14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 • TAIPEI TIMES BY Alita Rickards MUSIC stop The boys are back in town

compiled BY Catherine Shu he crowd watching Japanese math-funk band “When people asked him … he answered ‘No Zazen Boys perform at last year’s Music special idea in it, because it’s boring to care about op Stop readers will know blonde man outside the nightclub, Terminals outdoor concert in Taoyuan gave the this’ — I deeply relate to him in this.” that (吳建豪) has who offered him the baggie of Van Ness Wu Tband and lead vocalist and guitarist Mukai Shutoki He gives the example of a painter using a recently gotten very cozy with marijuana. Zhou said that the bag such a warm response that it more than made certain color on a canvas because it feels right and PGod. The Taiwanese-American cost him NT$2,000 and that all he up for the scorcher of a day: “It was very hot,” touches you, and said that the reason never comes heartthrob called on his new best wanted to do was go home, have said Shutoki. “The heavy sunshine made us feel to one’s mind but allows others to “decide freely.” friend for support last week when something to eat and drink and sunburned. The people surprised us, their passion Zazen Boys’ music is more aggressive and his production company became then “relax.” is as hot as the weather.” physical when they perform live, with heavy embroiled in a drug scandal. Wu TV producer (沈 Chen Yulin The eclectic, eccentric front man said that he beats and what Shutoki calls “illusory lyrics.” In hauled a copy of the Bible to a 玉琳) appeared to be on some- felt a “special passion” from the Taiwanese that has their first attempt to “challenge minimal house press conference where he and thing at his wedding last week, been missing in Tokyo for some time. The band, music” the band adds to it the “original style of Smash and Grab Productions but the only thing he was high which tours extensively, played to a packed crowd Zazen Boys” he said, which is based on math rock, (天地仁和電影公司) co-founder on was life ... or his 25-year-old of local youths who crowded to the stage and filled complex rhythms and extended improvisational (洪天祥) both denied wife (吳曉純), also Jimmy Hung Wu Hsiao-chun the field with dancing bodies. songs, with a newer synth-funk sound. any wrongdoing. known as Yaya (芽芽), who is 17 “We’re very happy that the audience feels free Self-described as a “weird Japanese rock band,” The trouble started when a years Chen’s junior. According to dancing to our beats,” said Shutoki, who returns Shutoki’s Zazen Boys rely on the fact that while police raid of the film company’s reports in the Apple Daily, 700 tomorrow for a show at Legacy. you may not know what their music is, you’ll know office uncovered a baggie of guests attended the lavish 81-table He envisions his avant-garde band, successor if you like it. marijuana in an employee’s banquet. Chen entertained the to his previous group Number Girl, as “Led belongings. Apple Daily described gathering with a failed attempt Zeppelin in kimonos” and labels their albums 29-year-old Chou Ichuan (周毅銓) at hula-hooping, some very moist in a similar fashion — numerically. The first PERFORMANCE notes: as Wu’s “clingy assistant,” but Wu’s tongue wrestling with Wu and two albums were well-received but the third, manager insisted that her client had touching proclamations of love: which was more ambient, improvisational and only known the alleged pothead “[Wu’s] a good daughter, she takes What: Zazen Boys experimental earned mixed reviews. In addition for one or two weeks. Chou’s three care of me, her bedroom kung-fu When: Tomorrow at 8pm, doors at open to a slew of live albums, the band released a roommates were also arrested on skills [床上功夫] are excellent and, at 7pm fourth studio album in 2008 that features more charges related to drug trafficking. most importantly, she’ll never Where: Legacy Taipei, located at Huashan synthesizers and a funk edge. Hung and Wu appeared at a bash me on television!” 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall “A few years ago we started to make songs joint press conference after the The last part was a jab at (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City using a laptop,” said Shutoki, who likes to compose arrests. Despite being clad in Chen’s ex-girlfriend, television (台北市八德路一段1號) while touring. “The atmosphere in the hotel room black leather and sporting a tough- host (佩真), who he dated Admission: NT$900 in advance (today) Peajen outside Tokyo is very lonely, so I could make some looking buzz cut, Wu appeared for eight years. The two climbed through Family Mart FamiPort kiosks, lonely sounds.” very pious — and, indeed, demure to the top ranks of show business NT$1,200 at the door He is evasive when asked to analyze or explain — as he clutched the Good Book. (or at least the top ranks of the Details: For more information, e-mail what inspires him, referring instead to a response He dismissed rumors that he’d B-list) together before splitting that Japanese artist Ohtake Shinro made when [email protected] shaved his head to avoid a drugs up. Peajean has referred to Chen asked about his point of view on his art works: On the Net: www.legacy.com.tw test, saying that his new coif was on her talk show as a heartless for an independent film he shot two-timer. Nonetheless, she put in last month in the US. Both men an appearance at the banquet with Zazen Boys are all shades of funk. Photo courtesy of Zazen Boys distanced themselves from Chou a NT$8,000 hongbao in hand, tell- and his alleged herbal remedy. ing reporters that she and Chen “I told him not to bring that kind remained good friends. BY Elvis AnbEr of stuff to work and he said he Before the wedding, wouldn’t touch it again,” said Wu’s friends ribbed Chen CLUBBING Hung. “One of our employees by forcing him to enter made a mistake, it doesn’t mean the hotel in a pair of it has anything to do with the high heels and sing rest of the company.” while hula hooping One jump ahead Hung went on to (the toy fell kvetch about the police almost instantly, officers who’d searched crashing into a omorrow night’s edition of Club Cowed by routine police raids (Hong Smash and Grab, coffee table). Jump’s monthly Follow Me bash will Kong actor and singer William So (蘇永康) complaining that he’d At the banquet, revive some of the best tech house of was busted at the club in 2002 for taking been ordered to leave Chen praised Tthe past decade. Ecstasy, unleashing a torrent of moral the premises. “They Wu for her skill Fresh from parties in Kaohsiung and outrage in the vernacular press), the acted like we were at preparing Taichung over the Lunar New Year, venue closed in 2004, and then reopened all drug traffickers,” instant noodles. DJ Jimmy Chen (陳怡成) says he’ll play at a different location in the form of AXD. Hung wailed to The 700 guests, underground tunes, despite the mostly When AXD shut up shop in 2007, a new reporters, before adding who caused gay crowd’s penchant for the vocal management team renamed the venue that if urine samples a traffic jam prowess of mainstream artists. Club Jump and promoted it exclusively as could prove Hung and in front of the “Gay people are not into a gay club. Wu’s innocence, both reception venue, underground,” Chen said. “They prefer Follow Me is six years old and attracts men would be more than included semi- vocal divas. I don’t mind playing pop, but an international crowd. Promoted on happy to step up to celebs, such as I’m careful in what I choose. It has to be Fridae.com, Asia’s leading gay social the cup. actors Ma Kuo-hsien a good remix.” networking Web site, partygoers from According to Apple (馬國賢), Jonathan Chen says he longs for the days when Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Daily, Chou admitted to Chang (張克帆),Ding members of the gay community exhibited Singapore regularly attend the night. possessing marijuana but Guolin (丁國琳) and Riva a more nuanced and discriminating taste “I like that people come from all over insisted he didn’t sell it Zhang (張芳奕). TV host in music. to Jump, making it a more international (his roommates also say Jacky Wu (吳宗憲) was “Follow Me in the beginning played crowd,” says Chen. “No one wants to be they are innocent of the Chen’s best man and underground, progressive house. But the just local.” drug trafficking charges). joked during his speech gay scene has changed over the past two Joining Chen tomorrow night are DJs Jimmy Chen plays at Follow Me, one of ’s longest running club nights. PhotO COURTESY OF JIMMY CHEN While being questioned that the groom’s father years,” Chen said. Tiger, Eric Chang and Stone. by police, Chou claimed was only interested in In the early noughties, TeXound, one Follow Me takes place the last he’d gotten drunk in the Ding’s cleavage. of Taipei’s more notorious underground Saturday of each month. Tomorrow 市基隆路一段8號B1). Advance tickets are Entry at the door is NT$700. Tel: (02) East District’s (東區) Room clubs, drew a mixed crowd to the tune of from 11pm to 6am at Club Jump, B1, available online at ticket.topfong.com 2756-0055, 0939-458-333. On the Net: 18 and bumped into a Van Ness Wu packs the Good progressive and tech house. 8, Keelung Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北 for NT$500, or NT$350 for students. www.club-jump.com Book. Photo: Taipei times

BY Catherine Shu BY David Chen RESTAURANTS TIDBITS Sweet Dynasty 糖朝 espite rumors of its pending easily pass as nouveau Taiwanese another sin: the bacon was not in demise because of the cuisine and I made note of the the least bit crispy. You’d expect oting for The Miele Address: 160, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段160號) economic downturn early Aurora sauce (a tomato cream an American gourmet chain to get Guide 2010/2011, Dlast year, Dean & DeLuca’s Taipei sauce) marinated shrimp and that right. which lists Asia’s finest Telephone: (02) 2772-2889 Open: 11:30am to 2am Average meal: Most desserts branch at Breeze Center (微風廣 cuttlefish salad (NT$110 per 100g) The shop, with clean white Vrestaurants, opens on March are less than NT$100 per serving; most savory dishes range from NT$200 to NT$300 Details: Chinese, English and Japanese menu; credit cards accepted 場) is still around and continues to to try on a future visit. walls and furnished with marble 10 at www.mieleguide.com offer gourmet and specialty foods. There’s a hot foods set menu tables, blurs the line between and closes May 19. Voters The imported grocery selection (NT$300, includes a meat or upscale cafe and grocery store. are required to register to weet Dynasty (糖朝) has sauce. In fact, supplying guests is hodge-podge at best — the seafood main course, three side The spacious design allows you ensure each ballot is unique earned a reputation in with seems to be a neighboring supermarket has a items, soup and bread), but the to browse while waiting for your and can cast a maximum of Hong Kong and Taiwan for weak point in Sweet Dynasty’s wider variety — not to mention selections sit under a heat lamp food and offers some relief from three votes for restaurants Sexcellent desserts. Its Chinese service. On both our visits, we overpriced. Unless you really want and don’t look as appetizing. For the claustrophobic layout of the in their own country out of language name is a pun on Tang had to grab a tray to fork out NT$780 on a jar of jam something hot and fresh, the deli Breeze Center’s basement floors. the 10 votes allotted. Dynasty, and the restaurant takes from a neighboring table, only from France, spend your money serves made-to-order hot items, The Taipei store pales in com- The establishments in its treats seriously, with a fifth of to have it whisked away by staff at the excellent deli, which offers including a truffle mushroom pasta parison to what one would find at the guide were short-listed the menu dedicated to (豆 almost immediately. They were hot foods and Mediterranean-style (NT$360), mentaiko pasta with a D&D branch in New York City or by restaurant critics across 花), or tofu pudding, sweet soups, refilling the bottles, a process that hors d’oeuvres. nori seaweed (NT$320) and a club Napa Valley. One glaring omission Asia. The final selection is bubble tea and other confections. seemed to take forever. Sweet Dynasty’s desserts excel, but its The NT$300 set menu includes sandwich (NT$280). is the lack of a cheese selection, based on the public vote, a But the restaurant’s savory dishes, This was unfortunate, because savory dishes and are hit-or- four items from the cold deli, soup Dean & DeLuca’s bacon but there are foodie delights such jury of food and beverage which include a wide variety of many of our other savory courses miss. Photo: Catherine Shu, Taipei Times and bread. I liked everything I cheeseburger (NT$250) should as aged balsamic vinegars and professionals and incognito dim sum staples, are hit-and-miss. could have used some help. From had on a recent visit: The grilled have been a runaway winner. They fancy European chocolates. The tastings by The Miele Some were very good, the photo in Sweet Dynasty’s pudding with almond soup (豆 vegetables (available a la carte for get points for a fresh, homemade company also brands a few local Guide team. including the fried turnip cake picture menu, we expected our 腐花杏仁露, NT$80), a comforting NT$85 per 100g), which consisted beef patty and a proper sesame delicacies, although it’s hard to Touted as Asia’s (煎北菇蘿蔔糕, NT$70), which has plate of water spinach (空心菜, pick for a cold afternoon. On of generous portions of sliced bun, but they use processed imagine Taiwanese shoppers first independent and a crispy exterior that gives way NT$160 or NT$220 depending warmer days, the sago soup with zucchini, red bell peppers and cheese and don’t even bother purchasing pineapple jam made authoritative dining guide, to a tender middle punctuated on portion size) to come topped fresh fruit (鮮雜果西米露, NT$90), pumpkin, had a nice smoky flavor. to melt it onto the burger. And in Nantou County at NT$680 a jar the team says the guide with crisp turnip pieces and soft with slices of ginger, garlic, chili which features watermelon, The Caesar salad (NT$80 per and high mountain oolong tea for strives to be the true and mushroom slices. The steamed peppers and other exciting flavor cantaloupe and honeydew balls 100g), something that few places NT$1,200 for 110g. credible voice of the dining rice roll with shrimp (鮮玻璃明 enhancers. Instead, we got a and tiny pearls made from sago in Taipei seem to get right, hit a Dean & DeLuca also has an culture every year. 蝦腸粉, NT$160) and steamed heap of unadorned veggies so palm starch floating in coconut perfect mix with a light creamy espresso bar that serves drinks Tidbits dusted off our dumpling with shrimp, pork soggy it left puddles on the table milk, is a refreshing choice. One dressing and fresh bacon bits and ranging from NT$70 to NT$130 crystal ball, and we predict and bamboo shoot (筍尖鮮蝦餃, whenever we lifted a portion to of the restaurant’s specialties is croutons. The smoked duck slices and stocks a small selection of that L’Atelier de Joel NT$100) were also pleasing. The our plates. The fried scallops tofu pudding in a cask (原木桶豆 stuffed with liver pate (NT$150 per desserts. A marketing tie-in with Robuchon, a three-star tiny bits of bamboo in the latter’s with egg white (蛋白炒帶子, 腐花, NT$220) for splitting among 100g) were heavenly. clothing label Ed Hardy (the bar Michelin restaurant chain, filling added a welcome contrast NT$340 or NT$510), or a pile of multiple diners. On a recent The deli takes advantage is currently dubbed the Ed Hardy which opened on Nov. 5 to the chewy rice wrapper. sauteed scallops sandwiched in weekend visit, almost every table of some local ingredients. The Cafe) makes sitting in the dining at the Bellavita shopping The seafood and pork shiumai between a layer of egg white and had a wooden bucket sitting creamy sweet potato and shrimp area annoying as they play a center in Taipei City’s Xinyi (海皇燒賣, NT$100), or steamed slices, was also bland. on it. salad (NT$100 per 100g) could 15-minute promotional video in a District (5F, 90 Songren Rd, dumplings stuffed with shrimp A meal at Sweet Dynasty continual loop. If hearing the same Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號 and pork and topped with a should be planned so that five songs (1980s music) over and 5樓) tel: (02) 8729-2628), sprinkling of shrimp roe, were a most of what you eat comes The bacon cheeseburger at over again sounds unappealing, will top the bill and boost disappointment, partly because off the restaurant’s dessert Dean & DeLuca Dean and Deluca was good, think twice before dining in. the country’s meager five they were overcooked, leaving the menu. Standouts include the but should have been better. Catering is available. Visit entries in the last edition, wrapper slightly too chewy. The steamed egg custard buns (蛋 Address: B2, 39, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (微風廣場台北市復興南路一段39號B2樓) Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times Dean & DeLuca’s Taiwan Web and may make the Asia top shiumai was also not served with 王蒸, NT$80), which are also Telephone: (02) 6600-8888 X7301, X7321 for catering services Open: 10am to 10pm site for details, or call (02) 6600- 20 list. the customary mustard dipping available fried, and the hot tofu Average meal: NT$300 to NT$500 On the Net: www.deananddeluca.com.tw 8888 X7321.