On books and food

Two of the most important things in our lives are books and food, and depending on the day, I'll gladly take books over food. We've been floundering on finding a good English-language bookstore in Shanghai--trying random places that maybe contain a single shelf of English computer programming books, but last week we did it; at least two stores with decent selections, and one with more than an entire floor containing English books!

Here we are at the aptly named Foreign Bookstore, which we found near People's Square. Cole, me, Chris, and Devon. We spent at least two hours here. Although the selection was good, the price of the books was actually higher than back home. When in desperate need though, I'll be more than willing to pay an extra $5 for a copy of Sputnik Sweetheart.

Later that night James and Stephanie, our dorm neighbors suggested that we go to this pizza place that was rumored to have REAL pizza. Not the gloppy plastic goodness of pizza hut, nor the tuna/pineapple/bacon China pie, but a normal, thin-crust pizza. And here it is, in all its glory.

Yes, it was that good. That's what happens after being deprived of decent pizza for two months.

The pizza crowd at Da Marco's: Stephanie, half my head, nicole, devon, jessica, and james.

Another staple for us has been the Food Republic food courts. This one is located under a giant metal ball of a mall (really). This is where I found Yoshinoya, CoCo's curry, and all sorts of dumplings.

Also in the metal ball mall is another bookstore. Go English books! (we're such nerds....)

Starbucks, or as we called it in Japan, Satarbucku. Brian wanted a glass of cold milk, but somewhere in the translation that became steamed milk. Trying to fix the situation, Nicole asked for some iced milk. So they brought us a cup of ice to pour the milk into (those practical Chinese). The result was...not so great (and thinking about the whole poisoned milk thing going on, Brian was probably better off).

Subway. I know I know, but don't hate yet. Try not eating a proper sandwich for a month, and then have Subway; then you'll know what I mean. It was amazing, and not only that. Here in China, they offer you bacon and egg with every sub. I ordered a turkey.

"Do you want bacon with that?"

"Sure do."

"How about on your veggie sub?"

"Do you even really need to ask?"

More books=happy us. Look, I have this crazy hair now.

In Old Shanghai, we declined to eat the ovaries and digestive glands of a crad. For more Old Shanghai fun, visit cole's site.

The perfect store for cutters. Mmm, makes me feel alive.

Dumpling makers in Old Shanghai.

Yoshi-
noya! Even better here than in the US. This is my chicken teriyaki, veggie, and beef bowl combo, w/ miso soup, and a tofu thing. All for about $4!

Engrish menu.
I wonder if there are still chunks of fruit in this? (sorry)

Chinese version of bibimbop. Very tasty, but missing the spicy pepper sauce.

Tiffany and cole. Such whities.

Ok, I have to go on for a little while about these. I've tried a few donuts here and there, but none have been right...until these. They were great, and not only that, everyone who worked there spoke perfect, native level English. Probably better English than we get at the Dunkin Donuts in Hoboken.

Fast food egg tart. Um...not so good. Really chewy crust and the filling is too soft and sweet.

Ham and Cheese at Swensens (sp?) a Friendly's kind of restaurant. Just like home.

And what I had there...a chili dog. Spicy but good, and I didn't feel sick afterwards. That's a winner in my book.

I have yet to find normal-tasting China ice cream. All of it ends up being icy and watery.

The drink line up. A snap shot of our fridge. Soy milk, diet coke, milk tea, kagome grape/veggie drink, mango drink, ice tea, orange juice, and green tea drink.

Wonton soup from a nearby restaurant.

Yogurt. Not that bad, which equals good here for dairy items.
Drink soy milk, it's good for you.

Perhaps my favorite sick food. Tomato and beef with egg over rice.

One of cole's favorites: cold noodles with cucumbers.

And that's it for the food and book post. In the real world, we're about to give our kids their first monthly test, and then we get Golden Week off. Cole and I are heading down to Singapore, where our mail goal is to relax and stuff our faces with all the different types of cuisine they have.

Despite all the enticing food here, I'm wasting away. Down two inches for my pants and now everything is too big on me. Maybe Singapore will fix that.