Shanghai Eats: Bellagio

I'm just going to say it, the Taiwanese could teach Mainlanders a thing or two about sweets. One such example is in the delectable desserts offered at the Taiwanese restaurant chain, Bellagio.

While I've come here numerous times for my main meal (I recommend the three cup chicken, sānbēijī), it's their desserts that have me coming back for more.

My favorite treat happens to be their ice smoothies. The smoothies consist of ice, condensed milk, and a topping of your choice. My personal favorite is the peanut, huāshēngbīngshā, though I've heard raves about the mango version, mángguǒbīngshā, as well.

I can only imagine the consistency and taste of this velvety treat is what the love child of a snow cone and ice cream would resemble. And it's delicious.

To visit Bellagio, check out one of the numerous locations around town including:

Gubei Branch: No. 778, Gold City Street, Changning District (near South Gubei Road)

Xin Tian Di Branch: No. 68, Taicang Road, Huangpu District (near Songshan Road)

Shuicheng Branch: No. 101, South Shuicheng Road, Changning District (near Hongqiao Road)

Xikang Branch: No. 111, Xikang Road, Jing'an District (West Beijing Road)

Shanghai Eats: Champagne Brunch at Vue

Guys, I'm so behind on blog posts. I've been logging 35+ hours at my "part-time" job and simply haven't had time to update. I have more to tell you about Harbin, a trip to Cambodia, and of course Shanghai updates to give. The posts are coming, just not in a timely manner. In an attempt to make it up to you however, I am going to post something that I did today. Yes, that's right, this event occurred only a few hours ago. How's that for quick turnaround?

My friend Lesley decided to celebrate her birthday in style with an all you can eat and drink champagne  brunch at Vue Restaurant. The price tag isn't cheap at 688 RMB per person but the incredible food and service were deserving of the cost. Unlike your average buffet, each of the dishes is made to order at stations situated throughout the restaurant. The result is beautifully executed food delivered to your table.

We started off our meal with glasses of Perrier Jouët along with a stop at the Bloody Mary bar.

Next we moved on to poached eggs with polenta and black truffle before hitting the cold bar for oysters, lobster tail, and king crab legs.

After the seafood, it was steak with red wine and bacon sauce, tiger prawns in cream (a personal favorite), and lobster risotto. As a side note, I apologize that all my photos of food look the same. I'm clearly not a food photographer. 

We took our time, noshing on other dishes such as Boston lobster bisque, steak tartar, and a full Sunday roast. And then finally, it was time for dessert. While we enjoyed everything we sampled, the chocolate soufflé stood out as a favorite in our group.

If you feel like treating yourself to a decadent brunch, this is the place to go. I'd recommend coming early and staying late to allow yourself time to savor your dishes. We arrived at 11:30 when the restaurant opened and waddled out left shortly after 4pm (final call for dishes was around 3pm). While not a spot my waist line could handle on a regular basis, I have no doubt I will be back when another special occasion rolls around. Like because it's a Sunday. Or the sun is shining. Those seems like good reasons to celebrate.

Vue Restaurant, 30th Floor
Hyatt on the Bund
199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu
黄浦路199号, 外滩茂悦大酒店30楼, 近武昌路

Harbin Eats

When researching places to eat in Harbin, we found very little information. Tripadvisor wasn't a huge help with McDonalds coming in near the top of the restaurant list.

Additionally, we found very few places with English menus. With our basic Chinese and Waygo phone app, we were able to order without too many issues though restaurants along the pedestrian street seemed to have more English menus available.

We had some hits and misses but overall, greatly enjoyed the food in Harbin. Here are the places we tried throughout our stay.

Dongfang Jiaozi Wang/Eastern Dumplings King (Numerous locations)
We actually ate here twice because it was close to our hotel, cheap, and tasty. We noshed on various dumplings (I'd recommend the pork and chive as well as the mushroom) with a side of eggplant, all washed down with a few cups of tea. Our bill was around 65 rmb for two people each visit.

Tatos (127 Zhongyang Dajie)
Tatos was one of the few places to offer us an English menu. We ventured here because I wanted to try some Russian food. To be honest, I don't have a ton of experience with Russian food (other than borscht) and had no idea what to expect. The food here was good, but not great. But maybe I'm just not that huge a fan of Russian food? The prices were okay, we spent around 200 rmb for two people, including drinks. I'd recommend trying the baked claypot dishes if you go.

 

Lao Chang Spring Pancake (178 Zhongyang Dajie)
Again, no English menu though this was easily my favorite meal in Harbin. I'd highly recommend rolling up some spicy pork and red peppers with sliced cucumber as well as one of the egg fillings. And don't forget to order a sauce. 100 rmb will get you more food than you'll be able to finish.

After dinner, be sure to purchase a popsicle outside the Modern Hotel (89 Zhongyang Dajie). The ice cream sold here is supposedly made according to a hundred year tradition. Apparently that makes it extra tasty because we went back every day for one of these. Matthew declared it the best ice cream he has eaten in China. That's high praise from my husband.

Anyone else been to Harbin? Did I leave your favorite spot off the list?

Phuket Eats: The Pad Thai Shop

You guys, I totally messed up. I forgot to post about my absolute favorite meal in Thailand. But you'll forgive me if I tell you now, right? RIGHT?!?!?

Now that the groveling has been settled, let's get back to The Pad Thai Shop. Not only was the food at this road side stop ridiculously good, the bowls of pad thai were only a mere 50 baht each. That's $1.52 USD. We stuffed ourselves silly and spent under $8 for four people.

I'll be honest with you, this is not a fine dining establishment. It's a cheap, local dive that serves up authentic fare for low prices. There are no waiters or cloth napkins, just a friendly staff and self serve sodas in the coolers near the entrance.

The staff at the counter speak English and have an English menu available. Simply order at the counter and then pick up your food when it's ready. You pay at the end of your meal.

We sampled the pad thai and promptly ordered seconds. We also had the pad kee mao. While good, the shop's namesake dish is what stands out (I'd also ask for the flat noodles in this dish next time).

Finding The Pad Thai Shop can be a little tricky. It's located on Patak Road, just before the Baan Karon Resort on the way from Karon to Kata. Look for the hoardes of people if you happen to head there around lunch.

Shanghai Eats: Dolar Shop

Yes, the name of the restaurant I'm going to feature today only has one L in its name. I have no idea why. And whenever Matthew suggests we eat there, he is subjected to a serenade from me in which I sing about hot pot to the tune of Macklemore's Thrift Shop.

So what exactly is hot pot? It's China's version of fondue where you cook your own food table side.

To start, a simmering pot of soup base is placed on your table. At many restaurants, the soup is served in one pot for the entire table to share. At Dolar Shop, you are given individual pots to allow everyone to enjoy their own creations (a big plus when dining with people who like entrails in their soup). I usually go for the mushroom broth while Matthew opts for spicy mala.

You then add raw ingredients like meat, tofu, vegetables, and noodles to the soup, allowing them to cook in the broth. When the items are done to your likeness, you simply remove them and eat plain or dip into an accompanying sauce. The make your own sauce bar is one of my favorite things about Dolar Shop.

The staff at Dolar Shop generally do not speak English, but they will be happy to dust off provide you with an English menu if you ask. While this hot pot location doesn't boast the free manicures of Hai Di Lao, I do enjoy that we are given bibs (which I highly recommend wearing) as well as cell phone covers to keep ourselves and our things clean. 

The steamy atmosphere of Dolar Shop is the perfect spot to warm up as Shanghai enters its colder months. There are numerous locations around Shanghai, including my local branch at:

3F, 323 Tianyaoqiao Rd., near Nandan Rd
天钥桥路323号3楼(近南丹东路)

Phuket Eats: Nok Noi

I'm a big fan of eating as local as possible whenever I travel. Sure, it's nice to have an English speaking staff and cloth napkins, but it's also fun to play charades with your waitstaff and feed the stray cats that roam under your table.

Nok Noi was one of those places. The menu boasted both Thai and Western food, though I'm not sure why you would bother to try anything from the second category. Their Thai food was top notch.

Our entire family ate here our third night in Phuket. We noshed on tom yum soup, yellow curry, and pineapple fried rice. Throw in a few beers and our total bill still came in at under $14 USD.

Matt and I returned here again on Saturday night for dinner. This time for green curry and rice noodles with basil. Both excellent as well.

Want to go there? Sadly, I don't have a very accurate address. It's on Patak Road, across from the Karon Temple, about half a kilometer from the beach. Look for the large sign outside.

Shanghai Eats: Where to eat Xiăolóngbāo

Earlier this week, I gave you a lesson on how to eat xiăolóngbāo. But what good is this information if you don't know where to eat them? To be honest, there are tons of places around Shanghai where you can try xiăolóngbāo and you likely will leave satisfied. But I've provided you with three restaurants that I find myself going back to, time and time again.

Where to eat Xiăolóngbāo

Din Tai Fung (There are numerous locations in Shanghai. I can usually be found at one of these spots: Grand Gateway, 5th floor, 1 Hongqiao Lu or Shanghai Center, Ground Floor, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu)

Let me start by stating that this is a chain restaurant. But with locations throughout China as well as the US, this is a great place to try out your first xiăolóngbāo. The menu is in English and the staff speak English as well. I started my xiăolóngbāo journey here by first trying the chicken version. Just know that you are going to pay more here for both a higher level of service and cleanliness.

Lin Long Fang (There are two locations though I prefer the first: SML, Basement Level 2, 618 Xujiahui Lu near Ruijin Er Lu or 10 Jianguo Lu near Zhaozhou Lu)

I actually stumbled across this spot while lost under the SML center. The place was empty so I almost didn't stop but a bowl of scallion oil noodles lured me inside. You might want to order some in addition to your dumplings. The staff don't speak English here but it's easy enough to point at what you want on the English menu.  I'd consider the cost midrange at 27 rmb for 12 dumplings.

Loushi Tangbao Guan (601 Nanchang Lu near Xiangyang Lu)
If you want to practice your Chinese, this is the spot to try. No one speaks English and there certainly isn't an English menu. But their dumplings are juicy and wicked cheap at 6 rmb for 8 dumplings.

So who else is hungry now?

Street (ish) Eats: Henan Lamian

I was first introduced to Henan Lamian through Culinary Backstreets. As scallion oil noodles (cōng yóu bàn miàn) are one of my favorite Shanghainese specialties, I was happy to try out this street side restaurant.

 

There are two reasons this hole in the wall noodle joint is worth a visit. One, their cōng yóu bàn miàn is delicious. But the second and more important reason to come here is because their noodles are hand pulled (lāmiàn).

Hand pulled noodles are an art which many makers spends years perfecting. The noodle maker will first knead and stretch the dough and then pull it the length of his arms, over and over with small twists throughout. As the noodles becomes thinner, the maker will slap them against the counter to separate them into individual noodles. 

Cōng yóu bàn miàn are fairly simple and insanely delicious. To make the sauce, scallions are fried in oil until they are dark and crispy. Salt and soy sauce are then added and the sauce is complete. The oil is then mixed with your noodles for a delicious and cheap meal (bowls of noodles are only 6 rmb or .98 cents). I then like to add a little (okay, a lot) of black vinegar to mine.

I'd also recommend you add a side of qīngjiāofǔzhú or bamboo tofu. The crispy peppers and soft tofu are the perfect side dish to round out your meal. As there is no English menu available, make sure to practice the pronunciation of the dishes you want. Or point. Either one should work.

Address: 
607 Changle Lu, near Donghu Lu
徐汇区长乐路607号近东湖路

Shanghai Eats: Lotus Eatery

Yunnan food is perhaps my favorite Chinese cuisine. Unlike Sichuan or Hunan, Yunnan food isn't recognizable to most people outside of China. The region is known for everything from goat cheese and wild mushrooms to deep-fried insects. One of my most memorable meals is the first I had at Lost Heaven, a well known Yunnan spot beautifully located on the Bund. And while I am always happy to chow down there, I was curious to branch out and try a new (and less expensive) Yunnan spot.

Enter Lotus Eatery.

 

This restaurant serves up typical Yunnan cuisine at affordable prices. Here, I usually start off my meal with a glass of barley tea. The rich, nutty flavor is a perfect compliment to the other tastes on the table.

For this cheese loving gal, my favorite dish is the pan-fried goat’s cheese, a specialty of the Bai and Sani ethnic groups.

 

The dish comes out pipping out and when dipped into the accompanying salt, pepper, and chili mix, makes for a great start to your meal.

Another dish to note is Grandma's mashed potatoes. These tots are chunky and delicious, full of garlic and chilies and topped off with green onion.

While not as other worldly as the cheese or potatoes, other solid dishes include the buckwheat cakes stuffed with mushrooms, the tea tree mushrooms, and the pineapple sticky rice. The cold eggplant is another safe bet as well.

There are two locations, rather close to each other. I prefer the larger, newer spot located at:

1112 Dingxi Lu
 定西路1112号

The original branch can be found at:
85 Yangzhai Lu
杨宅路85号

Shanghai Eats: Dongbei Four Seasons Dumpling King

I have a confession to make. Sometimes I'm a really shitty friend. Like the time I laughed so hard I practically hyperventilated when K was bitten by a monkey in rural China. Or the time I accidentally made him, a strict vegetarian, eat shrimp dumplings.

Ok, so maybe I'm only a bad friend when it comes to poor K.

Anyhow, while K was visiting us in March, we had a craving for dumplings and decided to check out Dongbei Four Seasons Dumpling King. I'd heard rave reviews from friends about the place and figured it was worth a shot.

Our first issue came about when ordering. You see, you order dumplings by the liang, a traditional Chinese measure of weight equivalent to about 50g. The problem is, I didn't know this. And liang sounds an awful lot like liăng, which is the word for two in Chinese. So instead of ordering 15 dumplings, I somehow ended up with 45. Whoops.

 

Going in, I knew that despite the name, the vegetarian three delicacies dumplings contained shrimp. We ordered some along with the vegetarian mushroom and bok choy and figured we should be fine. What I didn't expect was that everything would be thrown together on one plate, making for a guessing game of what you were about to put in your mouth.

K lost after about the third round of guessing and ingested a shrimp dumpling. At least he said it was good.

There are numerous branches of Dongbei Four Seasons Dumpling King around town. I visit the one closest to me in Xuhui.

Address: 1791 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Wanping Lu

淮海中路1791号, 近宛平路

Shanghai Eats: Wei Xiang Zhai

Fine dining this is not. But if you want the absolute best bowl of májiàng miàn (sesame paste noodles) you've ever had in your life, look no further than the tiny hole in the wall restaurant Wei Xiang Zhai. Located in a rather grimy spot on Yandang Lu, this noodle shop has a reputation as one of the best lunch spots in town.

While the menu is all in Chinese, I doubt you are coming here for anything other than the sesame paste noodles. Friends tell me the xiǎo niú tāng (beef curry soup) is also a hit, though my aversion to meat has kept me from trying it.

To order, simple tell the cashier at the front of the shop you want májiàng miàn or point to a bowl situated in front of one of the many other customers. You'll pay for your noodles (9 rmb on my last visit) and receive your receipt.

Then it's time to stake out a table. As this place is usually packed, seats are generally at a premium. Look for patrons on the verge of leaving and hover over their table. Once they have left, slide onto your seat and grab one of the clothespins on your table. Each of the clothespins will be labeled with the number of your table. Simply clip your receipt to it and hand it to one of the waitresses as they hurry past.

Within minutes you'll be rewarded with a creamy bowl of sesame paste noodles, topped off with a splash of chili oil and chives.

While Wei Xiang Zhai certainly isn't going to be winning a style (or cleanliness) award anytime soon, you can't help but enjoy this tiny shop. Just don't enjoy it too much, as someone else will be hovering over your coveted seat soon.

Address: 14 Yandang Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu
 雁荡路14号 (近淮海中路)