One for the hotpot
Compared with the solipsistic pleasure of enjoying a meal on your own plate, the communal delights of partaking in a hotpot are sometimes understated.
Another advantage of a hotpot is that people have even longer to chat over the table.
Sichuan- and Chongqing-style "double-taste" hotpots are now ubiquitous in the city, so the Global Times has sought out restaurants in the city that promote somewhat lesser-known hotpot dishes for Shanghai's gourmands.
Southern comfort
In a contrast to the spicy flavors of Sichuan styled hotpot, Cantonese congee hotpot is renowned for bringing out the freshness of its ingredients.
This hotpot's soup is made of rice congee which is sometimes supplemented with healthy ingredients such as Chinese wolfberry fruit which is reputed to nourish the liver, lungs and kidneys.
The pots that are generally used for these congee dishes are earthen pots, which are said to bring out the fragrance of the rice cooked within. And, similar to its Sichuan counterpart, the congee hotpot is kept heated throughout the meal.
The most popular ingredients in a congee hotpot are variations of seafood, including different kinds of clams and shrimps. Beef, chicken and vegetables are also used in these hotpots. And restaurants will usually provide an array of home-made soy sauces to complement these dishes.
"It's advisable to eat the seafood first, then the meat, and the vegetables last," said Li Jia, the manager of Wu Mi Zhou Hotpot (2/F, 96 Plaza, 796 Dongfang Road, 6168-3597). "This method will ensure that the taste of the seafood will not be affected by the vegetables and it will make the congee soup taste fresher as well."
The restaurant also adds a congee of cereal grains to every hotpot which is reputed to aid digestion.
"And these congee hotpots are ideal for ladies who are watching their weight, as they contain very little oil and fat," added Li.
The Swiss option
In the 1930s, the cheese fondue was promoted as the Swiss national dish by the Swiss Cheese Union, and its popularity still endures.
And you only have to go as far as Kangding Road to find a typical Swiss restaurant, permeated in the alluring aroma of cheese. Chalet Suisse (1582 Kangding Road, 3353-3887), opened in 2010 and offers exported cheeses from Switzerland, including Gruyère, Tete de Moine, and Emmental.
Founded by Swiss-born restaurateur Philippe Hauser, the restaurant is dedicated to creating a Swiss atmosphere for both homesick Swiss nationals and fans of Swiss food in the city.
Cheese fondues dishes at the restaurant include Chalet Suisse and Spicy Cheese Fondue, both of which contain several different cheeses.
The restaurant also has some 100 wines on its drinks list, which includes a selection of rare Swiss vintages.
The interior of the restaurant is also notable. The furnishings are dominated by the national red of the Swiss flag, while patterns throughout emulate the white cross of the same flag. Meanwhile, the walls are adorned with photos depicting the astounding scenery of snow-topped mountains in Switzerland.
Chocolate delights
One bar of the brown stuff is rarely enough for even the most disciplined of chocoholics.
Fortunately, Shanghai-born Chen Liang is one of the few people that can make the dreams of every cocoa fan come true with his own kingdom of chocolate.
Set up in 2011, Napoleon Chocolate Bar (242-2 Julu Road, 3256-7078) offers everything to do with chocolate: hot chocolate, chocolate cakes, chocolate ice drinks, not to mention hand-made chocolate treats.
Of them, the chocolate fondue matched with seasonal fruits and home-made pastries, are among the popularly ordered snacks from the kitchen.
Three kinds of fondues - black chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate, respectively - are available at the bar. All of the chocolate is imported from Belgium, and the matched dishes include strawberry, kiwi fruit, hami melon, and marshmallow.
"We recommend that diners eat the fondue within 30 minutes because the cocoa is in danger of overheating," said Chen.
The black chocolate fondue contains more than 65 percent cocoa, an ingredient that is said to be beneficial to health.
The chili hot chocolate is another standout feature on sale, and chocolate also features in many of the cocktails on sale at Napoleon.
