Cha's Cantonese Restaurant
The Soya Chicken, Beef Curry Rice and the Stir Fried Prawns with Egg are just three of the many dishes that should be tried at Cha. The Soya Chicken is HEAVENLY: the tender meat just melts in your mouth, it's definitely fresh chicken - and the accompanying sauce has just enough flavor to compliment, but not overpower the natural taste of the meat. I can't wait to try their Salty Baked Chicken!
I plan on visiting this restaurant once...[read more]
1) Stray animals will follow you home if you so much as wave at them. Not just strays either - I was almost at my door before I realized a woman was chasing me down the street, yelling "Stop! Stop!" Or some such equivalent. Turning, I saw that an adorable little puppy had trotted happily along behind me. Brave little mite, I resisted the urge to pick him up and make a dash for it.
2) Women killing chickens on the...[read more]
“Watch, looka, bagga lady! Watch looka bagga! Ok, DVD? DVD!”
“But I don’t want a watch, or a bag, or a DVD. I’m ok thanks, I’m just trying to cross the road without being hassled.”
“But looka lady, Gucci! Gucci! Bag!”
“But my Ayi already has that bag, I think she might be offended if I bought the same one as her. And I’m just trying to cross the road, I don’t want to buy...[read more]Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010 under General | 4 comments
I like sour things, especially those that have been dunked in vinegar. And what better way to indulge in my cravings than pickles. Real and worthwhile Kosher dills are difficult to find in this dear metropolitan and a small bottle often costs a bundle. Plus a bottle of pickles will only last me...I admit it...probably about a day. For those who need something crunchy and sweet and sour to lighten up a heavy meal, brighten up a sandwich or satisfy...[read more]
There we sat in the "living room" of Boxing Cat Brewery with beers in hand during the wee hours Monday morning. Only American football playoff season can entice me to wake up at 1am, hail a taxi, and then sit in front of a TV in a room full of testosterone. While I sat trying to wake up the normal boisterous barks of boys bragging about their Boys and Vikings began.
I meanwhile savored my micro-brewed beer and ordered some...[read more]
I have to admit, while in the States for the holidays, I overindulged in all things "Western". I blissfully gnawed on chunks of sourdough bread, ate baby spinach by the crate, brie cheese by the wheel, hummus by the container and drank red wine by the bottle. I know we live in Shanghai, the most metropolitan city in China, but for the most part, all of that stuff tastes better in the states.
However, upon hitting the streets of Shanghai after...[read more]
This morning on the treadmill I contemplated, "Can one eat too much raw tuna, and if you have what should you do?" Last night, after a day of celebrating the Dallas Cowboy's triumphant playoff game dismembering the Philadelphia Eagles, we finally discovered Tenya. After hearing stories about this fabled Japanese restaurant serving only tuna, and the best tuna in town, we found someone to lead the way to their original small dining room off of Huashan Lu.
At Tenya...[read more]
All the cameras and lights of Hollywood are flashing away, as the Golden Globes, the SAG Awards, the BAFTAs and the coveted Oscars all get ready to unveil who they'll be rewarding with the most prestigious prizes of the film world. It's not just the big shots that are taking a turn in the spotlight. A new competition is giving one would-be filmmaker the chance to see their artistic vision realized on the silver screen. The Film Pitch Contest, co-sponsored...[read more]
Don't get me wrong, I love Chinese food. I grew up eating it. It's in my blood and it is pretty much all I can cook. However, when going home for the holidays, there is just something extremely satisfying about going to a local supermarket and buying all-American. Leisurely perusing the multicolored isles, I have the freedom to ponder the infinite things that I would like to eat, and haven't for about a year. The snack food row housing "low...[read more]
1) Christmas dinner doesn't have to involve turkey - I've now had two pre-Christmas dinners in Shanghai, one involving a mix of pastries from a local Chinese bakery, chicken from Brasa and homemade salad with a deliciously simple balsamic vinaigrette; the other consisting of wasabi potatoes, garlic aubergine Chinese style, chicken from a corner-shop rotisserie and killer martinis.
2) They definitely do use better quality meat if you're not all-you-can-eat dining - perhaps obvious to some but confirmed...[read more]
Oh dear, after the first Christmas bash of the season with Mrs. Cotton on Xinhua Lu I arrived safe and snug and warmed by mulled wine. After the water man came with the weekly delivery, I forgot to check the door lock and an hour later: “Mei yo mao, mao”; “sans chat!” Oooops. How am I going to explain this one to my friend who lent me her cat to keep me company? I spent the half of...[read more]Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009 under General | 1 comment
Ever wonder what to do with the old half a loaf of French bread that has been sitting in you cupboard for the past few days/past week? Have no fear; there are lots of ways to turn that shriveled loaf into a tasty, savory, fragrant dish. My personal favorite (and a favorite of guests) is my bread salad - Think a mixture with fresh veggies mixed with an even bigger proportion of homemade, savory croutons. No tedious roughage involved. It's...[read more]
For the Chinese many of their taboos are related to their homophonic words. For instance the number 4 (sì) is similar to the word death (sĭ) and so people don't like this number as their house number, mobile number etc. and in some buildings there's no forth floor. This is also believed in Korea and in lifts there, instead of the number 4 they use the first letter of the word instead. Similarly fā, from the word fācái which means...[read more]
1) Karaoke devotees are not to be trusted - they will inevitably get horribly drunk, alternatively vomiting and spitting the remnants of their vomit onto your face, as they babble excitedly about what they're going to sing next. Try to leave for the bathroom and get partially molested. Get to the bathroom and be confronted by either more vomiting or someone performing unspeakable acts on someone else.
2) Spicy food is delicious - I've spent years avoiding all things resembling chili...[read more]
I recently became re-acquainted with my love for lamb after a late night visit to the blandly named Xinjiang Restaurant (新疆餐厅). It's on Dingxi Road near Kaiba (#825) - You'll know it when you get there as there are always loads of Muslim men standing outside gnawing on rounds of bread and grilling skewers of lamb.
This place is (more or less) the real deal. All the servers and cooks in the restaurant were obviously Uigher, many of them speak better...[read more]
Some superstitions are the same across the globe, for instance the Polish and English both believe a black cat crossing your path is a sign of bad luck and a shattered mirror means an unlucky seven years. Others are unique from place to place. In Poland, if after leaving the house you've forgotten something, when you go back you shouldn't just pick up the item and go, first sit down for a moment and then leave again.
A Russian explained to...[read more]
I must admit that when I was first in Shanghai, I never really used an ATM. At the age of five, the necessity of a bank account - let alone a card to access it - is minimal. I suppose The Bank of China might have been a safer storage facility than my Tin Tin-shaped piggy bank but considering I mostly filled it with jelly beans anyway, I think the coiffed Frenchman sufficed admirably.
Returning to China, having learnt to casually...[read more]
There is a new mysterious construction that I can see from my friends’ apartment window. “We think it’s a new theatre or stadium.” My friend, who is an architect said: - “It looks like a toilet seat.” That - or a Nike running shoe under sole. There are some funny looking buildings around. My German contingent – most of whom are architects - have a favourite building-in-Shanghai competition and it’s impossible to walk around without being subjected to...[read more]Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 under Chinese Culture | 1 comment
The students contact the local media however they're not interested in publicising their story. Learning from the experience of others, the girls decide that more drastic action needed to be taken.
Making sure they're not seen, the small group of 17 year olds go into an empty classroom during break. From an untraceable number, one girl calls the Department of Education in Beijing and explains their situation to the administrator: even though it's the summer holiday, they spend eight hour days,...[read more]
As a young lad, my first journey into the exotic lands of the Orient was an exciting but overwhelming experience. Despite the feelings of joy at getting to see the second of my native countries for the first time, there were numerous occasions when I found myself terrified by harmless little trivialities, though at other times a healthy level of fear was rightly experienced - as when taking the metro.
When I first arrived in Shanghai in the early 90s, the...[read more]
"He's confused as to why you are still here," my friend translates. "Because I can't move my legs," I reply, breaking into peals of over-tired laughter. Finding yourself in a compromising situation where your language ability is inadequate makes it a lot easier to surrender yourself to humor. It was cold, it was Sunday, I was shopping with my girlfriends, then splat - I was face down on the pavement with dirt in my mouth and strangers asking what they...[read more]
The lowly Chinese potato has a bad rap. An Italian chef told me recently that he only uses 50% potato mash in his gnocchi because the potato strain sold here is not as flavorful as those in other places. Some tell me they are too mealy. Others say they have no texture whatsoever. However, as holiday season fast approaches and the weather turns bone cold, thoughts inevitably turn towards the idea of heavy comfort food and the poor...[read more]
The champagne brunch that gets most of the attention in town is the Westin's. They have a huge spread and free-flowing champagne and other adult drinks. While I'm a fan of this expansive brunch and dinner show, I wouldn't consider it a high-class affair. Perhaps this is because often times the person next to me in line is still in his pajamas.
An elegant free-flowing champagne brunch that doesn't attract as much hype but is instead consistently whispered amongst knowing patrons...[read more]
Heading to the outskirts of Shanghai at this time of year is normally discouraged. The variety of responses you'll probably receive when excitedly telling friends will range from the more polite "Oh, really, won't it be a bit chilly?" to "Why the hell would you want to go to Hangzhou?" While it's normally advised to go during mild weather, sometime between the icy winds of winter and the scorching heat of summer, there are advantages to heading away at the...[read more]
I thought Christmas had come early. I thought I saw snow. I was all snug in my early morning email-checking freelance writer’s haze when I noticed my friend’s Facebook status had changed to read: “I just saw a chicken having it’s head sliced off on the sidewalk.” So I had to ask – what do you mean – Chicken slaughter? Where? In broad daylight by the side of the road? Really?
“Yes, I swear”, he responded. “I saw it with...[read more]Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 under Chinese Culture | 3 comments
You love the idea, you know you do; hot red wine warming your hands and tummy while filling the house with heady fragrances of cinnamon, anise and fruit. As the weather drops us and our Shanghai brethren into a soggy cold darkness and people are starting to gripe about how they wish they were somewhere else, why not make the most of a bad situation by making the best of another bad situation. Cheap Chinese wine.
Mulling wine makes even some...[read more]
Friends of mine are expatriating soon. Before moving we wanted to have one last big hurrah at one of our favorite fine dining restaurants. I'll call it Restaurant X. Our husbands, big meat-eaters, often crave Restaurant X's great USDA Prime steaks. We frequent Restaurant X periodically and have become friendly with the owner. I'll call him Mr. Li.
Well, you can guess where this story is headed. So, does it break your heart or frustrate the hell out of you when...[read more]
Last night saw part of Tian Zi Fang utterly overrun by partygoers, as the masses turned out for Balthazar's opening party. An adorable little venue in itself, the narrow staircase and cozy floor space were simply not made for large numbers of people. The struggle to get to the bar was as nothing compared to the queue for the buffet, winding along the curved staircase. Laid out with a mix of cold cuts, beef tartar, breads, hot stew, cheeses and...[read more]
Kumquats are in season! But lucky for us, we're on the Kumquat's home turf. According to my extensive Wikipedia research, kumquats originated in China and have long been cultivated here, noted in literature dating back to the 12th century. The fruit originates in Guangzhou, and the name comes from the Cantonese word "kam kwat" meaning "golden orange".
Even more exciting, they are sold in kilo bags for about RMB15, not the boutique prices of other countries. Eaten peel and all,...[read more]
Not only did you need to buy an entrance ticket, you also had to pay extra if you wanted to taste any of the food inside. A cooking class with one of the top chefs at the event would've cost you an extra whopping RMB1000. The VIP lounge consisted of a sparse few stands of whisky and chocolate tasting.
But, there were a few stalls worth mentioning:
Brasa is a chicken rotisserie on 888 South Shanxi Road (400 820 2172). At first...[read more]
