Taipei was a bit of a mystery for Ainsley, he was always going to be a bit lost here and definitely on a bit of an adventure but this is a place that truly delivers. By day he discovers the Mazu Temple market, a warren of street food shacks that have formed a food village serving fragrant braised fish, Chilli Pork stir-fries, and soups with titles that would seduce an Emperor! But at night Taipei becomes the Street Food jewel of the China seas. Markets open up at dusk and queues of locals and Chinese tourists jostle for bowls of steaming noodles, grilled dumplings, and crispy duck. Ainsley finds a stir-fry stall selling fresh fish and cooks Taiwan prawns with Garlic and chili. But it’s the classic Taipei dish called Three Cup Chicken that gets Ainsley really excited; chicken braised with sesame, soy, and fragrant basil. It’s amazing and like the best recipes, very simple to cook. There are the usual culinary traps for Ainsley. Stinky Tofu is not for anyone with a sense of smell and eating at ‘Modern Toilet’ is a challenge for anyone with any senses at all! And when Ainsley finds himself at midnight fishing for prawns at a local swimming pool he knows he is out of his comfort zone!
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Taipei, Taiwan - Ainsley eats the streets
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