For the Starbucks fans out there, here's a glimpse at Starbucks in Taipei.

The display case shows a noticeably different selection. Although these big brand food chains carry the same logo across the globe, it is interesting to see the adapted menu based on regional tastes and cuisine. (McDonald's is another food chain where I see a pretty different menu incorporating more Eastern style tastes.)
I haven't had a chance to try them yet but the pastry choices look fantastic.

The Taro Roll Cake is especially on my mind! The beverage selection is also a little different from what I've seen on the US and Canadian menu; there's definitely a wider variety of tea options. I tried out a Rose Tea Latte which was not bad at all. They also had Oolong Tea and Oriental Beauty Tea containers in place of some of the Tazo containers typical in North America. For those with less of a sweet-tooth, there are snack sandwich options with curry chicken or garlic bread and other savory options.

Additionally, there's the obligatory Starbucks mugs and souvenirs for collectors:

This post is archived under Food, Taiwan

I thought I'd share a couple things I picked up at Toys "R" Us for my adorable goofy little cousins in Taiwan. They are two boys - one charming toddler and one sharp and determined preschooler. No matter how many times I've done this, I always find it strange to be on the other side of the table - there's an odd sense of power involved in being the adult choosing and purchasing materials or toys. I hunted through both Toys "R" Us and the Disney Store a few times trying to find something that would entertain them without requiring too much supervision or being overly high-maintenance.

Non-flying remote control helicopter.

The actual airborne ones seemed like they would become out of control within 3 seconds flat, considering I saw only one button and no navigating stick. I ended up opting for the more boring but less catastrophic choice that operates more as a car. However, even ground-bound, I'm still not sure how the thin propeller will hold up to all the running around and banging that will definitely occur! As it turns out, this is the toy that impressed both parents and kids the most - I recall their mum giving it "a test run" for a good while.
For the smaller little guy, I picked out a truck from Disney Pixar Cars. Seems pretty solid and sturdy so I think it will survive whatever chaos it is subjected to. We had to double-check for small parts though since it is labelled as suitable for ages 3+. Both vehicles light up and make a satisfying amount of noise (sorry, mum and dad). Although in all seriousness, the batteries can easily be removed for some nice peace and quiet when needed!

I also picked up a pack of Disney Pixar Cars stickers and a Thomas the Tank Engine colouring book, which proved to be a big hit. A great activity to keep them occupied and fairly quiet. I was surprised at how meticulously the two little ones lined up the stickers on each page like a painstaking art project. Almost made me feel guilty for tickling them during their serious work :)

Here they are, rowdy little creatures that I adore.
In the left photo, they are attempting to set up a race between the truck and helicopter. (Edit: 9/21/2011) I picked out another little gift for them at the outdoor market today which I am excited about. I'm thinking it would be wise to wait to share it with them though since I don't want them to permanently associate my visits with presents and become disappointed later on or I will feel obligated to always bring something. Not to mention, their parents will ban me from their house for spoiling their kids rotten!

This post is archived under Kids, Random thoughts, Taiwan

As promised, here is a mini post dedicated to my food discoveries over the weekend.

M Café, which sits on the corner of Maisonneuve and rue de la Montagne.

We actually frequented this place twice in the span of 24 hours! Reasons being 1) Great breakfast and brunch food, 2) Tempting dessert selection, 3) less than 5 minutes walk from our hotel.

My choice for breakfast was the eggs benedict. Unfortunately, I failed to capture a picture of it. I remember digging into it promptly as soon as it was delivered to the table so that might explain the lack of photography. Take it as a compliment to that dish!
Here are the dessert options.

I saw the stacked carrot cake in the display and decided I had to have it. No complaints about their flavoured hot chocolate either!

Plaisirs Coupables, 1410 rue Peel
I'm sure that laziness was the strongest factor in choosing this bistro/restaurant. It was around the corner from our hotel and caught my attention because of the bright modern decorating. Decent food but sadly enough I have to comment that it felt more than a little overpriced, even from a vacationer's point of view. My approximately $13 burger was not accompanied by any fries or sides (unless you count one lovely pickle slice).

Here it is, veggie burger. Tasty nonetheless!
I liked the texture of the veggie patty/filling. It started falling apart in my hands and I made an unsuccessful attempt to enjoy it with utensils. So, keep that in mind - devouring dripping gourmet burgers - probably not the most lady-like date impression.

Caffé Art Java, 837 av. du Mont-Royal Est
Since Au Pied de Cochon was closed (yes, I had a poutine craving at 10am), we scouted the outdoor market and came across this cute place nearby. My chai latte turned out delicious and my mushroom and squash omelette was most likely the healthiest thing I ate all weekend. My friend went for the yummy eggs benedict.
The coffee and tea selection here also looked quite impressive. Nice hustle bustle atmosphere without being too annoyingly loud. There were a few people sitting around with laptops so I'm sure there was free WiFi access as well. Definitely recommend this place; I would be a regular here if I didn't live over 300 miles away!

Ginger, 16 av. des Pins Est
This is a sushi restaurant/lounge hidden in a corner just off st-laurent. They open at 6:15pm so it's definitely more of an evening destination. The place is actually dim and candlelit - you can't tell by the photo because we were sitting by the window. They have a bar along the side and roomy booths for seating. Regrettably, I only took this one snapshot of the place so you'll have to use your imaginations. Of-course, I ordered my usual Philadelphia roll! We also split a House roll - everyone has to try this roll, it's seriously amazing. Their desserts are not the typical tiny scoop of green tea ice-cream that you find in most sushi restaurants. Think deep-fried ice-cream rolls! Not the best for your arteries but your tastebuds will be happy.

Reuben's Deli, 1116 Ste-Catherine Ouest
This was our final meal in Montreal! Good service and a wide selection.

Here's my lunch choice, classic reuben sandwich.
I had to pack half of it to go as you can see it's not a light meal. In my opinion, the texture of the meat is not as "crispy" (not sure if that's the word I'm looking for) as Schwartz's but I think it measures up pretty well. The fries reminded me a little of McDonald's fries.

Believe it or not, the above photo is a poutine, not a mere pile of meat. Not for the herbivores out there, that's for sure. I think I prefer my poutines less meaty and more gravy-covered and cheesy. I'm going to hunt around Toronto later this week on a poutine mission.
On that greedy note, I'm wrapping up this entry. Hope you found some of this as appetizing as I did!

This post is archived under Food, Montreal

In my mind, I always picture Montreal as that glowing and permanently snow-covered city I saw the first time I was there early last January. It had that beautiful and cozy wintery vibe with lots of undulating roads and hills. This time around, I almost could not recognize it without the holiday lights and gleaming white snow covering nearly everything in sight.

Thankfully, visiting Montreal this year during labour day weekend means that I didn't have to trudge through snowbanks while climbing slippery hills! There was no frigid wind stinging my cheeks and blowing snowflakes in my eyes. (Winter in Toronto is enough of an igloo as it is; plus I seem to turn into a grumpy silent person when I'm not able to feel my fingers and toes.) It was a very different vibe with nice balmy weather and I liked it!

Highlights:
VIEUX-MONTRÉAL

Wandering through the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, I had a craving for every restaurant and café we passed by. I will be writing a separate post on my food obsessions and discoveries. It's typically my biggest expense on trips.
There is such a quaint and busy-yet-not-overcrowded atmosphere, I feel like it would be an ideal place to relax, cheer up, or get inspiration. We passed by small contemporary art galleries, souvenir shops, cafés, cafés, and more cafés.

A small and charming collection of vendors/shops embedded within one of these narrow streets. There was jewelry with various ecclectic stones and shapes, some of which appeared to be handcrafted. There were also many other accessories and little knickknacks.
I'd say I spent the most time observing the penguin feeding time. Nearly had my face pressed up against the glass alongside some excited young children. There was also an adorable otter who reminded me of this video.


SHOPPING
rue Sainte-Catherine
A vibrant street with lots of bustling shoppers. It has many large chain stores that you would find in a typical city. A good mix of different price ranges from BCBGMaxazria to Banana Republic to Bedo, Forever21. There's also an Apple Store, Futureshop, and Chapters/Indigo.
boulevard Saint-Laurent
Assortment of restaurants, lounges, boutiques, and vintage stores. Maybe it was the time of day (late Thursday afternoon), but I was surprised again at the lack of people out and about.
avenue du Mont-Royal Est
Coming out of Mont-Royal station, we were on the hunt for poutine at Au Pied de Cochon. We stumbled upon this outdoor market filled with discount clothing, jewelry vendors, cafés.

NIGHTLIFE

This post is archived under Montreal

A long peaceful train ride home.

At least that's what it was at first. It was then made more memorable due to a sudden stop and 5 hour delay when we were only a few minutes from Toronto. But I suppose it's good practice for my upcoming 12 hr flight to Taipei. Listened to this song on repeat for a good chunk of the time: Feist - Tout Doucement
Montreal pictures soon!

This post is archived under Montreal