Fresh & Aged Italian Steakhouse

Address: 台北市內湖區民善街128號2F

Telephone: (02)2796-1566

Hours: 11:30-14:30; 17:30-21:30

What is simultaneously as gratifying and simplistic as a piece of perfectly cooked meat?  I've been through this, but it warrants repeating.  Steak somehow manages to go beyond appealing to our basic five senses, but reaches a plain where it causes a more visceral reaction in all of us meat lovers.  Like trained dogs we salivate and begin to ooh and aah as that slab of meat (in all of its medium rare glory) winds its way towards our dining plate.
How many of histories most important conversations have occurred across a dining table? How many of those very same conversations involved steak? I'm willing to bet a rather high percentage.  Of course, I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, but i'm playing with a gut feeling here, and really, it is my gut after all that has gathered us here on this page... so it's something I've learned to trust a long long time ago.

This is all to say that food plays an important role in our lives that goes beyond mere subsistence.  It is something we congregate over, it is something we look forward to, and it brings us (well, most of us) so much joy.  It's been a while since I've ran my fingers over a keyboard to tout the virtues of food... again, I thought it worth repeating.  It's what makes writing this blog so much fun.

With that out of the way, let us get to the point of the review, and that is the steak and accoutrements offered at Fresh & Aged Italian Steakhouse (located in Neihu).  
I'm slightly out of practice in writing reviews, and I'll freely admit to experiencing Fresh & Aged over two months ago now.  I still have a clear idea of what I felt at the time, but I plan on keeping this review to the nuts and bolts and give an attempt to be quick about my overall opinion about this particular establishment.

Fresh & Aged Italian Steakhouse is going to cost you a pretty penny.  But that is always okay as long as that one underlining question is answered... is it worth it?  Well, in this instance, I'll have to be wishy washy and give it a resounding... kind of?

The restaurant is a sight to behold and offers a brand spanking new modern atmosphere for its diners to drink in.  They have private booths (that will cost a little extra) and ample seating in the main dining hall as well.  Fresh & Aged offers a variety of non steak options on its menu (such as fish/pasta/soups.. etc.) in addition to an extensive salad/dessert bar buffet.

Liked the atmosphere, loved the salad bar.

Soups left a lot on the table.  Emphatic thumbs down.

For my money, the best part of the dining experience involved the salad bar/buffet.  For some reason, it always seems like this is the case for me.  These steakhouse/salad bar deals ends up with me eating copious amounts of food from the salad bar (while of course devouring the steak as well).  This maybe has something to do with my love for variety and eating my money's worth, but whatever the case, I found that the salad bar  at Fresh & Aged delivered the goods.

There was a good selection, and it was fresh and colorful.  The desserts were yummy, and I really had no complaints with what was offered in this area.  The best part? The salad bar is included in the dining experience at no additional charge.

As usual, this is the star and the main point of my review.  A steakhouse of course is selling its steaks, and in my opinion.. I've had better.  We ordered a t-bone and rib-eye to share among ourselves, and I thought all the steaks shared the same issue, a bit too chewy, some parts of the steak were burnt and overall, just an underwhelming experience.
But honestly, I'm only judging on what I expected.  If this was offered in a different type of establishment, I would have something different to say, but in this environment for this price tag (roughly 2000NT+ per person).. I found the quality to be lacking.

Some pasta and meat cut off the bone.

A few dessert options.

Fresh & Aged just went through a grand opening (re-opening?), so there is room for tweaks and such.  I have yet to experience the same level of Steak perfection here in Taiwan that I've found in the U.S.  It is true that I spend the bulk of my dining time enjoying the food and delicacies that Taiwan does oh so well, but that doesn't mean this area should be deficient.

There is also a grocery downstairs that is a part of the ownership group of the restaurant.  They offer a host of meat and seafood products for you to peruse at your own leisure.  

So let us sum this up quickly shall we? Did I enjoy my time at Fresh & Aged? Yes, yes I did.  But it also left me feeling like something was missing.  The price tag was handled by my ever loving sister and aunt, so perhaps the disappointment was mitigated someway by this.  But whatever the reason, I am willing to give Fresh & Aged another go if the opportunity arises.  After all, bad or mediocre steak is still steak after all.

Overall Fresh & Aged Italian Steakhouse Receives:

-Til Next Time-

Speaks to life in general.. kinda.  Trying to be philosophical and failing probably.

Looking good.

MEAT! All you can buy and more.

Quick Hits - 福大山東蒸餃大王

Address: No.11, Sec.1, Lane 140, Zhongshan N. Road, Taipei Taiwan. 台北市中山北路一段140巷11號

Telephone: (02)2541-319

Hours: Forthcoming.

This happened purely by impulse... but sometimes isn't that how the best things in life come about?  I had just finished brunch with a friend and was toting my camera around along with a full stomach.  But to be honest, it is rare indeed that being full has really ever deterred me from taking in that next bite.
She happened to point out that this little gem of a mom & pop store was hiding just around one of these alleys.  I wasn't going to let something as minute as popping a belt buckle stop me from checking it out while I had the chance.

To be honest, I had never heard of 福大山東蒸餃大王, but apparently many other people have, and here I bow down to their better judgement and my own ignorance.  I have always said that in my opinion, it is one of the crowning achievements in food to make simple dishes become more than they are.  By their very nature it is not difficult to make something basic taste good... but to make it great? That's a different matter altogether.
So was 福大山東蒸餃大王 great? Well.....

The essentials.

Hot and sour soup.  Could've been a bit more hot and sour-y for my tastes.

I hesitate to call it great.  Was it good? Oh most definitely it was very very good, and I would have no qualms with anyone claiming they like 福大山東蒸餃大王 more than say Ding Tai Fung or some other renowned purveyor of soup dumplings.  But, for my part, there was nothing discernible about 福大山東蒸餃大王's version that really made me want to stand up and order seconds (perhaps you can blame my already bloated stomach).

Look, everything you like about a soup dumpling is here.  It's juicy, the skin is chewy without being soggy and the meat is flavorful.  But like I said earlier... they made a basic thing good, but failed to achieve greatness.

Don't get me wrong... I could really eat these things all day. 

I am basically only comparing it to the perceived hype that I subsequently have read about.  It is a burden to live up to ones own expectations, and for me, I think 福大山東蒸餃大王 suffers from that.  Other than the soup dumplings all we had was some hot and sour soup.  And it was perfectly fine, exactly as you would expect.  

福大山東蒸餃大王 is a small store that has apparently carved out a relatively large name for itself and I give it high marks for achieving that.  But if this was a proper review I would rank it below some of the other establishments such as Yonghe Soy Milk King or Ding Tai Fung.  A travesty? Not in the least.  

But these are just the humble opinion of a man who may have eaten too much already that day.  Throw in your two cents and check it out for yourself please.

-Til Next Time-

Quick Hits - L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro 風流小館

Address: No. 5, Lane 164, Jinhua St. Taipei Taiwan.  台北市大安區金華街164巷5號

Telephone: (02) 3343-3937

Hours: 11:30AM-9PM (2PM-5PM is crepes only)

This was one of those instances where being full or hungry had little to do with our plans.  We were coming here, the size of our lunch be damned.  The original plan was to attack L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro for our entire afternoon meal, but things sometimes never work out the way you want them too.

So instead of taking in everything L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro had to offer, the sister and I settled for some crepes and to just take in the general atmosphere of this newly opened restaurant.

Just. Coffee. Pretty.

Let us first start off with the decor.  It is simple yet substantial and speaks volumes without saying a lot.  My favorite combination.  The interior somewhat mirrors what the chef is trying to do with her food in a lot of respects.  Stay simple yet really really pack a powerful punch.

Head Chef Dana Yu has created a name for herself through her work at notable establishments such as L'Atelier Joel Robuchon and Justin's Signatures.  With her training at the highest levels of French cuisine, Chef Yu has a strong desire to create something epicurically awesome (I just made that term up), but doing so without too much complication (at least this is what I read...).
This is another entry into the crowded market of cafes/bistros that are sprouting up throughout the city, but I dare say L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro if it doesn't offer up something different, then at the very least it brings class and elegance to the field.

Banana and Chocolate Crepe.  Light, airy, fluffy and not too heavy.  How a crepe is suppose to be I think, but I have the admit, I enjoy the crispy versions that can be found in night markets and shopping centers throughout the city as well.

There are a la carte options available on the dining menu, but from what I heard, it appears that the set meal for 2200NT is the ONLY way to go if you bother to come here.  The menu changes weekly based on the ingredients in the market, so one doesn't have to worry about coming here and experiencing the same standard fare over and over.

Lunch is between 11:30AM and 2PM, while only crepes and some select items are served between 2PM and 5PM, while 5PM til closing is of course dinner service.

Look I know this review will have to be fleshed out.  Only the bones exists for now, the meat will have to wait. But i'm highly anticipating my opportunity to experience L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro in all its glory.  For now, the crepes are delicate and I'm sure stay true to their French origins.  It's located in the ever Popular 永康街 (Yong Kang Street), where some of my favorite food can be found.  

If this is a test run, then L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro 風流小館 is sitting pretty with wonderful pole position.  

-Til Next Time-