My days of "enjoying Shanghai" are quickly evaporating. Before relinquishing this column to the next foodie willing to indulge to the max in food and wine, I must pass along two important numbers: "Mean John" at Eternity Fitness' Bootcamp (6215-1519) ...[read full review]
Fried dumplings (生煎) are a must have in Shanghai. Actually not dumplings (饺◊") but little baozi, these bundles of happiness are crispy on the bottom, sprinkled with sesame seeds on top and hot as hell in the middle! Yes, fried ...[read full review]
One night around 6:30pm, I was riding home and got hit suddenly by a wave of absolutely distracting hunger pangs. It was too late to grab a baozi. I had a dinner date at 8 so it was too early ...[read full review]
I'm not sure what's going on but I like it. The buzz surrounding the plethora of restaurants opening around the Lunar New Year is deafening. I feel like Pavlov's dog, salivating in anticipation. Who has me most excited? Basically, it's ...[read full review]
With the day of love coming up, romantics and chocoholics alike find their thoughts turning to silky and beguiling cacao temptations. Under normal circumstances, a simple bar of Dove chocolate from the local mart might suffice. However, satisfying the more ...[read full review]
Last weekend was Shanghai's second annual taco and margarita crawl. The rules? Seven establishments prepare their most marvelous margarita and terrific taco, while we - the crawlers - decide upon the victor through the fairest method at out disposal: taste ...[read full review]
I eat malatang more than is humanly decent, especially in the wintertime when it's spicy, snot-inducing heat drives away even the most persistent of frosty weather. For anyone not yet introduced to this staple, malatang means numbing spicy soup, and ...[read full review]
In Shanghai, brunching could be considered an art form. We have many different creative styles represented throughout the city. There are sophisticated old-world classics, a few impressionists and some edgy urban craftsmen, to name a few. With a plethora of ...[read full review]
With all of the holiday feasting going on during the past month, I have a new diet plan for managing my meals. Eat in miniature. Because if your food is smaller it means you're eating less, right?
Manifesto serves several tapas, ...[read full review]
Ever get the munchies when out late, well past bedtime but before the sun comes up?
At the trendy but casual Mr & Mrs Bund, you can enjoy a great set meal during the witching hour. From 11pm-4am, they offer two ...[read full review]
When at home and craving a pizza, is the best option a tried and true Italian restaurant takeout, a fast delivery, or perhaps a frozen specimen from the fridge? It's these little life dilemmas that keep some people up at ...[read full review]
The love affair between Just Grapes and myself has been long standing, maybe even epic - which is why the following confession leaves me feeling rather guilty. Just Grapes has always been good to me, greeting me with a ...[read full review]
It's that time of year again, when the temperature takes a sharp drop and the night seems to begin before you've made it halfway through the day. ‘Tis the season for meals that will put insulating meat on your bones ...[read full review]
Some say that burgers were first eaten by Genghis Khan and his army during the 1200s. These conquering Mongols needed a portable meal as they roamed. So they took scrapings of lamb and formed it into patties, softening the patties ...[read full review]
Most western-brand hotels do a bang-up job of preparing specialty foods for western holidays. For American Thanksgiving this means imported turkeys and a few traditional dishes, such as sweet potatoes, cranberries, bread stuffing and pumpkin pie. But in China, although ...[read full review]
Not only does autumn in Shanghai bring superb outdoor patio dining, but also two amazing seasonal specialties - hairy crabs and white truffles.
Perhaps you've tried the hairy crab and haven't bought into Shanghai's frenzied love of this hirsute creature. But ...[read full review]
Did you know that the origin of sauerkraut was not Germany, but China? It seems that cabbage was first prepared this way as a dinner treat for the men building the Great Wall of China. This is just one of ...[read full review]
The plethora of new restaurants openings all over Shanghai have my stomach anxiously waiting for an introduction to these newcomers.
The fine French restaurant La Saleya has reopened. The makeover has freshened up the restaurant's décor and updated the menu of ...[read full review]
We generally make an effort to arrive at a nightclub after dinner and leave before weekend brunch. But Shanghai's clubs are now enticing us to hang around for longer. M1NT and Velvet Lounge have had some success with the concept, ...[read full review]
It was another night of good food and fun when Factory assembled 10 top chefs working in Shanghai to create a unique 10-course dinner. This was the third installment of Factory's ‘Too Many Chefs in the Kitchen'. While the previous ...[read full review]
On September 24, Guinness celebrates its 250-year anniversary. A worldwide party is planned for this day, as drinkers across the globe - from Dublin to Nigeria to Kuala Lumpur - raise a glass to toast Irishman Arthur Guinness' brewing legacy.
Around ...[read full review]
This is a week to embrace cultural celebrations. Although Brazilian National Day was September 7, the Shanghai Brazilian community has waited for the weekend to throw a big party, where everyone is welcome to share in fun-loving Brazilian culture. On ...[read full review]
Quietly but surely we are seeing new drinking and dining venues beginning to sprout up around the city again. Several of them are familiar faces, as many of Shanghai's well-established venues have taken advantage of this lull to branch out.
Perhaps ...[read full review]
Let's face it, cooking in the summertime is hot work - and, sometimes, the best meals are those delivered straight to your doorstep. I'm not just talking about Sherpa's, which I admit I rely on too often for lazy Sunday ...[read full review]
Valentine's Day in China falls on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar - which this year means Wednesday 26 August. The legend behind the romantic celebration revolves around two star-crossed lovers, the seventh daughter ...[read full review]
The culinary world is abuzz with anticipation about the new movie Julie & Julia, which tells the story of celebrated chef Julia Childs and blogger Julie Powell. Often touted as the world's first culinary celebrity, Julia Childs' pure love of ...[read full review]
On August 9, 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia and became its own independent nation. To celebrate Singapore's National Day, why not head to your closest Singaporean restaurant and enjoy one of the country's favorite passions - its food.
Singapore's vibrant mix ...[read full review]
It's that time of year again - when the mooncake promotions start to pop up all around town in celebration of the Moon Festival (also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival). If you like to prepare early, or perhaps if ...[read full review]
It's a sticky sweet summer in Shanghai thanks to yet another wave of new cocoa cafes and dessert boutiques hitting the city and fuelling our chocolate addiction.
Hof on Sinan Lu is the latest addition to chocolatier and pastry chef Brian ...[read full review]
This Wednesday, a once in a lifetime event will occur in Shanghai - a complete solar eclipse. The last time this happened here was 1575. Starting at 9:35am for a total of five minutes and nine seconds, the moon will ...[read full review]
