Typhoon shelter in Shanghai

I scheduled some meetings in Shanghai at the last minute, and ended up flying in last night without realizing that a typhoon was on its way here.  I guess that's what happens when you're in a place like Chongqing and don't pay attention to what is happening outside the city... and have limited news sources thanks to being in China.

Typhoon Haikui was battering Zhejiang and the surrounding areas, and my return flight to Taipei was rescheduled to very late at night.  Fortunately I was able to find refuge with a very old and dear friend, who allowed me to camp out at her apartment for a few hours.  As dinner time rolled around, we decided to take a short walk to nearby Xintiandi (新天地) and see what dining options were available on a night like this.

My friend almost led us into Din Tai Feng (鼎泰豐), but fortunately we hesitated and ended up at Xiao Nan Guo (小南國) next door.  Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Din Tai Feng.  In fact, I love going there.  But Xiao Nan Guo is a much better choice for someone coming from Taipei.  Not surprisingly, my dear friend and I ordered a little too much food…

Braised duck tongue with soy sauce (香汁鴨舌) - these were only OK in terms of flavor, but I haven't had any in a while so I didn't mind.  I do love the crunchy texture...

Bean curd sheet roll with shepherd's purse and mushroom (薺菜菌菇百葉卷) - I thought this was OK. Flavors were subtle and slightly on the bland side, but the sesame flavors were nice.

Jellyfish with aged vinegar (老醋海蟄頭) - this was OK, with chunks of marinated cucumber.  I do have to say that I was a little surprised that they chose not to cut these into smaller chunks...

Pan-fried short rib with black pepper sauce (黑椒牛仔骨) - pretty decent in terms of flavor.

Amaranthus stir-fried with oil-braised bamboo shoot (清炒米莧配油燜筍) - the leafy amaranth was younger and more tender than I was expecting, and I was pretty happy with this.

Noodle with scallion-flavored oil (南國蔥油拌麵) - one of my favorite things to eat… and such a simple dish!  Yummy.

This was a pretty decent meal - comfort food for someone like me, and perfect for a day when I'm stressing out about the typhoon and whether or not I'm gonna be able to fly home as planned.

I returned to the comfort of my friend's house after dinner, and after confirming that the plane that was to carry me home had taken off from Taipei, headed to the airport.  I'm very fortunate to have friends who can lend a helping hand in time of need, and very grateful for their kindness.