Milk Street Television Season 2 Episode 1 Home Cooking in Taiwan

In the first episode of the second season of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, viewers are transported to the beautiful island of Taiwan for a lesson in traditional home cooking. Christopher Kimball, the host, and his team explore the bustling markets of Taipei, where they sample local delicacies and gather fresh ingredients for their cooking adventure.

The episode begins with a visit to a tea shop, where the team learns about cultural traditions and practices of making tea. They are shown the correct method to brew different types of tea and how to appreciate its taste and aroma. The team also learns about different types of tea and how they are served in different situations.

From the tea shop, the team moves on to the nearby street markets, where they explore the gastronomic delights that Taiwan has to offer. The team samples a range of local delicacies, including dumplings, grilled pork, and shaved ice desserts. They also pick up fresh ingredients from the market to use in their cooking lesson.

Back in their kitchen, the team prepares a range of traditional Taiwanese dishes with the ingredients they picked up from the market. Kimball and his team introduce Taiwanese home cooking, including Taro Rice Cakes, Three Cup Chicken, Scallion Pancakes, and Bubble Tea. They explain the various cooking techniques and ingredients used to prepare these dishes, and demonstrate how to cook them.

Taro Rice Cakes, a popular traditional dish in Taiwan, are made by mixing cooked taro with rice flour and then forming it into small bite-size cakes. The cakes are then steamed and served with soy sauce.

Three Cup Chicken is another traditional dish in Taiwan, made by cooking chicken with three cups of ingredients- soy sauce, Chinese rice wine, and sesame oil. The team demonstrates how to cook the dish using a traditional clay pot and highlights the flavors of the dish.

Scallion Pancakes are another well-known Taiwanese dish, made by mixing flour with scallions and water, and then pan-frying the mixture until crisp. The team also adds minced pork to the pancake to create extra flavors.

Lastly, the team teaches viewers how to make Bubble Tea, a popular Taiwanese beverage made by mixing tea with milk or fruit juice, and adding small bubbles of tapioca. Kimball shares a simplified version of Bubble Tea that he says can be made in a blender.

Throughout the episode, Kimball and his team highlight the unique and diverse elements of Taiwanese home cooking. They provide viewers with a cultural and culinary insight into traditional Taiwanese home cooking, and teach them how to recreate these dishes in their home kitchens.

Overall, the episode Home Cooking in Taiwan of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street season 2 is an exciting and entertaining introduction to the variety and complexity of Taiwanese home cooking. The episode immerses viewers in Taiwanese culture and food, and teaches them how to cook traditional dishes that are easy to prepare and delicious to eat.