By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

While running my restaurant in Taiwan, I was always on the lookout for new recipes that would work.

I was lucky that many customers who came frequently had suggestions.

Collin, from Singapore, is one such person.

There were not many Singaporeans who lived in Taiwan, but the ones I met were outstanding people.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

In the 1980s and 1990s, there were spirits coming out that could be put on ice and drank from the bottle. Some like Orchid liqueurs were fantastic and made with 75 percent juice. I learned about them when I was living in Shanghai and the distiller came to introduce their product. 

I was working for a large liquor importer in China at the time.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I understand not everyone is ready to eat tofu dishes, but I think it is because tofu is not really on the radar of the average American palate. I know it was not on mine.

I doubt seriously if my father, stepmother, mother and stepfather ever even tried it.

That is partly because it was not in stores the way it is here.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I was not really fond of lamb growing up because my stepmother always overcooked it.

If I am right, my father liked well-done meat, so she may have been out to please his taste palate. 

Anyway, I did not look forward to when we had it. Fortunately, it was not often.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I like sweet tropical drinks and I know that is because when I first started bartending, the place I worked at had three types of coladas on its menu: Strawberry, Pineapple and Melon. A colada is a coconut flavored based drink, which I have written about before. 

I enjoy coconut cakes, candy, fresh coconut and coconut-flavored liquor. 

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Originally printed 4/12/25

My love for mangoes started in Hawaii. I don’t believe I had ever had one before I moved to Honolulu. The same thing with guava fruit which grows everywhere.

I like guava, but mango is one of my favorite fruits, especially if it is a good one.

I was very spoiled with my first encounter with mango.

By Dana Davis

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

By Dana Davis 

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

At holiday times, I always miss my mom. It is hard to believe it has been almost 18 years since she passed, yet I still think about her all the time, especially around holidays…I know it is only Valentine’s Day that is coming up, but I was looking through her recipe book.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Upscale vodka was not really even thought about until Absolut came on the international market in the 1980s. Their advertising was award-winning and they started introducing different flavors.

Then the luxury vodka was introduced.

The brand was Grey Goose out of France.

There is a backstory that I was lucky enough to witness.

By Mike Armstrong   

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

Anyone who knows me will tell you I don’t eat potatoes all that often. My family, with my father and stepmother, baked potatoes almost every Saturday night with their steak. I didn’t eat steak very often back then and I steered clear of baked potatoes.

French fries, I can take or leave. More likely to leave.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

There are cocktails I learned over in Asia, but their origins are in the Western Hemisphere. They were really popular when I had my bar open in Taiwan with locals and westerners, but coming back to the United States, they are a bit obscure.

I am not sure why, because they are quite good.

By Mike Armstrong   

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

I would say that after bartending, when it comes to my strength in a restaurant, it is my ability to make great soups.

I can cook well enough that people paid for my dishes I created for the restaurants I ran, but when it comes to something I feel I am competent in the kitchen, it is making soups.

Compiled by Dick Perue GATT Correspondent

Grab your sweetheart and celebrate “Groundhog Day” with a free meal of barbeque ribs and all the fixin’s when everyone “Gathers at the Table” Monday, Feb. 2 from 5:00 to 6:30 in the Saratoga Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Third and Bridge Streets.

By Mike Armstrong

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

When I first opened my bar in Taichung, Taiwan, quite a few people were telling me that people didn’t drink cocktails.

I heard men only drink beer and whiskey and women only drink wine.

By Mike Armstrong   

Reporter, Carbon County Comet

When I started brunch in my restaurant in Taichung, Taiwan, I will be honest, it was because I wanted to eat Eggs Benedict.

I have been a fan of this dish since I discovered it, which was not until around college.

We never had it growing up and since I was not a huge fan of eggs to begin with, this breakfast meal was never on my radar.