Dining & Food in Shanghai China
While I was in Shanghai three weeks ago, I had a chance to try all kinds of food I’d never tried before. It was all great–I loved the authenticity of eating Chinese food in China. I also went with my girlfriend Wendy who did a fantastic job of finding us places to eat. Had I been alone I might have succumbed to the temptation of the familiar “golden arches” of McDonalds. That would have been ironic beyond belief. Never go to a foreign country and eat American food. It’s just bad taste!
The above little beauty is a mound of shaved, packed ice covered with sweet beans, black jelly, and some caramelized vegetables. It has also had a sweet sauce poured over it. It may very well be the strangest thing I ate in Shanghai, yet my girlfriend loves them. And, once you get over how odd the combination of ingredients is, and the shape, so unlike anything I’d ever seen before, it was actually quite tasty. You want to balance the solid stuff with the cool ice, and enjoy them in mixed proportions together.
Walking in that same mall’s food area, we came across this phoenix watermelon fruit juice drink. I wanted to order one just to take a picture of it, but I settled for a quick shot in the window. I think the price was $18 RMB. Only $2 for something so majestic! Drink the elixir of the everliving bird and you shall never die!!
Our last dessert for the evening, I point out this ice cream advertisement on the streets of (correct me if I’m wrong darling) the Xujiahui district. I was immediately struck with how clever the execution of the ad was–it reminds me a little of the Freakonomics title with its classic orange/apple synergy.
We did end up eating Pizza once from a Western pizza chain… it wasn’t bad, but my garlic breadsticks were cold. And, it wasn’t Chinese food. However, the next image shall redeem me:
Oh, what is this? Well, it’s the delicious brunch that Wendy brought me for in the rotating restaurant at the top of the Oriental Peal Tower, the tallest tower in Asia, and the third tallest tower in the world. The view was spectacular, the food well presented and wide in variety, and the company stunning. I couldn’t have asked for a better meal!
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 20th, 2007 at 1:05 am and is tagged with girlfriend wendy, delicious brunch, golden arches, shanghai china, pizza chain, food area, juice drink, sweet sauce, little beauty, kinds of food, strangest thing, american food, chinese food, rmb, fruit juice, bad taste, elixir, watermelon, mcdonalds, authenticity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback.
on January 20th, 2007 at 3:10 am
These food look delicious. However, being Chinese native, i know lots of places with much cheaper food equally or even more delicious than that you had in Oriental Pearl Tower. Their dishes are fine but prices are over hyped.
on January 21st, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I thought it was tough to find good food in Shanghai… too many of the restaurants were overpriced and catering to tourists…
however, outside of Shanghai, in the villages, I had some of the most delicious food I had ever tried in China.
I was in this canal-village, and this guy was running on the footpath, carrying these crates. As he ran towards us, he said ‘Chicken! You want chicken!’ and I said ‘OK! OK!’
He put down the crates, and like a Transformer, they turned into this mobile food station, and he served us the most exquisite steamed chicken…
on January 24th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Great food and look really good! What about overpriced - it`s always so in a big cities. Big busines - big money - big prices. Just normal…
on January 24th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Why does everyone think food are overpriced in Shanghai?!!
Frankly, if you compare the purchasing power over food in Shanghai with other cities in America or Europe, most stuffs are real bargain!!
For instance, this noon’s seafood noodle soup costed me 6.8 British pounds(about 14 dollars), while in Shanghai you would just pay less than 3 dollars and maybe get even better quality thing!
Also, if I knew earlier Ellie would write this entry, I should indeed ask him to take more appealing pictures! Those ones being put here were like a tip of the iceberg. hehe~~
on February 10th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I am in Shanghai now ! Food here sucks ! I never eat at Mc D’s at home but it’s looking good today.
on November 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Thomas:
Go to City Diner before Mc D’s!!! Try the California Avacado BLT Burger with Curry Ketchup and Garlic Fries….!