There was Bullfrog on the menu - three ways!

Shanghai—January 20, 2007

It was probably our most memorable meal on this trip although, the food has been very good (Paul would say “not exceptional”). We’ve been exposed to many new tastes, styles of eating and have gladly partaken of three meals a day since we’ve left home, which isn’t all that good for our waistlines! That being said, our dinner this night was exceptional. We asked the concierge to recommend a restaurant where local people enjoyed going and were sent to what on the outside looked to be an ordinary very western looking building (the sign read ‘881 South Beauty’). We were surprised because this was in sharp contrast to the norm of large, flashy restaurants. Chinese people really enjoy going out to eat in ‘buffet’ style restaurants. We discovered later that this is becoming a large successful chain in China!

Once inside we were lead upstairs past cozy lounges, a lovely looking bar, a dance floor with couples practicing ballroom dancing and private dinning rooms. It felt good to be sitting at a table without a ‘lazy-susan’ in the center!

We had been told that the menu would be in English but were not prepared for 15 pages of strange and wonderful things. Not only was ‘bullfrog’ on the menu but every conceivable type of fish and amphibian. The selections of ‘shark fin’ alone took up two pages. We were at a loss about what to order and in what quantities. On the few occasions when we’ve been on our own, we noticed that the dishes seemed to arrive in odd sequences. For example, the appetizers come only moments before the main course and the soup may be served last. Also, rice and noodles often come last, after we’d almost finished everything else. This time we (Chris, actually) decided we would ask for advice—trouble was that our waiter spoke very little English, So we (Chris again) decided to ask a Chinese woman at the next table for help. This done, our meal was ordered and we enjoyed our glass of jasmine tea which is often a meal starter with glasses being continually filled throughout the meal. This was a Szechwan style restaurant so we were looking forward to our first real spicy meal and weren’t disappointed. The meal, which came pretty much all at once, included a selection of appetizers (spicy peanut chicken, green beans arranged like a lotus flower, a local ‘fungus’, some smoked duck and marinated asparagus); Rapidly followed by a tasty hot and sour soup (our third version of this dish); sautéed shrimp with peppers and shredded duck with dumplings. Thank goodness the steamed seasonal greens arrived along side this because the heaps of red chilies, under the shrimp made us both reach for tea and water in a hurry! The food was perfectly cooked, served and presented like a work of art and tasted GREAT.

The ‘piece de resistance’ however was the dessert. Paul ordered something called “Four Scholars” and as you will see from the picture, it looked like a paint brush with ink, a tablet for writing, a stone for grinding the ink and some paper along side. All was edible but it seemed a shame to eat any of it! It was hard to believe that the entire meal including gratuities and taxes (of which there are plenty) came to less then $75.00 before wine. It was a great night which we capped with a nightcap at the Jazz bar in our hotel.