Southeast Asian Feast
Get Your Laksa and Chicken Rice Fix at Haocaitou
my
suzhou
Dr. Sai Waikar
Indian Youth Association Founder Interview by Ned Kelly
Originally from Mumbai, Dr. Sai Waikar is a trained gynecologist and obstetrician. After 18 years in Colombo, Sri Lanka, her love for laparoscopic surgery brought her to Suzhou, where she is undergoing specialized training at the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University. She is also a founding member of the Indian Youth Association in Suzhou.
How did the Indian Youth Association come about? Since moving to Suzhou two years ago, I attended a number of cultural events and gatherings of the Indian Association of Shanghai. One day, over breakfast, the idea of having an Indian Youth Association in Suzhou came across my mind, as there are many young people working towards a brighter future in China. I got in touch with a very close friend of mine, Pranjali Lanjewar, and she was very enthusiastic and we immediately began our journey. Pranjali is pretty much the spinal cord to the anatomy of my ideas for the association. What can people expect at the Pre Diwali Bash 2018? Diwali (the festival of lights, where good triumphs over evil) is an extravagant celebration in India. The Pre Diwali Bash 2018 is a one-ofa-kind event, where people from all communities and walks of life are invited to come under one roof to have a glimpse of the warm and welcoming nature of Indian culture.
There will be traditional Diwali decorations and Aarti (a devotional song sung for the goddess of money, Laxmi), yoga sessions and an array of Indian food and delicacies, including Vermicelli Kheer, which is very commonly eaten during Diwali. We all love Indian food. What are your top recommendations in Suzhou? Indian food culture is a challenge to master, as it varies from kebabs to curries, but most of the Indian restaurants in Suzhou have achieved the authenticity, like Indian At The Cross, Mehandi Indian Kitchen, Namaste and Ganesh. Everyone has their own favorite. In my opinion, the go to place for authentic Indian delicacies is Indian At The Cross. Folks who crave Indian food but have dietary restrictions or prefer something lighter can opt for the healthy Thali at Namaste. What other events does the Indian Youth Association have lined up? The Indian Youth Association is still in its infant stages. After an auspicious launch with
the Diwali festival, our vision is to bring the Indian community in Suzhou closer to each other, and to spread the love and culture to all other communities. You have Bollywood dancing at the event. If people were to watch just one Bollywood film, which should it be? I would recommend Amir Khan’s 3 Idiots. It is a true story based on the struggles faced by the younger generation due to the so called rat race and peer and parental pressure in society. I feel every family must watch this movie in order to understand how, not only academic performances, but also overall life experiences help to shape a person. It aptly portrays the age we live in. Pre Diwali Bash 2018, Nov 4, 11am-4pm, RMB90 presale (scan the QR code to pay) or RMB100 on the door. Season Whisper, 105, Building 1, 5 Xinghan Jie, Tengfei Xinsufang, by Zhongxin Dadao 腾飞新苏坊星汉街5号1幢105 号，近中新大道西
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Ne w A r r i va l s
Sassy Foods
Healthy, Effortless Homemade Food By Tess Humphrys
The Place Since launching their healthy meals delivery service earlier this year, Sassy Foods has taken the Suzhou food scene by storm. Timepoor residents across the city have been ordering Sassy’s diet-friendly fare through WeChat, where it’s then delivered directly to their doorstep. Now, the team behind the popular brand has set up a new physical location in Nison Mall.
The Food The small restaurant carries a limited eat-in menu that is cooked fresh each day and is subject to availability. If you want something
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in particular, it’s best to order ahead via WeChat, which is exactly what we did. The lentil shepherd (RMB41) is a hearty, wholesome combination of legumes. Spice fans might find the overall taste a bit bland, but it would make a great winter warmer once the weather gets colder. The Mongolian beef (RMB55) features plenty of tender, lean cuts of meat, cooked up with spring onions and a good hit of ginger. Sassy’s version of the dish isn’t as sweet or rich as you’d get at other restaurants, as they’re strict on the levels of sugar and other diet-busting ingredients that often find their way into this dish. The black bean, sweet potato and cauliflower rice stuffed bell peppers (RMB35) are substantial and reasonably priced, with the natural sweetness of the peppers shining through without being overwhelming. The spiced carrot fritters (RMB35) have a nice level of heat that was perfectly complemented by the accompanying zesty sour cream dip. Each dish was intended to feed one person as a whole meal, and we found the
portions to be more than adequate. All of the dishes had a nice homemade feel to them, although they were a little cold when they were served, possibly because they were prepared ahead time.
The vibe The simple restaurant with an open kitchen allows you to interact with the friendly staff. What’s particularly great about Sassy Foods is that all of the menu items are completely customizable to fit any dietary restrictions you might have. They can even work with you to develop long-term meal plans, which is something of a rarity here in Suzhou. Nison Mall, 205 Suzhou Dadao Xi, 尼盛广场苏州大道 西205号 (WeChat account: auswisechina)
Ne w A r r i va l s
Haocaitou
A Taste of Malaysia and Singapore in SIP By Tess Humphrys
The Place
The Food
Until recently, the owners of Haocaitou had been serving up their Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine from a popular joint near Suzhou Industrial Park train station. Having moved into a new spot just north of Baitang Arboretum, their signatures like chili crab, nasi lemak and Hainanese chicken rice, plus more unusual dishes based on Nyonya cuisine, remain as popular as ever.
The picture menu with English makes things easy to order and there’s plenty to choose from, including different specials each day. Their classic laksa (RMB42) – rice noodles with shrimp, tofu puffs, egg and chicken served in a spicy coconut curry broth – has the pungent aroma of any good laska and is pleasantly spicy without being too overwhelming. A trio of curry puffs (RMB18), packed full of chicken, potato and egg, are hearty and substantial. The chicken satay skewers (RMB38 for three) are nicely cooked on a charcoal grill. The satay sauce with nice little chunks of peanut is a great accompaniment to the meat, as are the cucumber and raw onions on the side.
The vibe The unflashy restaurant was busy on a Friday during lunchtime but not overly so. You can still take advantage of the nice outdoor seating area before winter arrives in full force, and warm yourselves up with a tasty and reasonably priced Southeast Asian feast. Room 101, Building 42, Xing Di Fang Commercial Street, 33 Baitang Lu. 白塘路33号星堤坊商业街42幢101号 (137 7183 3535)
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e vents & cit y scenes
EVENTS
Julien Beaudiment Having performed alongside famous symphony orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia, French flautist Julien Beaudiment will grace the stage at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre for one afternoon on November 10. // Sat, Nov 10, 2pm. RMB10. Suzhou Culture & Arts Center, 1 Guanfeng Jie, SIP 苏州工业园区观枫街1号 (www.sscac.com.cn)
InterNations November Event Join InterNations’ longstanding monthly networking event at Kempinski Hotel’s Paulaner, and meet fellow expats in the city over German beer and food, while enjoying a view of the beautiful Dushu Lake. // Fri, Nov 16, 7.30pm. RMB160 for albatross members / RMB220 for basic members / RMB230 at the door. 288 Wangdun Lu, SIP 苏州工业园区旺墩路288号 (www.internations.org)
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Now You See Me Live Embarking on a 10-city China tour from November to January, this cutting edge live magic show Now You See Me arrives in Suzhou on November 11 for two shows. Conceived in 2014 by The Works Entertainment, millions around the world have been mesmerized by the trickeries and visual manipulations. // Sun, Nov 11, 2pm & 7.30pm. RMB180-580. Suzhou Culture & Arts Center, 1 Guanfeng Jie, SIP 苏州工业园区观枫街1号 (www.sscac.com.cn)
Faux Fighters Newly formed Faux Fighters make their debut to pay tribute to one of the greatest rock bands, the Foo Fighters, at Solo Music Bar. Expect all the hits from past and present, and there is even rumor of a close Dave Grohl look-a-like in the band. // Sat, Nov 16, 9.30pm. RMB50. Unit 105, Bldg 5, 26 Baita Dong Lu 白塔东路26号B幢 105
Scan the QR code to see more Suzhou events
Queensland Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Famed British choreographer Liam Scarlett reimagines Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Queensland Ballet. Since 2015, this new production has dazzled audiences around the world with world-class dance and musical arrangements, as well as contemporary costume and set design. // Fri, Nov 16 & Sat, Nov 17, 7.30pm. RMB100-880. Suzhou Culture & Arts Center, 1 Guanfeng Jie, SIP 苏州工业园区观枫街1号 (www.sscac.com.cn)
Masters of Bamboo A collection of Japanese baskets from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco will be on display at the Suzhou Museum. Comprised of nearly 900 items acquired by philanthropist Lloyd Cotsen since the 1950s, these pieces reflect his unique insight into art, as well as the dynamic interplay of Eastern and Western aesthetics. // Through Sunday, Nov 18. Suzhou Museum, 204 Dongbei Jie 东北街204号 (szmuseum.com)
Gu Zhihao Rosewood Furniture Exhibition Since Ming dynasty, Suzhou’s famous rosewood furniture have played an important role in Chinese interior design, and this form of craftsmanship continued to grow throughout the Qing dynasty. Gu Zhihao, one of the city’s leading proprietors of these wooden furniture pieces in modern times, is highlighting some chairs, cabinets and desks that he has created over his career at this exhibition at the Suzhou Museum. // Through Wed, Dec 12. Suzhou Museum, 204 Dongbei Jie 东北街204号 (szmuseum. com)
Camel Pub Quiz Every Tuesday, the Hardest Working Man in Show Quiz-ness, challenges with 10 rounds testing a wide variety of subjects ranging from general knowledge, film and current affairs questions. A total of RMB800 in Camel vouchers are up for grabs, plus plenty of shots to keep the atmosphere lively and competitive. // Every Tuesday, 8pm, free entry. The Camel, B1, Hengyu Plaza, 188 Xinghai Lu 苏州 园区星海街188号恒宇广场一期地下一楼