Bland Milkfish Porridge in Taipei

Milkfish porridge is a common breakfast for the old Tainan people, but the last time I was in Tainan, I visited Atang Salty Congee and ordered a bowl of fish maw porridge, only to realize that a bowl had risen to 200 yuan! Although the taste is similar to the first time I ate it ten years ago, the price of one bowl is enough to eat two bentos. It seems that it can no longer be called " common people's breakfast ". It may be called " tourist's breakfast ". more appropriate.

In the breakfast of old Taipei people, milkfish porridge is definitely not in the top five; in Taipei, it is not so easy to find a shop that sells milkfish early in the morning. However, it is not completely absent. The fish maw porridge sold by " Qiuqiu Tainan Milkfish Porridge " at the South Airport has been around since I tasted it more than ten years ago. Taste it with greedy saliva. I moved to Linkou three years ago, and I haven't tasted the nostalgia for a long time.

At seven o'clock yesterday morning, my wife and I were crammed into the traffic on the Northbound Expressway. Because we finally couldn't resist Qiu Qiu's temptation, we decided to make a special trip just to satisfy our cravings.

After parking the car, we went straight to Qiuqiu. Fortunately, it was open that day, so it was not empty. When that bowl of milkfish maw porridge that I hadn't eaten in years came to the table, I really had the urge to move back to Taipei immediately.

Qiuqiu's fish porridge is not as surging as Tainan's fish porridge. There are neither fried dough sticks nor shallots, of course, no oysters, only a few stalks of coriander garnished; the rice grains are cooked rice, and then topped with fish bone soup. Congee, so the grains are distinct; its soup is crystal clear, a strong contrast to Ah Tang's rich soup.

However, the beauty of Qiuqiu fish porridge is here, without too many condiments, we can taste the fresh and sweet taste of milkfish. Tainan people who come to taste the heavy taste must not be used to it, and even think that the Taipei people are shabby and the ingredients are not generous enough; but for me, a Taipei person, it is just right.

In addition to fish porridge, Qiuqiu's signature dish is also a must-have for its hot milkfish intestines. There is no fishy smell at all, but pure bitterness with sweetness. In the past, if I didn’t order milkfish maw porridge, I would order a bowl of dried pork rice, a plate of scalded milkfish intestines and a bowl of milkfish soup-- while chewing a bite of meat dried rice in my mouth, I would grab a small piece of fish. The intestines are sent into the mouth, so that the bitter and sweet taste neutralizes the greasy meat; chew until the mouth is dry, and then scoop a spoonful of sweet fish soup to moisturise, this is almost the taste!

Unfortunately, before 8 o'clock, the fish sausages are sold out. There are no exceptions for the diners who came later than me, asking if there is any fish sausage? The proprietress replied mechanically again and again: "No, the fish intestines will be gone after seven o'clock."

"The fish intestines are gone after seven o'clock." I suddenly remembered that when I lived in Taipei, I came to Qiuqiu at half past six, so I had the opportunity to taste the fish intestines. I just blamed myself for not coming for so long that I forgot this iron rule.

For more than ten years, the price of Qiuqiu's milkfish maw porridge has naturally risen, but it is only in the early 100s, and a large bowl of fish porridge is only 80 yuan a bowl. You haven't seen the diners for internal use and take-out, almost all of the uncles and aunts from the neighborhood, not a single tourist. It is called " the common people's breakfast in old Taipei ", well-deserved.