GORGING THROUGH SHANGHAI

Some highlights from a newcomer's belly...

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2007
Woke up hungover at 8am, truthfully, drunk still. Found a limp egg-pancake suffocating in a plastic bag on the kitchen counter and devoured it, tricking myself it was a breakfast burrito. Washed it down with a slovenly cut mango. Tried to work out Chef's Fedex cooking supplies held hostage at Customs. Found out I have to pay over $300US for our CDs to enter BootlegNation.

Fast-Forward to LUNCH...
"CHINESE NAME RESTAURANT" sounds like "LANGUE FAN"
417 LOUSHANGUAN LU. (btw XIANXIA LU & MAOTAI LU) | T: 6274.0084
A year ago I nearly died stuffing mountainfuls of the yolky insides of chubby hairy crab insides into my face here. I cherish the memory-- it was the closest I have ever felt to being a sybarite gorging at stately dinners in ancient grecian times, minus the dining interludes with little servant boys. Anyway, Willy Yee is in town and has only eaten pizza and sandwiches with his expat friends, so I felt it my duty to submit him to msg delights. Mom takes us for late lunch-- we ordered much more than we could eat, plus we opted for more expensive options. We had a trademark yellowfish noodle broth (subtly and simply superb), anchoy greens (salty as hell), 2 tender fried pork chops with "Shanghai Worchestire Sauce" and another trademark-- it seemed to be a deep fried japanese style fish fillet.

TEA TIME:
YOU FU TEA SHOP
Address TBD Jiangsu Lu | T: 62124190
Visited Ms. Lin Ing to relax and have much tea, including the high-end oolong specimen Poercha. See photo for its benefits. Also image of the blooming flower tea.



On the flower tip, it is worth mentioning I scored a dozen roses today for my mom for $12rmb...I' m sure I got ripped off, but I just need to say that it's not hard to be a ladies man in this country. AKA you are a sociopathic cheapskate idiot to not have game here.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2007
SCULPTURE GARDEN @ RED TOWN
570 HUAHAI LU (x HUANGPI LU)




Today was a dreary sweatfest. Went to the Red Town for a job interview and wandered among amazing and (some bad) sculptures. Had two interviews, but got so sweaty in the AM humidity that I had to go home for a sprinkle and wardrobe change in between.

DE LA COAST BAR & TERRACE LOUNGE
1 YANAN DONG LU (on the BUND)| T: 63302615
Once the interviews were over, the drinking began. The evening was awash starting with dirty martinis at Laris. The cocktail waitresses could not have refilled our barsnacks more plentifully and repeatedly. Then headed for free hors d'oevres and more drinks at De La Coast's Happy Hour. Their Event Manager Sherry Wan, a Louisa-doppelganger from California, was an awesome hostess. View of Pudong and breezy spring weather on the terrace was pretty unbeatable. Stumbled on to have horrible meal in a mall restaurant with Burbs and Drew. Meal had zero-alcohol absorbancy.

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007
RESTAURANT NAME TBD
ADDRESS TBD ( across the street from our apt.)
An excessive lunch of lamb hotpot for Mom and I. Cost us $105rmb for a delicious lamb broth hot pot swimming with various mushrooms and split yin&yang-style into a Spicy Szechuan Pepper side and a pure broth side. 1 order of lamb slices, 1 dozen shrimp, Bitter Shredded Cabbage for the hotpot, and 2 Lamb Skewers. Plus over 20 sauces to mix and match with. Was a bit woozy after from MSG overload, but this place is incredible. Went to go get reflexology after for $25rmb, and was told by the therapist to lay off the alcohol, since he could feel from my footsoles that my liver is crying for mercy, among other pathetic problem areas including my stomach, shoulders and spine.
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007
YAKITORI RESTAURANT NAME TBD
SHIMEN NO. 2 LU. (x NANJING LU)
My second time to this wannabe Kenka restaurant. Only laudable thing really is the "boner suasage." We briefly discussed whether or not they just reuse the bones that they sic the porker onto. I think there's a high chance. Dining companions touched sausage tips.
SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2007 | MOTHER'S DAY
CHANGNING LU MARKET
FEEEDER RD for CHANGNING LU (x JIANGSU LU)
This bustling market is inarguably one of my most favorite places in the city. Its the main attraction that delays me from moving out of my parent's apartment in the Changning District. The street is filled all day with food vendors from dawn until 2am. In the afternoon, the foodstuffs really come out in full force. Among the favorites: xiao long sha (crayfish), braised pork shoulder, deep fried cornish hen that has been pre-braised, fried nori-seasoned fish fritters, fried japanese style beef patties & pork, and miles and miles of greenery, seafood and fowl. Places like this need to be preserved!


SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2007
HOME COOKED FEAST

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2007
JESSE RESTAURANT
Snapshots of shanghainese food which tends to err on the sweet side.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007
FULLMORE RESTAURANT
FUXING LU (x MAOMING LU)
Crayfish smackdown. Get it super spicy, "zhong la" and for an extra $1rmb each, get disposable apron, gloves and tissues. Other people were eating what looked like steamed shrimps and some other tin plate full of hot peppers that make your eyes tear just looking at them.