[Shanghai] Xinci Hotel

[Kent Wang]

Xinci Hotel on the outskirts of Shanghai. We were in the area visiting with relatives.

Lotus root stuffed with sweet rice.

Dates stuffed with sweet rice flour. I don't think I've seen this before, very tasty.

Roasted pig tail.

Short ribs. Crispy, smokey crust just barely short of being burnt. Expert timing.

Crab roe soup in crab-shaped bowl.

Fried snake.

Steamed fish with mango sauce in fried bean curd sheets. Well-executed fusion.

Asparagus wrapped in bacon with barbecue sauce. A copy of the Western classic, unfortunately they steamed the bacon instead of frying it and smothered everything with excessive amounts of oversweet barbecue dish.

I was surprised with the originality of a lot of these dishes, especially since the restaurant was in a hotel. The bill was very low, making this meal one of the best values we had in Shanghai.

This is the very last of my posts with photos from China. I had a lot of fun in China, the food was great and I hope to return in the next few years. I have a bunch of photos from my trip, both food-related and not, on my Flickr.

[hzrt8w]

Lotus root stuffed with sweet rice.

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Nice pictures (again), Kent! Is this one sweet or savory? Is it considered an appetizer (if savory)?

Edited June 2, 2006 by hzrt8w (log)

[Ben Hong]

Kent, I have just taken the "trip" in China with you on Flickr. Absolutely gorgeous pictures of some amazing sights. Thank you.

[Kent Wang]

Nice pictures (again), Kent!  Is this one sweet or savory?  Is it considered an appetizer (if savory)?

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Sweet, a staple that I've seen in many restaurants in China and in the US. It came out with all the cold dishes which included both savory and sweet dishes, like the stuffed dates. Chinese cuisine doesn't seem to differentiate desserts the same way that Western cuisine does, which I have no problems with.

I've never seen a savory version of this dish though I can imagine it can be pretty good stuffed with ground pork.

Thanks everyone for all the kind words. It makes all the work taking and organizing the photos worthwhile.

Edited June 2, 2006 by Kent Wang (log)

[jo-mel]

Kent -- Pleeeeze stay in China a little longer!

I have so enjoyed your trip and those great pictures. What wonderful memories you have gathered these past weeks.

I've never had pig tail. Tasty? The presentation of some of those dishes are beautiful --- especially the fish in the fried curd skin. Like a flower!

Where do I start on your Flickr -- there are over 18,000 pictures there!

[stephenc]

looks tasty

[Dejah]

Kent,

Thanks very much for sharing your culinary skills, food pictures and Flickr. You've opened a whole new China for me.

[Kent Wang]

I've never had pig tail. Tasty?  The presentation of some of those dishes are beautiful --- especially the fish in the fried curd skin. Like a flower!

Where do I start on your Flickr -- there are over 18,000 pictures there!

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Pig tail is similar to pig feet, the skin is about the same but there is not nearly so much fat in layer underneath the skin, very tasty.

The Flickr link I posted above takes you to only the photos from my China trip. Yes, there are 305 photos.