Adam's "Dickensian" childhood: Top 5

Adam has a very nice family and had a happy childhood, but there's always something...some inane injustice regarding X Y Z. I decided to collect a few of these stories from Adam's upbringing to [lovingly] illustrate/mock his "Dickensian" childhood.

#5 New Zealand Spinach

In the Zakun household, fresh organic leafy greens from the garden were often served at dinner and New Zealand Spinach was the BANE of the kid's dinnertime experience. Turns out, Adam's mom was the only person who liked New Zealand Spinach so Adam's dad finally "put his foot down" and staged a "coup" when he declared, "I'm NOT growing New Zealand Spinach" in our garden anymore. I don't like, the kids don't like it...you're the only one who likes it." Adam's dad's culinary heroics saved the children from torturous meals New Zealand Spinach.

#4 Don't Squish the Bread

Growing up, Adam's mom made homemade bread most days using their bread machine. Hot, fresh, crusty, soft homemade bread right out of the bread machine BEGGED to be sliced immediately, but cutting or "squishing" the hot bread was highly frowned upon in the Zakun household. Adam would risk parental disapproval and"squish" the homemade loaf anyways because homemade bread + mayo + BBQ sauce + parmesan cheese was his favorite afternoon snack concoction and totally worth it. Adam's mom recently said she'd bake him a hot loaf of bread the next time he was home and let him squish it to his heart's content.

#3 Caraway Seeds

Before there was a Whole Foods to provide abundant cheese counters to every gentrifying neighborhood, there was the Cheese Coop out of Berkeley. The family would gather with other local gourmands to place bulk orders for European cheeses a few times a year. Adam the cheese lover declared often "I've never met a cheese I didn't enjoy." That was until the day that the Zakun family received a large portion of this new cheese with caraway seeds. Adam despised this caraway seed cheese because he didn't like how it tasted, but more so because he could no longer declare with certainty "I've never met a cheese I didn't enjoy."

#2 Hard Rock Bagels

Cultural authenticity is highly valued by the Zakuns and it's a wonderful intellectually curious way to live. Authentic gelato, authentic Chinese and of course authentic bagels, NYC water bagels to be more precise. The only problem is that the Zakuns live in the Bay Area and back in the day, there was just one bakery in town to buy authentic water bagels. While authentic, the bagels were quite hard and difficult to slice without risking a trip to the emergency room. They also had a larger than average hole in the middle rendering them incapable of holding much filling in a bagel sandwich. Unauthentic bagels were not allowed in the Zakun household so Adam had to "suffer" by gnawing on hard rock bagels.

#1 No Cheese 

Did I mention that Adam loves cheese. Cheese is delicious, it comes in many forms and it even serves as a "binder" to structurally secure ones food together. Cheese is especially delicious on Mexican food except in Adam's case, the family frequently got take out from a Mexican restaurant that did not offer cheese...or so his parents claimed at the time. Adam never wanted Mexican take out from this restaurant because his tacos never had any cheese. When he asked for cheese, his parents said that the restaurant had NO CHEESE. Years and years later as an adult, Adam mentioned this no cheese available situation. 

Adam: Wasn't it weird that the Mexican restaurant didn't offer cheese? 

Parentals: What are you talking about? 

Adam: The restaurant didn't stock cheese, that's what you said.

Parentals: Hmmm, I don't remember that. They've always had cheese, you just never asked for it.

Adam: [muttering] But I did ask for cheese!!!!!

Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies - perfect for ice cream sandwiches

Now I don't want you all to have the impression that the only people I ever make fun of on this blog are Adam and plasticmom so I'm going mix it up today and reconstruct the following email conversation I had with my friend Zristen earlier this week.

Zristen: Everyone enjoyed the cookies!  Are there any more?  Zave only got one...
plasticann: I only gave you four cookies, one for each Zority. 
Zristen: HAHAHA!  I ate 2, kids ate slower than me so I guess they split one.  Zave wasn't happy because he wanted more!

If only Zvy and Zwan realized that mommy ate their cookie and made them share one, heads would roll. I baked another batch of the cookies today and I split the Zority's share into four bags. I can't trust that Zristen will distribute them accordingly so I labeled each person's bag and I'm posting the cookie quantities publicly to ensure some accountability. 

Zristen: 3 cookies
Zave: 3 cookies
Zvy: 1 cookie
Zwan: 1 cookie

Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's from Barefoot Contessa and the thin cookies are perfect for ice cream sandwiches. Not too thick, not too hard, just thin and slightly crispy.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1 12 oz bag semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 shakes of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream butter and two sugars until light and fluffy
3. Add vanilla and eggs, mix well
4. Add flour, baking soda and salt, mix
5. Mix in chocolate chips
6. Scoop batter using a medium cookie scoop or a tablespoon
7. Flatten dough a little
8. Bake around 10-15 minutes until brown 
9. Let cool for a few minutes on the pan
10. Move to cooling rack to fully cool

Cherry + Pear + Plum Clafouti

I had a random assortment of fruit that was just a smidge past ripe so I tried making this Clafouti recipe from Julia Childs.

Julia Child's Clafouti Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cut up three cups of fruit into bite sized chunks: cherries, plums, pear, etc 
3. Blend the following in a blender
• 1.25 cups milk
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 ggs
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup flour
4. In a baking dish (9x9 or 9 inch pie or 7x10), pour a thin layer of batter
5. Bake thin layer of batter for 7-10 minutes
6. Layer fruit over batter. 
7. Sprinkle 1/3 cup sugar over fruit
8. Pour remaining batter over fruit
9. Bake for 40-60 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted
10. Serve warm for dessert or breakfast

This is honestly the first recipe I've tried so I'm not sure if it's "the best," but it's pretty delicious and it's easy. I'll have to check out some other recipes and see how they compare.

Cheddar + Spicy Watermelon Chutney Sandwich

Pret A Manger in the UK offers an awesome aged cheddar with chutney sandwich that is delicious. Sadly, they don't really offer the same sandwich in the US. I made a huge batch of spicy watermelon chutney last week and I now have a new way to enjoy this chutney thanks to my friend Zbigail who suggested that I pair the spicy watermelon chutney with a good cheddar cheese. She's a genius because I now have my own version of that cheddar chutney sandwich. 

Cheddar Chutney Sandwich

• Bread...don't forget that
• Field greens
• Spicy Watermelon Chutney
• Nice slices of a good aged Cheddar. I used Beecher's Flagship from Seattle.

Unveiling our updated guest room ...hoping to attract more visitors

Adam and I place a high value on hospitality and we really enjoy having overnight guests. We're constantly trying to sell friends, relatives, strangers on the benefits of our "free" accommodations:

• You get your very own room
• You even get your own bathroom
• We're only five minutes from the T
• We promise NOT to bother you
• We're not creepy...no really we aren't

We get a fair number of guests, but not as many as one would think for free accommodations in a pretty great location. Maybe we're selling it a little too hard or maybe we're weird and creepy and no one has the heart to tell us. We'll never know!

Recently, I went on a trip to Nashville with my friend Zara's family where we stayed in a vacation rental. It was very nice in a nondescript Restoration Hardware style. While I'd rather have more color and personality in my own home, I realized that for a vacation or a hotel or a guest room, I'd prefer neutral clean colors because it's way more peaceful. When I got back home, I was chagrinned at the state of our guest room. Our guest room was objectively comfortable in the basic sense, but it had devolved over the years as a place to store random crap in the closet, unused frames under the bed, a riot of mismatched sheets in the bureau and a collection of discarded furniture. It was comfortable enough, but I thought we could do better with a few updates.

First I decluttered the entire room and removed old furniture, old lamps, frames, sheets to beds we no longer owned, etc. It's amazing how much stuff exploded out of the nooks and crannies of this room. Then we added a few improvements thanks to our friend Zave who patiently spent two evenings at our house this week helping me put everything up. Thanks also to Zristen who lent us Zave while she watched their two adorably rambunctious kids.

The goal was to create more space, add more light, neutralize the colors and add more functionality to the room without adding too much clutter.

Headboard:
I've wanted to buy a headboard for this room for years, but couldn't figure out how to move one into our home. Either we'd have to haul it over the 2nd floor balcony and hope it made it up the stairs to the 3rd floor or I could move in tiny pieces of wood and build one on the third floor in the room. It always ended with me throwing my hands up and giving up.

Judging from the photo above you're probably thinking, "hmmm, looks like a headboard, what gives?" It's faux, it's a decal, it basically a giant sticker. A faux headboard decal comes in a poster tube, it's relatively inexpensive and certainly reversible. The Olivia Headboard from Blik comes in two giant pieces and it's a two man two hour job to get it applied correctly. Zave is a perfectionist and therefore the right person for the job. Like Zave said, "it's better to spend the time to get it right." Ain't that the truth because it looks pretty great.

Now a faux headboard is a little "out there" for Adam so he rightfully questioned the rationale:
Adam: Why a headboard?
plasticann: [indignantly] Well, it's not comfortable for our guests to lean against a wall. It's better to have a headboard.
Adam: Ummm, if it's a decal headboard, won't they STILL be leaning against a wall?
plasticann: [long pause] Harumphhh! Yes, but it looks better!!!

Lights:
The room only had overhead flood lights so it was rather dim at night. Plus, you have to turn off the lights at the door and then carefully shuffle back to bed in the dark. I wanted to add lighting to each side of the bed, but I didn't want to hire an electrician. I found this double sconce from Pottery Barn Teen that simply plugged in. Two lights, fully adjustable, easy peasy. On a related note, I did have to enter my age when I bought this sconce from PBTeen and verify that I was actually over the age of 13.

Nightstand / Writing Desk:
Our guest room had no nightstands. There were surfaces one could use to perch a phone or a pair of glasses, but nothing that resembled a nightstand. plasticmom also mentioned that our guest room had no desk. No where to put a computer, write a note, put stuff on, etc. Adding two nightstands and a desk all while keeping it "spacious" and "uncluttered" seem like a tall order so I had to be a little creative. I bought two metal wall mounted fold down desks like the ones you see on boats, doctor's offices and factory floors. We hung them at around 29 inches high for the table surface so it functions as a combination nightstand/desk that's just big enough for a laptop. I stuck a power strip on the side of one desk to keep it off the floor. Since the desk is metal, it's also magnetic.

Bonus improvements:

• Blackout shades so people can actually sleep past 6am now
• Luggage rack so you don't have to put your stuff on the floor
• Brand new white sheets
• ...and I hung some antlers to top it off...paper antlers of course. 

Our first guest arrives tomorrow night. I'll have to send him a NPS survey to get some feedback. 

Black Sesame Cold Noodles

We had the Zoritys over for dinner last night so I broke out the tub of Black Sesame Spread I bought from Costco in Taipei and made Black Sesame Cold Noodles with toppings for a refreshing summer dinner. Everyone had seconds, even Zwan the 1.5 year old. You know it's good when the kids keep eating it since they don't lie...yet.

Source: Costco in Taipei

From 12 o'clock: scallions, seaweed, red bell peppers, chicken, egg crepe and cucumbers

Black Sesame Noodles adapted from a Food Network Recipe

Recipe: Black Sesame Noodles (serves 6-8)

Noodles - blend the following ingredients into a sauce:

• 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
• 2-3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 inch grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup black sesame paste (or use 1/2 cup peanut butter)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/4-3/5 teaspoons red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup water

Boil 1 pound Angel Hair Pasta or Spaghetti

Drain pasta, mix with black sesame sauce and cool. You can eat it warm, hot or cold so it's really up to you.

Toppings:

• Chicken
• Egg Crepe
• Cucumbers
• Seaweed
• Bell Peppers
• Scallions
• really anything you want

Costco: a little slice of America with a giant dash of Taiwan

One of my relatives mentioned going to Costco so I couldn't resist piping up to exclaim, "Costco, I love Costco, can I go to Costco?" Costco in Taipei pretty much feels like any Costco in America except this one was two floors, a small concession to its urban location. Same cavernous warehouse with pallets look and feel with a mix of American and Asian products tailored to the local tastes. 

You've got your bulk M&Ms vs. bulk Chinese candies and your bulk Skippy PB vs. giant jars of black sesame paste. I have a new theory that you can figure out what "authentic" foods the "locals" enjoy by going to a Costco. People only buy in bulk things they eat a lot of and Costco is only going to sell products that people want to buy. Based on this theory of mine, I can report on the following local food trends surmised from today's Costco trip.

Everyone loves Pandas and they love Panda cookies even more

Instant savory porridge is huge for breakfast. It's kinda like packets of instant oatmeal. They offer three different flavors of bulk instant porridge so they must turn over this SKU pretty quickly

BSS+J will be the next next thing among the playground set

Black Sesame Spread + Jelly

I bought a giant tub to bring home myself

[Costco's] Kirkland Signature offers Singapore Laksa, a curry noodle like dish. I wonder if the folks back in Kirkland, WA enjoy this dish in the Costco company cafeteria?

Chip aisle featured about 6 varieties of bulk chips, one of which was Lays Seaweed Potato Chips. I'm guessing that this product is hugely popular...why else would people buy five pound bags of this stuff

"Simple" Fancy Pants Meal

We usually prefer trying local foods when we travel, but we usually try to go out for one nice meal to shake things up so we checked out Restaurant Andre for lunch while we were in Singapore. We opted for the "simpler" daily lunch menu which was pretty involved so I'm not sure I could handle their full on evening menu that's about three times longer and three times more costly. It was definitely a little pretentious and I wasn't really into the snooty French server, but the food was mostly delicious and it was a nice civil respite from our daily street food crawls which typically have us inhaling snacks in the middle of the street and probably chewing with our mouths open.

The "simple" lunch menu

Snacking: fried sweet shrimp heads in cones

Tiny Baguette and Butter

Blue Lobster "Raviolis", Tomato-Rhubarb-Celary

Pineapple-Strawberry Sago Vinaigrette

Lemon Thyme Sorbet, Wild Greens

Wam Scallop Potato "Gnocchi"

Spring Asparagus Salad

Champignons, Bruxelles, Wild Herbs

Perigord Black Truffle Coulis

Warm Foie Gras Jelly

Fleur De Sel and Japanese Chive

This was "very very delicious"

I'm digging into my Warm Fois Gras Jelly while Adam patiently takes photos

Oyster Blad "A La Plancha"

Wild Greens Taboule and Pickles

Aromatic Oil, Roasted Onion Jus

Basically, it's beef. The Taboule was nice and had a little crunch from puffed rice

First extra dessert

Second extra dessert was ice cream with dehydrated crunchy berries

"Adam...can I please eat my dessert?"

Lemon "Blanc Manger" / Shaved Macadamia Nuts

Herb Juice and Pistachio Oil

Toasted Thunder Tea Ice-Cream

Not my favorite dessert. The two pre-desserts were actually better since I'm not really into eating grass soup for dessert

How to know you've "done good?"

Even though plasticmom is not stereotypically "Chinese" and will actually verbally affirm me, we are afterall Chinese. Here are a few ways I've figured out that I've "done good" in the food purchasing category.

Pineapple Cakes

When Adam and I went to Jiufen, I noticed a whole bunch of bakeries selling pineapple cakes. Admittedly, they sell pineapple cakes pretty much everywhere in Taiwan, but I was curious if the pineapple cakes were especially delicious here in Jiafen so I asked our tour guide if he had a recommendation for pineapple cakes. In fact, he did have a favorite pineapple cake bakery and walked us over where they offered us some samples. Furthermore, the samples were delicious so Adam and I decided to buy a few boxes to bring home since they're some of my family's favorite treats. The following is a reconstructed conversation:

plasticann: plasticmom, we brought back boxes of pineapple cakes from Jiafen for you.

plasticmom: What??? Why did you buy pineapple cakes from Jiafen? [Everyone knows] the best pineapple cakes are from Keelung. 

plasticann: Well, we tried the samples and we thought they were pretty good so we wanted to get you a gift.

plasticmom: Ok ok! 

plasticann: [taking plasticmom aside] plasticmom...it's a gift...the pineapple cakes are going to be OK even though they're from Jiafen. Just enjoy them...it's a gift.

plasticmom: Ha ha! Ok! Thank you for the gift.

[One week later when I came back from Singapore]

plasticann: [looking at the kitchen table] What are these two pineapple cakes for?

plasticmom: We saved you two pineapple cakes.

plasticann: Um, did they taste OK?

plasticmom: Yeah, they were really good, very delicious. We ate them all super fast so we saved you two so you could try them.

plasticann: [Whew!] I'm glad they were good.

plasticmom: Sorry I said they wouldn't be good since they weren't from Keelung. You were right!

plasticann: That's OK...are you sure they were good? Are you just saying that?

Other Family: Ohhh, they were very good. I ate them in twos.

Postscript: You know it's good when they're eating pineapple cakes in units of two. That's the ultimate compliment because these people vote with their stomachs. In retrospect, of course the pineapple cakes were going to be awesome. Would plasticann gift plasticmom crappy pineapple cakes? That's crazy talk!

Leek Pies...looks like a calzone filled with leeks and other veggies

I wanted to find the hole in the wall soybean milk / fried cruller place today and I invited plasticmom to come with. However, she declined because it was "too far" so I went over on my own and picked up some soybean milk, fried cruller in bread sandwich and a leek pie for plasticmom to try.

plasticann: Hey guys, I brought back a leek pie for you to try.

plasticmom: [only politely interested] Thank you! Where did you go?

plasticann: Around the corner, down the street, turn left...

plasticmom: Geez, that's soooo far.

plasticann: [cutting the pie in pieces] Do you want to try some?

plasticmom: [politely] Sure, I'll have a bite.

[plasticmom has a "little bite" then another "little bite" and then offers it to Other Family]

plasticmom: Are you planning to eat the rest of that [leek pie]?

plasticann: No, it's all yours. Do you like it?

plasticmom: I like that it has a lot of veggies. I'm eating the veggies.

[20 minutes later after breakfast]

plasticmom: What time do you think that place opens on Monday?

plasticann: What place?

plasticmom: The leek pie place?

plasticann: They open around 6am.

plasticmom: Yeah, but what time do they have the leek pies?

plasticann: I guess by 8 or 9.

plasticmom: We should get some for your great aunt. She'll like it.

plasticann: Great! I'd be happy to go buy them on Monday. How many should I get?

plasticmom: I want to come with you.

plasticann: I'm happy to go on my own. I don't want you to walk too far. 

plasticmom: I need to come with you so I know how to find the place again after you go home. 

Postscript: Here are some clues that plasticmom communicates that you've "done good:"

• she keeps eating the food even after the first polite "little bite"
• she offers some to Other Family
• she asks if you plan on eating your portion
• she asks where "exactly" the store is
• she asks to come with and walk a "far" distance to buy more just so she can find the store again
• she wants to "gift" a few to her aunt on her next visit

Taichung day trip...all aboard the high speed rail

plasticmom was feeling nostalgic for her youth and the 70s so she really wanted to check out Taichung and the Feng Jia Night Market because she used to go there when she was young. So the three of us hopped on the high speed rail for a day trip adventure. We saw a few sights including Tunghai University with it's IM Pei designed Luce Chapel and the National Art Museum before we hit the Feng Jia Night Market near yet another university called...you guessed it...Feng Jia.

Fried Squid with "original" flavoring. They also had like cheese, wasabi, etc.

Adam wielding his blood cake dipped in grounded peanuts and cilantro. Looks like an ice cream bar, but do not be fooled, it's a cake made with blood and it's savory. I should note that plasticmom and I REFUSED to eat this snack so Adam was totally on his own here and he liked it. Adam gets the "adventurous eater" award for sure.

Takoyaki Octopus Balls getting their shape

Enjoying my box of Takoyaki with Bonito Flakes

plasticmom with her Berlin style ham hock...I love how you can eat everything with a skewer

Big Pig Little Pig...we didn't get this sausage in a sausage [turduken style] snack since the line was way too long

Interesting new concept: "Stir Fry Ice Cream"

I splurged for the waffle bowl for $10 Taiwan Dollars or 33 cents USD

Old money in the most literal sense

Often when I travel, my family will give me dribs and drabs of foreign currency from some trip they took 10-30 years ago. It's super generous and I'm always happy to "help out" and use up their old paper money and coins. They're highly organized so it's always in little ziploc bags, but the money is often kinda "vintage" which frequently lends to some funny looks and comments when I attempt to buy anything. Hey, money is money right? It's a good way to meet the locals and it sure makes for some good stories. Now, I just need to plan a trip to Brunei to spend the lone $1 bill I found accidentally stashed in my Singapore ziploc. It's worth about 80 cents US.

Dunkin Donuts - Davis Square
DDLady: That'll be $2 for the medium coffee.
plasticann: Here's a $20.
DD Lady: [looks at the bill] This is really old money, but it looks brand new.
plasticann: [slightly embarrassed] It's from my grandma.
DD Lady: [smiles] It's always the grandmas. Ha ha!

Clothing Store - Vancouver
plasticann: I have some "older" money, will you accept it?
Cashier: Let me take a look.
plasticann: [hands over the bill] I was going to exchange it for a new one at the bank, but if you'll take it, it'll save me a trip.
Cashier: Oh my goodness, I've never seen this type of money. It's REALLY old and it looks brand new. My dad collects old money, I think I might go to the ATM and get a new one to exchange it for this old one.

Food Court - Singapore
Cashier: It'll be $8.60 for the pork BBQ.
plasticann: Here's a ten.
Cashier: [examines the bill and shows it to an older guy as if to ask, "is this real money, I've never seen it before. Older guy nods in approval and she accepts my bill]

Coffeeshop - Singapore
Cashier: It'll be $6 for the flat white.
plasticann: Here's a ten.
Cashier: Oh my god, this is really old. It's like an original. [Shows the barista]
Barista: I haven't seen one in a LONG time. I've never seen one in such good condition.

7-11 - Singapore
Elderly cashier: The total is $3 for the waters.
plasticann: [hands over three $1 bills]
Elderly cashier: These are like originals. They don't even make $1 bills anymore. It's all coins.
plasticann: ummm, will you take it?
Elderly cashier: Yes of course.

plasticmom, the typhoon expert

I think it's fortunate that I find plasticmom quite amusing and very endearing. There's a big typhoon projected to hit Taiwan in the next 24 hours, but we managed to fit in a very nice dinner out tonight because Adam and I [cross our fingers] are hoping to leave for Singapore tomorrow if the typhoon passes quickly. Here's a reconstruction of our conversation after we left the restaurant with our bellies beyond full.

plasticann: Should we take a cab home?
plasticmom: No, we walk!
plasticann: Isn't it a typhoon?
plasticmom: It's not raining, just a little wind. When I was growing up, I had to go to school even if it was windy as long as it wasn't raining.
plasticann: OK....I guess we can walk, it's not so bad out. It's a little "refreshing" with the wind. Adam, are you OK to walk?
Adam: [wincing and carrying our bag of leftovers] Yeah, it's not too bad, we can walk.
plasticmom: This is nothing. Just a little wind. When I was a kid, I'd have to go out and buy bread or groceries for the family when there was knee high flooded water.
plasticann: Would you wear big rubber boots?
plasticmom: Rubber boots are useless the water was so high. You just get wet!
plasticann: Yuck, did you shower when you got home?
plasticmom: Of course, but when I was little, I thought it was fun to go out in a typhoon. It was like an adventure. This wind is small, no big deal. It's not even raining.
[rain starts falling]
plasticmom: Just a little wind and a little rain. It's a really big deal when the wind bends you backwards and you can't walk forward.
[Gale of forceful wind pushes against us]
plasticmom: I can't walk forward.
plasticann: Do you think it's time to take a cab NOW?
plasticmom: YES!!!

The wind went from "breezy" to full on "I can't walk forward" in about 3 minutes. plasticmom couldn't even open the cab door the wind was so strong. Adam had to get out and open it for her.

They've been tying down all the trees today preparing for the typhoon

Trees...ready to take on the wind. Adam is unfortunately not tied down.

Chip-a-holic

Adam has a bit of chip buying habit that I FULLY support and even encourage. The man needs a hobby and as far as hobbies go, this one is fairly sustainable and light on the pocketbook. Whenever we travel, Adam seeks out new chips to share with friends, especially super fiery ones to share with our friend Zave. We went to the A-Mart underground supermarket near our hotel tonight to stock up. Here are some photos I shot of Adam exploring his most favorite habitat...the grocery store.

Adam requested a cart with a basket to comfortably shop for all his snacks

I tried to get him to buy these Bugle type "American Corn Snacks" complete with a map of the US and American flag motif, but Adam didn't want to be "those Americans." I don't really know what it means, but I do know we didn't buy this box of snacks

Variety of Ritz sandwich cookie snacks including some sort of creme, lime and chocolate

"Original Butter" flavored Lays, never tried these before

Adam methodically checking out every single bin of chips. At least 20 minutes were spent examining all sorts of chips from Lays to Doritos to Staxs to Pringles and so on

Peking Duck Feast

Last night was family dinner out with slightly extended family at Shang Palace Restaurant in the Shangrila's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel for Peking Duck three ways and a few other dishes. Since Adam doesn't speak Mandarin or Taiwanese, he was happy to spend the entire dinner snapping photos and enjoying many helpings of food. Interestingly, we forgot to take photos of family. Oh well!

Cold dish appetizer, a sort of black mushroom

Crispy pork skin, just the skin. We gobbled up half of it before Adam could take a photo

Cold dish of bean curd and small crispy whole fish

Chinese sausage three ways: "pork sausage with liver," chinese sausage and "pork"

Here comes the duck! plasticmom wanted it carved table side so she knew for sure which duck was ours

Duck the first way with all the fixings. Basically a duck burrito or wrap your own spring roll

Crepe pancake, black bean sauce, duck, cucumber and scallions

Duck the second way is stir fried with lots of veggies

Duck the third way is a soup with bitter melon

.....and we got pork spare ribs

Dishes without photo credits: garlic spinach and tofu with veggies