Winter Ala Shanghai Meal

Posted on by derryX

It would be impolite of me to not mention a dining experience that I had the honor of attending. Recently, Daniel B. of FUSSYlittleBLOG fame invited local food bloggers and foodies to try the winter tasting menu at Ala Shanghai. Apparently, he had a hand in designing the menu. The meal is for 8 people. Daniel managed to arrange two tasting tables at this restaurant in under 24 hours of asking.

Last night was our dinner, and it was spectacular. Daniel has the details here. I will walk you through the courses with some pictures that I took of my portions as well as provide a few brief comments at the end.

Enjoy!

Pork soup dumpling
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Pan fried pork bun, sticky rice shu-mai, turnip pastry
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Wonton + Chicken in Casserole
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Fish filet and black fungus with wine sauce
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Sizzling sliced lamb with scalion
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Pork Shoulder Shanghai Style
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Chinese cabbage with ham
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Salted veggie with soy bean + tofu sheet
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Stir fried noodle with chicken
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Sweet red bean pancake

While the tofu was probably my least favorite of the bunch, the lamb stuck out as the most hearty and flavorful dish of the night for me. I also enjoyed the soup; the broth was so intense. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced. And it was simple and clean. Just chicken and very little seasonings (I think only salt, honestly).

I’d say, gather 7 other people, fork over $20 and experience this for yourself. This was a unique experience, and it wasn’t overly exotic (i.e. I didn’t have to eat jellyfish or sea cucumber). Just simple flavors, simple ingredients, all well prepared.

Special thanks to Steve Barnes for bringing some delicious white wine. And many thanks up and down to Daniel B. for organizing the event and inviting me. Additional thanks to Daniel B. for leaving me outside of the “foodie” characterization (there is nothing I hate more than to be called a foodie; I don’t speak in that language).

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2 thoughts on “Winter Ala Shanghai Meal”

  • Valerae

    Oh my god, I’m drooling. I don’t know if I’d order the wonton and chicken casserole based on the name, but I will now based on that picture.


  • Daniel B.

    Plus the casserole comes to the table still actively simmering. What you cannot see here is the inside of the wontons, which are filled with a unique green, and are not quite what you have come to expect from your garden variety wonton.

    But I felt the same way when Lanny first mentioned the soup. The more I learned about the casserole, the more excited I got. It was one of the dishes he thought was critical to the meal.


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