On a weekend morning, my wife left to visit her family and the quiet felt liberating. Free from market errands, I headed in loose sportswear and slippers toward Taipei Main Station's underground mall for used games.
Before entering, hunger led me to Zhong Jiang on a Zhongxiao West Road lane. Google showed 4.5, commuters queued for breakfast, tourists studied the shop, and overseas-branch notices suggested an international street pancake.
I joined the line and watched Sanxing scallions sizzle into golden crust as the owner struck the pancake loose with spatulas. Scallion oil and egg aroma traveled several places down the queue.
● Thai Basil and Egg Scallion Pancake
The heat control was excellent: deeply golden, audibly crisp skin, moist vegetables and bright Thai-basil aroma created layers without feeling burdensome.
With scallion and basil in my mouth and freedom to hunt used games in hand, even a possible video check-in from my wife could not diminish this meal.
A middle-aged office worker mutters:
Weekend bliss is simply standing in slippers near Taipei Main Station at midday, freely finishing a scorching Thai-basil scallion pancake before browsing used games. Even sauce on my shirt could not spoil a real holiday from office strain.
