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MAGAZINE, May 2003
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Mushroom
Garden Hot Pot Restaurant
17, Wenshin Rd., Sec. 1
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By
Uvia Chang
Translated by Yvonne Chen
The wonderful flavor of mushrooms has long captured many hearts.
Like the legendary Mushroom God, Taichung's Mushroom Garden
Hot Pot Restaurant focuses on wild mushrooms. The sixth branch
in Taiwan, this three-story restaurant--located next to the
Together outdoor recreation store--is clean and refreshing,
as large glass windows clearly reveal the interior for a comfortable
setting. A cooking range rests in the center of each table
and the plates are unadorned pottery ware.
Here, you can taste rare mushrooms--up to 50 different varieties--locally
grown as well as imported from Yunnan, China. Once seated,
Babao Tea, made with pontahai, dates, chrysanthemum and ginseng,
is served. The chilled Abalone Mushrooms (sashimi style) surpass
real sashimi. |
Hot pot ingredients include the usual assorted vegetables, tofu
and meat slices, as well as delicious Mushroom Garden Meatballs.
The ingredients are free of food colorings, borax and artificial
flavors. The soup stock, which has no seasoning, is made by simmering
black bone chicken, Chinese wolfberries, dates, wild mushrooms and
reishi. The waiter starts you with a sip of the stock as he explains
the benefits of the mushrooms: the red beef liver mushroom relieves
heat and expedites urine excretion, the sea cucumber-like white
beef liver mushroom replenishes blood and the goose egg mushroom
relieves heat and neutralizes toxins. There also countless others,
which are said to possess anti-oxidant, cancer-fighting and immunity-boosting
properties.
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The hot pot specials include Healthy Gourmet, Beauty Diet, and
Naturally Healthy Vegetarian pots; the mushrooms are specially
chosen for their beneficial properties. The two-serving price
starts at NT$460 and includes dessert and petite buns. If you
are into health, nourishment and good food, don't miss this
place. |
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