Wish You Were Shanghere!

I am still loving it here in Shanghai. I don't think i have as much of a  'wow' factor to going about my daily business now as I feel I have got used to everything and just can't believe I have been here nearly 2 months now which seems crazy as in many ways in seems much longer. I really like the nightlife, food and social side but there are the little things I miss about home. I have been thinking though in terms of metro travel, I tend to get quite aggressive here and that is probably a trait I do not want to bring back! The rush hour here is something else! Anyone who has heard my train/London tube stories/rants knows how I feel about this subject. You want to survive, you basically have to storm that subway train like it's a battle!!!

Alchemist cocktails

I am pleased to report the weather here, at least in the evening to mid afternoon has cooled some what and it is quite pleasant especially in the evenings. Last night I visited a very nice gastro-cocktail bar, The Alchemist at Sinan Mansions in the French Concession and had a sweet coffee/orange/rum concoction called Return of The Jolly Roger and it was so nice to sit outside and relax on the sofas without the humidity.

Karaoke room

As mentioned before this weekend I went out, had a few drinks (maybe more than a few) and went to Haoledi KTV karaoke which was a good experience - very different from pub karaoke.  It was also my first time rapping at karaoke which is much harder than imagined (especially after the few drinks) and the fact you are room where you are able to control all the settings on the machine kind of clues you in to how bad (or so bad you are actually good for entertainment value?) you sound. We sang (and drank) a lot - we got there at 1am and could have sang until 6am in the morning if we so desired.

I have tried manchurian dongbei food at Dong Bei Ren, a place near my apartment which included eggplant and potato (I really like this dish but the place near my work does it better!) potato and beef stew, wraps with spicy meat and vegetable, sweet and sour chicken and vegetable and meat dumplings and it was very nice and different. Lots of potatoes it seems.

yunnan delights

Also as mentioned in my last post I went and I ate lots of food at Southern Barbarian including goats cheese, grandma's mashed potato, chilli and beef, chicken, vegetables and other chilli-infused dishes I cannot remember but they were all so good! And also yunnan hot pot street noodles which exceeded the one I ate previously. i was very satisfied by the meal and recommend a visit to this kind of tucked away restaurant to anyone. They also stock a wide range of beers on the menu including imported beer. Best yunnan restaurant in Shanghai.

I have also had other asian cuisines including korean barbecue which was different (I really like kimchi) and a thai meal at Coconut Paradise, which has a really nice tranquil atmosphere as you dine in a garden with towering bamboo plants, glowing candles and buddha statues. The food was pretty good but not as hot as I would have liked. My favourite place I have been to this week is Shoga, which is a modern Japanese restaurant just off Huai hai Lu with a great happy hour ( 10 kuai = about £1 for draught Asahi beer, 25 kuai = £2.50 selected cocktails) which had lots of really tasty delicious Japanese treats including pork and mayonnaise sushi rolls, tempura, chicken wings, chicken and chilli, shrimp rolls and much more.

This Monday is a public holiday because of the Mooncake Festival celebrations. I have already bought some red bean paste novelty Hello Kitty Mooncakes from Breadtalk but I want to get some more non-traditional flavours to try so will do that over the weekend and include more info in my next post.

XOXO