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You and the Peking duck
We are in Taipei, the hub of everything Taiwanese and tempting. We are in the land of beef noodle soup and braised pork rice, of oyster vermicelli and scallion pancakes. So, of course, you order Peking duck for dinner. There is nothing wrong with that, … Continue readingYou and the Peking duck
Salted egg serenade
You sing to me when you tell me you’re cooking. It’s not that I’m loath to cook. Far from it. I certainly dish up my fair share of our meals: from my patented miso soup rice to any number of pasta creations. But there’s nothing … Continue readingSalted egg serenade
Our dreams are full
It’s time for durian again. Some years the durian season is an abundant one. Roadside stalls mushroom overnight. Folks gather, families and gangs of friends, to feast together. Some years the durian season is a poorer thing. The rains came too early, the fruits fell … Continue readingOur dreams are full
Cotillion
We disappear. It’s easy when you’re part of the crowd. When you’re one of many – oh so many – then sometimes you feel less than one. You’re statistic, a decimal point. A rounding error. How terrifying. I remember when we were looking for fur … Continue readingCotillion
My name on a saucer
Sometimes I would get my name written on the saucer that comes with my cup of coffee. Usually a black marker pen. The delight comes from admiring the handwriting, as diverse as the baristas that make the coffee and the cafés we find ourselves in. … Continue readingMy name on a saucer
Croissants don’t have to be croissants
It comes and it goes. Sometimes we are full of energy and verve, ready for whatever comes our way. Projects to launch and complete. Races to run. Mountains to scale. Sometimes we are simply drained, ready to collapse. Projects are fantasies. Races are for others … Continue readingCroissants don’t have to be croissants