by Valerie Tort

For more than 17 years of dimsum cooking, executive chef Daniel Leung continued to hone his craft from different hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong to the exotic Philippine Islands. Shanghai Bistro’s tradition of bringing out the best in Hong Kong and Chinese cuisine has come here to the Philippines to share with us its authentic dishes cooked by their Hong Kong culinary squad.

“Cooking for Filipinos has always been enjoyable for us, since we know that most Filipino diners love Chinese cuisine,” Leung said.

Their Hong Kong based chefs has added a dash of Filipino taste without sacrificing the genuine qualities of the Shanghai dishes they serve the diners.

“Since we don’t want to compromise the authentic taste of our recipes, we import spices and preserved vegetables from China, like the suy choi, to ensure that the flavor stays true to its roots,” executive chef Daniel Leung added.

“Majority of restaurants in Metro Manila serve Cantonese food. Shanghai cuisine has its own unique flavor. For the best place in Shanghai cuisine, you should come to us at Shanghai Bistro,” says Elizabeth de Jesus, chief operating officer.

Shanghai cuisine is influenced by different cultures from the East and the West. The culinary interactions that have originated and adopted from various regions continued Shanghai cuisine’s dynamic culinary quest. From its sauces, spices and greens to the cured meats and exotic proteins, Shanghai cuisine will surely be comforting and warming us in the rainy season while refreshing and relaxing us during summer months.

“We wanted to target everyone so that all crowds can eat at Shanghai Bistro,” said Eugene Reducindo, the managing director.

Shanghai Bistro’s third year marked their continuous excellence in serving authentic Chinese dishes. In 2005, the restaurant is awarded as the number one National Shoppers’ Choice because of its reasonable price and real Chinese flavor.

“Our aim is that we do not want to be perceived as a restaurant for ‘high class’ individuals or those of the higher bracket society. We wanted to target the office employees, mid-management and the rank and file within the area (of Libis), and in Paseo Makati. We want everyone to discover that in Shanghai Bistro authentic dishes are served with reasonable prices,” managing director said.

“We want you to enjoy your dining experience with us. We promise you that you will come again because of our delicious recipes. For one thing, we serve dishes with a smile and garnish it with love,” Reducino added.

Tsibog.com tasted some of Shanghai Bistro’s specialties to discover if every taste and appetite can be accommodated in this Chinese restaurant.

Shanghai Bistro’s bestsellers include Tung Po Pork, Bailing Mushroom with Minced Shrimp, their original Shanghai Bistro’s Meatballs, Shanghainese Drunken Chicken, and Wubsi Pork Ribs.

Tung Po Pork is a pork dish marinated with soy sauce, special sauces and spices to create an authentic Chinese dish. After the pork marinate is absorbed by the pork for quite some time, it is deep fried and later on, steamed with another batch of special sauces. Tung Po Pork is usually served with green vegetables and a soft bread bun. Tung Po Pork represented the best Chinese cookery with a philosophy of fat being a complement of a dish to make it flavorful and succulent and not a spoiler of the meat’s taste.

Bailing Mushroom with Minced Shrimp is another specialty of Shanghai Bistro. Bailing mushroom has a meaty texture and semi-sweet flavor used in many Chinese dishes. Mushrooms are great as meat substitutes for vegetarians or for figure-conscious people. The mushroom is stuffed with minced shrimp and topped with fresh egg white to serve as its glaze.

Can’t get enough of Shanghai Bistro’s bestsellers? Then try Shanghai Bistro’s Meatballs. Their meatballs are flavorful and juicy that you can’t resist indulging in another bite.

For people who stay away from pork and beef, try their Shanghainese Drunken Chicken. Whole dressed chicken is cured and soaked with a special marinate sauce and Chinese cooking wine. After the chicken has absorbed the flavor of the poultry marinate, it is steamed to bring out the chicken’s juiciness and tenderness. It is traditionally served with a soy sauce or a ginger dip.

If you crave for a sweet-and-sour dish, Wubsi Pork Ribs is perfect for you. The pork rib is a tangy version of the usual sweet-and-sour pork spareribs. Wubsi Pork Ribs is prepared by mixing white vinegar, brown sugar, tomato sauce, and other spices. The pork is braised using an oven until the pork meat is tender and can be easily separated to its bone. This is a great dish for rice toppings.

Other dishes that are served for diners to relish and to indulge in are Siao Lung Pao, Pan-fried beef tenderloin Chinese style, Pork Rolls with King Dao Sauce, Crispy Duck Breast with Plum Sauce, Sweet Ham with Lotus Seeds, Chef’s Milkfish Masterpiece, Steamed Crab in Siao Sing Wine, Shanghai Fried Noodles, Seafood Fried Noodles, Stir-fried Egg White with Seafood, Screaming Eel in Gravy. For dessert, try Toffee Banana dessert for a unique sweet treat.

Our verdict: Shanghai Bistro is a melting pot of various appetites and cravings. One will surely find the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and salty dishes for diners’ selective tastes accompanied by its cozy ambiance and quality service.

Shanghai Bistro is located in Eastwood City Walk 2 in Libis and at the third level of Paseo Center in Makati City.

Tags: Chinese Cuisine, Chinese Restaurants in Manila, Philippine Dining Guide