14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2010 • TIMES

compiled BY Ian Bartholomew TIDBITS is a sorry state of affairs when the reviews of an event that was disrupted has used his connections to advance country’s top gossip rag is reduced to by heavy rain, time overruns and some Angelbaby’s career in China, where peddling rumors based on tarot card uninspired emceeing. Harlem Yu (庾澄慶) the 21-year-old actress is currently he National Palace Museum’s Itreadings, but the denials of (周 has taken lots of flak since and has even promoting a “photo album” titled (國立故宮博物院文會堂) 杰倫) and former inamorata (蔡 promised to swear off future MC gigs. Paradise featuring pics of her extended opening hours, 依林) have offered little room for creative As everyone already knows, pop diva stop in various states of undress Twhich began yesterday, are (mis)interpretation. Pop Stop reported last Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹), better known as while staying in Guam. 8:30am to 6:30pm (originally 9am week that Tsai had simply replied, “Getting A-mei (阿妹), was the biggest winner of Otaku, eat your hearts out. to 5pm). Silks Palace Restaurant back together? Thanks, but I’m not crazy,” the evening, which according to the afore- Speaking of which, a (故宮晶華), which is located at when asked if she would be rekindling mentioned fortune-teller, was a direct popular band and male mandarin , new star has appeared the museum, is serving a dinner romance with Chou after a steamy onstage result of her breakup with basketball respectively, for the first half of this year. on the otaku firmament. special Mondays to Fridays. performance at a recent concert. heartthrob Sam Ho (何守正), who brought Elsewhere, the news on the street Meet Da Yuan (大元), Parties of four National Palace Next Magazine unearthed various bad luck to her career. Ho had the good is that actress Gong Li (鞏俐) has finally real name Lin Ying-chen (林盈 Museum ticket holders who dine circumstantial details about the frequency grace to text A-mei to congratulate her, called time on her troubled marriage to 臻), who has leveraged her 32E breasts at the first-floor restaurant will that Chou and Tsai have been in but local media are already designating Singaporean tobacco tycoon Ooi Hoe- into celebrity status across the Chinese- receive a Treasure Chest Dessert communication over the past half year him as very much a “former” boyfriend. seong (黃和祥). The story broke in The speaking world. A recent spot on the Collection for free. and provided a report of Tsai’s sister While most applauded A-mei’s Southern Metropolis Entertainment CtiTV (中天) variety program University The Grand Formosa Regent Tsai Min-wen (蔡旻紋) visiting a tarot recognition by the Weekly (南都娛樂周刊) earlier this week (大學生了沒), where her cleavage served as Taipei is also getting in on the card reader and asking about Jolin’s love (she received her first Best Female and is now being coupled with rumors of a more than adequate substitute for wit act. Its National Palace Culture life. While the fortune-teller would not Mandarin Singer award eight years ago), a possible budding relationship between or personality, seems to have cemented Fest package comprises a reveal the content of the consultation, he consensus did not go across the board. Gong and John Cusack, her co-star in her place in otaku heaven and secured a two-day, one-night stay at the agreed to make another reading for the There are some who beg to differ regarding the film Shanghai, which is currently number of advertising contracts. She will hotel anytime before the end magazine, in which he revealed that the the Golden Melody Awards given to David showing in . now be going tit-to-tit with other big- of December, a complimentary two superstars are likely to build on their Tao (陶喆) and boy band 1976. In other celebrity news, things may breasted beauties such as Yaoyao (瑤瑤), breakfast for two, two tickets recent good relations. The cards say that The girl group S.H.E and crooner Lin be getting hot and sweaty, but in a good real name Kuo Shu-yao (郭書瑤), and Tofu to the National Palace Museum, the Double-Js (雙-J) are about to become Yu-chia (林宥嘉), who were both given way. The rumored affair between aspiring Sister (豆花妹), real name Tsai Huang-ru dinner at Silks Palace for two, an item. But don’t hold your breath. the cold shoulder by the Golden Melody actress Angelbaby, real name Yang Ying (蔡黃汝). Let the battle begin! and shuttle services between The dust is still settling on the 21st panel, won recognition from HitFM’s (楊穎), and successful actor and singer the hotel and the museum. The Golden Melody Awards ceremony that Global Pop Music Charts (全球流行音 Huang Xiaoming (黃曉明) is now out in Tofu Sister faces new competition in the form of package is priced at NT$6,200 took place on Saturday, with mixed 樂金榜), who picked them as the most the open. According to NOW.com, Huang Angelbaby. Photo: Taipei Times per room. Silks Palace models its dishes after the museum’s many BY David Chen artworks, including renditions THEATER of the famous Jadeite Cabbage With Insects and Meat-Shaped Stone, and artistic interpretations of classic fare, such as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (佛跳牆) stew, which is served in a white bowl that references the classic three-legged cauldrons of the A new neighbor, Warring States period. The National Palace Culture Fest package is limited to Taiwan National Identification Card or Alien Resident Certificate a new lover holders. To make a reservation, call Grand Formosa Regent Taipei at (02) 2523-8000. PERFORMANCE notes Address: National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院), 221, What: TungCo Performance Group presents Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei City Apartment 3A by Jeff Daniels (台北市至善路二段221號). Silks When: Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm Palace is located to the left of the Where: Crown Theater (皇冠藝文中心小劇場), B1, museum’s main exhibition hall. 50, Ln 120 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei City (台北市敦化北 Tel: (02) 2882-9393. On the Net: 路120巷50號B1) www.silkspalace.com.tw Admission: NT$350, available at the door or For those looking to celebrate in advance through NTCH ticketing or online at US Independence Day, Mr www.artsticket.com.tw Sausage’s kitchen is holding a On the Net: 4th of July party on Sunday from www.tungco.org, tungco.pixnet.net/blog 12:30pm to 6:30pm, comprising a menu of American favorites as well as lots of Americana on sale. Address: 5-1, Alley 4, Ln 12, Looking for love in all the wrong places. TungCo Performance Group presents Apartment 3A, a romantic comedy written by American actor Jeff Daniels. Photo courtesy of TungCo Performance Group Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市 八德路三段12巷4弄5-1號). Tel: (02) 2579-0396 our lover has cheated on you. You have an emotional But Annie’s escape to a new neighborhood in a quest to start native who first cultivated a love for theater as an English literature meltdown at work. The world suddenly seems meaningless. anew only places her in another love triangle. There’s the neighbor major in university and spent several years in the UK getting an But everything gets turned around by moving into an empty, in Apartment 3B, Donald, played by Canadian expat Brandon MFA in actor and director training at the University of Exter. Yshabby apartment with paint peeling off the walls and befriending Thompson, who invites himself into Annie’s apartment and warns As with many small theater troupes, TungCo is a labor of love the oddball neighbor next door. her not to fall in love with him. for Tung, who teaches English during the day to pay the bills. The This is the backdrop for the character of Annie in Apartment Donald exercises a weird charm over Annie, who starts to con- group launched in 2008 with a Chinese-language version of Edward 3A, a play written by the American actor Jeff Daniels that is being fide in him, but he tells her that he’s happily married even though Albee’s Zoo Story, and Apartment 3A is the group’s first English- staged by TungCo Performance Group (膛口表演據團) tomorrow and his wife isn’t around. language play. Sunday at Crown Theater (皇冠藝文中心小劇場). At work, she is pursued by a smitten co-worker, Elliot, played Tung stumbled upon Apartment 3A during one of TungCo’s Annie, played by Chang Man-shu (張嫚書), decides in haste to by Ofey Chen (陳承佑). Patty Wu (吳可熙) also stars in the play as weekly readings and says he was immediately struck by its move into Apartment 3A after a rotten day. She walks in on her Annie’s landlord. “entertaining” humor. But he finds Annie’s predicament — living in boyfriend while is in the middle of performing acrobatic acts of Daniels’ romantic comedy is full of fast-paced, witty banter a world where “nobody cares” — even more compelling. adultery with another woman on the dining room table. Then she that could go over the heads of non-native English speakers, so “Annie is like everybody, because we all have rent to pay, we suffers an embarrassing breakdown at her job as a fund-raiser for TungCo will be providing Chinese subtitles on a projector screen have jobs to go to, and she is also looking for an answer for life,” a public television station, which culminates in her telling viewers for the audience. he said. during a telethon that Sesame Street’s Big Bird was going to die TungCo, a group of a half dozen actors and theater enthusiasts, “‘What are we doing here?’ she says at some point ... and that’s Silks Palace’s Treasure Chest Dessert unless they donated money. was founded by 29-year-old director Don Tung (董紫儀), a Chaiyi kind of the million-dollar question that everyone’s asking.” Collection. Photo COURTESY OF SILKS PALACE

RESTAURANTS BY Noah Buchan BY David Chen 三大 here’s not much room for if a little stiff in demeanor. The Sanda dancing at Mango Tango, intimate seating arrangement Address: 205 Tingzhou Rd, Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市汀洲路二段205號) but diners might find suits couples on a date, but the Tthemselves wooed by this East atmosphere seems geared more Telephone: (02) 2366-0103 Average meal: NT$200 for lunch, NT$400 for dinner Open: Tuesdays to Sundays 11:30am to 2pm and 5pm to 9:30pm District establishment’s creative toward revelers warming up Details: Chinese menu, credit cards not accepted, reservations necessary variations on Thai cuisine and for an evening of club-hopping. chic lounge bar atmosphere. Ambient electronica music plays The dimly lit dining area is on the house speakers a little too he first thing you need to ingredients, such as mirin, that furnished with plush sofas and loudly even at dinnertime, when know about Sanda (三大) is might have distracted from their easy chairs, perfect for leaning the restaurant is just starting its that reservations are required. subtle taste. Also notable was the back after stuffing yourself day. Indeed, Mango Tango offers TTucked among a row of teashops octopus salad. The tiny — perhaps with Mango Tango’s tapas-style many reasons to stay until the wee and breakfast nooks along far too tiny — dollop came entrees and stir-fry dishes. hours. It has an extensive selection Tingzhou Road (汀洲路) close to presented on a soupspoon and was When ordering, it’s hard of tropical cocktails starting from the Guting MRT Station (古亭捷運 enlivened by spicy hints of wasabi. to go wrong with the chef’s NT$250, wines starting from 站), the Japanese-style restaurant The bland kimchi and salty recommendations listed on the NT$1,000 per bottle and beer, with serves a steady stream of clients egg custard were standard menu. Don’t let the awkward Grilled lamb chops with lemongrass and Thai pesto at Mango Tango. Singha NT$150 a bottle. for its lunch and dinner specials. additions and seemed more of an English names for the dishes Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times But teetotalers aren’t left out Sanda’s tiny interior has the afterthought, as did the dessert. turn you off. The Thai style pesto of the fun. The house specialty feel of a fish bowl in the way But the miso soup and fresh salad sauce mutton chop (泰式青醬羊 a layer of stringy rice vermicelli lemongrass as its main ingredient happens to be a non-alcoholic patrons are squeezed into its with miso dressing made this 排, NT$380) is more appetizing before being deep-fried. The and comes with a generous version of the Mango Tango cramped space. The kitchen, with weekly special good value. than it sounds: The “mutton” result is an unusual look and a serving of chopped shitake and (NT$200) cocktail, a refreshing its rectangular shape and glass Somewhat disappointing was is actually tender lamb chops nicely textured crunch. Each white button mushrooms. A few blend of fresh mangoes, orange front, looks like a small aquarium the Taiwanese interpretation of grilled medium rare; and the order comes with five pieces sprigs of cilantro enhance the juice and lemon. and enables diners sitting at the maki sushi (NT$120). The virtue pesto is more of a vinaigrette topped with a squiggle of wasabi subtle fragrance of this soup, Mango Tango is located near tables for two or four directly of maki resides in the flexibility of dipping sauce spiced with finely mayonnaise, which made the which serves two. Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT Station across from it to watch the chefs the ingredients you can add. The chopped red onion, cilantro perfect grace note. The menu lists plenty of Thai (忠孝敦化捷運站) exit No. 4. slicing raw fish and rolling maki. two versions served here — one and chili peppers. The lamb is It’s hard to pass on the restaurant standards, including Listed above the dining area is wrapped with nori (dried seaweed) garnished with freshly chopped lemongrass spare ribs (香茅醬燒 green papaya salad (青木瓜沙拉, the week’s special, which was a and the other, inside out, with a A reasonably priced menu, fresh ingredi- lemongrass, which shows up in 排骨, NT$280), the restaurant’s NT$200), a variety of vegetable seven-piece sashimi set platter layer of roe — contained cooked ents and generous portions keeps Sanda’s a lot of Mango Tango’s dishes. answer to the classic Chinese greens stir-fried with shrimp (NT$200) on the day we went. egg, imitation crabmeat, cucumber reservation book full.  Here it adds a sharp zest and dish of sweet and sour pork. The paste (NT$160 to NT$200) and a Two pieces each of salmon, and the dreaded fuzzy pork. My  Photo: Noah Buchan, Taipei Times proves to be a nice alternative to deep-fried chunks of spare rib selection of green and red curries yellowtail and saba kazunoko dining companion, who didn’t the usual rosemary seasoning. meat are juicy and tender and (NT$220 to NT$270). For those and one slice of tuna arrived on share my reservations about the thick noodles (NT$130), but here The fried shrimps with Thai garnished with lemongrass and who like to keep it simple, the pad a plate with separate dishes of latter intrusion, eagerly gobbled Sanda slightly upped the ante sauce (琵琶蝦, NT$350) sent me kaffir lime leaves. Thai (NT$200) is a winner. garden salad, miso soup, kimchi, them down. with the addition of clams. Fried deep into a soul-food comfort The misnamed grass The wait staff is comprised egg custard, white rice, octopus Sanda’s menu also has a with soy sauce and sweet vinegar, zone. Medium-sized prawns are mushroom soup (香茅野花 of mostly 20-somethings who salad and dessert. The saba number of a la carte dishes that the seafood retained its delicate covered in a flour wrap and then 湯, NT$260) also uses fresh are polite, attentive and efficient, (mackerel) with kazunoko (herring are worth a try. The gorgeously flavors, and the cabbage and roe) sashimi was particularly presented seafood salad (NT$130) spinach added a flavorful crunch. memorable. Not usually a fan of contained cuttlefish and shrimp Sanda doesn’t score high Mango Tango roe, I found that the briny and that were mixed with fresh marks for originality. But with slightly crunchy yellow eggs greens and a tangy miso dressing a reasonably priced menu, Address: 12, Alley 17, Ln 170, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段170巷17弄12號) balanced nicely with the sweet and topped with salmon roe. fresh ingredients and generous Telephone: (02) 8773-2724 X8206 Details: English and Chinese menu, credit cards accepted saba. The other fish slices were Also containing cuttlefish and portions, it is easy to understand Open: Monday to Thursday 5:30pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday 5:30pm to 3am fresh and free of any additional prawns was the seafood with why the place is always booked. Average meal: NT$400 to NT$500 On the Net: mangotango-taipei.blogspot.com Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times