This article details a food exploration journey with Dan Niu, featuring a variety of Shanghai and Suzhou culinary experiences, from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants.
Fried Buns: A Tale of Two Styles
Shu Cai Kee: The Classic Experience
The first stop is Shu Cai Kee Fried Bun, known for its open kitchen and two-story seating. The fried buns here are described as "rough" but delicious. The host explains the difference between new and old-fashioned fried buns. The new style uses dough without hair and features a frozen, soup-filled center. The old-fashioned style uses fermented dough and lacks the jelly-like soup base, relying on the meat's gravy. These buns are cooked with a generous amount of oil and served in portions of four. The thin skin is filled with hot, flavorful soup.
Xinrong Kee: A Michelin-Starred Twist
Next, the duo visits Xinrong Kee, a Michelin-recommended restaurant for eight years. Dan Niu highlights the different style of fried buns here, comparing them to a Taiwanese style. These buns have thicker skins, lack soup, and feature pleated tops. The filling is seasoned more heavily, with a darker color due to soy sauce, and possesses a sweet flavor. Although considered old-fashioned, the newer, soup-filled, thin-skinned buns are currently more popular. They also try crab meat filled buns but they think it's fishy and too oily.
Beyond Buns: Exploring Other Shanghai Staples
Curry Beef Soup
The reviewers sample curry beef soup, a traditional Shanghai dish influenced by British colonial history. This is made with curry powder and cilantro. The curry is light, but the cilantro is strong, and they couldn't enjoy the soup.
Michelin Dining at Shin Wing Kee
Chuandou (Hairtail)
The highlight of the trip is a visit to Michelin Restaurant Shin Wing Kee. A signature dish, Chuandou (hairtail), is prepared with the fish bones removed, leaving only a single row of thorns. The hairtail is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a light coating of powder. It has a salty taste, with a strong fishy smell.
Shepherd's Purse Jelly Yellow Croaker Soup
Another signature dish is the Shepherd's Purse Jelly Yellow Croaker Soup, containing shepherd's purse, yellow croaker, bamboo shoots, and tangerine peel. It resembles rice soup and is said to be easily absorbed and nourishing. The yellow croaker's fresh flavor is masked by seasoning.
Roast Squab
The roast squab features crispy skin and tender meat, braised with a light sauce. They deduct points because the head is missing, also the skin may not be crisp enough because it has been sitting out.
Chaozhou Sauerkraut with Octopus
A dish of Chaozhou sauerkraut with octopus and white vinegar is sampled. The octopus is served hot. The reviewers question the base of the boiled soup. The dish tastes homey.
Braised Pork Rice
They try a braised pork rice. The meat is soft and tender and the fatty part melts. They also mention a plum taste. The rice is delicious.
Sand Garlic with Winter Noodles
Finally they taste sand garlic with winter noodles. It's a handmade sweet potato vermicelli. It has an umami taste.
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The video takes a short break to promote the SALLY app, which is designed to save money on international roaming data. The app supports 190 countries and regions. The app also allows for data sharing.
More Sweet Treats and Mutton Skewers
Youth Group (Green Dumplings)
A quick stop at a food street provides an opportunity to try freshly made Youth Group (green dumplings), which are traditionally made with green wort, but Taiwanese versions use wormwood, resulting in a darker color. The outer skin has a herbal aroma.
Halal Mutton Skewers
The reviewers sample halal mutton skewers, noting the coarse texture of the lamb. The skewers are soft and tender, lacking a mutton smell but still fragrant. The soup accompanying the skewers is also praised.
Fine Dining at Fu 1039
Shanghai Smoked Fish
The culinary journey concludes at Fu 1039, another Michelin-recognized restaurant specializing in genuine local dishes. Shanghai smoked fish is sampled, which is served hot and crispy. The dish has a sweet flavor.
Braised Pork
Braised pork is presented with a smoking effect, with bamboo shoots at the bottom. They add white pepper.
Ring Oil with Eel Paste
They taste ring oil with eel paste. It has a sweet taste.
Chicken Head Rice with Bacon
A seasonal dish of chicken head rice with bacon is sampled, which is made with fried green beans with chicken head rice.
Final Thoughts
The video concludes with positive impressions of the final restaurant. The atmosphere is likened to a movie set, and the price is considered affordable. The video also mentions the negative comments on Xiaohongshu about Suzhou crab roe noodles.