Shanghai 2009 highlights - a taste of Mao

there's nothing quite as restorative when Shanghai sleet sets in, and the rain continues to sap the spirit, as a dumpling (or a tea smoked egg) or a dish of braised tofu....

Right next door to Sichuan Citizen is "food from Mao's home town" Di Shui Don.  Beers are hot, food even hotter, the plastic grapes initially seem out of place but soon seem just right.  

The tofu with preserved egg kicked off the feast and, eventually, the (hot) beer arrived to quell the heat of the chili.  on the left is cooling cold sliced pork in sesame oil, soy and garlic sauce.....

Next, smokey fried rice, with pork belly simmered to unctuous shimmery softness with a hint of star anise in a soy base.

 The dumplings are appropriately chunky, and filling - in fact the only dud was the salt and pepper eggplant.

With two large (think Darwin stubby) Tsing Tao, the bill was a grand total of 160RMB