TAIPEI 2016Summer Vol.04—Those Years, When We Ate Bread TogetherPost date：2016-07-11
Updates：2016-08-23
1187
Article ＿ Louis Liang
Photos ＿ Li Mingyi, Xu Shiying
1.The Wu Pao Chun bakeries attract crowds of people lining up for fresh, new tastes. (Photo: Li Mingyi)
When Wu Pao-Chun opened his bakery in Taipei, I rushed over to join in the fun. Standing in the crowd, a young couple was in front of me were showing such affection for one another that they filled everyone with envy. Youth is great – but what filled me with even more envy was that they could afford such expensive bread!
Seeing this little vignette, images from 40 years ago suddenly leapt to mind. A young girl, in love for the first time, wears a happy smile throughout the day, and walks along as if floating on air. At that time I was a poor student, forced to give up a meal if I wanted to buy snacks. I’d walk along holding her hand through the National Taiwan University (國立台灣大學) campus, abloom with azaleas, or we’d browse the bookstores on Chongqing South Road (重慶南路). In that time of material poverty, “browsing”was the only way to date.
She had more pocket money than I, so each time she visited me she’d first head to Target Bakery (得記) across from the NTU campus and pick up an assortment of breads to accompany me during my study time. Whatever was left over would be my breakfast the next day. She’d buy different flavors each time – with fillings of red bean, cream, pork floss, or some baked mantou(饅頭; a type of steamed bread) – constantly on the lookout for new tastes.
Unusual Mixing – Bread Can Be Fun and Interesting
One time, as she walked in she told me to take out some hot chili sauce. As I was standing there befuddled – thinking “Could that possibly be for the bread?” – she suddenly ripped o_ a chunk of bread, dunked it in the sauce, and shoved it into my mouth. I shouted, “You’re nuts! How do you eat bread covered in this stuff ?!” Narrowing her eyes to a squint, she said, “Would I ever hurt you?” I couldn’t win – she was far more obstinate than me – so all I could do was stand there, mouth open, while she stared at me, waiting for me to show response on the face. Then, good heavens! The softness as I chewed, the familiar scallion-oil fragrance melding with the spiciness! I didn’t know which was more entertaining, the experience my taste buds were enjoying or the adorable look on her face.
On another occasion, we agreed to meet up at New Park (新公園), today’s 2/28 Peace Park (二二八和平公園). I bought two sour-plum drinks at the Gong Yuan Hao (公園號) stand and sat down to wait for her. She had a habit of showing up an hour late, but my boredom and impatience would invariably be swept away the moment I caught sight of her tiny figure approaching in the distance. On this day, she carried a paper bag from the Astoria Café Confectionary (明星麵包廠), and on spotting my sour-plum drinks exclaimed, “Wow! Sour-plum juice with Russian bread – and soft candies too!” That was the day I found out that not all breads had the soft and fluffy texture of red-bean bread!
2 The passion of the people of Taipei for novel breads is very strong. (Photo: Xu Shiying)
Trendy Yet Novel – Taipei’sBread-Eating Competition
Living on Yongkang Street (永康街) after my military service, a Sunmerry (聖瑪莉) branch opened at the corner. Each day this Japanese- concept bakery was packed, and I discovered at this time that Taipei folk have an insatiable hunger for new bread experiences. Each time I went there to buy bread, I’d inevitably think about my cute little Valentine, who had unfortunately foundanother beau while I was away doing my military service.
Since that time, Taipei’s bakeries have followed in line with the rapid economic development, constantly introducing new techniques and tastes to keep up with ever-changing preferences. Taipei is oft called a “culinary paradise,” but it can also be called a “culinary competition arena”. In terms of its practices regarding the making and eating of bread, I dare say that not many other cities around the world beat this one!
At the Taipei Wu Pao Chun Bakery opening, more and more people were lining up outside the doors. The couple standing before me in the queue at least reached the front. At the checkout counter, the young lady asked her beau: “Honey, want to buy some jams? What flavor?” I really wanted to say to her, “Try the hot chili sauce.”
Photos ＿ Li Mingyi, Xu Shiying
1.The Wu Pao Chun bakeries attract crowds of people lining up for fresh, new tastes. (Photo: Li Mingyi)
When Wu Pao-Chun opened his bakery in Taipei, I rushed over to join in the fun. Standing in the crowd, a young couple was in front of me were showing such affection for one another that they filled everyone with envy. Youth is great – but what filled me with even more envy was that they could afford such expensive bread!
Seeing this little vignette, images from 40 years ago suddenly leapt to mind. A young girl, in love for the first time, wears a happy smile throughout the day, and walks along as if floating on air. At that time I was a poor student, forced to give up a meal if I wanted to buy snacks. I’d walk along holding her hand through the National Taiwan University (國立台灣大學) campus, abloom with azaleas, or we’d browse the bookstores on Chongqing South Road (重慶南路). In that time of material poverty, “browsing”was the only way to date.
She had more pocket money than I, so each time she visited me she’d first head to Target Bakery (得記) across from the NTU campus and pick up an assortment of breads to accompany me during my study time. Whatever was left over would be my breakfast the next day. She’d buy different flavors each time – with fillings of red bean, cream, pork floss, or some baked mantou(饅頭; a type of steamed bread) – constantly on the lookout for new tastes.
Unusual Mixing – Bread Can Be Fun and Interesting
One time, as she walked in she told me to take out some hot chili sauce. As I was standing there befuddled – thinking “Could that possibly be for the bread?” – she suddenly ripped o_ a chunk of bread, dunked it in the sauce, and shoved it into my mouth. I shouted, “You’re nuts! How do you eat bread covered in this stuff ?!” Narrowing her eyes to a squint, she said, “Would I ever hurt you?” I couldn’t win – she was far more obstinate than me – so all I could do was stand there, mouth open, while she stared at me, waiting for me to show response on the face. Then, good heavens! The softness as I chewed, the familiar scallion-oil fragrance melding with the spiciness! I didn’t know which was more entertaining, the experience my taste buds were enjoying or the adorable look on her face.
On another occasion, we agreed to meet up at New Park (新公園), today’s 2/28 Peace Park (二二八和平公園). I bought two sour-plum drinks at the Gong Yuan Hao (公園號) stand and sat down to wait for her. She had a habit of showing up an hour late, but my boredom and impatience would invariably be swept away the moment I caught sight of her tiny figure approaching in the distance. On this day, she carried a paper bag from the Astoria Café Confectionary (明星麵包廠), and on spotting my sour-plum drinks exclaimed, “Wow! Sour-plum juice with Russian bread – and soft candies too!” That was the day I found out that not all breads had the soft and fluffy texture of red-bean bread!
2 The passion of the people of Taipei for novel breads is very strong. (Photo: Xu Shiying)
Trendy Yet Novel – Taipei’sBread-Eating Competition
Living on Yongkang Street (永康街) after my military service, a Sunmerry (聖瑪莉) branch opened at the corner. Each day this Japanese- concept bakery was packed, and I discovered at this time that Taipei folk have an insatiable hunger for new bread experiences. Each time I went there to buy bread, I’d inevitably think about my cute little Valentine, who had unfortunately foundanother beau while I was away doing my military service.
Since that time, Taipei’s bakeries have followed in line with the rapid economic development, constantly introducing new techniques and tastes to keep up with ever-changing preferences. Taipei is oft called a “culinary paradise,” but it can also be called a “culinary competition arena”. In terms of its practices regarding the making and eating of bread, I dare say that not many other cities around the world beat this one!
At the Taipei Wu Pao Chun Bakery opening, more and more people were lining up outside the doors. The couple standing before me in the queue at least reached the front. At the checkout counter, the young lady asked her beau: “Honey, want to buy some jams? What flavor?” I really wanted to say to her, “Try the hot chili sauce.”
