“PRINCE” SPICY NOODLE CHIPS

"WE ALL KNOW HIM, A PUNK PRINCE WITH A BASEBALL CAP" This story of the distortion or/rebirth of a Prince, is either going to sound savagely wrong or/wistfully nostalgic, depending on whether or not you came from an island called Taiwan in all its quiet and subordinate existence just southeast of China.  You're looking at something called the wang-zi (prince) mian (noodle).  The extent of its popularity outside of Taiwan is a less certain matter but yeah, we all certainly know him, the punk-looking prince with a hideous baseball cap on a bright yellow and red-striped plastic bag, with a brick of fried noodles and seasonings inside.  Cup Noodles in bag-form. Except for the obvious disconnection between his look and the word "Prince", there was nothing out of the ordinary.  His journey only grew remarkable at a historic moment when he, among other bugs and such, became the victim of children's relentless savagery which left him deformed. Because the thing is, wang-zi-mian was never meant to be a snack.  It was meant to be cooked in boiling water like any proper instant noodle soups, as practiced in any other civilized culture with attention to rules.  But somewhere back in time, a reckless kid decided to spare

THE PINEAPPLE BUNS/PO LO BAO

"THEY HAUNTED ME LIKE THE SWEETEST NIGHTMARE" I want to begin today by saying, "I'm sorry, Kelly.  I sidetracked." A few weeks ago, a reader sent me an earnest suggestion saying that ever since she lost contact with one of her beloved things to eat, the curry beef buns from Chinese bakeries, that she has missed it dearly, and that it may fit eloquently into this humble blog of mine because from what it seems (and she's right), that I'd love me some curry, too.  Oh yes, Kelly.  Oh you have no idea, curry and me are like this.  We tight.  However

INSIDE-OUT BLACK SESAME STICKY RICE BALLS

"SO WHAT DOES THE LETTER 'Q' TASTE LIKE?" I.  Love.  This.  Stuff. Everybody, girls especially, who has or shares an Asian background, loves this stuff.  This stuff is so popular it's practically in the freezer section in every respectable Asian grocery stores, big or small.  This stuff is so unstoppable, that although originally meant to be eaten on a single Chinese holiday only, now is enjoyed all year round.  People look for excuses to eat this stuff.  Given that it's warm, soft and sweet, it's a comfort food for the mentally wounded.  But then again, given that it's a circle which symbolizes "wholeness" and "content", it's a must-item in Chinese weddings, too.  Boyfriend dumped you, you eat this stuff.  Getting hitched, you eat this stuff.  You see what I mean? This stuff is called tang-yuan (literally soup-circles), aka sticky rice balls. Why do Asians love sticky rice balls so much?  To add to your confusion, it all comes down the mystery of one single alphabetical letter - "Q". Asians love stuffs that are "Q", and this, this is "very Q". I'm sorry, what the fuck am I talking about?  I mean what does the letter "Q" taste like anyways!  What does any letter taste like?  But

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