Authentic, Exquisite, Sustainable Taiwanese Food: Zoe Ma Ma

This place, Zoe Ma Ma, is amazing.

Not the stereotypical hole-in-the-wall, anything-but-real, crap. Not one bit.

This particular Zoe Ma Ma location (there are two restaurants, one in Denver and one in Boulder) is right next to Union Station, in the heart of Downtown Denver. This area is buzzing with people taking the light rail to or from the airport, locals, just about anyone.

The ambiance is bright and inviting. Inside or out.

This restaurant has typical food that's sold by street vendors in Taiwan, but elevated. The food is authentic and delicious.

These pearl meatballs might seem a bit pricey but so flavorful and tasty (and gluten free!!).

I substituted rice for the rice noodles (just because) in this Ma Ma's Chicken Soup Noodle (also gluten free!). So good, even on a hot Denver day. Rich (full bodied) but not heavy.

On to the sweet treats. I purchased a couple of gluten-free options:

The Goji Berry & Raisin Rice Cake is steamed with sticky sweet rice, goji, and raisins.

The Sesame Ball with Red Bean is deep fried sweet comfort food. So, so good (even though it's deep fried).

It's worth pain of wading through downtown traffic and finding parking (or, taking the light rail) to go to Zoe Ma Ma. It's great to support a family business  AND enjoy amazing food.

Lindsey

With the spirit of encouraging and inspiring everyone out there to become acquainted with oneself and learn to be comfortable and accepting of oneself, I have started a series, "Being True to Thyself," wherein I will include snapshots of individuals who dare to be themselves, imperfections and all, and are becoming stronger, full-of-life people.

Lindsey is the first individual in my series.

This is Lindsey, a warrior woman. She takes courage in expressing her feelings and thoughts in conversations and in art, some between people and some in art form.

In many aboriginal cultures as well as other groups, tattoos were not seen as a deviance or fringe to be avoided, but it was a badge of honor to be earned, a rite of passage.

For Lindsey, tattoos express points of significance, whether regarding (remarkable) approaches to life...

 or pieces that invite us to hear more about her story.

These visible tattoos are  a peek into who this warrior woman is. She has dared to investigate, introspect, and ask hard questions of the world and of herself. She has trudged through painful, difficult, muddy circumstances, to grow and to help others.

This beautiful warrior woman fights important battles; by defending the under privileged and wading past preconceived notions, stifling stereotypes, and unrealistic expectations.