Many moons ago, Mediacorp formerly known as TCS and SBC had a television serial 豆腐街. The name somehow stuck on until the cabbie casually mentioned he would be dropping us off at 深坑豆腐街 for a glimpse of their tofu shops that I became uber excited.
The front of the street undergoing some construction, hidding a happening street completely. Until this day, it baffles me so when heavy construction is going on and the shophouse opposite continues selling his dishes - part of the cleanfreak in me thinks that the additional flavouring would come from the dust particles and - okay, I shall not indulge in such thoughts.
One of the first few restaurants that line the entrance. Decided to make it our dining place - the crowds seemed to be a good gauge of its standard.
Set menus perfect for the confused - we opted for tofu done three ways and topped it off with a smelly tofu order too!
Mini bowls.
肠旺麻辣臭豆腐
Stinky tofu when simmered in broth not only loses its stench but also the texture of the beancurd. In exchange I got a rough beancurd with a broth that reeked of gameyness. Not a fan of the intestines here nor pig's blood which had a really odd texture.
豆腐捲
Fried tofu fritters stuffed with pork and fat. A completely "ewww" moment when the inedible bits turned out to be hardened fat.
臭豆腐
Some form of normalcy resumed with stinky tofu! Crispy exterior with soft tofu.
豆腐羹
Quite a delish soup after the initial frights we had.
A beancurd meal like this set us back by NTD 340, while the rest of the diners seemed to enjoy every bite, we found it acquired.
Muah chee and loads of it in various shapes and forms lined the streets. We found one with a really pretty lady who also had a glib tongue.
All sorts of shapes and colours.
Orh Kueh as I know it - a savoury one with yam bits. Yum!
This, takes on a tale of its own. Fluffy egg white sits on top red bean chunk. Not quite what I was expecting in all honesty, the egg white blob had a rough texture and sweet.
The more normal and familiar muah chees. The fillings though substantial were rock hard - yam, peanut and blacksesame in that order.
I had these in Japan before and the Taiwanese replicated this quite brilliantly. Soft chewy chunks of cold mochi in artificially enhanced flavours (pink for rose, yellow for lemon).
Every store usually begins with handmade.
The colours which makes buying them so irresistible.
Peanut candies that Taiwan seems to be famous for, spotted them throughout the tourist attractions that we visited! 郭金山 was one of the more popular ones down the lane.
Work in progress as their nuts got packed.
Samples so generously given out as they were working on a fresh batch of roasted peanut candies.
Came in tubs like these or bags like those further in the picture.
Lost count of how much I ended up buying. I remember chewing till all of them tasted roughly the same.
Peanut with white sesame block! Love how mildly sweet these are.
The only store selling handmade black sesame paste.
With promises of jet black smooth shiny hair amongst others...not that either of us were tempted.
How about some freshly made loveletters? I found them too crumbly and sweet.
Oooh and century eggs too!
Totally Yung Kee equivalent - molten center and all. At 7 for NTD 100, complete steal!
Some other shops that lined the walk way - perfect for those seeking nostalgia!
Stole a peek of someone's unattended shop!
Apart from being a food street that would please any tourist, they do have just one umbrella shop which retails really affordable and technologically advanced umbrellas! Those that can withstand even a typhoon! I am so tired of buying $5 brollies only to have them flip belly side up during torrential rains.
Shenkeng Tofu Street
The front of the street undergoing some construction, hidding a happening street completely. Until this day, it baffles me so when heavy construction is going on and the shophouse opposite continues selling his dishes - part of the cleanfreak in me thinks that the additional flavouring would come from the dust particles and - okay, I shall not indulge in such thoughts.
One of the first few restaurants that line the entrance. Decided to make it our dining place - the crowds seemed to be a good gauge of its standard.
Set menus perfect for the confused - we opted for tofu done three ways and topped it off with a smelly tofu order too!
Mini bowls.
肠旺麻辣臭豆腐
Stinky tofu when simmered in broth not only loses its stench but also the texture of the beancurd. In exchange I got a rough beancurd with a broth that reeked of gameyness. Not a fan of the intestines here nor pig's blood which had a really odd texture.
豆腐捲
Fried tofu fritters stuffed with pork and fat. A completely "ewww" moment when the inedible bits turned out to be hardened fat.
臭豆腐
Some form of normalcy resumed with stinky tofu! Crispy exterior with soft tofu.
豆腐羹
Quite a delish soup after the initial frights we had.
A beancurd meal like this set us back by NTD 340, while the rest of the diners seemed to enjoy every bite, we found it acquired.
Muah chee and loads of it in various shapes and forms lined the streets. We found one with a really pretty lady who also had a glib tongue.
All sorts of shapes and colours.
Orh Kueh as I know it - a savoury one with yam bits. Yum!
This, takes on a tale of its own. Fluffy egg white sits on top red bean chunk. Not quite what I was expecting in all honesty, the egg white blob had a rough texture and sweet.
The more normal and familiar muah chees. The fillings though substantial were rock hard - yam, peanut and blacksesame in that order.
I had these in Japan before and the Taiwanese replicated this quite brilliantly. Soft chewy chunks of cold mochi in artificially enhanced flavours (pink for rose, yellow for lemon).
Every store usually begins with handmade.
The colours which makes buying them so irresistible.
Peanut candies that Taiwan seems to be famous for, spotted them throughout the tourist attractions that we visited! 郭金山 was one of the more popular ones down the lane.
Work in progress as their nuts got packed.
Samples so generously given out as they were working on a fresh batch of roasted peanut candies.
Came in tubs like these or bags like those further in the picture.
Lost count of how much I ended up buying. I remember chewing till all of them tasted roughly the same.
Peanut with white sesame block! Love how mildly sweet these are.
The only store selling handmade black sesame paste.
With promises of jet black smooth shiny hair amongst others...not that either of us were tempted.
How about some freshly made loveletters? I found them too crumbly and sweet.
Oooh and century eggs too!
Totally Yung Kee equivalent - molten center and all. At 7 for NTD 100, complete steal!
Some other shops that lined the walk way - perfect for those seeking nostalgia!
Stole a peek of someone's unattended shop!
Apart from being a food street that would please any tourist, they do have just one umbrella shop which retails really affordable and technologically advanced umbrellas! Those that can withstand even a typhoon! I am so tired of buying $5 brollies only to have them flip belly side up during torrential rains.
Shenkeng Tofu Street
Your last para on brollies is very random haha.
ReplyDeleteHmm.... can vacuum-packed century eggs be better than fresh ones?
hahaha just in case anyone wants to buy brollies in tw!
ReplyDeleteCentury eggs aren't fresh fresh per se..well they do taste as good as yung kee's! hee.