Capturing authenticity in both its appearance and cuisine, Lao Beijing in Velocity@Novena Square is where you’ll more than likely find well-executed Northern Chinese fare in the form of exquisite fish dishes, noodle dishes as well as an array of juicy dumplings. Famed for their xiao long bao and famous customisable popiah, the restaurant has bagged numerous awards over the years and sees a constant flood of loyal patrons daily.

A favourite venue for family dining and cosy gatherings, the restaurant enthrals with their contemporary approach to traditional classics. Take their highly acclaimed Signature Beef Noodle for instance that features 3 delectable soup base varieties, or even Signature Grilled Fish with Tomato Broth that paints a fresh new look on the traditional ‘kao yu’ dish of Southwest China.

Besides its Signature Dishes, the restaurant also presents diners with 7 intriguing new dishes. These are set to wow the palates of customers old and new. If you haven’t dined at Lao Beijing before, you’re completely missing out. If you have, there is no reason to not go back again for more affordable, mouth-watering food that’s great for communal dining!

SIGNATURE DISHES

Some folks may shun the idea of eating with their hands, but we absolutely love it. Doing so provides us with a heightened sensory experience and it just makes food taste better (if that even makes sense).

Which is why when it comes to Lao Beijing’s two stellar DIY dishes—signature Lao Beijing Famous Popiah (S$28++) and Lao Beijing Crispy Skin Roast Duck (S$60++ for a whole duck)—we get really excited. Not only do they look and taste divine, they require some elbow grease as well.

Every single component from the individual popiah skin to the star attractions and even the various ingredients are done to perfection. The turnips are tender and cooked to the right consistency and the roast duck is fragrant, succulent and delectable.

A stunning centrepiece and one that is as gorgeous as it is delicious, the Signature Grilled Fish with Tomato Broth (S$68++) is what you totally have to try.

Prepared in pretty much the same way as many cities in China, the colossal fillet of fish is first grilled separately before being placed in a large rectangular pot alongside fresh vegetables, enoki mushrooms and pineapples.

Once it reaches the table, a piping hot tomato broth would then be doused over top, cooking the vegetables, heating up the fish and at the same time, imparting its sweet, umami-packed qualities onto every single ingredient.

Another fish dish that had us diving in for seconds and thirds in a hurry was the Braised Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chilli (S$24++). With its slight sour tang, gentle amount of heat and refreshing clarity, this dish was easily one of our favourites of the entire spread.

Pickled in-house, the cabbage takes on a rather sourish appeal but is well balanced with both salty and sweet notes. Having been braised over a period of time, the fish slices take on a warm and refreshing flavour whilst retaining its structure really well.

Arguably one of Lao Beijing’s most popular dishes is the Xiao Long Bao (S$10++ for 10 pieces). Expertly hand-moulded and served piping hot every time, every bite comes with the promise of luxury in the form of a rich, savoury pork broth that washes over the palate nicely. Spoon over a drop or two of plum vinegar and a few slivers of ginger, and that is happiness right there.

To complement those potstickers, why not order up a serving of the restaurant’s prided Beijing-Style ‘Zhajiang’ Noodle (S$10++)? Essentially a savoury and fragrant noodle dish consisting simply of soybean paste, julienned vegetables and stir-fried ground pork, this top-seller is great for if you’re looking for something mild yet filling.

Perhaps one of the most underrated yet tasty side items you can possibly get is the Zhenjiang Pork Ribs (S$18++). Deep-fried to golden perfection before being coated in a luscious, sweet sauce and topped with sesame seeds, this dish is one that begs to be eaten with white rice.

You’d be silly not to order up a bowl of the Original Beef Noodle with Triple Treasure (S$18++). Featuring a beefy trinity of brisket, tendon and tripe, alongside springy hand-pulled noodles and a hearty broth, this bowl is undeniably one of the most comforting delights around.

This flavour bomb comes in three different varieties of soup base: original, spicy and tomato broth.

NEW DISHES

Adding on to Lao Beijing’s stellar repertoire of quality favourites is 7 new dishes. This gives you another reason to visit the restaurant!

KUROBUTA PORK SERVED ON SIZZLING HOT PLATE

Dazzling in both the theatrical element that comes along with it, as well as its addictive flavour is the Kurobuta Pork served on Sizzling Hot Plate (S$24++). Served sizzling on a hot plate, before being flambéed, this dish is a sight to behold.

The Kurobuta itself was incredibly tender and the sticky sauce that envelops it is sweet and savoury with a tangy, almost vinegar-like kick.

STEAMED ‘SOON HOCK’ WITH  PICKLED CHILLI

If you’re looking for a sharing dish, our recommendation is to opt for the Steamed ‘Soon Hock’ with Pickled Chilli (Market Price).

The overly generous topping of red chilli may intimidate at first, but the pickling process—to our greatest relief—does take the fiery edge off the chilli, resulting in a tangy, almost sweet concoction that complements the freshly steamed fish beautifully.

BRAISED SUPERIOR FISH MAW AND MUSHROOM

For the ladies who fancy something jam-packed with collagen, then perhaps the Braised Superior Fish Maw with Mushroom (S$48++ (S), S$58++ (M), S$68++ (L)) should sit right with you.

This classic Chinese dish is packed with skin-healing properties and is absolutely flavourful. Braised in a flavourful sauce for several hours, the fish maw acts like a sponge that not only becomes tender during the process but also soaks up all the intense sauce.

‘MALA’ SOFT-SHELL PRAWN

We were particularly thrilled to have a go at Lao Beijing’s new ‘Mala’ Soft-shell Prawn (S$28++); it not only looked majestic, it was also accented with one of our all-time favourite flavours—mala.

Essentially the same flavour components of the iconic cereal prawn but with a spicy accent to it, the dish really did taste as good as it looked. The outer layer was crispy, savoury, and the iconic mouth-numbing spice added a nice touch to the sweet prawn.

Both the Four Vegetable Delicacies with ‘Huai Shan’ (S$18.80++) and Homemade Black Beancurd with Wild Mushroom and Seafood (S$18.80++) were cooked using only the freshest seasonal vegetables and masterfully prepared to retain as much of its natural flavour and colour as possible, on top of a layer of solid wok hei flavour.

BRAISED RED-SPOTTED GROUPER WITH GINGER WINE

A hearty concoction of fresh grouper and an aromatic sauce, we were pretty darn sold by their Braised Red-spotted Grouper with Ginger Wine (S$36++). Infusing ginger and wine, the sauce took on a pungent and zesty appeal with a nice kick from the wine.

We really liked that they went with grouper among all other fish varieties as it really held its firmness well without crumbling.

Lao Beijing 
238 Thomson road
Velocity@Novena Square, #02-11/12
Singapore 307683
Tel: +65 6358 4466
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

This post was brought to you by Lao Beijing. 

Colony at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is one of the most stunning restaurants in Singapore. And it is one destination that suits every occasion—business luncheons, anniversary dinners, birthday celebrations and family gatherings.

During our previous visit to Colony, we were blown away by the extensive buffet dinner spread which features seven ‘live’ kitchens. Fast forward a few months and we are back at this colonial-themed restaurant for “The Journey”—a five-tier tiffin afternoon tea (S$49++/pax) which is now available from Monday to Saturday, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

Lounge your afternoon away in this gorgeous setting and chit-chat over savoury delights served in a five-tier ceramic tiffin and unlimited servings of delectable desserts from The Patisserie, a complimentary flute of champagne and Colony’s custom tea blend.

Colony is where a wonderful afternoon tea journey happens. And for readers of Ladyironchef, enjoy a privileged 15% discount when you quote ‘Ladyironchef15′ upon reservation.

POSH COLONIAL-THEMED SETTING

While we loved the dim lighting and romantic setting during dinner, we were awed after stepping foot into the restaurant for the first time in the day—natural lighting shines through the mother-of-pearl glass roof and brightens up the  restaurant space.

The theme of the restaurant is set in the late 18th century when trade started flourishing in Singapore, paying tribute to the sea voyages and commercial travels by the British to the Far East. Adding to the colonial touches are a series of vintage portraits, maps, and photographs  displayed on the wall partitions.

Those who prefer a more private setting can opt for one of the dining booths perfect for  groups of two and four.

“THE JOURNEY” AFTERNOON TEA

Travel back in time through Singapore’s culinary heritage as you savour  Chinese, Western and locally inspired canapés presented in a ceramic five-tier  ”Tingkat”, the Malay word for tiffin. Journey through savoury highlights such as Steamed Charcoal Xiao Long Bao with Baby Abalone, Beef Parmentier, Mini Lobster Thermidor and Pumpkin Cake with Chilli Crab Meat Sauce.

Do note that the menu is subjected to change.

It is no secret that we love Xiao Long Bao, and we have seen quite a few creative variations of mini soup dumplings in recent years. And just when we thought we have seen it all, Colony comes up with their rendition of the Steamed Charcoal Xiao Long Bao with Baby Abalone.

A generous portion of pork filling and tasty broth are enwrapped in a delicate, black dumpling skin providing a burst of flavours at first bite. The Baby Abalone adds a premium touch to this exquisite dim sum dish.

Another star dish melding flavours from the East and West would be the Pumpkin Cake with Chilli Crab Meat Sauce. Here at Colony, the chefs have mastered the art of making rich and flavourful chilli crab sauce.

The wonderful combination of sweet and mildly spicy flavours definitely makes this a crowd-pleaser.

The Beef Parmentier is a winning combination of soft and tender beef chunks, complemented with creamy mashed potato.

With the Mini Lobster Thermidor, a classic French dish, you can enjoy a portion of succulent lobster meat drizzled in cream sauce, and baked with cheese to perfection.

There is also the Ibérico and Burrata Cheese Sandwich, a Western favourite. The intense flavour of the cured ham is well-balanced by the smooth, buttery texture of the burrata.

The best part? You get to experience this journey through various cuisines with a flute of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne and Colony’s custom tea blend, made from  black and white Sumatran tea leaves! You can even personalise your tea with your choice of tea syrup enhancement such as French Rose, Pandan or Lavender.

The Pandan enhancement was definitely the popular choice, as all of us had several cups of tea just to pair with the fragrant Pandan enhancement.

CREPE SUZETTE STATION

A trip to Colony is never complete until you make your way to the ‘live’ crêpe suzette station. Capture the Instagram-worthy moment as the pastry chef light the pan with a torch —a dramatic instant that makes for great photos or videos.

UNLIMITED SERVINGS OF DESSERTS AT THE PATISSERIE

Though the canapés in the five-tier tiffin are not refillable, your sweet tooth will be satiated with  unlimited servings of desserts from The Patisserie in Colony.

Look out for the lemon meringue, raspberry cheesecake and mini pandan roll. There is also an assortment of Nyonya kueh, alluding to another of Singapore’s heritage cuisines.

‘The Journey’ is one of the best afternoon teas in Singapore that we’ve had this year and we are already looking forward to more tea sessions at the gorgeous Colony!

AN EXCLUSIVE 15% OFF

For all of our beloved readers of Ladyironchef, experience ‘The Journey’ with a 15% off by simply quoting ‘Ladyironchef15′ upon making your reservation. Do note that this promotion is redeemable only with a minimum of 2 diners, and it is valid from 28 November 2016 to 17 December 2016.

“The Journey” Afternoon Tea
5-tier Tiffin Afternoon Tea with unlimited desserts
Mon to Sat: 3.30pm to 5.30pm
S$49++ per person

Colony
Level 3, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
Reservations: +65 6434 5288 / rc.sinrz.restaurantreservations@ritzcarlton.com www.colony.com.sg
Nearest Station: Promenade

This post is brought to you by The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

Established in 1989, Jing Hua Xiao Chi started in a shophouse along Neil Road and has garnered a strong following over the years for their delicious dumplings and other authentic Chinese dishes.

Its newest outlet at Palais Renaissance is a casual chic Chinese restaurant that serves a concise and inexpensive menu, making it a good place for an intimate business lunch or a casual dinner date.

The must-order dish here is definitely the Little Juicy Steamed Pork Dumplings (S$5 for 4pcs, and S$8.80 for 8pcs) which are always served piping hot with a rich soup that bursts with flavours as you bite into them.

We have had many good red bean pancakes but the restaurants version – Crispy Red Bean Pancake (S$10.50), is a golden deep-friend masterpiece that was fragrant, crisp and just overall delightful. The pretty huge portion is also good to share between two people or in a group.

Another exciting must-try dish here is the Chinese Pizza (S$10.80), and it is aptly named so. This spin on a traditional Italian delicacy could not be more different than what it was named after. The ‘pizza’ is a flaky crust stuffed with generous fillings of meat and vegetables.

You can also dig into the best-selling Noodle with Minced Pork & Soya Bean Sauce (S$6.80). This bowl is portioned in a way that you still can have some sides here without over-stuffing yourself.

Jing Hua Xiao Chi
390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6733 8231
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Xiao Long Baos are essentially mini soup dumplings originated from Jiang Nan China and served in bamboo baskets; in our words, little dumplings of happiness. It is a widely coveted dim sum dish in many Chinese restaurants and has won countless hearts with its hearty soup base tucked within the confines of a thin skin. A pretty Xiao Long Bao, thereafter known as XLB, is one that is sealed with multiple exquisite folds around its crown.

Many restaurants have since tried to perfect their own version of XLB, with a varying use of ingredients and preparation methods. Most of them have since started to use alternative ingredients to fluff up their XLBs up to stand out from the crowd.

In this guide, we share 8 Xiao Long Baos in Singapore that we love, and we hope you love them too!

#1 CRYSTAL JADE KITCHEN

Crystal Jade is a household name and is no stranger to any Singaporean. Their motto of serving food with exceptional qualities and offering excellent customer service has garnered the love of many, even extending to the younger crowd. The signature XLB is consistently wrapped in a neat manner, and in it encompasses pork filling and an exceptional broth. Savour the every burst of delight with shredded ginger and vinegar.

Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6238 1411
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Orchard

#2 DIN TAI FUNG

Located at most shopping malls with snaking queues during the lunch and dinner hours, Din Tai Fung has made its name known as the restaurant serving the best Xiao Long Baos. This Michelin-star awarded restaurant is all about serving authentic Chinese cuisine, with an open kitchen showcasing the chefs perfecting every edible masterpiece. Their coveted Xiao Long Bao (S$9.80 for 10 pieces) comes with steamed chicken broth, and you might have noticed that every table of diners will definitely order a basket or two.

Serangoon Nex
23 Serangoon Central, #B1-10/11/12
Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 6634 7787
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 10:30am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Serangoon

#3 IMPERIAL TREASURE 

Imperial Treasure prides themselves in serving Chinese food of fine standards, and it is our all-time favourite. The restaurant has a modern and elegant look to it, offering an extravagant dining experience to the crowd at reasonable fine dining prices.

Their Xiao Long Bao (S$7.80 for 6 pieces) is finely crafted by their master chefs, retaining the rich and authentic flavours of the broth beneath the thinly rolled xiao long bao skin.

Marina Bay Sands, The Shoppes Atrium 2
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Mon to Sat: 11:30am – 10:30pm
Sun: 11am – 10:30pm
Nearest MRT: Bayfront

#4 JING HUA XIAO CHI

This restaurant is not only popular with Singaporeans but has also established itself in Japan and Italy. With three outlets in Singapore, the Chinese dishes at Jing Hua Xiao Chi are lovingly prepared with ingredients sourced from Chinatown wet market, and curates their menu to suit the local taste buds.

Their famed Little Juicy Steamed Meat Dumplings are affordably priced at S$5++ for 4 pieces, perfecting the little goodness with equal proportions of pork, soup and skin that is set to wow the crowd.

390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 6733 8231
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#5 PARADISE DYNASTY

You would have seen so many photos of this 8-coloured Xiao Long Bao (S$14.80) by now. Paradise Dynasty plays their XLBs up with a plump parcel of meat and soup fillings – Cheese, Crab, Ginseng, Sze Chuan, Foie Gras, Black Truffle, Garlic and Original – that melts away in the mouth.

1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-08A Vivocity
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6378 8103
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Habourfront

#6 SHANGHAI REN JIA 

Tucked at the foot of an HDB flat at Ang Mo Kio, Shanghai Ren Jia has a menu of dim sum dishes, and has perfected its Xiao Long Baos (S$6 for 5 pieces) so much so that they do not serve vinegar or ginger slices with it. They believe that with their dumplings made only with the freshest ingredients and with a soup filling infused with ginger, any condiment is unnecessary. Indeed, the full burst of flavours suffice to make us happy.

BLK 151, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5
Singapore 560151
Tel: +65 6368 6927
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio

#7 SHIN YEH

Shin Yeh is home to authentic and well-cooked Taiwanese dishes with its intricacies of preparation that focuses on the most minute of details. Its restaurant is furnished with a huge space that is ideal for hosting family gatherings, events and parties with a wholesome dining experience that is sought after by many.

Their Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80++) brought about a taste of Taiwan and wowed us with its almost translucent skin and very rich broth, best eaten with sliced ginger and vinegar.

Liang Court
177 River Valley Road, #02-19
Singapore 179030
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Daily: 11:30am – 4:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay

#8 YE CHUN XIAO JIANG NAN

Ye Chun Xiao Jiang Nan specialises in Jiang Nan cuisine as well as its hand-pulled noodles. The restaurant stands firm on its beliefs in serving traditional cuisines, and the menu is relatively well-priced.

Their Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80 for 4 pieces) stood out from the crowd with silk-like skin and pork filling marinated with an array of herbs and spices.

Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-181/182
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6333 4038
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest MRT: Promenade

By now, I am sure you’d have seen the colourful xiaolongbao from Paradise Dynasty on advertising billboards along Orchard Road as well as the other Singapore Food Blogs that have written about it before.

Paradise Dynasty is one of their newer ventures, and it is conveniently located alongside Taste Paradise on Ion Orchard level four. The question on everyone’s mind: are the colourful creations from Paradise Dynasty the best Xiao Long Bao in Singapore?

The Paradise group of restaurants has been growing rapidly in recent years and they are definitely giving the other Chinese restaurant chains like Crystal Jade, Imperial Treasure, Din Tai Fung a run for their money.

I don’t know about you, but the colourful xiaolongbao with exotic ingredients sound like a marketing gimmick to me. In any case, I decided to drop by and see what the fuss is all about.

Okay maybe It is not exactly fair to compare restaurants directly, but to give you a better picture, Paradise Dynasty is the equivalent of Crystal Jade’s La Mian & Xiaolongbao.

Stepping inside Paradise Dynasty through the narrow entrance, the restaurant interior is not what you’d expect from a causal dining restaurant. And given the fact that most of the items on Paradise Dynasty’s menu are priced reasonably, it is not difficult to understand why they have been doing quite well.

We were here for the colourful xiaolongbao of course. Okay, maybe I need to stop calling them colourful xiaolongbao, let me try again. Paradise Dynasty has 8 signature xiaolongbao flavours: Original, Garlic, Ginseng, Foie Gras, Black Truffle, Cheese, Crab Roe, and Szechuan.

The original starts from $9.8 for a basket of 10, while the exotic premium xiao long bao like the black truffle, foie gras and ginseng are $19.80 for a basket of 10. Since it was our first time here, we went for the sampling basket ($13.80 for the 8 flavours). There were hits and misses. I thought that the Crab Roe and Cheese were surprisingly good, while the Ginseng and Foie Gras were rather bland and I couldn’t really taste anything. The other flavours were decent, but not rock-your-socks-off good.

Besides the steamed pork dumplings, we also had the la mian from Paradise Dynasty.

Why is Japanese ramen more popular than Chinese La Mian?

This question has been on my mind for some time, and I honestly don’t get it. Japanese food is a very popular cuisine, and there are so many Japanese ramen restaurants in Singapore. But when it comes to Chinese La Mian, we do not have many choices, and most people seem to prefer having ramen anyway.

The irony is Japanese ramen originates from Chinese La Mian, yet it is often more expensive. A bowl of ramen is at least $12-$15, while La Mian on the other hand, is usually priced below $10 at most Chinese restaurants.

Anyway I digressed. What I wanted to tell you is the La Mian with braised pork belly ($10.80) from Paradise Dynasty. The broth was rich and flavourful, the noodle springy and the pork belly sublime – in short, it was pretty fantastic. I definitely feel that this bowl of La Mian will not lose out to any ramen.

It is not easy to find a restaurant in Orchard road that serves decent food at affordable prices. Paradise Dynasty fits in very nicely in the local food scene, and I like the fact that the Paradise Group is keeping the other Chinese restaurant chains on their toes.

Paradise Dynasty is definitely a good option if you want to have Chinese food in Orchard road. It is a plus that they are an all day dining restaurant, which means that you can even go there during mid afternoon to have dim sum for high tea. But are the colourful xiao long baos with premium fillings really better than the original one?

I am not convinced.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Paradise Dynasty
2 Orchard Turn, #04-12A
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 9118

Operating Hours:
Weekdays 11am to 10pm
Weekends 10am to 10pm

When it comes to the best Xiao Long Bao in Singapore, most people will usually think of Din Tai Fung, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, or Nan Xiang Xiao long bao restaurant. Along the sleepy Neil Road at the intersection of Chinatown & Maxwell Food Market, there’s a very popular place that serves good xiao long bao? Try to search for Neil Road, and Google will actually prompt “Neil Road Xiao Long Bao”, or “Neil Road Qun Zhong”.

The Lonely Planet Guide refers to Qun Zhong Eating House as the #433 out of 625 Things to do in Singapore. Are the Steamed Pork Dumplings there really so good?

If you are a superficial or lazy person like me, chances are, you’d have walked past Qun Zhong Eating House a dozen times without noticing it. The place doesn’t look very impressive from the outside, and there’s always a long queue during peak hours.

Before coming here, I heard about the reputation of the ‘service’, or rather the lack of service. Stepping inside, most of the staff were rather grumpy and appeared to be in a hurry. We were actually quite afraid to ask them for water. Okay to be fair, it wasn’t that bad. I asked for water nicely, and they gave it to us without much trouble.

The Xiao Long Baos from Qun Zhong Eating House were much bigger than any of the dumplings that I had before. And it was for a very good reason. They held a lot of soup within the seemingly-thick folds of the steamed pork dumpling ($7 for 7). It literally gushed out when I took a nibble of the xiao long bao.

Is this the best Xiao Long Bao in Singapore? I can’t answer that, but if you like a meaty and thick steamed pork dumpling, with lots of soup, Qun Zhong’s Xiao long bao is definitely the one for you. We also had the Pan Fried Dumplings ($8 for 10), and together with the 7 xiao long bao, and a bowl of zha jiang mian – it was really a lot of food for the two of us.

Other than the Zha Jiang Mian (noodle with minced pork & soya bean paste), Qun Zhong Eating House also serves a variety of Beijing cuisine and food like the Chinese Pizza, Steamed vegetarian dumplings and Hot & Sour noodle.

If you still have room in the stomach after eating the xiao long bao, Dim Joy is just across the street. For desserts, there’s Flor Patisserie, Once Upon A Milkshake and Patisserie Glace nearby.

Restaurant Review
Qun Zhong Eating House
21 Neil Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6221 3060

Sometimes, the best things in life are the ones that you are not expecting.

After spending a bomb during my Sydney holiday in December last year, I didn’t plan for any overseas trip for 2010. But within a short span of a month, I went to Shanghai, Phuket and Hong Kong. Back in August, I joined the Denizen team for a trip to Shanghai for their global launch of the new denim brand.

wanderlust (noun) – an irresistibly strong desire or an impulse to travel far away and explore different places.

Traveling is always fun, especially when you get to see new things, meet new friends, and of course, food. It’s always about the food, baby. Okay, maybe not everything about the food, but you know what I mean. It only make sense if you try the local delicacy when you are there. Like if you are in Japan, obviously you will fill yourself up with ramen, sushi and sashimi right? The same logic applies for everywhere.

Now, what is Shanghainese food? I have been told that there isn’t a definite cuisine on its own, instead the food is influenced by the nearby surrounding provinces. When we talk about Shanghainese food, I’m sure everyone will think of the famous Shanghai Xiaolongbao. Thank god I had one!

Our schedule for this short trip to Shanghai was packed very tightly. Other than spending time at the event venue, the rest of the time was spend in the hotel room, but boy, if it’s up to me, I would have chosen to stay in the hotel room all day long.

We stayed in Langham Yangtze boutique hotel Shanghai, which is conveniently located in the heart of the city. I wasn’t expecting much from the outside, but I fell in love with the place once I stepped inside. The hotel is at Nanjing road, China’s premier shopping street, which is pretty much like our Singapore’s Orchard road.

Other than ‘work’ and cooping enjoying ourselves inside the luxurious hotel, the denizen team fed us very well. We went to this fine dining Chinese restaurant at Xintiandi, which is an entertainment and dining destination in Shanghai. It is a very funky area which has been preserved and developed, with lots of Art Gallery, cafes and restaurants.

You know what is the worst thing that can happen when you are hungry and all you want to do is to eat and go back to bed? Having a multi-course dinner in a fine dining Chinese restaurant.

Even though the food was very exquisite, it was quite a torture trying to stay awake after a long day, and wait for each course to come. In total, we had around 15 courses, and it took us almost three hours to complete dinner. Yawn!

What’s a trip to Shanghai without its iconic Xiaolongbao?

On the second night, all of us made merry over steamboat. Countless plates of ingredients that could feed an army, were brought to our table, and for that two hours, we ate, and ate, and ate, and ate.

I believe the sole purpose of my existence lies in grabbing the thin slices of meat, and submerge it within the hot boiling broth, swishing it back and forth several times, and letting it melt inside my mouth. Swish-swish-swish.

Our event venue was at The Waterhouse at South Bund, an uber-cool boutique hotel which is operated by The New Majestic Group from Singapore. Many of you will have heard of Jason Atherton, the celebrity chef who used to be under Gordon Ramsay. His first independent restaurant Table No 1 is housed within The Waterhouse at South Bund, but I didn’t get to eat there though — what a shame. But you will never know what the future may bring, maybe I will get to stay in The Waterhouse at South Bund during my next trip to Shanghai. A boy can wish right? You never know..

Good Bye Shanghai, see you again soon!