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COMPASS MAGAZINE, July 2005

Creative Asian fusion dining at Lao Po De Cai 586, ChongDe Road, Sec. 1 (04) 2230-5168 Hours: 11:30-2 pm/ 5:30-9 pm Credit cards are accepted.

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By Tammy Huang Translated by Cara Steenstra

There is a real feeling of romance at Lao Po De Cai--which literally means "The Wife's Cooking"--thanks in part to its modern-Chinese main theme, elegant Chinese calligraphy wall hangings and partially-visible red beaded drapes. Specially designed high-backed chairs also add to an old-Shanghai air. In a departure from the traditional image of noisy, chaotic Chinese restaurants, this establishment clearly cares about its interior decor, in addition to its customers' privacy.
The cuisine here is multi-faceted. Whether you want Hakka, northern Chinese, Jiang-Zhe, Shanghainese or even Southeast Asian cuisine, it can all be found here. The clever chef has retained the unique characteristics of each of these, adding his own culinary twists to create his personal brand of delicious fusion cuisine. The restaurant's special, Rock Sugar Baked Meat (NT$200), is a traditional Shanghai dish, using the best fatty pork, slow-cooked for six hours so that the tender meat simply melts in your mouth. The added, slightly sweet taste of rock sugar brings out the fragrance of the meat, making this a definite must-order menu item.

The Fresh Shrimp and Vermicelli Pot (NT$180) makes use of homemade spices, combined with a Thai-style curry that contains a great variety of Southeast Asian spices, to provide an exotic-flavored dish. One taste takes you straight to the warm summer environs of Southeast Asia. Chang Ying Tou (literally meaning "fly heads") (NT$150) is a fried Szechuan dish made of leeks, dried tofu, minced meat and hot chilies. Despite its Szechuan origins, this dish is still enjoyed by those who are not into spicy food, and is a great appetizer for hot summer days. The Penghu Seaweed and Little White Fish Soup (NT$180) is a clear soup made from a highly nutritious seaweed exclusive to the Penghu Islands and known locally as the "longevity vegetable". However, thanks to this dish, you don't need to travel all the way to Penghu to taste something so healthy and delicious.
In addition, this restaurant provides a variety of seasonal vegetables that are only available in the summer. Between Monday and Friday, diners can also enjoy a free cup of freshly brewed coffee with any lunch order.