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Hsinchu, Taiwan: Vegetable Garden

My friend Steve has great taste in restaurants and he really enjoys showing off Taiwan's wonderful food. The Vegetable Garden is a top restaurant in Hsinchu and we enjoyed an amazing spread.

That is taro in the front of the picture. The green peppers were stuffed with eggplant as I recall. The smoked fish was very delicate and flavorful.

This dish is similar to Chinese tacos but much lighter---California version is usually more like mu shu pork. This version had shrimp and fried crullers for a nice crunch.

The omelet is stuffed with greens related to basil but with more of a licorice note---great combination of flavors. The pork was rich and savory.

We enjoyed a wonderful selection of fruit for dessert. Taiwan’s warm climate makes it ideal for tropical fruits.

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