Keeping a Chinese Tradition Alive
| 19 July 2010
These past few weeks have been full of long work hours, settling in, and of course eating local!
Discovering Shanghai’s true food scene is not as easy as one would think, but finding the true blooded street vendors is no question where the urban culture thrives! I am currently living in what is known as Expo Village, which is a brand new complex much like an Olympic village. We have restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Filled with western style eateries, for example Tony Roma’s and Bubba’s BBQ, thanks but no thanks!
The common topic of conversation around the village is “I found this new place…”, not many speak the local lingo so everything is based on general landmarks, ordering at the local joints is always an adventure in itself
Truth be told, how can you blame them… who wants to spend 15 dollars on a dozen “Smoked Chinese Chicken Wings”… no thanks, I will stick with the people who have been perfecting their craft for generations. So in the event any of these people from photos below ever read this xhi-xhi! (thank you)!
Where does your food come from?
| 15 July 2010
I have recently been able to pry away from the Pavilion for a few hours to pick up some custom tailored clothing and explore the neighborhood next to what is called the “Old City”. This was my true first trip to a complete and total Shanghai urban market. This small pocket neighborhood boasts tons of vendors, most with 125 sq. ft. store fronts with their small one bedroom apartments just above. The streets are covered with food vendors, men engaged in serious card games, counterfeit tobacco shops, antique dealers, motorbike part suppliers and random local markets. Yes, China, this rising country has sent out media messages to their people not to walk around in pajamas all day, clean up, and change their ways of hundreds of years. Shanghai is the New York of China- they have pushed the locals to embrace western ways, which to me is quite a shame. Of course I happen to seek out the real culture of Shanghai behind all the smoke and mirrors that Shanghai officials try to hide.
Grabbed a few photos at a local market- this market made any US Asian market smell like a bed of roses, pass health inspection with an A, and make you feel like you are in a 5 star resort! Unlike most Westerners I don’t look down on these practices, it’s just different…
Makes someone think twice about “where does your food come from”?
Happy Birthday America
| 12 July 2010
This cake will be in many future publications and print all throughout the world- I wish I could have brought in my close friend and dynamic Pastry Chef Christine D’Angeli from Slice Cake Designs!
