Expat foodies have been known to sniff out American favorites in every corner of the world, whether it's bagels, burgers or cupcakes. According to a review we read, even in China, it looks like a seriously good American burger can be had at Bistro Burger. Made from 100-percent Angus beef, imported from the States and ground on the premises, this Shanghai burger has the potential to be better than most you'd get in the U.S. We don't know what the meat to fat ratio is, but we'd be willing to try them regardless.
In addition to ordering a variety of international themed burgers, homesick visitors and expats can take advantage of the restaurant's October promotion, where they can "get a free milkshake with any burger." Apparently, authentic milkshakes are a big deal in these parts, due to the fact that many are made with ultrapasteurized or nonperishable milk, whereas Bistro Burger uses the fresh stuff.
The review also raves about the eatery's chili cheese fries, pronouncing them the "best" in Shanghai, as well as homemade apple pie packed with honest-to-goodness imported U.S. apples and Brooklyn beer. Who says you can't find the comforts of home halfway round the world?
Yeah, so an American retail chain is expanding overseas. So, why would you need a passport?
Because the Dunkin Donuts in China, along with the regular menu items like, oh, coffee and doughnuts, will serve special fare that is tailored to the local Chinese tastes, which we won't get here. That means Chinese customers can get things like honeydew melon doughnuts and mochi rings.
If you live in a developing country, that is: In the U.S., land o'plenty, so the golden arches will always remain a convenience as a drive-through window, but in cities that are congested and land is scarce, McDonald's has taken to delivery.
Where would you have to go to get your Big Mac and fries delivered right to your door with a delivery charge of anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar? Ronald McDonald commissions fleets of delivery people in cars or on motorbikes in cities like Manila, Taipei, Cairo, for a total of about 25 cities, with a half dozen more in the works.
Really, I think L.A. is congested enough of a city that McDonald's delivery could work here. I can't tell you how many times I've woken up on a weekend morning craving an Egg McMuffin, but was a little too, uh, "dehydrated" to get in the car and get to a McDonald's before 10:30AM!
I woke up feeling a bit crabby this morning. Not in a bad mood, but just slightly other worldly after a night of brilliant dreams with an abrupt jerk back to reality. As I lay in bed trying to hold on to my fleeing sleep, all I could think of was Shanghai in Autumn. You see, that's when Eriocher sinensis, popularly known as the Shanghai Hairy Crab, Chinese Mitten Crab, or Da Zha Xie, is in season.
Hairy crab is a succulent delicacy whose arrival each fall is celebrated with several months of dining pleasure. For hundreds of years there have been these feasts with poetry, drinking, and dining on the Hairy Crab. Luckily, two years ago I was in Shanghai in early fall and had my fill of the tasty little crustaceans.
I always do my gustatory research before heading out on my travels. Most of the time I end up discovering new gems to dine in, but this time I was on a mission. I had to eat at the Central Hotel famed for their Wang Bao He Crab Feast each fall. I had no reservations and of course we were told that no seats were available. I had been chatting with some folks from the US Embassy earlier that day. Thinking quickly I came up with a story about the embassy making reservations for us and asked them to check their book. This was a dining emergency and I wasn't going to get turned away no matter what I had to do. One of my traveling companions, Valerie, a very tall, pretty, blonde, marine biologist, batted her eyes at the host for a bit while we were asked to wait near the entrance. Valerie is also a competitive ballroom dancer and when she wants to be noticed, by damn she is noticed. The host kept sneaking looks at us and looking through their reservation book.
As if oil and
gas prices weren't enough, now the heavy rains and cold weather in northern California have made fruits and vegetables expensive. Lettuces are
at an all-time high, and it's difficult to find many things that are normally abundant in springtime.
In restaurants, there's gourmet salad at Mixt Greens
and a new
Japanese vegan restaurant, Cha-Ya, in Berkeley. Hanazen is the closest
thing to sushi houses in Japan, and the Inside Scoop
reports that Upper Noe has more Italian restaurants, Budo will re-open as Cuvee Napa with the move of former chef James
McDevitt to New York, Home restaurants is undergoing staff changes, and Le Colonial has a new menu.
Get your passports updated, Slashfoodies.
I woke up feeling a bit crabby this morning. Not in a bad mood, but just slightly other worldly after a night of brilliant dreams with an abrupt jerk back to reality. As I lay in bed trying to hold on to my fleeing sleep, all I could think of was Shanghai in Autumn. You see, that's when Eriocher sinensis, popularly known as the 
As if oil and
gas prices weren't enough, now the heavy rains and cold weather in northern California have made 
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