(Thurs) - 04.07.11

(1) cream cheese bun (from 85℃, Shanghai)

(2) cinnamon sugar mochi donut (from Mister Donut, Shanghai), gingerbread latte

(3) Mirinda orange soda (@ Jia Jia Tang Bao, Shanghai)

(4) egg & seaweed soup (@ Jia Jia Tang Bao, Shanghai)

(5) pork xiao long bao & crab xiao long bao (soup dumplings) (@ Jia Jia Tang Bao, Shanghai)

Jia Jia is my brother's favorite place for XLB in Shanghai, and thus far would have to agree. They arrive piping hot at your table, straight from the assembly counter and steamers. We went to the original location and supposedly the newer location has different filling flavors and slightly better presentation... the taste is all that matters to me! :)

(6) egg custard (@ Lilian Cake Shop, Shanghai)

(7) cherimoya & milk smoothie (@ Fresh Everyday, Shanghai)

(8) appetizer plate: egg yolk w/ shrimp in crab infused jelly, bamboo salad with ground corn, tofu w/ uni and sesame sauce, stewed octopus and daikon, monk fish liver pate (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

Uo Kura is one of Shanghai's top rated high-end Japanese restaurants. The newest location was opened by one of my brother's friends. Got to try the omakase (chef's choice) prepared by a Michelin rated chef!

(9) sashimi plate: tai, o-toro, surf clam, suzuki, cucumber roll (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(10) daikon & potato mash soup (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(11) toro nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(12) ebi nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

not sure which shrimp exactly... might be kuruma-ebi

(13) fresh pickled daikon and ginger (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(14) seared engawa (flatfish) nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(15) amaebi nigri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(16) aji (mackeral) ginger nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(17) miso cod w/ kumquat (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(18) uni rice: Japanese and Chinese uni w/ ikura (roe) (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(19) o-toro nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(20) fish ball and bamboo soup (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(21) shiro maguro sushi roll (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(22) unagi nigiri (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(23) panna cotta w/ condensed milk and fresh fruit (@ Uo Kura, Shanghai)

(24) "Part & Parcel", "Bell Pepper Tequila Sunrise", "Secret Earl Grey" (@ The Apothecary)

Right upstairs from Uo Kura is The Apothecary, a really cool concept bar also opened by my brother's friend. They create unique and complex drinks made from ingredients all made in-house (i.e. bitters, mixers, even the ice).

(25) "El Floridita No. 1" (@ The Apothecary)

(26) coconut panna cotta (@ The Apothecary)