When our visiting friends wanted a taste of the “real” China, I took them to the Dajing Lu market in the old section of town. My mom and I stumbled upon this lively locale when we were hunting for the remnants of Shanghai’s old city wall and I knew it would deliver local flavor in spades. […]
Shanghai
Over the Moon for Mooncakes
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of the fall harvest and an important event on the lunar calendar. The festivities include dragon dances, glowing lanterns, incense and, perhaps the most important, eating mooncakes. These traditional pastries are usually filled with red bean or lotus seed paste and can also include a cooked yolk of duck […]
Masala Art: Authentic Indian Cuisine in Shanghai
I love Indian food. In the States we used to eat Indian take-out all the time. In Shanghai, not so much. That is, until we discovered Masala Art Indian restaurant. I’m about to make a bold statement, but this some of the best Indian food we’ve eaten, and we’ve lived in New York City which […]
A New York-Style Brunch at the Dakota, Shanghai
We recently enjoyed a charming brunch at the Dakota Bar & Bistro in the former French Concession. On their website, they describe themselves as being an American-style bistro, and they delivered on their promise. From the casual, street-side patio to the sumptuously dark interior, we felt as though we’d been transported to the Upper East Side […]
China’s First Western Hotel
After the Treaty of Nanking opened China’s port cities to foreign trade, the British established their land concession and a building boom ensued. Realizing that the newly arrived foreign merchants would need lodging while in Shanghai, a Scottish man by the name of Richards opened an eponymous hotel near the Bund in 1846. It was […]