難以置信的小器

這兩年我所遇到的上司都不是屬於待人和氣的那一種，不過值得慶幸的是我所遇到的同事都很友善，即使共事時間不長或是認識不久，也能建立不錯友誼。

男人似乎越來越小器，缺乏一個成年男人應有的風度。去年任職的電影公司總經理本來很賞識我，當我們開始在工作上有衝突的時候，他的態度開始改變，從讚不絕口到冷酷無情。而且當我提出離職時，他的表現讓我覺得自己好像在和男朋友談分手，他覺得被背叛，因而感情受傷，自此性格180度大轉變，冷若冰霜，每次在辦公室不期而遇就把我當成空氣。

總經理你嘛幫幫忙，我是來工作的，不是來跟你談一段不倫戀的！在我離開半年多之後，我們第一次重逢．．．

上週末我出席台北市電影委員會舉辦的座談會，一位前同事認出我來，興奮的拍拍坐在她前方的前總經理，然後戲劇化的一刻出現了！他滿心歡喜的轉過身來，當他發現神秘嘉賓竟然是背叛他的離職員工，臉上的笑容先是僵住、瞬間消失、然後以迅雷不及掩耳的速度轉回前方。這個畫面如果拍成電影，應該不錯看的！妙啊妙．．．

當然小器除了是氣度上，還有另外一種。我同事「文」今天中午和主管去外面開會，只剩不到半小時可以用餐，所以他們在一家鍋貼店迅速解決午餐。一份有十顆，他們各自吃了五顆，再加上兩碗酸辣湯，這頓午餐應該一百塊不到，四十多歲的男性主管只付了自己的餐費，我同事「文」事後說：「他連五十塊也捨不得請客？！早知道他那麼小器，這頓午餐我可以請他！」

The Morning After....

I can’t help but wonder if any woman has experienced bruised breasts the morning after waking up naked next to your man.

Okay, I had been drinking with friends for at least 5 hours before he picked me up. So he said he didn’t care much for loud places and would come take me home only if I wasn’t drunk. I lost count on how many drinks I consumed but when he called me up the last time I was sober. He picked me up in a cab and we went home to drink 3 bottles of red wine. Next thing I knew we hugged like koala bears and then he wanted to lie down. So I lay next to him. All that small talks led to complete nakedness. There’s something he said that’s stuck in my mind: “your breasts are very supple.”

I woke up the next morning and found several bruised spots all around my chest. And I don’t recall any violent actions in bed. We were heavily under the influence. As a result we were just two happy drunks naked in bed. It will be interesting to chronicle the changes of my bruises in the chest area. And it seems like I won’t be able to wear low cut outfits until the bruises are gone. Sorry boys!

Speaking of bruises, this is not the first time I got bruised. On December 31st 2003 it was a rainy New Year’s Eve. Four of us started drinking at Ben’s condo at 7 and continued to Butterfly on Embarcadero. Mike got really drunk and he and his 220 lbs. body fell on me. Mike fell like a timber and his elbow accidently hit me in the eye. The next morning I woke up with a severe black eye which was so swollen that I could barely see. The bruise lasted for two weeks and I had to wear sunglasses day and night to cover my black eye.

什麼是「有個性」？

最近我瘋狂的迷上我家附近的拉亞早餐店，幾乎每天早上必定報到買杯薏仁漿和各式各樣的餐點。其實，我是因為喜歡上這家店的服務和美食，才開始加入吃早餐的行列。第一次是同樣住在六張犁的同事帶我去吃的，哇，我覺得「這真是太好吃了」，而且食材又新鮮，從此以後每天早上一定來用餐，才能安心的去上班。

昨天雖然是週六，但是我也特別去享用美好的「brunch time」，邊看報紙邊吃三明治，開心的很！突然看到在報紙上看到一段話，讓我非常有共鳴！

「有個性就是做別人不認同但是自己認為是對的事；社會進步的原動力來自固執於對的事情」

最近對主管超不滿的，一天到晚盡出些爛到爆的鬼點子，還極力要求必須將她的瞎點子實踐。有一天她又來了個很爛的鬼點子，還有膽說：「那就這樣做吧！」我實在受不了，馬上告訴她這是一個莫名其妙的鬼點子，除了浪費時間外，也讓一夥人做白工。後來有其他同事跑來跟我說：「妳真是太有個性了，想罵就罵，也不顧對象是誰，而且居然敢跟老闆頂嘴！妳太屌了！」

我將報上那段話修改成企業版，如下：

「有個性就是做老闆不認同但是自己認為是對的事；企業進步的原動力來自固執於對的事情」

下次再有同事嫌我太有個性，我一定要把這句話送給他！

Persian Empire Café 波斯帝國小餐館

Persian Empire Café 波斯帝國小餐館
Hours / 營業時間
Weekdays 平日5PM–12midnight
Weekends 週末5PM-2AM
(02)3762-2605
12F No.138 Section 4 Ba-De Road Taipei 台北市八德路四段138號12樓
Credit Cards Accepted / No Service Charge 提供刷卡 / 一成服務費
www.persianempire.com.tw

The very first Iranian restaurant in Taiwan, 「Persian Heaven Restaurant」opened a new location on the 12th floor of Core Pacific Living Mall. The new venue will be named as 「Persian Empire Restaurant & Lounge」and its construction will be completed before the summer is over. When it’s ready to open for business, it will be the very first Middle Eastern nightclub in Taiwan.

Owner Amini first opened「Persian Heaven Restaurant」on He-Jiang Street from scratch. Gradually the restaurant gained good reputations for its unique Iranian cuisine and nightly belly dancing performances. Amini and his son have been living in Taiwan for years now and it shows because they speak fluent Mandarin. The new venue on the 12th floor of Core Pacific Living Mall just had its soft opening as 「Persian Empire Café」，aiming to get the word out before the formal launch of 220-ping 「Persian Empire Restaurant & Lounge」and introducing Iranian cuisine to more people in Taiwan.

Currently 「Persian Empire Café」offers food service as well as shisha (also known as water pipe). I’ve tried shisha when I was in Hong Kong and thought it was quite interesting. For someone who never smoked cigarettes like me, shisha mesmerized me with its aroma. Owner Amini explained to me that shisha has been around for more than 300 years in Iran. And shisha is like an everyday leisure activity for Iranians. Few friends can get together to drink tea, chitchat and smoke shisha for relaxation. Shisha is something that you won’t get addict to like cigarettes but it certainly relaxes you and put your mind at ease.

The night when I met Amini for the interview, he brought out all kinds of water pipes. Seeing all sizes and colors of water pipes was like an eye opening experience. Some of them are nearly as tall as I am. There are more than 20 flavors to choose from and you can mix up different flavors to your liking.

I gave myself the chance to mix & match all sorts of flavors. For instance, I really liked coffee and strawberry together﹙just like a dessert﹚、apple and mint﹙so refreshing that I felt like I just brushed my teeth﹚and rose and grape ﹙almost like red wine﹚. Each shisha ﹙350NT﹚ can last for about one hour. You won’t need a plane ticket to fly to Iran if you would like to try shisha. 「Persian Empire Café」provides the best quality and the most genuine shisha in Taiwan.

The most requested dish at「Persian Empire Café」is Triple Happy Kabab ﹙350NT﹚. It is the everyday cuisine in Iran but rarely available in Taiwan. You can choose from chicken, lamb or beef. Owner Amini recommended lamb because unlike most restaurants in Taiwan, 「Persian Empire Café」serves imported lamb, not the most common goat. If you have a big appetite and hope to get your money worth, you may also order the set which comes with salad, Iranian saffron rice, soup, vegetables and Iranian tea (unsweetened and cinnamon flavored).

Iranians love drinking tea. When Iranian tea meets hard liquor, the outcome is rather surprisingly pleasant. When you come to 「Persian Empire Café」, be sure to order Iranian Apple Brandy Tea ﹙280NT﹚. This drink is made of fresh apple juice, brandy, and Iranian tea. The final touch is the cinnamon stick. That makes this drink the most relaxing cocktail!

全台灣第一家伊朗餐廳「波斯天堂餐廳」日前在京華城12樓設立一個新的據點，預計今年下半年會完工的「波斯帝國餐廳」，佔地220坪，即將成為台灣第一個充滿中東風情的高級夜店。

「波斯天堂餐廳」的老闆Amini來台灣經商很多年，他和他兒子的中文都相當流利。當初從零開始，在合江街經營「波斯天堂餐廳」，逐漸以特殊的伊朗菜和火辣的肚皮舞打響知名度。如今在京華城12樓以試賣的方式經營「波斯帝國小餐館」，無非是為了將來的夜店先累積人氣，讓更多人認識來自伊朗的美食佳餚。

目前「波斯帝國小餐館」提供餐點的服務之外，最重要的就是中東水煙！我曾經在香港的蘭桂坊抽過幾次水煙，覺得很新鮮。對於我這個從未抽過香煙的人，水煙最令我著迷的是它的香氣。老闆Amini說，抽水煙在伊朗已經有超過三百年的歷史了，而抽水煙對於伊朗人而言，就是一種放鬆休閒的活動；在伊朗，三兩好友聚在一起聊天、喝茶、抽水煙是非常稀鬆平常的事。

當我去採訪的那個晚上，老闆Amini非常慎重的搬出各式各樣大大小小的水煙管，有的高度和我差不到半個頭，而且顏色都非常鮮艷。目前在「波斯帝國小餐館」有將近二十來種不同的水煙口味提供選擇，只要你喜歡，可以任意將各種口味混搭在一起；而我就非常放肆的嘗試了五六種不同的口味，包括咖啡加草莓﹙簡直就像在抽甜點﹚、蘋果加薄荷﹙超清涼的口味好似剛刷完牙的感覺﹚和玫瑰加葡萄﹙有那麼點紅酒的香氣﹚等等。每一支水煙管可以抽大概一個小時，費用是350元。想要嘗試水煙不必出國，「波斯帝國小餐館」提供多重的選擇，在台灣也有道地的中東水煙。

在「波斯帝國小餐館」必點的主食是三喜喀吧﹙350元﹚，這道菜是伊朗最普遍的食物，但是在台灣卻鮮少人知，有雞肉、羊肉和牛肉以供選擇。老闆Amini特別推薦羊肉，因為這裡的羊肉是直接從國外進口的小羊肉，而不是一般在台灣比較常見的山羊肉，口感嫩、氣味也不會那麼腥。整份的三喜喀吧套餐﹙450元﹚有沙拉、蕃紅花飯、湯、蔬菜和伊朗特有的紅茶﹙茶湯不甜但是有肉桂的香氣﹚，讓你物超所值！

伊朗人非常喜歡喝茶，而帶有特殊香氣的伊朗茶當碰上烈酒，會有令人意想不到的火花！來一杯伊朗風白蘭地蘋果茶﹙280元﹚，除了有白蘭地、伊朗茶和新鮮蘋果汁調在一起，最後畫龍點睛的肉桂棒為這杯調酒加上最容易讓人放鬆的香氣！

Sex and the City: Mr. Big or Mr. Right or Mr. Cold Feet?

The highly anticipated, Sex and the City – film version was released ten years after its TV version first aired on HBO. In my 20s I loved watching SATC and would have heated discussion with my boyfriend at the time after each episode.

Time flies. I’m now in my 30s and no longer associated with the man who used to watch SATC with me.

This time around four fabulous ladies are in their 40s. Four best friends are in four different scenarios. Carrie is about to get married to Mr. Big and Miranda faces Steve’s infidelity while Charlotte is pregnant and Samantha is eyeing her sexy neighbor Dante. And their dilemmas are all very real and the elements are so close to every woman’s life: COMMITMENT, CHILDREN AND CAREER.

Carrie says: the only label that never goes out of style is LOVE.

L-O-V-E…Ain’t that the truth? No high fashion is trendier than LOVE. Among the 94 episodes from the original HBO’s SATC we followed Carrie every step of the way as she searched for true love. Mr. Big had always been the love of Carrie’s life. But in the end Mr. Big didn’t become Carrie’s Mr. Right and we as the audience felt let down.

I was always very fond of Mr. Big because in my early 20s I had my own Mr. Big before Mr. Big was invented in SATC. And just like Mr. Big in SATC, he would always say, “Hey kiddo!” It was intimate, romantic and sexy. I couldn’t help but wonder if I fell for a father figure. After all he was 11 years older than me. So, could it be possible that Carrie was looking for a father figure all along on the road to true love?

Therefore, Michael Patrick King decided to please the audience by reuniting Carrie and Mr. Big in the film version. Mr. Big is a symbolic figure in SATC. He’s every woman’s fantasy. I wonder if he can exist in the real world. He stands for wealth, high society, Prince Charming and maybe Mr. Right???

Mr. Big says: I wouldn’t mind being married to you. Would you mind being married to me?

That’s gotta be the most un-romantic way to propose to any woman, let alone Carrie, our iconic heroine! And when Mr. Big becomes Mr. Cold Feet, it was like Déjà vu for me all over again. There is one thing I learned from Mr. Big and that is you need a diamond to seal the deal.

Throughout 135 minutes you’ll appreciate all the witty, funny and sarcastic conversations between these four New York ladies. I don’t think it’s a film for everyone. But if you enjoyed the TV series, then this film is for you. If you’ve spend years searching for the one, then you’re likely to appreciate what this film has to say about love. If you love labels, fashions, shoes and bags, then you’ll be treated to the best runway in the history of film. Nonetheless if you think you live in the real world version of SATC, then you must see it for yourself how your life is portrayed on the big screen!

Maussac 摩賽卡法式茶館

Maussac 摩賽卡法式茶館
Hours / 營業時間 11:30AM - 10PM
(02)2391-7331 / 2391-7748
No.24 Li-Shui Street Ta-An District Taipei 台北市大安區麗水街24號
Credit Cards Accepted / 10% Service Charge / Minimum 160NT per person
提供刷卡 / 一成服務費 / 最低消費一人160元
www.maussac.com.tw

Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon：A Modern Classic Tea Heaven
摩賽卡法式茶館：一個現代古典的品茶天堂

I am a coffee addict! I’m either at a coffee shop or on my way to a café. When I walked into Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon for the first time I fell in love with it and tea drinking became my new hobby.

When it comes to western style tea houses most people would assume that it’s a British custom. I bet you didn’t know that in France people love drinking tea as much as coffee! French tea culture emphasizes on simplicity and homeliness. Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon opened in 2002 and began importing tea leaves from all around the world. Now you can choose from more than 100 different tea leaves. No matter how picky your taste may be, it’s impossible not to find something to your liking. However, operating a tea shop without food service in Taiwan is like a major business flaw. In order to live up to the customers’ expectation Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon provides full menu service, including desserts, lunch sets and French specialties. Only the finest tea can complement the finest cuisine.

Let’s take a look at the impressive tea collection at Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon. Black tea comes from Sir Lanka, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Kenya and as for green tea the most popular varieties are from Taiwan, Mainland China and Japan. But it’s the flavored green & black tea from France that made Maussac unique. If you are highly sensitive toward caffeinated drinks, your best choice is herb tea from southern France — Provence. When you walk into Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon for the first time you’ll be overwhelmed by the tea selections! There’s no need to worry if you know very little about tea culture because the shop clerks can assist you finding the perfect tea for you.

Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon is located in an alley that is in-between Yong-Kang shopping district and National Normal University campus. It’s an after meal hangout place for tea and desserts. Caramel Pudding (40NT) is a traditional French dessert. It’s made without water and its milky taste is unforgettable! Having one won’t be enough and you would want to take home a dozen! The recommended tea to go with caramel pudding is Linden herb tea (180NT), either served hot or cold. It’s best to add a spoonful of honey to bring out the aroma. If you love red wine, you may try Pommes au vin rouge (60NT). It has converted many people who swear off desserts into sweets-loving hedonists!

The increasingly popular weekday business lunch has given those nine-to-five folks a chance to take a breather from work. The menu for business lunch changes on a weekly basis in order to accommodate those fickle consumers. And the afternoon tea time (2:30PM – 6PM + 8PM – 9:30PM) is every lady’s all-time favorite. In addition to the usual dessert platter you may choose a savory dish - Orange Gove (300NT). It comes with French crêpe, today’s dessert special and tea of your choice (you will need to pay the different if your tea is more than 180NT).

As summer approaches fried Shrimp with fruits and Yo Zakura green tea (380NT) can keep you cool. Every bite you take there is plenty of seafood and seasonal fruits. It is the most refreshing dish this summer. The set also includes bread with herb butter, vegetable soup, Caesar salad, desserts and a pot of tea.

What I love about Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon the most is that every tea can be served hot or cold. In order to ensure the best quality, every tea is brewed before serving. You won’t have to worry about your tea becoming bitter from brewing too long. By the way Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon provides free wireless service and just about every table has a power plug and socket nearby. I like to sit at the sofa by the wall with a book or two, sipping tea while reading. Group parties can utilize the basement space (suitable for 10 to 28 people; fee for each private room is 500NT) and be separated from the quiet restaurant and tea shop above. Every time you dine at Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon 15% discount will be granted toward your purchase at the tea shop. Maussac Tea Boutique & Salon makes tea drinking so nice and easy!

我向來是個無咖啡不歡的人，如果不是在咖啡館，一定在前往咖啡館的路上！走進摩賽卡法式茶館之後，我竟然就這樣愛上喝茶的感覺，而且連坐三小時也捨不得離開！

對於西式茶館，我總以為那是英國人的專利。其實法國人除了愛喝咖啡，他們也愛喝茶！而法式茶館講究簡單自然，使用的茶具也樸實。摩賽卡法式茶館自2002年開幕至今，不惜成本自世界各地進口茶葉，光是茶葉種類至少有一百種以上，無論口味再挑剔的人都可以輕易的找到屬於自己的好茶！但是只賣茶葉、泡茶並不符合台灣消費者的期待，所以摩賽卡法式茶館在菜單上增加各式各樣自製甜點、輕食和特色餐點，讓絕品好茶不寂寞！

摩賽卡法式茶館的原味純紅茶來自斯里蘭卡、印度、不丹、尼泊爾和肯亞，原味純綠茶的產地包括台灣、中國大陸和日本。而招牌法國薰香茶，以紅茶或綠茶為基礎，加上各式天然花草調配而成。對於咖啡因極度敏感的人，建議品嚐來自法國南部普羅旺斯的花草茶。第一次進入摩賽卡法式茶館必定會被上百種茶葉的品項所震撼，你不必懂茶道，但是親切的店員必定能夠協助你找到適合的茶種。

摩賽卡法式茶館的位置介於永康商圈和師大校區之間的小巷，氣氛悠閒、寧靜，適合飯後喝茶的好地方，而且手工甜點是千萬不可錯過的。焦糖烤布丁﹙40元﹚是傳統的法式甜點，濃郁的香氣和綿密的口感讓人想多帶幾個回家慢慢享用，不加一滴水的布丁竟然如此讓人念念不忘！這時候再點一壺菩提子花茶﹙180元﹚，冷熱皆宜，特殊的香氣在溫差下呈現出不同的色澤和甘甜。喜歡紅酒的一定要試試紅酒蜜蘋果﹙60元﹚，因為它讓口口聲聲說不愛吃甜點的人現出原形！

平日提供的商業午餐讓附近的上班族在工作忙碌之餘也能偷閒，每週更新的午餐選項吸引最善變的消費者上門。而女性最愛的熱門午茶時段﹙2:30PM – 6PM + 8PM – 9:30PM﹚也有套餐，特別推薦橘園﹙300元﹚，不但吃到法式特有的鹹味可麗餅、今日手工甜點和一壺自選的茶種﹙180元以上需要補價差﹚。夏日最消暑的餐點非橙香櫻花綠茶水果蝦套餐﹙380元﹚，前菜包括花草麵包、蔬菜濃湯和蔬果沙拉，飯後有手工甜點和一壺茶。每吃一口主菜都有海鮮和豐富的蔬菜水果搭配，非常爽口！

摩賽卡法式茶館最令我印象深刻的是，幾乎每一種茶都是冷熱皆宜，而且為了讓消費者喝到品質最好的茶，所有的茶都是泡好才上桌，以防茶葉沖泡過久造成味道苦澀。另外提供無線上網，貼心的在每一桌牆角附有插座；溫馨的單人沙發座適合閱讀，大型聚會可以在地下室和式包廂舉辦﹙10 – 28人；包廂費500元﹚。當天消費可享有85折買茶葉，帶回家慢慢品嚐。喝好茶原來可以這麼簡單！

Happy Birthday to DAVID!!!

親愛的大衛:

今天你最大，而我這個做姐姐的只想跟你說：生日快樂！永遠的18歲！！！

雖然認識不過短短的六個月，但是感情好的不得了！緣份是一種很奇妙的東西，你、我、大哥和傻B組成一個小團體，居然就這樣出現「大哥」「大姐」的頭銜；不過我們對於照顧後生晚輩是非常熱心，尤其大哥多年來在海外闖蕩，很多經驗是金錢也買不到的，而你真的很幸運有大哥這樣的老手帶領，有關工作和愛情的疑難雜症你就盡量找他解決。

至於我嘛，只能提供你一個喝酒和休息的地方，隨時歡迎你來玩！這些日子以來，我相信你和我家的床墊應該已經培養出一段不尋常的感情吧！

最後祝你今年一切順利，下次碰到心目中的理想情人時，希望你會有勇氣上前自我介紹！就算不成功，至少你在關鍵機會出現時奮力一搏，因為人生就是一場場的GAMBLING，輸贏乃家常便飯！反正你都已經投身運動彩卷業，GAMBLING對你而言應該早已成為每天生活的一部分。

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

D姐

為什麼為什麼為什麼？

我一直很納悶為什麼每次遇到的企業主都是令人難以置信的小氣，難怪這個世代的男人都變得很吝嗇。

幾年前在購物台的時候，每個購物專家都和公司簽了經紀約，而準備投入螢光幕前的工作應當先改頭換面、請設計師量身打造適合的個人造型，此時公司居然表示不願意出錢。這個經紀約是簽假的嗎？我真是不懂，不是要栽培我們成為明日之星，竟然連剪個新髮型公司都捨不得出錢？！事後也證實這個企業集團小氣到家，簽下經紀約只是要把大家綁死，怕我們那天變節跳槽去匪台工作而已。

今年碰上一個電視圈的大集團，其小氣之程度有過之而無不及！一般員工出公差的餐費是一人一百元，既然公司如此刻薄，我是否可以選擇拒絕出公差呢？為什麼我要犧牲週休二日為公司賣命呢？剛結束的一個大型活動，因為只募集到二十萬的贊助費，公司決定將錢投入硬體設備，至於本來打算招募的工讀生就由公司的相關部門同仁來擔任，為了省錢，連一級主管都跳下來當高級搬運工。這才是真正的人力資源浪費，糟蹋人才！

這些企業主是否認為自己的員工可以任意擺佈，而不顧他人的感受和生活？為這樣的公司服務到底有什麼好處呢？應該不會是為了那一百元的加班餐費！為什麼他們可以如此橫行霸道、目中無人？

Tanhuatou 談話頭家常菜

Tanhuatou 談話頭家常菜
Hours / 營業時間
Closed on Mondays / 每週一公休
5:15 pm – 11:30 pm （last order by 10:30 pm) / 廚房於10:30pm休息
(02)8771-8254 / 8771-8209
No.110 Yan-Ji Street Taipei (MRT Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Exit 2)
台北市延吉街110號（捷運國父紀念館二號出口）
No Credit Cards Accepted / No Service Charge 不提供刷卡 / 不收服務費

Due to recent recession most people think twice about going out to restaurants. If you worry about your pocket then leave it to Tanhuatou. As time goes by Tanhuatou moved a few times but its affordable pricing never changed. Originally Tanhuatou was located on Fu-Xin south road and moved to Xin-Yi road in the 90s. Five years ago it moved to the current location on Yan-Ji Street. Starting in 1985 owner Mr. Xiang insisted on providing quality cuisine with three No’s (no service charge / no MSG / no food-thickening). Since then Tanhuatou became a favorite hangout after work for local food lovers and foreigners alike.

I used to loathe egg yolks and Tanhuatou changed my mind. My first encounter with Hunan Eggs (NT$200) was delightful, easing my worry about cholesterols. And I’m amazed at how something so simple as stir-fried boiled eggs can be so tasty!

Owner Mr. Xiang is mostly proud of his creation: minced pork with mashed taro (NT$250). It’s an easy dish to prepare but very time-consuming. You won’t find anything similar to it anywhere else. Beef and chicken are also available if pork is prohibited in your religion. The most basic dish in Shanghai cuisine is fried rice with vegetables and shredded pork (NT$160). Mr. Xiang believes that his customers deserve the best and therefore Shanghai fried rice is always made to order. He said it’s easy to make this dish at home. The ingredients are vegetables, shredded pork and rice and simply stir-fry everything together. The key is to serve Shanghai fried rice while it’s hot. Before Tanhuatou I always thought Shanghai fried rice is steamed in a rice cooker because it always tasted like overnight fried rice.

In the past 23 years owner Mr. Xiang has always been the head chef at Tanhuatou. Earlier this year a veteran chef specialized in Yunnan cuisine joined Tanhuatou, adding Yunnan’s most well-known dishes to the already extensive menu. The most recommended dish is sliced pig scalps (small NT$270 / large NT$480) and you must dip it in the secret sauce. That will bring a big smile to your face!

For those who prefer something on the lighter side beef tendons (NT$370) is your number choice. It takes several hours to stew beef tendons and then put them in the fridge to cool down before cutting them in thin slices. The amber color of Beef tendons is most pleasing to the eyes and satisfying to your taste bud. Another highly requested beef dish is beef brisket with carrots and turnips (NT$530). It’s also a time-consuming dish – beef has to sit on the stove for at least three hours and 1 1/2 for turnips. The ultimate signature dish at Tanhuatou is Wusi style pork spareribs (small NT250/large NT$500). The meat is tender and

Tanhuatou is perfect for gatherings among friends and family. You need at least a party of five so that you can enjoy all the goodies at once. As for the wine list owner Mr. Xiang selects red and white wine from Australia, France and the US. The price ranges from NT$1,000 to NT$1,300 per bottle; per glass goes from NT$300 to NT$350. Mr. Xiang welcomes large parties booking in advance. Just name your budget and he will make sure that everyone has a good time!

近來景氣不好，一般消費者上館子吃飯前必須考慮到荷包，然而談話頭家常菜多年以來一貫平實的價位在此時顯得更為珍貴！餐廳最初開在復興南路，1990年代搬到信義路，五年前再次遷徙到目前延吉街的地點，談話頭家常菜在向子龍老闆的堅持之下，屹立不搖二十多年，每道功夫菜硬是了得，而且決不偷工減料！從1985年開始，談話頭家常菜提供台北人一個比自家廚房更好的美食來源！向老闆的三不政策(不收服務費、不加味精、不句芡)不但吸引在地消費者的認同，也讓住在台灣的外籍人士可以放心的享受道地的湖南和江浙美食！

我第一次和湖南蛋 (200元)接觸就在這裡！其實我是個很不喜歡吃蛋的人，看到蛋黃就變臉的我，在向老闆的鼓舞之下，品嚐這道「征服全世界」的湖南菜，親身體驗到「普通中見實力」的美味佳餚。

向老闆最為自豪的獨門菜芋泥豬肉茉(250元)，其實做法很簡單，但是卻非常費時，這是一道不常出現在其他的餐廳菜單。因應客人對於肉類的喜好有別，談話頭家常菜也提供牛肉和雞肉的選擇。江浙菜中基本的上海菜飯(160元)，多數餐廳都是煮好後放在電鍋裡保溫，但是向老闆堅持在客人點菜之後才將雪菜、毛豆、肉絲下鍋，端上桌的上海菜飯永遠是最新鮮的！

這些年來，向老闆是談話頭家常菜的首席廚師，而今年才來的資深廚師把最拿手的雲南菜加入原本只有湖南和江浙菜的菜單。雲南大薄片(小份270元/大份480元)，搭上商業機密的特殊醬料，這道菜是越吃越爽口，而且是無醬料不歡啊！

偏好清淡口味的客人可以點冷面牛筋(370元)，不但滷到入味且呈琥珀色，顏色誘人，吃到嘴裡，彈牙的很，讚不絕口！偏愛牛肉的必點蘿蔔牛楠(530元)，牛肉需要至少三個小時的燉煮，蘿蔔也要一個半小時才入味。談話頭家常菜的招牌菜無錫排骨(小份280元/大份500元)肉質鬆軟，入口即化！

談話頭家常菜適合親朋好友聚餐，人多才能一次把所有好菜都點上桌！對於酒單，向老闆也特別挑選來自澳洲、法國和美國的紅白酒，一瓶單價從1,000元到1,300元左右，單杯介於300元到350元之間。向老闆也歡迎客人包場宴客，只要給個預算，保證讓賓主盡歡！

一種米養百樣人

上個週末我和同事到外地出公差。她對於這趟南下之旅似乎很開心，坐上車之後心情頗為愉快。上路沒多久，她說要買零食，於是我們在休息站暫停，讓她進商店買個小零嘴。只見她隨手從架上抓了三四包，再度上車之後，她一包包的打開，一路吃到目的地。

其實我想說的是家教的問題。因為不論這部車的價值多少，搭別人的便車居然沒有事先詢問車主是否介意在車上飲食，這是一種基本禮儀，也是對車主的尊重。

然而不久前我在一個場合認識了嚴總裁，因此見識到一個大器風範的領導人。

第一次見面，當我遞上名片，總裁說他很不好意思，因為身上沒帶名片，就在此時他主動向我握手﹙這是我今生握過最溫暖的手！﹚，並且允諾將會把他的名片在之後補寄給我。

兩天後我收到一封信，打開來之後我感動萬分！裡面不但有總裁的名片，還有一張他用毛筆寫的信箋！其實身居高位的人真的不必如此大費周章，但是我相信對於非常重視「人」的總裁，不會因為自己的權高望重而忽略他人的感受。如果可以和這般氣度的老闆一起工作，是何等幸福的一件事！

And I Love You So

I woke up with you in my thought.

I can’t remember the details in my dream.

But I believe it was all about love.

You asked me if your clothes were on or off.

OFF I hope.

Perhaps I’m falling in love with you.

Maybe you’re the one I’ve been looking for all along.