Shanghai food blog | Sugared & Spiced

2012/06/092015/10/09

[Shanghai] Strictly Cookies

Strictly Cookies

Add: check website for various locations
Tel: 137-8894-0337
Website: www.strictlycookies.com
Price: 35 RMB for a pack of 5 cookies
Visited: Jun 2012

My afternoon with Strictly Cookies definitely went overboard. Lexie Comstock, the girl behind the cookies, fed me a total of 9 different varieties – 5 of the regular flavors, plus another 4 of their new ice-cream cookie sandwich creations. I was effectively on a sugar high an hour into these cookies, and in the back of my head I was calculating how many laps I need to run to burn them off, all the while stuffing yet another piece in my mouth because these are so addictingly good. Life of a food blogger, you know, it’s really tough.

First, there are a few classics like the Strictly Chocolate Chip, Call Me Sugar, and Oatmeal Raisin the Roof. No surprises here, just plain awesomeness. The cookies are soft, chewy, sugary in the typical American way – not ideal for the body but does wonder for the mind (because eating these will make you a very happy person).

There are also a few modifications, like the Skinny Chocolate Chip, which has the same recipe as the classic Strictly Chocolate Chip, except it only uses 1/3 the sugar. The sweetness was perfect for me and, because there’s less sugar, the cookie doesn’t flatten out as much when baked, resulting in a more cakey texture.

Then there’s the Unifier, which ingeniously combines a brownie and a cookie – not much, just two of the best things in life. Underneath the thin crust is a gooey heart, so soft it just melts in your mouth.

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2012/06/012015/09/29

[Shanghai] Masala Art

restaurant

Masala Art

Add: 397 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu / 大沽路397号，近石门一路
Tel: 6327 3571
Hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Price: 100~150 RMB/person
Visited on: May 2012

Spent a lovely evening at Masala Art with friends. Food coma ensued after all the heavy Indian dishes went into our bellies…and oh my, were they delicious.

We started with some excellent Samosa (28 RMB), deep fried crispy patties filled with spiced potatoes and green peas.

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2012/05/292015/09/28

[Shanghai] The Waldorf Champagne Brunch

restaurant

Waldorf Astoria

Add: Waldorf Astoria, Heritage Building, 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu / 上海外滩华尔道夫酒店中山东一路2号
Tel: 6322 9988
Hours: 11am~3pm
Website: www.waldorfastoria.com
Price: 688 RMB + 15% or 888 RMB + 15% (includes free-flow of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and wine)
Visited: May 2012

The recently upgraded Waldorf Champagne Brunch is just about the most lavish (read: expensive) way you can spend a Sunday morning in Shanghai. As with the previous “Waldrof Brunch Tour”, brunchers commence at the Long Bar with flutes of Veuve Cliquot champagne and freshly shucked oysters, then waltz to the Grand Brasserie for its grand buffet and a la carte dishes from the Chef’s Specialties menu. Come hungry, and don’t expect to leave the place until a good 3 hours later.

A few words on Long Bar. The space used to be the gathering place for la crème de la crème of Shanghai back in 1920s, and, interestingly, is also where the first KFC in Shanghai was located. The current decor is all dark leather and dark wood, with an impressive 34-meter-long bar that was reconstructed exactly according to old photographs. Take the time to soak up up the unique charms of this legendary space, but resist the temptation to overdose on oysters – you will need that stomach space for a latter part of the brunch.

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2012/05/222015/09/24

[Shanghai] Shari

restaurant

Shari

Add: 630 Yongjia Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu / 永嘉路630号, 近乌鲁木齐路
Tel: 5466 0320
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 11:30am~2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm [Sat-Sun] 11:30am~2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Website: www.shari-shanghai.cn
Price: 150~250RMB/person
Visited on: Apr 2012

5 minutes before dinner, my friend called and said in an unsure voice, “I’m at the door, but this place doesn’t look like it serves sushi…” Indeed, the colonial villa in which Shari is situated in does not resemble a typical Japanese restaurant, but no one has ever decided that sushi rolls can only be served in tatami-floorered rooms, right?

We started with an assorted appetizer plate (98 RMB), which included shari tofu (Japanese tofu mixed with mascarpone cheese), umani (Japanese traditional stewed clam), kamonegi (roasted duck and fried scallions with balsamic), tomato with avocado, onsen tamago (half-boiled egg with miso jelly), and nanbanzuke (fried white fish marinated in sweet vinegar sauce).

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2012/05/152015/09/29

[Shanghai] Mr. V

other

Mr. V

Add: 93-C Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Xinle Lu / 襄阳北路93-C号，近新乐路
Tel: 6417 9928
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 9:30am-8pm [Sat-Sun] 10am-8pm
Website: www.mrvbanh-mi.com
Price: [banh mi] 25~37RMB [drinks] 10~32RMB [sets] 40~52RMB
Visited: May 2012

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

Mr. V is not much more than a tiny stall with a tiny patio, but from its kitchen out pours some authentic Vietnamese sandwiches (a.k.a. banh mi) with traditional Vietnamese drinks to match. Could this be your new favorite lunch delivery?

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2012/05/122015/09/27

[Shanghai] Salute

paris

Salute

Add: 59 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Yongfu Lu / 复兴西路59号, 近永福路
Hours: 6pm~2am
Price: [food] 38~88RMB [house wine] 40RMB/glass
Visited: May 2012

Cold cuts, cheeses, and a bottle of wine in a green shaded courtyard. In this perfect weather (perfect for Shanghai, that is), one does not need much to be happy, and you can find this simple equation at Salute, a casual Italian nook on Fuxing Xi Lu.

The menu is written on a blackboard, and it’s kept short and simple. There are some antipasti items, cold cuts, cheese, panini, bruschetta, green salad, and a few desserts like chocolate profiterol and tiramisu (not house-made though). Note: Salute doesn’t accept cards, so bring your cash.

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2012/05/062015/09/24

[Shanghai] Le Petit Franck

restaurant

Le Petit Franck

Add: 374 Wukang Rd, near Hunan Rd / 武康路374号，近湖南路
Tel: 64331213
Hours: 11am~1am (open daily)
Price: [snacks] 15~60RMB [plates] 50~170RMB [drinks] 25~180RMB
Website: www.franck.com.cn
Visited: May 2012

In weather like this, sitting outdoor while sipping a glass of rosé at dusk is almost mandatory. That’s how I found myself on a late afternoon just a few days ago, out on the charming (and much coveted) patio of Le Petit Franck in Ferguson Lane. Wine, simple snacks, evening breeze, warm glow, buzzing conversations. It’s quite perfect.

A glass of rosé (45RMB/glass), Chateau du Puget, Cote de Provence 2009.

Terrine de Campagne (80RMB), house terrine served with salad, bread, and some pickled olives and cornichon.

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2012/04/082015/10/07

[Shanghai] Awfully Chocolate (2)

paris

Awfully Chocolate

Add: 169 Wujiang Road, InPoint Plaza #120 / 吴江路169号四季坊商场120号
Tel: 6267 9390
Hours: 10am~10pm
Website: www.awfullychocolate.com
Price: [ice-cream] 27 RMB/scoop [cupcakes] 25 RMB [truffles] 73 RMB/100g
Visited: Apr 2012

I really just wanted one scoop of chocolate ice-cream when I visited Awfully Chocolate this afternoon, but things never go as planned…

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2012/04/062015/08/31

[Shanghai] Afternoon Tea at The Langham XTD

restaurant

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Cachet at The Langham XTD

Add: 99 Madang Lu, near Taicang Lu / 马当路99号1楼, 近太仓路
Tel: 2330 2288
Hours: 6:30am~10pm [afternoon tea] 2:30~5:00
Website: xintiandi.langhamhotels.com
Price: [afternoon tea] 280~350 RMB/set
Visited on: 2012-03

After sampling afternoon tea sets at so many hotels in Shanghai, I think I’m just about done. There was, however, one last hotel that I wanted to try, and that is the Langham Xintiandi. I’ve heard good and bad things about the Tiffin Afternoon Tea served at its Cachet Lobby Lounge, and what’s better than coming here and tasting it for myself?

Cachet Lobby Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows that span two stories, is a bright and airy space ideal for afternoon tea. The cherry on top? Live harp performance.

The tea-smelling set up at Langham reminds me of Smith & Hsu in Taipei. It’s an amusing and somewhat overwhelming experience to open bottles after bottles in an attempt to find the perfect blend. At the waitress’s recommendation, we settled with these two: The Langham Blend and Palm Court Exotic Blend.

The Langham Blend is, as the name suggests, the classic here. It’s a mix of first and second flush Assam, Darjeelings and Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe black teas that have been blended to create a refined and rounded flavor. The Palm Court Exotic Blend, on the other hand, is a blend of Chinese Fujian white tea with hibiscus flowers, rosehip peel and rose petals. I personally preferred the Langham Blend, though the girly girls might pick the Palm Court Exotic Blend for its pink hue. A fun detail is that tea at Langham comes with an hourglass, which guides you to steep the tea for exactly three minutes before pouring it.

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2012/04/062015/10/07

[Shanghai] Ginger

shanghai

Ginger (venue moved)

Add: No.1, 299 Fuxing Xi Lu, near Huashan Lu / 复兴西路299弄1号, 近华山路
Tel: 3406 0599
Hours: 9:30am~9:30pm
Website: www.gingercafe.cn
Price: [drinks] 25~45RMB [food] 42~98 RMB
Visited: Apr 2011

I have been to Ginger a few times before, but never thought it was anything special. This past Wednesday I sat out with a friend in its tiny alley patio, and I gotta say, this is a pretty sweet spot for the Spring weather in Shanghai. I only had a pot of ginger tea so I can’t comment on the food…you will have to go and find out yourself.

Still full from lunch, all I ordered was ginger tea with honey (35 RMB).

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