Kagaya in Taiwan, 日勝生加賀屋、台湾、北投温泉

Dec.18, 2010, a Japanese "Ryokan" hotel with over 100 years history opened its doors in Taiwan.
Kagaya opened its first oversea facility in Beitou(北投), a hot spring resort located just outside of Taipei city.

    

The hotel located in Beitou hot spring, North of Taipei City

It only takes 30mins from Taipei main st. to New Beitou st. by MRT.

 

 

Kagaya's history started back in 1906, in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. 

Ever since, the hotel keeps welcoming travelers with its soothing "Omotenashi"-a spirit of Japanese hospitality-. (Official website →http://www.kagaya.co.jp/en/)

 

 

Japanese Lunch Set

 

 

Their Japanese restaurant, located in 3rd floor, open for breakfast (international buffet), lunch and dinner.

Its taste and style of the food is very authentic Japanese. Also, the service ladies wear beautiful Japanese Kimono. Even the plates used in the restaurant are chosen by their Executive Japanese chef and carefully brought from Japan, mostly Kutani ware -famous Japanese porcelain from Ishikawa prefecture-.

 

 

Entrance of Japanese restaurant (left) and Lounge (right) 

 

Traditional Japanese doll (left), "Obi" sash for kimono (middle), Lantern with hotel logo (right)

 

 

"Omotenashi" is one of the things about Japanese culture I can be proud of.

Very close and careful, yet humble service. Even a person who never be seen by a guest has a pride in his/her work and always pursue perfection, just for the guests satisfaction.

I am very happy that this sprit will be acknowledged more and more by people of Taiwan!

 

 

 

Xiao Long Bao, 小籠包、ショーロンポー

Xiaolongbao (or Xiaolong"tang"bao)

Xiaolongbao(小籠包) is a small soup dumpling steamed in a bamboo basket, originally from Shanghai. It is one of my favourite!
It is so good and because it is also so small, you can eat 10 or even 20 of them easily.

Outer skin is made from flour. It's so thin, tender and smooth, that's why you can eat a lot.
Inside usually is pork meat, sometimes can be seafood or others and the point is the soup. There is  "gelatin-gelled" aspic mixed with the meat. That will be melt into soup after steamed.

Be careful when you eat. It can be extremely hot! (I burned myself several times...)
So, when you eat Xiaolongbao, 1st step - put it on a spoon, 2nd step - make a small hole by biting or poking with chopstick in the skin, 3rd step - pour the soup inside into the spoon or slowly suck it out and drink it. Then, at last, eat the whole thing.
Vinegar and shredded ginger can be companied. It can refresh your mouth since the soup and meat can be bit greasy.

See how they make Xiaolongbao in Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung, The award-winning restaurant in Taiwan 

Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) is one of the most popular restaurant from Taiwan. This award-winning restaurant has several branches in Taiwan and also outside Taiwan, such as Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and United States.
And the restaurant signature dish is Xiaolongbao.
If you have a chance to visit one those places which their branches are, I strongly recommend to try their Xiaolongbao!