The Taipei Times has twice reviewed VVG (Very Very Good) Bistro, of which VVG Table is a down-the-street offshoot. It was good then, and it remains good now. The original's cozy chaos contracts strongly with the design-conscious good-looks of the new joint.
The staff members, many of whom have studied in Europe, eschews a practice common to European-style restaurants in Taipei, which might generously be called "fusion." This is to say, instead of castrating their food to make it "conform to local taste," they spend considerable time and energy to do each dish properly.
In fact, be prepared to wait a bit for your food, because chances are that most of your order is going to be made from scratch. Past the semi-open porch and the rusticlassy wooden interior full of heavy wooden tables and an entire wall of wine, there is a beautiful open kitchen where you can see the chefs' heads bobbing over piles of fresh ingredients.
PHOTO: CHRIS PECHSTEDT, TAIPEI TIMES
The same thoughtfulness that goes into preparation and decoration goes into the menu. As I indiscreetly cast longing glances at my pumpkin soup (NT$180) and rocket salad with prosciutto, capsicum, and parmesan (NT$340), chef Vicky Huang (
The long prep-time for the main dishes makes it the sort of place where couples or larger groups with time to kill and money to burn can easily spend a long and comfortable summer evening.
Another big draw is the elaborate weekend brunch (NT$560, 11am to 4pm). This includes, but is not limited to, homemade bread, roast smoked salmon, chicken and zucchini skewers, and a dish described as "egg cups of crab and shrimp with quail egg and caviar." Cool drinks are served at strategic points through the meal, which ends with desert and cafe au lait or peppermint tea.
VVG Table is in a quiet maze of alleyways off the Zhongxiao-Dunhua intersection. It's not easy to find, but since it's made somewhat of a name for itself, most shopkeepers in the area should be able to provide directions.
When the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces 50 years ago this week, it prompted a mass exodus of some 2 million people — hundreds of thousands fleeing perilously on small boats across open water to escape the communist regime. Many ultimately settled in Southern California’s Orange County in an area now known as “Little Saigon,” not far from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where the first refugees were airlifted upon reaching the US. The diaspora now also has significant populations in Virginia, Texas and Washington state, as well as in countries including France and Australia.
On April 17, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) launched a bold campaign to revive and revitalize the KMT base by calling for an impromptu rally at the Taipei prosecutor’s offices to protest recent arrests of KMT recall campaigners over allegations of forgery and fraud involving signatures of dead voters. The protest had no time to apply for permits and was illegal, but that played into the sense of opposition grievance at alleged weaponization of the judiciary by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to “annihilate” the opposition parties. Blamed for faltering recall campaigns and faced with a KMT chair
Article 2 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China (中華民國憲法增修條文) stipulates that upon a vote of no confidence in the premier, the president can dissolve the legislature within 10 days. If the legislature is dissolved, a new legislative election must be held within 60 days, and the legislators’ terms will then be reckoned from that election. Two weeks ago Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) proposed that the legislature hold a vote of no confidence in the premier and dare the president to dissolve the legislature. The legislature is currently controlled
Dull functional structures dominate Taiwan’s cityscapes. But that’s slowly changing, thanks to talented architects and patrons with deep pockets. Since the start of the 21st century, the country has gained several alluring landmark buildings, including the two described below. NUNG CHAN MONASTERY Dharma Drum Mountain (法鼓山, DDM) is one of Taiwan’s most prominent religious organizations. Under the leadership of Buddhist Master Sheng Yen (聖嚴), who died in 2009, it developed into an international Buddhist foundation active in the spiritual, cultural and educational spheres. Since 2005, DDM’s principal base has been its sprawling hillside complex in New Taipei City’s Jinshan District (金山). But
RSS