So the beer was totally justifiable!
  
但你知道要騎車的不能喝，所以這瓶，當然又是沒人跟我搶啦！
And since drinking and driving don't go together, and somebody had to get on that scooter... all that beer went straight down my throat! 

某人知道我喜歡草莓，便提議了晚上可以買個奶凍來吃。不說我還不知道，原來諾貝爾奶凍很有名喔？還沒看到店裡招牌時還不知道奶凍到底是什麼東西。一看才知道，果然會是我喜歡的東西。
Well someone knew about my craze for strawberries. It being my birthday, afterall, he thus suggested that we get this strawberry cake for celebration. I didn't realise how famous this Cake Nobel was. I didn't know what the fuss was about, until I saw the sign with a picture of the cake. Then, I knew that it was something I'd like.
因為是名產，所以店裡非常忙碌。我們進去之前剛好也有台遊覽車載著觀光客來買伴手禮。
It was a famous shop. The place seemed very busy. When we arrived, there was also a big bus full of people that were there to buy these cakes as gifts.
雖然產品很多，但吸引我的還是裏頭裹著草莓的這個招牌奶凍。
There were many kinds of products for sale. But I still wanted to try the strawberry cake.
店家很大方，許多東西都可以先試吃。
They are quite generous in that they provided samples for many of the items.
有吃喜歡再買。
You can have a bite and try their taste before deciding what to buy.
話說回來，這天畢竟還是生日。雖然前一天有嚷嚷著吵著要蛋糕，不過卻有個小小的遺憾：今年的歲數是我最喜歡的數字。前一天的蛋糕，沒有數字蠟燭。其實會來諾貝爾買奶凍，也是為了要彌補這點小小的遺憾。於是，就在我們吃了鵝肉、石窯雞後，又繼續吃了奶凍當甜點。
Well, you must keep in mind that it was my birthday. Although I already had a cake the day before, there was a small regret. This was a very special year for me, and I had wanted to have a cake with numbered candles on it. But we had failed to find the candles the day before. So, this was why I was brought to this place, after finding the numbered candles, and this was also why we were having this cake, after the goose meal and the chicken meal!
也彌補了我想要在蛋糕上寫上歲數的心願～
And finally, after the candles were lit - no more regrets. 
   
檢視較大的地圖 
ps. 忘了說，奶凍真的很好吃！不要看我們切成那樣。這真的是我愛吃的蛋糕種類。
ps. I forgot to mention that the cake tasted wonderful! It was exactly the type of dessert I loved!

其實午餐已經很晚吃了，可是晚餐不吃又不行。看到滿條街都是窯燒雞，愛吃雞的我實在很難抗拒這樣的誘惑。不過實在不是很餓，若點了一整隻雞，會吃得下嘛！？還好，現在身邊有了個大胃王，可以幫我吃掉我吃不下或是不想吃的。讓我不用在害怕哪天可能會因糟蹋食物而遭天打雷劈～
最先看重的其實不是這一間。說實在的，其實沒吃過還真的不知道該怎麼選。後來因為首選那間人實在太多，也找不到哪裡可以停噗噗，所以就改吃他斜對面的「福哥」。我瞧這裝潢還蠻有意思的，心想應該會還不錯吧！
We had a late lunch, but we weren't planning on skipping dinner. There was a whole street full of grilled chicken restaurants, and as a chicken meat lover, I couldn't resist the temptation! But since I wasn't that hungry, I wondered if we could finish an entire chicken. Thankfully, I now have someone with me to clear up what I can't and don't want to eat! So I won't have to feel guilty about wasting food anymore!
This place wasn't our first choice. It was difficult to choose from all the different places. They all looked the same! Since our first choice was packed, and we couldn't figure out where to park our scooter, we decided to make a u-turn and head for another one across the street.  The place looked rather interesting, so I thought, well, can't be that bad!
有專屬停車場。
They have their own parking space.
還沒到炎熱夏天，其實戶外座位還蠻有feel的～
It wasn't scorching hot yet, so the outdoor seating seemed quite nice.
非常期待吃到這個特別的雞～
Looking forward to the taste of this chicken!
裡面都是一隻一隻的雞。
The chickens were grilled in what look like stone wells.
等待食物烹調時，可以去小園區走走。
Take a walk in the little garden while the food is being prepared.
蛤蠣絲瓜
Gourd and clams.
石窯雞
Stone roasted chicken! 
這是南瓜蜜餞來著
This is marinated pumpkin.
你可以選擇用手扒的方式，或者是請他們幫你切開囉！
You can choose to have the chicken served as a whole, or have them cut it up for you like this.
其實味道果真還不錯。只是無奈我的小肚肚真的不餓，所以裝下兩根棒棒腿就飽了！希望下次可以再專程去一次，挑戰更多部位啊！
I thought it tasted quite nice! But unfortunately my tummy wasn't hungry to begin with. So after devouring two drumsticks, I had to give up. I hope I can come here again, and try and eat more!
 
炎熱夏天，亦可選擇有冷氣的室內區喔！
During the summer, when it gets really hot, you can also choose to sit indoors where the air con would be on! 
檢視較大的地圖 
喔，對了！這餐我真的沒有配啤酒！（因為回民宿還有紅酒可以喝～）
Oh, another thing - I really didn't drink beer with this meal! (Because there's a bottle of wine waiting back at the B&B) 

晚上的住宿安頓好之後，我們就要來開始趴趴走了。不過有個問題！我們還沒吃飯啊！所以就騎著租來的車車，到處亂晃找個地方解決午餐。後來我們找到了這間鵝肉，看起來還不錯！就決定一試。
After settling in our logdge for the night, it was time for adventure. But there was one problem - we had not had lunch yet! So we rode around on our rented scooter, and searched for food... We came across this goose place. Seemed quite okay. So we decided to give it a try.
這間特別在於老闆娘們都在櫃台後。是屬於自助式的。別傻傻坐在桌子邊等著人家送菜喔。
The special thing about the place was that it was half self-service. Remember to take your plate of food, instead of waiting by the table.
有很多東西想試試，不過我們的肚肚只能裝下一部分而已啦。
We wanted to try a lot of things. But our tummies only had space for a few dishes.
鯊魚煙 - 幾乎已經是鵝肉的必點配菜了
Smoked shark - goes quite well with goose meat.
滷筍子 - 這餐的蔬菜（勉強）
Braised bamboo shoots - the veggies of the meal... 
章魚 - 太強眼了所以忍不住點來吃
Octopus tentacles - it was very eye-catching... coudn't help ordering a plate.
湯麵 - 吃粗飽的
Noodles - to fill up the tummy
再來就是重點：鵝肉！看看這鵝肉，皮怎麼那麼肥呀！其實還不錯吃。
Here comes the key dish! Look at this plate of fatty goose meat. Althought I found it a bit too fat, it was still quite delicious. 
 
有機會可以來試試。
Give it a try if you've got the chance! 
檢視較大的地圖 

本周的周五，是否因為前一天才放了一天颱風假，反而感覺像周一呢？自花蓮遊記開始至今，走的都是抒情哲理風。獲得少數朋友的讚賞，天仙心懷感激。曾經有些朋友對天仙說，我是一個很有智慧的人。其實我不覺得捏。老子說：知者不言，言者不知。會有那麼多廢話，其實都是因為天仙想要勉勵自己。說出來了，希望可以讓大家跟天仙一起努力。不過這篇看看抬頭就知道，今天不是來分享什麼大道理，而是要來分享一碗大蓋飯！
The Friday this week seems more like a Monday, probably because of the typhoon holiday the previous day. Since the beginning of my Hualien artilcles, I have been writing in a more lyrical and philosophical style. Some friends have paid their compliments, which I gratefully appreciate. Some people have said to me that I seem to be a very wise person. Well, I humbly reject this description. Note that Lao-Tzu said, 'Those who know, don't talk; those who talk, don't know. Since I talk so much about everything, I know very little. The reason why I talk so much, is only because I wish to learn these ways myself, and by sharing them, I am hoping people can learn with me. However, as you can probably tell already, that this article is not very philosophical, but instead, salivating... 
來到花蓮選擇了柚子家為過夜的民宿。民宿老闆柚子，熱情地將自製地圖取出向我解說花蓮有哪裡好吃好玩。其實當我聽到「海景蓋飯」，其他到底說了些什麼我都聽不進去了。因此就決定一定要來一探究竟。
The owner of the B&B I was staying at recommended this place. After hearing about this sashimi rice place, I stopped listening to what else he had to say... I simply had to try it out!
我約七點多左右抵達。已經高朋滿座。不過沒有等很久就輪到我了（因為一個人位子很好等！）
I arrived at approximately 7 pm. The place was already packed. However, I didn't have to wait long for a seat. (one of the pluses of being on your own)
雖然店員忙碌，但這裡是花蓮，的確少了都市人的冷落，多了鄉村的熱情。
Despite being extremely busy, the waiters and waitresses still serve with passion, unlike the cold city-people.
連價位都很熱情～
Even the prices can warm your heart by being so affordable.
周圍的環境布滿了可愛的裝飾
Cute decorations all around... 
一杯暖茶，忘了一整天的疲憊。反而讓你享受著回味這一整天的豐富行程。
A warm cup of tea, relaxes your exhausted body, allowing you to indulge in the recollection of the entire day's trip.
 
然後一碗蓋飯，為花蓮的第一天劃下了完美的句點。
And voila! Just what's needed at the end of the day! 
檢視較大的地圖