Shanghai dumplings at XinTianDi

We went to Xin Tin Di for dinner. Xin Tian Di is a new development of old Shanghai filled with high end boutiques, restaurants and bars. Over visited, over priced. It is no doubt a nice spot for a first visit in Shanghai but I personally find it wannabe. The restaurant was located on the first floor of a shopping mall overlooking a stand hosting formula 1 walled with a huge screen picturing Schumacher at a rainy Monday night. When my teeth sunk into the infamous Shanghai dumpling which is the house speciality, a hot juice splashed out and washed away half of my Mac makeup. I was instantly given the lecture of dealing with nasty dumplings (the quality of which is judged by how much (hot) juice it holds inside when served) as follows– wide open your lips, bring a steaming dumpling using your chopsticks close to your mouth, turn your head 45 degrees Northeast, clutch your educated teeth over a lit bit of the dumpling skin to open a small hole, pour the dumpling juice to the spoon in your other hand, dip the operated dumpling into ginger vinegar, put the dumpling and the juice in your spoon into your mouth, one after the other, sit back, and enjoy.

I always feel like going to war when I cook for a diner party. Now I realise it can also happen when eating. Bon appetit.