In southern Taiwan, the Kenting food culture differs from that of the north. Recently, a food blogger asked about the item “stairs” – 樓梯, sold by a Dongshan duck head (東山鴨頭) vendor in Kenting.
Many responded that “stairs” – 樓梯, are a bean product that tastes like bean curd skin. Other people added that “sky stairs” 天梯 and “chewing gum” 口香糖 are also Southern specialties.
The Facebook page “Bryan N Food and Accommodation Life” (布萊N 食宿人生), which mainly introduces hotel and dining promotions, posted a message saying that they had discovered a new ingredient at the Dongshan duck head vendor on Kenting’s main street and asked their followers, “Do you all know what ‘stairs’ are?” They even joked, “I admit that I just found out today.
As soon as the post was made, some experienced eaters pointed out that “stairs” are alike bean products that is a typical delicacy in southern Taiwan.
Some comments included, “Stairs are only available in the south. I always miss them when I eat Dongshan duck head in the north.”
“If you’re in Kaohsiung, be sure to order ‘stairs’ when you have braised meat.” “Stairs are a specialty of southern braised meat,” “Stairs taste like bean curd skin, but they are better,” and “Bean curd that looks like stairs tastes great.”
On the left is a thick noodle dish, and on the right is the “staircase” dish.
In addition, other netizens added that “sky stairs” are pig jaws, and “chewing gum” sold by braised meat vendors is chewy duck tendons.
However, many people were not sure what “stairs” were. Some comments included, “I have been to Kenting many times, but this is my first time seeing this ingredient,”
“I am from Pingtung, but I didn’t know what stairs were. I am really ignorant,” and “Even southern people don’t know about it.”