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Notes on Sugarcane Straws in Taiwan
Sugarcane straws A sugarcane straw, known locally as ganzhe xiguan, appears when I order a drink in a Taiwanese café. It is not plastic.It does not look like paper. The surface is slightly rough.It is light, but it does not feel weak. I ... -
Notes on Sealed Lids in Taiwan
A sound at the corner At a Taipei intersection, the noise of waiting traffic has a steady rhythm. Click.Whirr.Pshh. It is the sound of clear film being pulled tight over a cup.Heat passes.The lid is closed. On these streets, the sound is... -
Notes on Hot Soy Milk in Taiwan
Morning heat Hot soy milk, known locally as re doujiang, is a white and almost soup-like form of soybean drink. Kaohsiung in the morning.It is only a little past eight, but the air on the street is already heavy.The concrete still holds ... -
Notes on the Origins of Taiwanese Oyster Omelet
A dish born under pressure The Taiwanese oyster omelet, known locally as o-a-chian, appears at the start as a simple plate of oysters, egg, greens, and a soft starch batter. On a night market griddle it looks ordinary.Oil crackles. Hands... -
Notes on Why Taiwanese Oyster Omelets Do Not Dream of Mayonnaise
Why the pink glaze is enough Oyster omelet, known locally as o-a-chian, is the first thing I notice on the iron plate at a night market. Plump oysters.A translucent batter.A surface brushed with a pink glaze. There is no brown sauce.Ther... -
Do Taiwanese Oyster Omelets Dream of Yaowarat?
a record of a fork in their evolution Prologue: a viscosity called doubt Oyster omelet, or o-a-chien, sits on a griddle in a Taiwanese night market.It moves a little, as if breathing. It is not crisp.It is not liquid.Everything is held i... -
Notes on Taiwanese Oyster Omelet as Field Rations
On a griddle at the night market The Taiwanese oyster omelet, known locally as o-a-chian, sits on a small plate beside the griddle.A sweet sauce rises with the steam.The night market continues around it. Before I eat, a thought appears.T... -
Notes on Oyster Omelets in Taiwan
A Dish Shaped by the Night Market Oyster omelet, known locally as o-a-chian, is the first thing I notice when I stand in front of a night market griddle.Oil snaps without pause.Small oysters, thin batter, greens, and eggs are added in qu... -
Notes on Nasi Kandar Pelita at KLCC
Where Night and Curry Meet Beneath the Towers When I look up, the Petronas Twin Towers are shining over Kuala Lumpur. The scene is made of glass and steel and reads as near-future. I let my gaze drop without moving. At ground level there... -
Notes on Sweet Potato Balls in Taiwan
Golden Spheres at the Night Market Sweet potato balls, known locally as digua qiu, are the reason a small crowd gathers at the edge of the night market.Inside a large wok, golden and purple spheres keep moving. Oil drains with a rough so...
