Small sausage in a big sausage

Well, I knew it wouldn't be long until I found a night market snack or xiaochi (小吃)--small eats--that would be blogworthy. We were at an aboriginal marketplace in Tiansiang (天祥) when I spotted what looked like a hot dog. But no! It was a small sausage wrapped in a large sausage, but the large sausage was split to look like a hot dog bun. Not only that, but the large sausage was white which made it look even more like a Wonder-bread bun! Apparently, dachang bao xiaochang (大腸包小腸) is a very common and popular street food in Taiwan. It is comprised of a pork sausage wrapped in a glutinous (or sticky rice) rice sausage. The little sausage is then covered with chopped cilantro, peanut powder, and pickled cucumbers or bok choy. Unfortunately, I didn't try it. 

It seems as if the Taiwanese are obsessed with finding ways to stuff one food with another similar food (like the meat on meat reference above). For example, we live next door to a breakfast spot that serves fan tuan (反團) which is youtiao (油条), or deep-fried donut wrapped in glutinous rice and stuffed with pickled radish, and rousong (肉松, dried pork powder). They also serve xiao bing which is youtiao (donut) stuffed in sesame bread! Why, would you stuff sesame bread with a deep fried donut or a sausage with another sausage? I believe the real question is--why not?

note: this entry is dedicated to keith weiss (aka bobby flay)!!