"Hello, Golden Shanghai As if in a dream, I found myself landed on the vibrant Mott Street in Chinatown. On a Friday afternoon, streams of tourists amidst New Yorkers walked by the colorful restaurants, bakeries and tea houses. Rows of small lanterns and festive lights are strung above the long, narrow street. I wondered if I could find the corner restaurant where I enjoyed a quiet snack before the lockdown. Next to Bayard Street, I noticed the once familiar Shanghai restaurant. Hello, Golden Shanghai I murmured to myself as I pushed the glass doors open to the spacious interior. The slim waitress brought me a pot of tea and set it on the table near the window. I was enticed by the continuous flow of passers by in the sun near the glass pane with bright red Chinese characters saying: Shanghai Cuisine. Indeed, the emerald steamed vegetable dumplings are rolled by hand. The stuffing is from an authentic Eastern Chinese recipe. The finely chopped greens, carrot, Shiitake mushroom and glass bean noodle are freshly prepared. The seafood rice cake soup is light in palette and filled with treasures. Shrimps, scallops, criss cross cut white squid, slices of fresh bamboo shoot, snow peas and Shiitake mushroom danced on the sliced rice cake. Let a few minutes go by, the cake melts into the soup and creates a festive texture, a blessing from a holiday. A surprise saucer of cut melon appeared on my table before I left. The smiley waitress with brown hair said, You haven 't changed."
