Tuesday, December 6, 2011

In Dumpling Heaven...

I’ve always had a love for dumplings. I’m game to eat them anytime, anywhere. For a snack, a meal, even breakfast? J haha! I’m not kidding!! It really is extremely easy to get addicted to these yummy little things…

But the moment I tried the xiao long bao (pronounced shyaow-long-baw), all other dumplings went down the drain. The xiao long bao is sometimes called a “soup dumpling” and is usually filled with pork steamed until it fills with the juices of its own soup. Putting it in your mouth, it is tender, delicious and the soup inside the dumpling just fills your mouth with warmth and joy…I can’t even begin to tell you what an amazing experience it is without getting hungry right now!!

My friend Cathy and I eating a giant xiao long bao in Shanghai in 2010.
When it comes to xiao long bao’s, in my opinion, no other restaurant beats Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung is an award-winning, popular and successful chain of restaurants originating from Taiwan. It has now become an international legend with branches all over the world: in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong has been awarded one Michelin star.

Two days ago, while in Shanghai to do some errands, Marc and I decided to take advantage and head on over to Din Tai Fung for lunch…a treat we haven’t had in awhile. As usual, the food was excellent, the service impeccable and it was pure dumpling heaven!!

The famous xiao long bao
Sauteed spinach in garlic. Just WOW!
Shrimp and pork mixed xiao long baos

Marc in a Din Tai Fung daze! Everything is just too good!!
Spicy Cucumber sauteed in chili and garlic. Yum!!! 
Din Tai Fung is always packed!
The open kitchen showing the chefs making the xiao long baos fresh

Many local celebrities have their caricatures drawn on the walls with their autographs.

Din Tai Fung, Shanghai
Shanghai Centre, 1376 West Nanjing Road (Nanjing Xi Lu)
Shanghai, P.R. China
Tel: (86) 21-62899182