14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 • TIMES BY Alita Rickards MUSIC stop Tumbling down the rabbit hole

compiled BY Ian Bartholomew

Bats in the belfry. hoto: Taipei Times

all know that and locations of the photos are (周杰倫) fancies himself disputed. something chronic, Rather less controversial, Webut his most recent automotive though equally eye-catching, is acquisition really takes the cake. Stanley ’s (黃立行) most Not content with his already recent romantic involvement. considerable collection of luxury Huang, who is no stranger to sports cars, the Chairman (周董) speculative gossip, has generally has recently taken delivery of his managed to keep a fairly tight lid very own Batmobile. on the details of his private life. According to a report in the There has, nevertheless, The Looking Glass is, from left, Jon Hom, Annie Chii, Greg Russell and Iki Chen. Photo courtesy of The Looking Glass United Daily News, the custom- been intense speculation about made auto is based on the a possible new courtship one used in Tim Burton’s 1989 following the breakup of his Batman. The car, which takes three-year involvement with Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice in Wonderland, Alice’s Lyrically they bring to mind The Postal Service, with proper Chinese.” That only adds to their unique, engaging up to three parking spaces and singer Dominique Tsai (蔡詩蕓). adventures start when she follows a white rabbit a smart, storytelling style. Hom just wrote a song “in style. One of their most catchy, fun songs involves the cost NT$5 million, is not just a According to Next Magazine, his down a rabbit hole and discovers a whole new the perspective of a character in a TV show that [he’s] repetition of the word banana loudly and cheerfully. collector’s item. Chou said he new inamorata is model Hu Jia-ai Inworld. For members of The Looking Glass, whose band currently obsessed with.” “My favorite song is Goodbye Hello because it hits might have the chance to take it (胡嘉愛). Up to now, Hu has been name was influenced by the children’s story, the rabbit is “The Chinese lyrics are surprisingly not written by pretty hard but it’s also really nerdy with kind of a retro on the road one day. “We’ll see if very much in the minor league, but music, and the wonderland is Taipei. me,” said Chen, “but are written mostly by Annie and video game vibe,” said Chii, and this description could be the paparazzi will be able to keep perhaps now she’ll have a chance “We just felt that the concept of an alternate reality some by Jon [who didn’t learn to speak Chinese until used to pretty much sum up the band. up with me then,” he said. to move up from the D list. really matched our situation of being abroad and living he was 22]. This explains why it’s not exactly the most Catch them this weekend with My Skin Against Your Chou’s new toy is an innocent Someone else who’s going this life in Taipei as musicians,” said vocalist and Skin and Dr Reniculous Lipz and the Skallyunz (白悟空) at diversion compared to what other places is Wang Ying (王瀅), niece keyboard player Annie Chii (杞亞軒). “If Jon [Hom] (譚家 Light Lounge for the Tuck Yourself In birthday party for celebs have been getting up to, of singer (庾澄慶). 輝) and I didn’t move to to start this band, then Spring Scream co-founder Wade Davis and Russell (who most notably Ethan Ruan (阮經天), Wang is getting hitched to we’d probably still be in America. Being in the band and also drums for Lipz). who has been caught, once again, Jimmy Yang (楊立傑), scion of the living here has really changed our lives.” Dr Lipz, real name Nick Sylvester, is reminiscent of with his pants down. Nankuo Construction (南國建設) The timing of the band’s appearance on the scene the Mad Hatter, and Andrea Huang (黃盈誼), lead singer Pop Stop reported last week family. and the release of the new Tim Burton film might seem of My Skin Against Your Skin, would make a fine Red that Ruan’s girlfriend Tiffany Suggestions that the whirlwind disingenuous, but after seeing them perform live it’s Queen, with her “Off with her head!” dance moves. Hsu (許瑋甯) had changed her romance, which is leading to difficult to be cynical about Chii’s glowing sincerity and In the words of Lewis Carroll: “We’re all mad here,” Facebook status from “In a marriage after only six months, Hom’s indie ethos. said the Cat. “I’m mad, you’re mad.” “But how do you relationship” to “It’s complicated” is being driven by a pregnancy Young, irreverent, energetic and obviously delighted know I’m mad,” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, after the star was spotted at are providing a rich vein for the by the crowd, this new synth/pop rock group charms “or you wouldn’t have come here.” a hotel in Taichung with an gossip rags to mine. onlookers. The sound is quirky, catchy, danceable and unidentified woman. From romance to finance: unmistakably independent. Effortless and somehow Since then, additional details Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) is touchingly naive harmonizing between the lead vocalists, have been pouring in of his louche romancing a “long-haired hottie” Chii and guitarist Hom, is balanced by early video game PERFORMANCE behavior. of his own. The singer is riding synth sounds and drum rhythms that occasionally veer notes: At the time of the alleged a wave, and apart from having into almost-punk by New Zealander Greg Russell. indiscretion, Ruan was supposed nothing to hide (when asked who Iki Chen (陳奕齊) plays his bass along swimmingly, What: Tuck Yourself In with The Looking to be on leave from the publicity she was, he simply replied that he keeping the music from becoming too light. Though the Glass, Dr Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz, tour for hit film Monga (艋舺), in had plenty of women friends), his lyrics are in both Mandarin and English, Chen is the only and My Skin Against Your Skin which he starred, to attend his participation in Super Band (縱貫 member who was born and raised in Taiwan. Where: 85, Huamei W St Sec 1, Taichung City grandfather’s funeral. 線), together with veteran rockers Chii was born in Taipei but immigrated to California (台中市華美西街一段85號) Photos submitted by a (羅大佑), (周 at the tender age of 4. When she returned three years ago Lo Ta-yu Emil Chou When: Tomorrow from 10pm member of the public to Next 華健), Jonathan Lee (李宗盛), has to study she met Hom, born and raised in Los Angeles, Admission: NT$300 with one drink for men, Magazine suggest that he might proven a huge success. and they decided to start a band. have had a date with a “long- The Liberty Times (the Taipei They don’t like to discuss their influences: “I generally free for women haired hottie” (長髮辣妹) whose Times’ sister paper) estimates don’t like telling people who we sound like because for On the Net: thelookingglassband.com going price, according to the the band’s 52-show concert tour example, if we were to say to a person that we sounded rag, is NT$30,000. There is still (six gigs were added on to meet like Weezer, and that person didn’t like Weezer, then plenty of controversy as to demand), grossed NT$4.3 billion, we’re kind of screwed aren’t we?” said Hom. “Or what exactly what might, or might with each of the performers if they really liked Weezer, and we didn’t live up to that not, have happened, as the dates pulling in NT$100 million. expectation? You get the point.”  Photo: Alita Rickards

BY HO Yi BY Catherine Shu RESTAURANTS TIDBITS Ginkatsutei 田村銀勝亭 urned Cheese (焦起司) near liver pate and orange segment was better, but still not great. We Shida night market has sandwich, the most exciting started with baked escargot and Address: 12, Alley 32, Ln 216, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段216巷 several identities. Its ground option among a list of ordinary- cheese in potato (NT$160). The he Grand Formosa Regent 弄 號 Bfloor is a cozy cafe with wooden sounding submarines. For NT$140, potato slices were mealy and the Taipei’s steakhouse, Robin’s 32 12 ) Telephone: (02) 2721-4440 furniture, an antique gramophone I expected the portion to be snails were lost under layers and Grill, is flicking US beef and free Wi-Fi — except for small, but I wasn’t prepared to layers of cheese. Tdetractors the birdy by throwing Open: 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Closed on Mondays Average meal: NT$350, plus 10 percent service charge dinnertime, when guests with get four triangles of plain white For our main course, I stuck to a bone-in beef promotion Details: Chinese and Japanese menu with pictures, credit cards accepted books and laptops are booted out bread topped with single slices pasta, the restaurant’s signature, featuring American rib eye, (unless they order a meal). At of orange plunked on top. The and ordered the country-style short rib and T-bone steak. night its basement bar (BC Bar) bread was held together by a very, farfalle with pesto sauce (NT$200). Each prime rib eye steak aipei is home to a fair succulent on the inside, and takes center stage, with gaudy very thin smear of pate — so thin, The butterfly pasta was too soft, (NT$3,800 for two) weighs number of Japanese chain is served with a tart tonkatsu decor (including a chandelier in fact, that the flavor was lost the pesto sauce bland and, in 32 ounces and the short ribs restaurants serving tonkatsu, sauce and punchy Japanese enclosed in an acrylic table) that underneath the bread (too soft) addition to diced pepper and (NT$1,800 per person) are Tor Japanese fried pork cutlet, mustard sauce. is a complete turnaround from and fruit (too dry and pithy). My broccoli, the dish was also topped prepared sous vide, which with Saboten (勝博殿), Anzu (杏子) Health-conscious diners may upstairs. The restaurant’s English appetizer, baked crabmeat and with baby corn and enokitake involves placing the steak in a and Koshiya (晃士家) among the find it consolatory to know that name sounds odd, but its Chinese cheese in mushroom (NT$120) mushrooms. The latter was an vacuum-sealed plastic bag along most popular. the restaurant uses brown rice oil, moniker connotes luscious was also unsatisfactory. I could incongruous touch, but added with a red wine jus, steaming it In its hometown of Hakone, which it touts as rich in vitamins, melted cheese. barely taste any shellfish and the some welcome texture and flavor. for eight hours, and then grilling Japan, Ginkatsutei has been to deep-fry the tonkatsu. Unfortunately Burned Cheese’s accompanying sauce, made of a My companion had the roasted it immediately before serving. making tonkatsu for more than Besides the pork fillet set menu, like its decor, is all over sugary substance flavored with pork spare rib with barbecue Robin’s Grill is located at the 35 years. The restaurant opened (里脊豬排御膳, NT$320) and pork the place, ranging from pasta a hint of balsamic vinegar, was sauce (NT$390). The ribs had some Grand Formosa Regent Taipei a branch in Taipei’s East District loin set (腰內豬排御膳, NT$350), dishes to barbecue ribs to a extremely sweet and a poor match deliciously tender meat; the sauce, (晶華酒店), 41, Zhongshan N Rd (東區) last year. the ginkatsu set meal (銀勝御 particularly awful sandwich. The for the mushroom and cheese. however, was unusually sweet and Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路 Unlike many tonkatsu 膳, NT$350), a popular choice, latter was the restaurant’s goose The food on a second visit had little tang. 二段41號). Tel: (02) 2523-8000. eateries, whose interior designs consists of two tempura prawns We had the restaurant’s signa- St Patrick’s Day is on favor wood and shades of and one tonkatsu chopped up ture cheesecake (NT$80), which Wednesday, but the Village Bar brown, Ginkatsutei’s strong into four portions. was topped with a shell of hard and Carnegie’s are getting a head palette of black and reds exudes Ginkatsutei’s must-try caramel-like creme brulee and start. At the former, tomorrow a chic mien. signature dish has little to do with probably the best part of our meal. and Wednesday from 8pm to The clever use of glass to meat: deep-fried breaded tofu, Despite its lackluster menu, 11pm, Irish expat bartender Niall partition the dining space makes served on a bed of tangy onion in Burned Cheese seems to be Clinton will be serving up the the restaurant look deceptively a clay pot, and accompanied with Top: Fried tofu with a small serving of doing well. Both floors were bar’s specials, including cans of spacious. a small portion of ground pork ground pork is Ginkatsutei’s signature filled on a Sunday evening Guinness at two for the price of However, when it comes to (豆腐勝煮御膳, NT$350). dish.  Photos: Ho Yi, Taipei Times and many diners were sipping one and NT$50 shots of Jameson, the food, the chef sticks with The bean curd is made cocktails (which range in price Tullamore Dew Whiskey and old-school simplicity rather than specially for the restaurant dessert and a soft drink. from NT$180 to NT$400) or Baileys. Address: 7 Beiping E Rd, a fancy menu of tonkatsu stuffed through a process that employs Shochu (燒酒) and beer are glasses of wine (NT$160 per Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號). with various fillings. sea salt to coagulate the soy also available. glass or NT$800 to NT$1,200 per At Carnegie’s on Tuesday Ginkatsutei’s pork fillet and milk instead of the often-used bottle) from a short wine list. from 7pm to 8pm there’s free pork loin cutlets are coated in quicklime. The service is friendly and quick. Guinness, and the menu consists a homemade breadcrumb mix, All set meals come with white On both my visits, the appetizers of corned beef and cabbage which alone deserves special rice, miso soup — exceedingly Burned Cheese 焦起司 Burned Cheese’s menu is all arrived in the middle of the meal. (NT$360) and Irish lamb stew mention, and deep-fried until salty — Japanese pickles, over the place. On my second visit, there was (NT$390). Address: 100, Anhe Rd golden and crispy. shredded cabbage dressed in Address: 11, Ln 93, Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路93巷11號) Telephone: (02) 2369-7532 Photo: Catherine Shu, Taipei Times a 15-minute lag between our Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二 The cutlet may look dry on a piquant vinegar and mustard Average meal: NT$200 to NT$300, plus 10 percent service charge Open: Noon to 3am main dishes, but at least dessert 段100號) Tel: (02) 2325-4433. the outside, but is gratifyingly sauce, an additional side dish, Details: Chinese and English menu, credit cards accepted arrived promptly.