Joanna James
Called the Paris of the East by travellers since time immemorial, Shanghai is known not only for its iconic heritage sites but also its culinary prowess. Regardless of the duration of your visit, here are 5 local treats every tourist must dig into during a holiday in Shanghai.
Officially named Niango, this sweet local delight is reason enough to vacation in Shanghai. New Year Cake as it is more widely known is a popular snack that's eaten at all hours of the day but mostly during afternoon tea time. Available at local bake houses such as the Xiao Changzhou Snack House, this well-loved treat comes in a plethora of flavours and incarnations. Most local restaurants will also feature Niango on its menu as a dessert or as a snack.
Shanghai is renowned for its seafood delicacies and none are quite as enticing as Smoked Fish Slices. Called Sshyoon Yoo in the local tongue, these slices of fish are crisped to perfection and are spicy through and through. Those who cannot handle their spices may want to keep a glass of water handy as there are Shanghai residents who are unable to withstand the spiciness of this fiery plate. Fresh fish is sliced and marinated for hours in a special Chinese spice mix which gives the fish a smoky aftertaste even though it does not go through a smoking process. Dubbed Shanghai Shun Yu, carp and fish with a similar texture are used to create this dish which is a regular on the menu of Fu 1039 and other restaurants.
Offering soup lovers and dumpling fanatics the best of worlds, Xiaolongbao or soup dumplings is a Shanghai favourite that should not be missed. Those based at Ascott Huai Hai Road Shanghai and other similar luxury serviced apartments in Shanghai will find plenty of eateries and street food vendors specialising in this dish. The dumplings feature a seafood filling and are submerged in a light broth before presenting the bowl to diners. What sets this soup apart from wanton soups and other similar dishes is that diners can dip the dumplings in the soup instead of having them immersed in the broth. The dumplings are served in a bamboo o basket at most eateries for this purpose.
This classic noodle meal is available in most Shanghai restaurants that serve traditional Chinese dishes as it is a signature dish invented in the city. Croaker fish, an endemic fish species only found in the Yellow Sea is used to create this dish which is slow-cooked so that the bones of the fish dissolve into the noodle broth. Wholesome and nutritious it is also one of the milder dishes on the Shanghai cannon.
Although this dish is technically an appetizer, Fried Mantou is the perfect pick-me-up for those with a passion for fried dim sum. Deep-fried dim sums are not unique to Shanghai but the filling used by most local chefs is a delicious combination of scallion, minced meat and veggies that is simply irresistible.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
