Hand pulled lamien and tiramisu party

I went to this social event at Azzuro where we were being taught how to make hand pulled noodles and tiramisu. I didn't know how many people would be there but there were enough to be split into two groups, one actually hands-on with the noodles and the other watching how to make tiramisu. The event was 150RMB and lasted about 3 hours which included a glass of wine (or 180RMB for 2 glasses).

I opted to be in the first group to make the noodles where we were told there was a competition for who could make the best noodles. Watching the chef work this dough you could tell you need years of training, and to be able to judge how much water etc you would need takes some skill.

I actually failed miserably at this. The dough has the consistency of water so you need to pull close to the table. You have to constantly be rolling it in flour to stop it sticking and also not to handle the dough too much as the heat in your hands can cause the dough to "die" (a favourite saying from the host). 

 Just check how much strength he needs to mix the dough!

Later on we swapped with the other group and watched another chef make tiramisu. It seemed such an effort to make this and we received such a tiny slice that one girl measured it against the tablespoon and discovered the slice to be smaller than the spoon!

At Tianzifang - drinking out of urinals and watching candy

After class a bunch of us decided to go to Tianzifang and in particular, to a toilet-themed restaurant that a few of them had been to in Taiwan. Tianzifang is full of small boutiques filled with arts and crafts, lots of bars and food stands, all crammed down narrow alleyways which makes it very easy to get lost.

We found Modern Toilet after asking many times for directions. The place has 2 floors, gold and velvet seem to be the theme (beyond the toilet theme).

The menu is on a giant board which was a major pain to read off. For a burger and a drink you are looking at around 80-100RMB. As I had nothing to compare to, my friends told me the food here was much better than the restaurant in Taiwan and that in Shanghai the food is served on regular plates and not toilets (unless you order the ice cream).

 Nice place for a date...!

 Vinegar drinks?

 Giant toilet on the wall and poop cushions...

 Even the plastic food looks yummy!

Later to cool off we found this ice cream place... I quite like the first flavour ;)

Then we passed the Candy Lab where you can stare at guys making rock candy and make them very nervous (aww bless them!).

Snacking at Yuyuan

Some classmates wanted to visit the Yuyuan Gardens but it closes by 5.30pm and as it was already 4.30pm when we met up we just decided to look around.

They were super keen to try out the 汤包 (tang bao - soup dumpling). The famous Nanxiang restaurant is always pretty full and has a variety of different payment levels. (check my previous post for details)

Instead we went to the plaza opposite which has dim sum baskets you can just pick and choose.

 Tang Bao comes with a straw but don't expect meat inside! The wrapping is pretty tough - not recommended to eat it...

生煎 - meat with soup/juice, pan-fried

Prawn dumplings

Later we went for a walk and found this t-shirt store with some cute designs for 99RMB. 

It also seems the metro stations are stepping up security and many (I only noticed they were young teens) were asked to check not only their travel cards but also their ID cards...

Enjoying ice cream cookie sandwiches

Yesterday, my friend and I headed to Pudong to an Irish pub near where she used to live to have an English breakfast. The weather was pretty good, it was still hot and humid but at least a little breeze.

 Skies are blue!

My friend told me the skies are much better lately probably due to an introduction of a new law where factories must turn off their lights by a certain time. 

 The plaza area near Century Park

New Hello Kitty store

I'm not too sure what this statue is doing

 "Bra" and restaurant

Inside the Irish pub

Just like home!

After brunch we headed to the Science Technology Museum market place which is located in the metro station. It was a hot trek!

The Science and Technology Museum

I found this label in the clothes...

Gotta laugh at the fake goods!

Our other friend met us out there and we then had such an adventure to find Nomnom Dessert Bar located at Yan'an Xi Lu. We took the metro from Pudong which took about 30 mins and then needed to take a taxi in the right direction. My friend decided to make us cross in the middle of a 10 lane road! I was so scared!

But it was worth it to get to the dessert bar to enjoy an ice cream cookie sandwich!

It's a pretty small place located in the lobby of the Metrobank between Yan'an Xi Lu and Panyu Lu. They offer special deals for the weekdays which include waffles or cookies or ice cream and a drink for about 30RMB. The sandwich is a decent size and tastes good because the ice cream doesn't make the cookie soggy like other ice cream sandwiches I've tried. The cafe also offers wifi and the staff speak English. 

Later in the evening we headed to Geisha Bar at Shanxi Nan Lu and chilled out. It started off quiet but picked up later on.

First week back in Shanghai and what a long one it's been!

The week has been intense with jet lag and starting classes. I'm in the intermediate class (中级) which requires us to study 3 chapters a week over a 5 week period. I'm enjoying the intensity of the classes, it keeps me on my toes, but it is pretty exhausting. Classes at Jiao Tong run at 90 minutes with a 20 minute break between so it is quite challenging to stay focused for that long. On the plus, the coffee "shop" (it's a tiny room) is right next to my classroom so makes it easy to get in line quickly! They also sell snacks like "sandwish"...

You know things get serious when there is no pinyin...

I managed to take a trip to West Nanjing Road and found the cutest cake at Cafe 85.

And later at Mannings to get some mosquito repellent patches...

If these don't keep the mosquitoes away then I've lost hope in the power of the panda!

A trip to Xiantiandi on Thursday and found more changes. It still takes time to come to terms with how quick shops and restaurants can open and close. But a cute new shop opened that create "Mini Me's" where they take photos and make little dolls (much like that Big Bang Theory episode!).

On Friday I managed to finally get my temporary resident permit from the police station so afterwards I went for my favourite omelette rice at Manabe when I got a pretty major shock when a car reversed and knocked the glass so the waitress had to go out and tell the driver to move.

 I wasn't sure if soup should have so many bubbles?

Beef curry omelette rice

In the evening my friends took me to Din Tai Fung for some xiaolongbao to celebrate finally getting my permit sorted.

After dinner we tried to go to Brown Sugar in Xintiandi but it was closed but next door at Luna Bar was a Filipino band playing so we went there instead. It was a 100RMB cover charge so a minimum spend of that per person we spend on drinks. The band was called Fast Track and it was a great atmosphere with the band so close singing a mixture of English, Mandarin, Cantonese even, and during some classic songs the bar turned more into karaoke with everyone joining in. The band even took requests where the waiters were passing out tissues for you to scribble on as they handed them to the band.