Just back from Shanghai - my second visit there since we moved to Singapore - and I was blown away. Funny really, since the first time I went, in August last year, it barely made an impression. What was different this time was that I had the chance to spend some time outside of offices and hotels, and have a look round the older part of Shanghai - called Puxi (pronounced Pusee). In fact, the newer part of Shanghai - Pudong - is very new indeed. What is now a thriving commercial centre, with state of the art buildings, was farmland 15 years ago. Since it now looks like this (above), it's hard to believe the transformation.
Whenever I travel to places like China, I tend to be a bit challenged by the food (those of you who have read my post on "slippy food" will know what I mean). I'm sure this means I miss out on some amazing culinary opportunities, but there you have it. Walking through the French Concession in Puxi (the area of Shanghai originally designed for the French, and full of lovely old buildings as well as being the home of Shanghai's cafe society and club scene),) I came across a restaurant in a small park (or large garden, depending on your point of view - make up your own mind from the picture below).
Luckily for me, there were plenty of prawn dishes as well as the restaurant specialities of marinated turnip skin, mustard marinated jellyfish and sliced whelk.
Back in Singapore, we are experiencing relatively poor weather, although I am loving the unusual sensation of feeling cool for a change. I'm sure it won't last. We are heading for France in August, and hosting a Langedocienne dinner for some of our Singapore friends just before we go, so next Friday Chris will be cooking duck confit with cassoulet and serving up goat's cheese with honey. If you're going to be in the neighbourhood, just let us know!
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