il Giardino Romantico

*Drink responsibly.
*未成年請改喝未發酵麥茶... 

南港區有幾間鵝肉店名氣還不錯。這天跟友人來到人家介紹的『良美』。雖然這種店好像越多人吃越划算，不過我們兩人還是硬著頭皮跑進去吃。你瞧第一張圖片就可看出這店家的刀工。雖然我不常吃鵝肉，但就我吃過的幾間比起來，這間切的細緻多了！每一片的厚度均勻，且九成以上都是可以吃下肚的（有些會參很多骨頭之類的... ）

There are a few places that sell goose in the Nangang area that are well reputed. This time, my friend and I visited 'Liangmei'. For these types of restaurants, it's a better deal to have a big crowd, but this time, there were only the two of us. If you take another look at the first picture, you'll see how delicate each piece is sliced. I don't visit goose restaurants often, but of the few I have visited, this is the only place that offers such a pleasing presentation of the dish. Moreover, over 90 percent of what's on the dish is edible (some would put a lot of bones on the dish). 

I'm not trying to stall my 2010 UK travel articles, but it's not often that I get to update my Taiwan articles. So I thought I might as well use this opportunity to post them in a row, to remind people that - yes, I am in Taiwan.

我不是故意要拖延2011英國遊記的～只是因為台灣文很少有更新的機會。正好趁這個檔期趕快更新一下，順便也提醒大家：我人的確是在台灣，不是在英國～

Okay, maybe we didn't have anything from the stalls you saw in the previous article, but we did have 'something'. And that something is the same thing that I had posted before in another article. This is a location of the same restaurant that sells herbal chicken soups, but one that I had not yet been to. Anyhow, the last article I wrote about this chain was only in Traditional Chinese. This time, even English reader get to enjoy this delicious cuisine! 

雖然外面的美食琳瑯滿目，最後我們還是被這裡拉回來。其實這間我有貼過食記了～不過這間分店我沒來過。而且上次貼的雖然都還上了側欄的本格熱門文章，但是內容只有中文。這次連英文讀者都可以享受這美味的一餐啦！

Even though the title of this article is 'Raohe Night Market', you'll see in the end that you have all been scammed! 

雖然抬頭寫著『饒河夜市』但看到最後你們一定會大聲喊說：我被騙啦！

Uni-Hankyu opened some time at the end of 2010. Since then, I had been there twice, against my will, and both on busy weekends. I was immensely annoyed with the crowd, but most of all, by how confusing the whole place was. I thought to myself: I'll never come here again! Well, on the weekend, anyway. 

統一阪急好像是去年底開幕吧！剛開幕的時候我去了兩次，都不是我自願的。而且都是在周末。我不只是被人群嚇到，我還被整個不清不楚的路線給疑惑住。所以當時我告訴自己：我以後再也不要來了！（至少不要在周末來）

Some time later, I came here again to dine with a friend on a weekday. This time I found it acceptable. Thus, this time, when a friend was in town, I decided to give the place another shot - since there were more choices of restaurants here. 

This is actually the first time I hung out with my colleagues outside of work, since I started this new job in September. We had a lot of fun chatting. Actually, I had more fun watching and listening to them chat, but same difference. Anyway, we went to a Japanese restaurant, and at first we were going to order our own individual meals, when the waitress suggested that we order a set meal for 4-6 people. (there were five of us). 

這是我第一次下班後跟同事一起出去耶（自從九月到直以來）。聊天聊得很開心，不過我看他們聊的更開心（哈哈！）。這次是來到春日一間日本餐廳。原本各自研究著自己想吃的餐點，不料餐廳阿姨卻推薦我們吃四到六人份的套餐。想想，我們五個人好像可以吃到撐，就決定點了。

才光跨完年就一連三貼食記，會不會太享受啊～ 不過剛剛好嘛！跨年前英國遊記正好到一個段落。下一個段落的照片還沒開始整理，大家就將就一下囉（是很勉強嘛！？）

This is the third consecutive food article that I've posted since the beginning of the year! Well, this is only because I have not yet had time to organize the next round of UK photos. So while you're waiting, this is what you can enjoy~ 

The following article is in Chinese (Traditional) only. 

這次聚餐是某位正在英國拚學位的格友恰好聖誕假期回台所辦的小聚會。其實大家都互相認識很久了，只是一直錯過聚會的良機。2009年底原本有機會碰上一面，但陰錯陽差就也沒見到。今年七月原本也是說好要順便去該格友居住的城市來個一日遊，最後也因為時間上無法配合只好打消這個念頭。這次終於有機會跟這位格友見面，我想也算是一種難得的緣分。加上託他的福，更見到了兩位也是一直無緣見面的共同「軌友」，和再次與軌道傳奇人物相會。

正如天仙每再強調，其實聚會重點在人。但如果食物也很棒，服務也無可挑剔，那當然就是在完美不過了！先來瞧瞧食物吧！

沒事為什麼會跑來親子餐廳呢？其實就是因為天仙要單槍匹馬的挑戰跟tt全家人見面。抖抖抖。（誤）要不是因為人家家裡有孩子，我哪有機會來親子餐廳呢？其實有點好奇，單身（或是沒小孩的三兩好友冒然闖進親子餐廳會不會很怪？）

跟tt會認識呢，是因為2008過年的時候跟hinlin還有suckuo見面寫了記錄。tt看了眼紅羨慕，我就這樣多了一個媽媽格友。不過我們一直沒機會見面。回國後有幾次約來要見面，卻陰錯陽差的一直錯過。有一陣子迷噗浪。鬧得好開心。可是後來我改邪歸正，不玩噗浪了。兩個人的交流就只剩下部落格。前一陣子tt很努力的參與倫敦熊的活動。雖然最後沒得到禮物，但我開玩笑說他的特獎就是可以跟我見面。當然就有了約出來見面的動力了。

This was the weekend when the European Education Exhibition was held.  The universities in the UK used to have their own exhibition, better known to most as the British Education Exhibition. This time, they decided to collaborate and hold a massive exhibit.  There were universities and institutes from Spain, Holland, France, German, and of course the UK. Of course, as alumni ambassador, I felt obliged to show up and offer personal experiences and insights to those who were interested in studying at the University of Liverpool. Another alumna was kind enough to join me. So altogether, there were four of us at the stand - two alumni, one uni delegate, and one agent.

After two long, but pleasant, days of standing and answering questions, we decided to relax and treat ourselves to a nice meal. Coincidentally, my uni friend was also in town. So the three of us found this Japanese nearby and spent the evening together. 

這是歐洲教育展的那一個周末。本來英國是有自己的英國教育展。這次他們聯合起來辦了一場有西班牙、荷蘭、法國、德國跟英國的聯合歐洲教育展。當然，身為校友大使，我覺得我必須要在場一下。跟現場的朋友們分享一下自己的經驗以及淺見。另外一位校友也很熱心的答應要到場幫忙。所以當時除了兩個校友，還有一個學校代表跟一個代辦。我們四個人一起！

Summer is not hotpot season. But somehow we both craved a nice pot of veggies and hot soup.  The night before my friend and I had too much fun chatting the night away.  She had come to Taipei to attend an event. When she woke up with a hangover (we both did), she called to let them know that she would not be attending. Only then had she been informed that the event had been postponed.  This saved her from the guilt of skipping the event, and as for me, the guilt of seducing my friend to skip the event.  

夏天真不是吃火鍋的季節。不過這天我們剛好都很想吃一大鍋的青菜跟喝一大碗的熱湯。前一天晚上我們聊得太愉快。其實我朋友他是來台北參加一個活動的。隔天我兩宿醉醒來，原本他是要打去請假。後來才被告知說活動延期了。剛好不用為了缺席感到有罪惡感。我也不用覺得引誘他缺席而感到愧疚。

I'm so hard behind my posting schedule because of the Paddington series. But, I think it was well worth it. Anyway, this was a small get together between a few friends, apparently to celebrate my relocation (back) to Taipei.  At the time, two of my friends were only in the process of preparing for their wedding, but by the time I manage to actually publish this article, they are already married! Woopie! Congrats to them!

文章實在因為倫敦熊系列類格的太嚴重。不過我想一切都是直得的吧！這頓晚餐據說是爲了我（再度）搬回台北而產生。不過因為我實在累隔太嚴重。嚴重到晚餐當天其中兩位朋友才在準備婚宴之事，如今他們已經是新婚夫妻啦！哈哈！恭喜耶～～～ 

From the earlier article on Grandma Nitti's, you'll remember that I didn't have very much to eat the last time I came. That's why I decided to visit again. This time, to 'eat'. 

從上篇的食記可得知，上次來這沒吃到什麼食物。所以今天決定來雪恥一下。

I came to Afternoon Tea to meet two mates from Liverpool. I've heard of Afternoon Tea for a long while now, but this is, once again, the first time I had come here.  

這天來到Afternoon Tea，是與兩位利物浦的同學有約。很久以前就聽說Afternoon Tea的下午茶很優。不過到了今天我才第一次來，真是跟不上流行啊～～

I've actually heard about Grandma Nitti's since ages ago.  My expat colleagues would always talk about how they'd come here, enjoy the food and chatter here.  Its location is actually not far from where I used to live.  At least it's quite convenient to get to on the MRT.  However, this is actually the very first time at Grandma Nitti's for me.  Unfortunately my lunch appointment started and ended late.  Plus we had a bit too much to eat, which resulted in the fact that I had little interest in any of the dishes on the menu!!

很早以前就曾聽過外籍同事說Grandma Nitti's很好吃。他們都很喜歡去那兒聚會、吃飯。其實離以前台北住的地方不算太遠。至少捷運可以到。但是不知道為什麼，一直到了這天，我才第一次進去這間餐廳。結果，因為這個飯局之前的午餐飯局有點晚吃，導致我抵達後對於菜單上的任何食物都不會感到太大的興趣啊！！

This is a gathering among me and my co-workers from my first-ever job.  We try to set one gathering up each year.  But because we all have different working schedules, it takes a lot of planning for each gathering.  Because of this, however, we cherish each and every one of our successful gatherings even more.

 

I detest finding venues to meet people.  Especially after becoming a vegetarian.  I don't like coercing people into eating veggie along with me, which makes it even harder to find a place to have meals.  Therefore, out of the six meals that came out of this one trip to Taipei, only one of them was set up by me.  All the others were set up by my lovely friends.  When I heard that we were having hot pot, I thought, Great! This way, he will be able to have as much meat as his tummy desires, and I can happily devour my greens.  However, it was not until I got to the restaurant, saw the 'zen' and 'Buddhist' style decor, that I realised the place was a strictly 'veggie' hot pot restaurant.

*To understand the concept of 'hot pot', you can think of it as 'Chinese/Oriental fondu... with clear soup (usually) instead of cheese or chocolate.  

 

I had no idea what to look forward to until I arrived.  This coffee shop is unique in every aspect.  I came here with a previous student of mine, who had studied with me for over three years.  She's now studying in the States, and I knew that she had come back to Taiwan for Christmas.  I called her and set up a date to meet, but I left the venue completely up to her to decide.  After having been a student a year myself, I told her when I met her, that I am no longer her teacher.  I'd like to think that the relationship we have is pretty much like the concept of this coffee shop - finding a balance in a lack of proportion.  I accredit the reason why we are still able to remain in contact with each other even until to day, to this reason.

天仙這天是在完全無預警之下來到這間無論是食物或是店內裝潢都非常具有特色的咖啡館的。原因是因為得知以前家教的一個學生因為美國聖誕假期有回到台灣，因此除了日期以外時間以及地點我都交給了這位可愛的學生決定。不過經過一年的學生生活下來，見面時我對他說：我現在已經不是你的老師了～ 其實我們平時的相處方式就很像這間店的設計理念：在不對秤當中找到一個彼此相處的平衡點。所以無論是在以前家教上課的過程還是我們雙方都遠赴國外繼續進修後，仍然可以將這段緣份一值維持下去。

Note: This article is published only in Chinese (Traditional).
註︰本篇文章僅有繁體中文。

上次謝師宴那篇搞得太隆重，害我跟孩子都沒機會好好聊天。[雖然真的很好吃...]她七月就出發先去念語言課程。這一陣子也在MSN上保持聯繫。她說那邊教的方式果然跟台灣很不一樣。但是我知道她適應能力強，相信她可以克服萬難。想家是難免的。最重要是希望她在那能夠體驗與台灣不一樣的。

在MSN上她早早就跟我敲定八月回國時要跟我聚一聚。沒想到這千金小姐果然沒食言！匆匆忙忙的回來，在短短一個禮拜的時間內，她不知道要見多少朋友與親人。回來後卻第一個跟我連絡跟我敲定聚餐的時間。好感動！

原本是說好要去吃義大利麵。這是我們之前約定的。不過她說她想去吃一家很好吃的鬆餅。我跟她要了店名，上網查了一下。好像還不錯，就答應她改去這間吃鬆餅。