Discussions of Chinese food with friends in the US inevitably lead to Panda Express or one's favorite local delivery; however, our Americanized form of Chinese food is a horribly inaccurate representation of authentic Chinese cuisine. Don't get me wrong I love General Tsao's chicken with a side of lomain as much as the next guy but coming to China and expecting to find that on your plate would be like going to Italy and expecting to find a slice of buffalo chicken pizza. There are certainly similarities between the two types of food but one is markedly more Americanized. While in Shanghai I have gone to some great local restaurants and found a new favorite Chinese food, xiaolongbao (小龙包). Xiaolongbao are a form of dumpling that are steamed in a bamboo basket and usually filled with pork, crab, and some broth. They've won over my heart not only because they're delicious but at a kuai a piece I can have a solid meal for under $2. I've also found some great Szechuan (spicy) restaurants in the area as well.
Some of the first xiaolongbao I ate in China. The rest is history.
A great fish meal in a local village.
We also have a kitchen in our apartment and decided to embrace local culture by cooking a little. After buying a big bag of rice, some veggies, and eggs we were able to make some fried rice which tasted...well it was edible and I've learned that a little salt and soy sauce can mask even the worst cooking mistakes.
My first foray into Chinese cooking.
Through the food in Shanghai we have also been able to experience and appreciate globalization first hand. In the first week I had pasta, tacos, sushi, and of course KFC. I also have to admit that I can't take all the credit for my beautiful fried rice dish above. Without ingredients from my local Walmart (沃尔玛) that dish never would've come to be.
A little reminder of home on the other side of the world.
Its seriously better than KFC in the US.
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