In search of the perfect xiaolongbao

http://www.xintiandi.com/english/shop_detail.asp?SID=26

In our search for the perfect xiaolong bao, we finally landed ourselves at Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese owned chain with branches all over the world including Los Angeles. Apparently the NYTimes rated it as one of the ten best restaurants in the world. This outlet is in Xintiandi or New Heaven and Earth, a swanky bricked shopping and eating venue in central Shanghai that attempts to also celebrate the the historical Shikumen housing developments that were course a popular expat and tourist spot but one can often see more Chinese natives strolling the narrow lanes and browsing the menus of one of prominent during the 1920's. In old Shanghai, shikumens were the typical Chinese residences where up to 80% of the population lived. Xintiandi is interesting in that although the developers tried to preserve 2 blocks of these residences as important historical reminders, they in fact razed much of the slum ridden area to the ground and displaced over 3500 residents to build a cement lake, upscale shops and restaurants, and a movie theater. This is of the many places to have afternoon tea, including Starbucks.

Needless to say, as expats, Matt and I found ourselves there on more than one occasion because they do have some great restaurants and the movie theater shows cheap movies really late and really early in the day. Additionally, from where we live, I figured out which bus goes from our apartment to Xintiandi, which saves on a ridiculous number of subway line transfers. Xiaolongbao is what brought us there this weekend and we actually found Din Tai Fung quite by accident since our first choice, Crystal Jade, was closed. From their website, Din Tai Fung boasts of strict guidelines for preparation of their xiaolongbao including a 2 months training period for all new cooks to learn to roll a skin of exactly 5 grams with no less than 18 wrinkles. We had a delicious late lunch that consisted of Drunken Chicken, sauteed Morning glory leaves, Sichuan peanut noodles, pork xiaolongbao, and shrimp and pork shao mai. There was so much more on the menu we would like to try but we left very satisfied. If anyone comes to visit, we'll definitely be making another stop there. :) Unfortunately we did not have a camera so my little cell phone was the only thing I had to take pictures. The images are a little blurry and grainy but I'm sure you get the idea.