Swallowing Clouds: the Celestial Soup

 

A Realm and A Creature Divine

As kids, it's an almost universal delight to lie on one's back and look up at the clouds. We forget to do it as adults, but sometimes nature helps us to remember that pleasure!

In Taiwan's moist winter climate, tatters of mist that are the breath of the forest twist and curl amid mountain peaks. The eye sees different things in the clouds: faces, animals, plants, even emotions. 

The mighty Jade Mountain, or Yushan, which soars to more than 13,000 feet. This is the homeland of the Bunun Indigenous society. 

The sinuous lines of clouds can even mimic a tail, a backbone, a horned mysterious head... From time immemorial, the peoples of Asia and especially China have said that the clouds are the realm of dragons. 

Dragon in the Clouds, Bronze Mirror (likely an Imperial treasure). This exquisite image was created by an anonymous bronze-smith in the Tang Dynasty c. 618-907 AD. Image in the public domain, courtesy of the Freer Gallery.

'Dragons in Clouds'. China. Artist: Zhou Xun (1649-1729). Will the big dragon eat the small one? Are they playing? Is it a mother and baby? Let your imagination run wild. Image in the public domain, courtesy of the Freer Gallery.

Clouds descend to my soup bowl.

During a recent visit to Taiwan, I and my partner Clint visited Da'an Park 大安森林公園, a bastion of nature in the immense metropolis of Taipei. Here, you can fling yourself on your back to see the winter clouds in glorious metamorphosis. Down closer to earth, walk quietly to see white egrets and herons patiently fishing in the park's ponds.  

After our walk in the light rain, we were hungry. Luckily, a Shanghai-style restaurant (Kao Chi, 高記新生店) right near the NW corner of the park serves up edible clouds... 

Did you know that the word wonton (雲吞) literally means, swallowing a cloud? These dumplings, bursting with shrimp, ginger, garlic, and spices, are enveloped in a tender cloudlike wrapper and float in a delicate transparent broth along with strips of tofu, tree fungus, and scallion.

Any dragon would happily slurp up these cloudlike wontons. A winter's treat.

It's nice to be back.

After a summer hiatus, I will be jumping back into the blog with fresh treats and ruminations from the savory universe of Asian food. Thanks for reading along, and いただきます!