Restaurant offers modern twists on traditional Shanghai dishes

Restaurant offers modern twists on traditional Shanghai dishes

2026-04-06

Have you ever tried a Shanghai salad? This famous dish, a variation on potato salad, was developed in the 1930s when many foreigners were living in Shanghai.Now a restaurant in Taipei is serving its own version, presented to look like a small garden, with dark biscuit crumbs making a layer of “soil” over the potatoes.

This may look like a miniature garden, but it’s entirely edible! Hidden underneath the “soil” made of biscuit crumbs is a soft potato salad with avocado and ham.

The potatoes and ham are cut into cubes, then the chef adds fresh avocado and dressing before tossing the salad.

Balsamic vinegar is also added for a bit of sourness.

The chef sprinkles a full layer of biscuit crumbs over the salad, then adds asparagus, carrots, mushrooms, and even some flowers, making the dish look like a miniature garden.

Tsai Cheng-hung
Restaurant manager
In Shanghai at that time, there were lots of foreign businesspeople in the concessions. Pretty much every restaurant in Shanghai would serve a potato salad.

Shrimp are also essential to Shanghai cuisine, like in this cold noodle dish. The chilled noodles absorb the flavor of the sauce, which has been simmered with lobster and Sichuan peppers.

After being cooked, the noodles are soaked in an ice bath to give them a springier texture.

The shrimp are then fried in a wok on low heat, keeping them tender, and then rinsed to remove any excess oil.

Finally, the shrimp are stir-fried with Shaoxing wine to bring out their flavor. They’re placed on top of the noodles, followed by a drizzle of lobster sauce and pepper oil. Lemon and kumquat slices are added for a finishing touch.

Tsai Cheng-hung
Restaurant manager
The broth is made by simmering fresh lobster heads for about four hours. With the lemon, the flavor is more suitable for the summer.

The restaurant even offers special watermelon buns, which are decorated by hand and filled with a salted egg and watermelon seed custard. Full of creativity, this restaurant is offering modern twists on traditional Shanghai cuisine.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#restaurant #potatosalad #Shanghai #Shanghaisalad #Shanghaicuisine #shrimp #coldnoodles

老菜上桌! "上海沙拉"撒香甜餅乾屑外型宛如小花園

2026-04-06

您吃過上海沙拉嗎？台北有餐廳，把30年代因為上海很多外國人，而研發的上海沙拉端上桌，還結合甜甜的餅乾屑，讓外型彷彿小花園，味道如何一起去品嚐。

明明是上海沙拉，上桌的怎麼是盆栽，原來沙拉就藏在底下，鬆軟馬鈴薯和油潤酪梨，遇上鹹香火腿，鹹甜交織。

火腿、馬鈴薯切成丁，加入酪梨和沙拉醬，拌一拌。

加入西餐常用的巴沙米克醋，增加酸香韻味。

師傅拿出餅乾屑，鋪上滿滿一層，再直立放下蘆筍、紅蘿蔔，讓蔬菜就像從土裡長出來，變身小花園。

[[店經理蔡政宏]]
“當年在上海的部分，其實租界很多外國的商人，基本上在每一個上海的餐館裡面，師傅們都有備一道馬鈴薯沙拉”

上海菜少不了的河蝦，也能變冷麵，冰鎮過的麵條，吸收龍蝦熬煮的醬汁，鹹鮮滋味，還有藤椒麻香。

煮熟的手工麵，放入冰塊冰鎮，讓口感更彈牙。

河蝦就能過油，為了保持嫩度，得離火慢慢油泡，再過水、去除多餘油脂。

最後用紹興酒提出河蝦的鮮味，就能放在麵條上，淋上龍蝦醬汁、藤椒油，用檸檬、金桔劃下句點，讓味道更清爽。

[[店經理蔡政宏]]
“用新鮮的龍蝦頭去熬煮，大概約四個小時的濃郁湯頭，(檸檬)吃起來基本上，比較符合夏季口感”

再品嚐手工印上西瓜紋路的小玉西瓜包，為了模擬西瓜沙沙的口感，奶黃餡還加入鹹蛋，還有點點西瓜籽，上海菜老菜新作、大玩創意。

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The 2026 Taiwan International Balloon Festival is to begin on July 4. After pairing with the two major Japanese IP brands Hello Kitty and Doraemon, this year, the globally beloved Chiikawa is joining the lineup. The county is also planning the world’s first drone show featuring Chiikawa. With fans already this excited, the county predicts it will welcome over 1 million visitors again this year.

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Hung Kuo-chin
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It’s the first time Chiikawa mascots are to come to Taiwan, and we’ll hold Taiwan’s first meet-and-greet for Chiikawa. In addition, we will hold the world’s first Chiikawa-themed drone show here in Taitung on April 11.

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This year we have eight light installations and six drone and firework shows. We’d like to invite everyone who loves Chiikawa and hot air balloons to come to Taitung this summer and join us for this exciting event.

The Taiwan International Balloon Festival officially kicks off on July 4th. With Doraemon, Hello Kitty, and now also Chiikawa balloons to enjoy, this summer, everyone’s eyes will be on the skies over Taitung.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Endangered Formosan landlocked salmon natural offspring found

People recently saw a group of newly hatched Formosan landlocked salmon in the Qijiawan River, showing that the species is now naturally reproducing and has overcome the threat of extinction. This endangered species is endemic to Taiwan and its population had dwindled to just over 200 in the 1980s. Years of conservation efforts by public and private agencies have helped the fish rebound.

A school of small gray fish swim energetically in the river. They may seem ordinary, but these are Formosan landlocked salmon, an endangered species endemic to Taiwan.

Liao Lin-yen
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Formosan landlocked salmon begin hatching in November. They rise to the surface after about 90 days at around 10 degrees Celsius, so these fish look to be about two months old.

These treasured baby fish were seen in February. The Taiwan Salmon Eco Center said it has waited a long time for this moment, as the species was on the verge of extinction with a population of only 200 in the 1980s. Over the past 30 years, the Shei-Pa National Park has restored habitats and released fish fry, helping the population to recover.

Liao Lin-yen
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In addition to maintaining a core population in the Qijiawan River, our restoration efforts have covered the Hehuan, Nanhu, and other rivers. Over the past five years the population has been over 15,000, reducing the risk of extinction. But facing climate change, typhoons, and drought, I think we need to work more to create additional habitats for them across these rivers.

The baby Formosan landlocked salmon found in the Qijiawan River prove that the fish can naturally reproduce and is no longer in danger of extinction. But as climate change and human activity continues to threaten habitats, conservation requires ongoing efforts.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Southern Taiwan is known for its extravagant and luxurious banquet culture but that doesn’t mean that the master chefs involved aren’t looking for ways to innovate old traditions. A Po, a creative Tainan-based chef, serves up a deluxe sushi platter adorned with artistically-arranged cut apples and flowers. He also makes a mullet roe salad cup that fuses Eastern and Western cuisines. Let’s find out more.

This sashimi platter, adorned with intricate carved garnishes and floral decorations, is presented in a luxurious manner reminiscent of an emperor’s banquet. There’s also a mullet roe salad cup, featuring whole grilled mullet roe topped with apple slices and romaine lettuce. It’s a veritable fusion of East and West.

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I’ve never received this kind of fruit gift box before. When I attended weddings in the past, it was usually just a single fruit tower, so I feel the host is extremely sincere and generous.

Member of the public
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These days, banquets are getting more and more extravagant. If I received one, I would be very happy, it would feel like the host is showing great sincerity.

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We use relatively sweeter and fresher seasonal fruits, packaged in a nine-compartment fruit box. It’s bold yet refined. It also is a way for guests to take any leftovers home.

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Authentic Tainan night market experience at Tokyo Skytree Town

The “Taiwan Matsuri” festival is celebrating its tenth year bringing Taiwan’s night market experience to Japan. Last weekend, the largest-ever Taiwan Matsuri event kicked off at Tokyo Skytree Town, with support from the Tainan City Government. Until May 31st, visitors to the famous Japanese landmark can also teleport to Taiwan’s historic capital.

Meng Chia-mei
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Relax with a typical Taiwanese massage and enjoy a fried chicken larger than the face. You might think you’re at a Taiwanese night market, but no, this is actually Tokyo Skytree Town.

This is the largest “Taiwan Matsuri” event ever held in Japan. To celebrate ten years of Taiwan’s night market experience up north, the organizer has teamed up with the Tainan City Government and brought the city’s famous hand-painted lanterns and various night market snacks all the way to Tokyo, more than 2,000km away.

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Koah-pau, boba, and other Taiwanese classics can all be found in Tokyo, delighting the senses. Fried chicken cutlet seems to be a favorite in Tokyo. Even though one portion would set you back NT$240, multiple times more expensive than in Taiwan, the stall still sold 1,000 in a single day.

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Organizers hope cultural exchanges with local Japanese will boost Taiwan tourism. The Japanese were the largest tourist group to Taiwan by nationality in 2025, numbered at 1.48 million and accounting for 17.3% of all international visitors. However, in the same year, Taiwanese made 6.73 million trips to Japan. The industry hopes to balance the numbers.

Wang Fu-min
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According to our stats, Japanese tourists usually spend about three days and two nights, and they tend to spend all three days and two nights in Taipei alone. But Southern Taiwan, or even Eastern Taiwan would benefit from more campaigning on our part. What’s more, we currently have eight flights a day between Songshan Airport and Haneda Airport, and once they arrive at Songshan Airport, with just a few steps, they can take a domestic flight and travel to Kinmen.

Getting international tourists to expand their footprint beyond the capital city may be the key to boosting Taiwan tourism among the Japanese.

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The bus driver then rolled down the window and gestured a thumbs-up. The car driver slowed down just as it overtook the bus, but then he stopped and blocked the bus. That was when the car driver approached the bus driver.

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Only when the bus driver threatened to call the police did he drive off.

Tseng Chao-yuan
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In the footage, the passenger car stopped in the middle of the lane while driving, not due to an emergency. It’s a violation of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, subject to a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$36,000, an immediate ban on driving and a 6-month suspension of the vehicle’s license plate.

As for the bus driver, he’s a Russian-born permanent resident in Taiwan, known in Mandarin as Lin Ya-li. He’s been in Taiwan for seven years now. He used to be a truck driver, but switched to buses four months ago. This was the first time he’s caught in a traffic dispute. Fortunately, he quickly resolved the issue by remaining calm, but even before this incident, he’s already developed mixed feelings toward Taiwan’s road traffic, especially in the south.

- What do you think about Taiwan’s traffic?
- Hahaha…

Lin Ya-li
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You may have already turned on a turn signal, but drivers that just won’t yield to you may even double down and go faster. Scooters are on all sides of your bus. They’d completely encircle the bus. How am I supposed to drive? Every day I go home exhausted, not physically but mentally.

He also says that it’s a lot more difficult to obtain a driver’s license in Russia than in Taiwan, and traffic law enforcement is also stricter.

Lin Ya-li
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It’s really strict in my country. It doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving. If you cross the double white lines, even just by the tiniest bit, you’ll have your license suspended for six months.

Coming from a country with stricter traffic rules, it’s no wonder passengers are satisfied with his careful and smooth driving.

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A large group of people wearing red walk side by side in twos with their hands clasped and praying as they move. But then…

The red-clad believers fall to their knees and prostrate themselves on the ground. The strange ritual shocked passersby, and video of their moves was uploaded online, receiving comments like, “What kind of cult ritual is this?”

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The city cleansing brought together more than 100 participants and it is a practice that has even been recognized by Guinness World Records. Though participants say they aimed to spread positive energy, for some onlookers it was simply an unsettling sight.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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