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Simple Pleasures. Farinhas Bakery.

Every once in a while when I’m in the area, I’ll stop by Farinhas Bakery in Harrison, New Jersey, for some tasty egg tarts portugese-style. They may look burned and unattractive from an asian perspective, but don’t be fooled. These little babies have a thick crunchy and flaky sweet outer shell with a deliciously light and creamy egg custard center. I really love how they’re not overly sweet, which is the worst sin many bakeries often commit with their baked goods. The only thing about these is that you have to eat them immediately and they do not keep well in a refrigerator. Whatever you do, DO NOT  refrigerate them and then microwave them. But at less than a dollar a tart, it’s still an affordable treat.

-ffaaiitthhyy.

Farinhas Bakery. 301 Harrison Ave, Harrison, NJ, 07029

Vacationing in Taiwan Food Frenzy Epi 41. lunch.

Tofu with chicken, tomatoes, scallions, egg, and onions in a light sweet and tangy thai sauce over a bed of perfectly cooked warm rice.

Vacationing in Taiwan Food Frenzy Epi 16. Chicken Egg Cake.

The name sounds weird, but the direct translation from Chinese is Chicken Egg Cake. This tasty street food treat can be found anywhere. It starts off as a light golden batter and then the batter is poured into a hot griddle molded into different shapes. The cake has a slighly crisp outer shell with a fluffy center. It’s definitely one of those childhood treats that you always remember. =]

Vacationing in Taiwan Food Frenzy Epi 3. Taiwanese Breakfast Burger.

This burger is definitely one of my childhood favorites. It consists of a soft, slightly toasted sesame bun with a slice of fried beef, fried egg, sweet mayo, onion, and ketchup. When you bite into it, you get a bit of sweet, salty, savory, crunchy, and soft all in one for well under $2.00 US. Eat in combination with some cold sweetened soy milk and you can’t go wrong. yum. =]

Vacationing in Taiwan Food Frenzy Epi 1. Roasted Chicken lunchbox.

Deliciously juicy roasted chicken over rice with the side dishes of bittermelon, sweet tomato and egg, and green veggies. I also liked how they used thin wood for the box instead of plastic. It only cost NT$80 which is the equivalence to $2.75 US dollars. So cheap! I’m definitely in food heaven. =]

Good eats. Taiwanese sandwich. 

I really have no idea if this is a Taiwanese thing, but I love the combination of cucumbers, mayo, and asian bread together. To make this sandwich, just combine one fried egg, slices of cucumber, mayo, and dried pork between two slices of asian bread. so good. =]

One of the BEST things I ever ate Epi. 19. Egg Custard Tartlets.

These tartlets are the best egg custard tartlets I’ve ever had. They’re ridiculously flaky and light and the custard just melts in your mouth. A dim sum meal is never complete without these egg custard tartlets.

Sunny Palace. East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Afternoon lunch. Asian Fried Chicken with Rice.

Even though the restaurant looked pretty shady and run down, the pork with rice and the chicken with rice were quite amazing at an unbeatable price of $6.55 each for a ridiculous large portion of food. The meat was crispy but not oily while the meat was perfectly juicy and tender. Underneath it laid a medley of pickled vegetables, bok choy, and a stewed hard boiled egg with a bed of rice. Perfect lunch for a great price. I would definitely go there again for take-out. 

China Wok. Edison, New Jersey.

Friday Afternoon lunch. Spinach quiche.

In a hot pan, saute 5-6 chopped scallions for 1 minutes and set aside. Then take 5-6 slices of extra lean turkey bacon and render out the fat, and set aside. In a pot of boiling water, boil 1.5 bundles of spinach for 30 seconds, blanch in ice cold water, and squeeze out excess water. In a bowl, mix 6 eggs with approximately 1-2 cups of fat free milk, half a cup of parmesan cheese, half a cup of cheddar cheese, half a cup provolone cheese, a quarter cup of mozzarella cheese, and a pinch of pepper. In a baking pie dish, press down 1 layer of pre-pacakaged pie crust, layer and evenly distribute the spinach, scallion, turkey bacon, and 1 can of no-sodium corn [strained]. Then add the egg mixture over the pie and bake for 45-50 minutes at 375 degrees. Stick a chopstick or toothpick through the center to make sure the pie is done [the stick should be clear]. After cooling, cut and serve.

Late night snack. Scallion pancake egg roll.

In a large hot pan drizzled with olive oil, pour in 1 beaten egg and move the pan around so that the egg is thinly spread over the pan. Then add 1 thin scallion pancake [available in asian supermarkets in the freezer section], and press down with the spatula so that the pancake adheres to the egg. Then flip the pancake over so the other side can brown. After a minute, place the pancake on a paper towel and set aside. In the same pan, fry up some scallions with a pinch of salt for 1-2 minutes and set aside. Place the scallions and some pre-cooked chicken at the edge of the pancake, add some hot sauce [or any sauce you like], and roll the egg roll up. Then slice the roll into smaller pieces and serve. =]

Simple cooking. Corn and Egg Soup.

Pour 1 can of cream-style corn into a pot with approximately 4-5 cups of chicken stock. Cook for about 15 minutes before adding cornstarch mixed with water. After the soup thickens, slowly add 3 beaten eggs into the pot while slowly stirring. Add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar. Then ladle and serve.

Childhood favorites. Egg Sandwich.

In a hot pan drizzled with olive oil, fry one large egg or 2 small eggs and lightly sprinkle with salt. Make sure to not over-cook the egg or the texture will be off. The egg should be slightly undercooked to achieve a light, airy, and somewhat slippery texture. Then put the egg on a paper towel and set aside. Lightly toast 2 pieces of well made loaf bread [DO NOT USE WONDER BREAD], and coat with mayonnaise. Then add the egg, cut in half, and serve.

Very simple sandwich, yet very yummy when done right. =]

One of the BEST things I ever ate Epi. 8. Fried Shrimp Mayo over egg omelet over rice with a side of radish and seaweed salad.

I definitely butchered the real name, but I cannot remember what it is. Definitely one of the best comfort foods for me. I was going through one of the most difficult times in my life when my two friends brought me to Mitsuwa for the first time and I had this dish. It really made warmed me up and made my troubles go away for that hour. Aside from the nostalgia, it’s really an yummy dish. The shrimp is crispy while the egg is thin and fluffy, with the warm sticky rice underneath it all. Perfect with a cup of warm green tea.

high five for heart-warming food!

Mitsuwa. Edgewater. New Jersey.