Before moving to China I could barely eat jalapeno peppers and now I pop them like pickles. Chinese food – real Chinese food, not the bland U.S. take-out variety – can be seriously spicy. Sichuan dishes are most notorious for their heat, and I still struggle with those numbing pink peppercorns that bite like a shot of Novocain. […]
Shanghai
In China, Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
I have greatly enjoyed spotting all the quirky English store names around Shanghai, but it’s the copycat stores and products that I find most amusing. They are just so blatant! Tommy Hilfiger becomes Tommy Welai and the Nike swoosh gets turned upside down. There are also some unexpected surprises, like finding the Kodak store that […]
Belgian Beer and Chinese Deer Wine at Jackie’s Beer Nest
Shanghai is home to a delightful little bar by the name of Jackie’s Beer Nest. The small space centers around a beer hall-style wooden table with benches along all four sides, meant to encourage sharing and camaraderie. One wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with imported beer liquors and an impressive selection of Scotch. The back […]
Turkish Delights at Garlic, Shanghai
Of all the latest restaurant openings in Shanghai, I was most excited about Garlic and its reportedly authentic Turkish food. While I have yet to visit Turkey, I have eaten my way across Greece and acquired a fondness for Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. I even make my own hummus! Stepping through Garlic’s doors, we were hit […]
Brunch at Cuivre: Modern French Cuisine in Shanghai
The results of the 2012 Shanghai expat magazine awards are in, and new restaurant Cuivre cleaned up: Best Newcomer and Best French as well as the coveted Restaurant of the Year. It also made the latest Best Brunch list so clearly we had to give it a go. Cuivre features a good-value brunch set at […]