Hsin Tung Yang Sesame flavored dried bean curd: Dried bean curd is one of my favorite Taiwanese snacks and is not quite like anything I've had from American grocery stores. Fried bean curd, saturated in sesame oil, is wrinkled almost like an enlarged raisin, but comes in large strips like beef jerky. It has an intensely savory sweet chili-garlic flavor and leaves your fingers and tongue slick with a (unhealthy) coating of grease, which undoubtably adds to its deliciousness. I can't say exactly where this bag was from as my parents had i... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended taiwanese asian tofu hsintungyang sesame flavored dried bean curd 4.0
Cosmos Tteokbokki Rice Crackers: Korean spicy and sweet rice crackers shaped like rigatoni, with the exact opposite texture of the typically soft and chewy cylindrical rice cakes. Tastes of fermented gochujang chili paste, which is a staple in most Korean cooking so will taste familiar if you enjoy eating Korean stews. More sweet than savory but has a mildly spicy aftertaste. This is the second brand I've tried from HMart, and they seem pretty much interchangeable but both delicious. 4.0/5.0
recommended junkfood korean hmart chili cosmos tteokbokki rice crackers 4.0
Fever Tree Bitter lemon: Intended to be a mixer, but I still like this lemon carbonated beverage on its own. Sharp acidic flavor, with a slight tonic-water after taste (contains quinine). Purchased in pack of four 6.8 fluid ounce containers. 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks citrus fevertree bitter lemon 4.0
Leonelli Focacceria E Pasticceria Pumpkin ricotta cheesecake: An accomplished dessert sandwich with a crispy base, smooth and creamy ricotta and pumpkin cheesecake, and toasted marshmallow (my favorite part). Memorable seasonal dessert from Flatiron-based pastry shop. 4.0/5.0
recommended dessert nyc pastry marshmallow leonellifocacceriaepasticceria pumpkin ricotta cheesecake 4.0
Luscombe Grapefruit tonic water: I'm usually not a fan of the tangy, bitter flavor of tonic water, but this grapefruit tonic water from Luscombe is acidic and fruity, with a more mild quinine flavor. The bottle is about half the size of their regular soda bottles. Another great flavor from Luscombe. 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks tonicwater luscombe grapefruit tonic water 4.0
Kuan Sheng Food Seaweed Thin Crackers: These are specialty crackers from Taiwan that are bright matcha green. They contain a kitchen sink of Asian ingredients, from buckwheat to glutinous rice, mung beans, green tea powder, black sesame, and, of course, seaweed. Altogether, though, it somehow works, creating thin, buttery cookies that taste earthy yet faintly sweet and has a slight medicinal quality to it (it contains some mixed Chinese herbs as well). My mom brought this home as a gift from one of her students, so I’m not sur... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended cookies asian taiwanese kuanshengfood seaweed thin crackers 4.0