1509st dining out

CITY LIVING

DINING OUT

New & Noted Xixi Bistro

Nyima Pratten

What: Fusion Chinese-cum-Italian dishes

restaurant modelled as her living room, filled with items from the time and decadent period-wallpaper featuring monkeys. If you follow the red dragon scales and venture up the staircase, you will be welcomed into her boudoir, doubling as a cocktail lounge. There is also a larger-than-youwould expect patio area at the back of the house, decked out with lanterns, while the weather is still agreeable.

Where: 89 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Tel: 6486 1331.

Why: For innovative dishes that hit the mark every time

You may be surprised by some of the strange-sounding fusion concoctions on the menu, but from our experience, the Shanghainese chef hasn’t put a step out of line. Dishes are made for sharing, tapas style, and all are extremely reasonably priced. The menu is split into appetisers, rice and noodles, entrées, main dishes sides and soups.

Unfortunately, there are no desserts on the menu at the moment, however, the restaurant is still in its soft opening phase and we hope to see this change soon with the owners’ talk of a patisserie.

In our opinion, each dish beautifully balances the flavours of East and West, however, our highlights were the avocado and salmon rice bruschetta (RMB 28), lotus caprese (RMB 30), spinach, mozzarella and pine nuts jiaozi (RMB 25) and the slow cooked pork ribs with BBQ sauce (RMB 112), which were cooked to perfection, with the meat falling off the bone and flavoured with the delicate and fragrant taste of rosewater. As the owners have a wine background, naturally there is a well stocked bar of wines from around the world (starting at RMB 32 per glass) and a small range of cocktails (from RMB 60).

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rought to you by the owners of Uva and Fumo, Xixi Bistro sits nestled on the tree-lined streets of up-andcoming Wuyuan Lu. The story goes that Madame Xixi was a Shanghainese woman who lived an exuberant live in the French Concession during the 1920s. She would entertain many foreign friends at her Shanghai home and in turn, her Shanghainese cooking was influenced by western tastes. The restaurant, set in a large house from the era, has been made to feel like Madame Xixi’s home, with the cosy downstairs

Xixi Bistro currently has a set lunch menu (RMB 88 per person) from which you can choose four dishes from a list of pre-selected appetisers, pastas or rice and entrées. We think it is one of the best bangs for your lunchtime buck in the area.

Second Helpings: Rachel’s Nyima Pratten

What: High-quality burgers from Franck Pecol Where: 202 Wukang Lu, near Fuxing Lu. Tel: 5425 3120 Why: For the new, comfier, interior and extended menu

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art of Pecol’s food empire on Wukang Lu, Rachel’s, opened last year to much fanfare and just two, impeccably crafted, burger options, the hamburger or the cheeseburger. The interior of the restaurant, designed by Shanghai darlings, Neri & Hu, was minimalistic, with stainless steel, high tables and swivel stools. However, this design concept was not popular with the local crowd who

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found it hard to balance on their high stools whilst losing themselves in the miraculous moment when patty hits mouth. Pecol listened to his guests, and completely renovated the space this year. There is now a warmer, brighter and airier feel, with low tables, chairs and couches, following a classic retro diner theme, matching the famed American delicacy the restaurant focuses on.

the cooking time to be increased. We opted for the Rachel Deluxe burger (RMB 110), with a 200g Aussie beef patty, compared to the standard 140g patty.

The meat was tender, juicy and topped with Comté cheese, bacon, onion jam, coriander seeds, lettuce, tomato, Dijon mustard and a fresh herb dressing. All burgers come with either French fries or a mixed leaf salad.

The menu has also been extended, offering a wider selection of burgers, including a chicken and duck burger (RMB 80), a veggie burger (RMB 60), made with a beetroot and potato patty, along with seven other beef varieties. All beef patties are made with Australian beef and served rare to medium, although you can ask for

Fitting with the diner theme of the restaurant, for dessert you can choose from homemade ice cream (RMB35), ice cream sundaes (RMB 45) or a dark chocolate brownie (RMB 35). Run over to Rachel’s now, and burn of some calories in advance before indulged in their American inspired feast.

Alternative Eats - Ayi’s Guotie Nyima Pratten

We delve deep into Shanghai’s food underbelly to give you an alternative view of the city’s dining scene.

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brand new delivery concept, Ayi’s Guotie, took shape after expat residents, Felipe and Jackie Pizarro, were scolded by their ayi for feeding their child frozen dumplings from the supermarket. Their ayi claimed that she could make much healthier and additive free guotie from scratch using fresh ingredients from the market. After the eager ayi proved her point, and they were bowled over with the new and improved pot sticker dumplings she was producing, word got around in their social group and friends were clambering to taste these healthier treats.

The Pizarros decided to spread the dumpling love, and role out the concept to the public by setting up a WeChat account, thus forming Ayi’s Guotie. You can now order from a range of frozen or ready-to-eat dishes, which can

be delivered to your home or office, with 12 to 24 hours of advance notice. Fresh dishes, cooked by the enterprising ayi, include kung pao chicken (RMB 85 for a 1kg portion), sweet and sour pork spare ribs (RMB 150 for a 1kg portion) and cold noodles with bean sauce (RMB 80 for a large pan). However, we opted for a delivery of frozen produce, due to its convenience, and because the ready-to-eat dishes are served in rather large portions. We selected a bag of 50 dumplings (RMB 75), which can also be delivered readyto-eat, and chose an even split of pork and leak, as well as courgette, egg and celery fillings. We were given detailed instructions about how to cook the dumplings in the guotie style, which literally means pot stickers as the dumpling skin is fried and begins to stick to the edge of the pan.

They were extremely simple to cook and the fillings were fresh, juicy and full of flavour. We also plumped for scallion pancakes (RMB 40 for 10) and homemade spicy chilli sauce (RMB 40). We loved the oil free, chilli sauce, which had a strong, yet tangy kick that kept us going back for more. The sauce is now also available to buy at the Avocado Lady (274 Wulumuqi Lu, near Wuyuan Lu).

Although a lot more expensive than going out and getting fresh guotie on the street, Ayi’s Guotie offers you the convenience of being able to get your dumpling fix in your own home, without having to hustle away in a queue to receive your reward. The WeChat account closed for orders in August, due to the Pizarros spending the summer in the Sates, however, they are back open for business this month and we will be sure to try their freshly-made delivery dishes soon.

WeChat ID: ayisguotie

Just Desserts: Lollipop London Nyima Pratten

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upcake aficionado, Lexi Morris, founded Lollipop Bakery in Beijing after noticing the growing trend for cupcake stores in London, around the time that Hummingbird Bakery was just beginning to make its presence known in the UK capital. After studying in Beijing for a year during university, and realising that there weren’t any cake companies of this type in the city, Morris perfected her cupcake recipes on colleagues in London for a year, before finally taking the plunge and setting up shop in Beijing. After a few years in Beijing, Morris was invited to join Shanghai’s Pantry by the Co-op, which already included female cottage industry tastemakers Spread the Bagel, Strictly Cookies and Amelia’s Jams.

After a few years working out of The Pantry (205 Wulumuqi Nan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu), Morris was cycling her bike around the French Concession a few months ago and saw a small coffee shop that she thought would be ideal for Lollipop Bakery. Even though there was no To Let sign outside, it just so happened that the landlord was looking for a new tenant, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We loved the range of regular sized (RMB 25) and miniature (RMB 12) cupcakes, with a special deal of buy five get one free. Flavours are rotated and include Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, Oreo, Green Tea, Snickers, Lemon Meringue Pie, Black Sesame, Spiced Carrot, Banana Pie, Earl Grey and Cappuccino. And if that hasn’t already left you salivating, you can also choose from slices of larger cakes, the flavours of which

are also on rotation. We indulged in a delicious slice of carrot cake (RMB 30 per slice), with a moist and light sponge base and creamy icing. Muffins (RMB 18) and cookies (RMB 12) are also available. If you have a special occasion coming up that you want to celebrate with cake (and why would you not?), Lollipop cupcakes and cakes are available for delivery as well as customisation.

Although this spot is first and foremost

for when you have to give in to your sweet tooth, the bakery also offers sandwiches and a salad bar. In an ideal location, in the heart of the French Concession, the bakery had a steady flow of customers when we visited and was a very pleasant place to spend our afternoon.

Lollipop Bakery. 966 Changlu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Tel: 156 1899 8253. Web: www.lollipopbakery.cn September15 TalkMagazine

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