"Is this really the place?" We exchanged glances.

Xiangse, hidden within an old house in the alleys of Taipei.
The Uber driver even kindly asked,
"Are you sure this is the place..."
Indeed, from the outside, it’s impossible to tell
there's a mysterious and low-key international cuisine restaurant here.

I pushed the old wooden door at the address directly,
but it was locked... After a terrified glance with my friend,
I realized there’s a doorbell nearby🤣🤣🤣
Not long after, when the friendly staff opened the door,
what met my eyes was an outdoor area filled with classical European countryside style.
(But, of course, in the hot summer, we opted for indoors.)

The current menu is filled with words, but aside from the main courses,
I couldn't guess what the actual dishes would look like at all.
I experienced the mysterious ambiance of Xiangse again!!!!!
Filled with anticipation ah ah ah ah ah.

♡/ The names of the dishes below are all my own creations, hahahaha.

· White Chocolate Boba
White chocolate balls placed on an ice cup,
decorated with finely crushed bacon (?)
The shock of biting into it was more startling than refreshing🤣
It turns out the white chocolate is just a thin crispy shell,
and inside is a mouthful of cantaloupe juice.
It dramatically opened up today's delicacies.

· Ivory Clam in a Spoon
A richly textured appetizer,
but… I really didn’t pay attention to the staff’s introduction,
I just wanted to quickly taste what it was like…🥹

· Can bamboo shoots be eaten…
Combining water chestnuts and white asparagus,
it had a very special and rich texture,
layering the saltiness more intensely with each bite.
After finishing, I quietly pointed to the decorative bamboo shoots beside me
and asked the staff, "Can you eat bamboo shoots?"
(What an embarrassing moment hahahahaha).

· Scallop Slices
It’s not my first time eating scallops,
but it is the first time I’ve had them large enough to need slicing.
After a small grilling at a raw food grade,
with the chef’s specially concocted mousse,
and with seasonings that even included something made from sago,
there were crispy green little balls (I really can’t remember what it was).
There was also a fresh sweet broth served in a shell,
making one scallop have four different ways to enjoy it🤤.

· Creamy Flower Toast
A fluffy bread with a crispy exterior and soft interior,
adorned with two savory whipped cream flowers🤤.
On the side were apple puree, a spicy sauce, and more condiments,
creating a full sense of ceremony ( ´▽｀).

· New Zealand Lamb Saddle Soup
The freshly brewed tender softness made me sway with happiness.
Lamb soup is common,
but this was the first time I tried the saddle with more marbling and gelatin.
Smooth and juicy, with very little lamby taste,
it was an unforgettable bowl of soup🥲.

· Small Main Course Potato Dumplings
They looked mysterious and tasted surprisingly great.
The dumplings made from potatoes had a nice chew,
combined with crispy cheese slices and white pomfret.
Each bite slowly revealed a delightful surprise,
the portion was small yet just right, without being greasy.

· Cherry Duck Breast
Finally, the main course is here (and I’m finally close to finishing writing).
This is the best duck breast I’ve ever had in my life!!!!!!!
The skin is crispy and fragrant~ the meat is tender and delicious.
Though there were five kinds of side dishes,
pairing it with cardamom sauce was the best match.

· Knock Knock Dessert
The final dish requires knocking to break the covering of the meringue,
inside is passion fruit jelly (?)
I must say, the process of knocking moved my memories away again.
This dessert was pleasantly sour and sweet, very refreshing.

/

Today I wrote nearly a thousand words,
a nice record of this rare deliciousness.
The ambiance of Xiangse is really wonderful ૮ •͈ᴗ•͈ ა
Most are couples—
but we are two good sisters celebrating a birthday.

From the past of mistakenly trespassing into residential secret realms
to leaving fulfilled after the meal,
the entire experience was fantastic!!!!!!!!!
I look forward to the next menu.

𝖡𝗒 the non-mainstream Baozi-faced Yansan.