Second Helpings: Gui Hua Lou @ Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai

What: Huaiyangnese and Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious environment

Where: 1/F, Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai, 33 Fucheng Lu, near Lujiazui Huan Lu. Tel: 6882 8888. Web: www.shangri-la.com

Why: To try the new 58 dim sum varieties menu

Huai Yang cuisine is an ancient cuisine style, which is seen as one of the Four Great Traditions that influenced Chinese cuisine. Huai Yang cuisine includes dishes from Huai’an, Yangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai and is characterised by stewing, braising and steaming over a low fire for a long period of time.

 

The Shangri-La restaurant, and its Executive Chef Gao, is famed for producing some of the best light, fresh and sweet dishes, following these ancient local methods. His new Dim Sum Varieties menu consists of 58 authentic and creative Cantonese dim sum specialties, with Gui Hua Lou’s Huaiyang and Shanghainese influences.

 

Highlights on the menu include the steamed vegetable dumpling with bamboo fungus (RMB 32 for a portion of three dumplings), a delectable vegetablefocused steamed dumpling with seasonal bamboo and fungus covered in transparent dough. All the ingredients are cut into tiny, but nicely shaped pieces, bearing the authentic taste of every produce in it to deliver a rich texture in flavour. The deep fried sesame ball with almond cream (RMB 52) is another favourite, and a creative way of reinventing a classic Chinese dessert. The refreshing dessert is garnished with beautiful tremelle slices.

The 58 dim sum varieties menu is available from 11:30am to 2:30pm every day, with dishes from RMB 12 to RMB 66.