Best Japanese Restaurants in Shanghai

So it should come as no surprise that there is great Japanese food to be had here. And while countless budget options are available, if you really want a good meal, plan on spending some money. Mediocrity abounds in Tianzifang, but the quaint little noodle house Akurah is one of the few places in the gentrified longtang that's worth a visit. It specializes in udon, a thick noodle made from wheat flour, and offers it in a variety of styles: soup, stir-fried and then there is our favorite, the zaru udon which is chilled and served over a bamboo basket with a light soy sauce - simple, elegant, delicious.

Spend enough time in Shanghai and you're bound to consume an all-you-can-eat-teppanyaki. Most of them range from mediocre to downright awful. Gintei, however, is one of the better in town. RMB 180 gets you unlimited helpings of katsu, sushi, stirfry and sashimi, washed down with all the beer and sake you can drink. It's perhaps not the most memorable dining experience in town (in fact after six sake bombs, you may forget some of it), but it's a sweet deal.

Slick, sexy and immensely popular, Haiku by Hatsune might be accused of Californicating their menu with cutesy sushi creations like the 'Moto-roll-ah' or the '1-1-9 roll', but the quality is there nonetheless, especially when compared to the countless all-you-can-eat sushi slop buckets in town. Legendary up-market Japanese chain Nadaman has its Shanghai home in the Shangri La, Pudong Hotel. The specialty here is kaiseki, the Japanese equivalent of a multi-course prix fixe menu. Some may find Nadaman's staunchly traditional style somewhat uninspired, but we say that's part of the appeal. Expect floppingly fresh fish, flawless presentation, and an ambiance that verges on satori.

Sun with Aqua is everything you'd expect in a Bund restaurant: posh, glamorous and a tad flashy. The ingredients are super fresh and expertly prepared, the sake menu is encyclopedic and the service is spot on. Just be sure to come with a full wallet. This is, after all, the Bund. Don't let the food court setting fool you, Sushi An is the real deal. Behind the counter, three chefs meticulously mash, slice, twist and roll everything to order. Every request is met with a friendly "hai!", a smile and a bow.

The menu features a comprehensive list of fresh nigiri and sashimi, and refreshingly gimmick-free makis. It's all pure and simple. What's more, this place really isn't that expensive. Provided you don't splurge on the toro or their fine sakes, two people can expect to have a filling meal for two for roughly RMB 350 - remember, we're talking sushi here. The microscopic Sushi Oyama sushi bar is like nothing else in the city. Everything about it, from the gracious Kimono- clad hostess to the mismatched clay sake cups, exudes simple, exquisite elegance.

But more importantly, the food is stellar. Chef/owner Takeo Oyama imports his own fish from Tokyo and Nagasaki, pickles his own ginger (most places purchase it pre-pickled), he even brews his own tamari. And believe us it shows in the quality of the food. It also shows in the price - anywhere from RMB 600-800 depending on what's on offer. But it's well worth it.

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Weber Gas Grills: There's Something For Everyone

Weber started manufacturing and selling outdoor grilling products in 1952 (although the company itself started some 20 years earlier). Today, Weber operates in over thirty different countries and its branding can be found on a wide variety of products, including grills, cooking accessories, books, even restaurants.
Obviously though, what Weber are most well-known for are their gas grills, which are very popular. There are several different series of gas grills, including the Q Series, Summit, Spirit and, my personal favorite and by far the most popular range, the Weber Genesis Series.

The Spirit Series, consisting of competitively priced units, caters particularly for those just starting out with grilling and who aren't looking to spend much.

Once you've gained a little more grilling experience and have a bit more money to spend, you may want to start checking out the Genesis Series. With their sleek design and user-friendly layout, the Genesis has become a household name when it comes to outdoor grilling. They have large preparation and cooking areas, a comprehensive array of accessories. Indeed the Genesis Series is a very worthy upgrade for those looking to move up from the Spirit range.

Now, if you want to start getting really fancy and be the envy of the neighbors, you ought to take a look at the Summit Series, Weber's premier range. These marvels of barbeque engineering are for seasoned barbecuers with a lot of bucks (notice how I seem to have equated wealth with barbecuing experience, lol!). These units are seriously good quality and offer a wide array of features. If you live to barbeque, the Summit Series is the one for you.

The Weber Q series includes a range of grills designed for family use. These grills are highly portable, stunning to look at, and have plenty of useful features. This range offers something for every one, with the entry level Q 100 catering to beginners, and its much larger cousin, the Q 320 being a favorite among seasoned barbeque vets.

The Q Series comes in a whole range of sizes, is very competitively priced, and designed for all-round family use. These units are nicely portable, well designed and have a decent range of features. Beginner usually start out with the Q 100, and may end up with the Q 320, a similar but much bigger unit that is preferred by many barbeque rookies.

Regardless of who you are and where you live, if you enjoy a good barbeque, Weber will have something on offer for you, something which is durable, reliable and decently priced. This summarizes why Weber secures my top recommendation for anyone looking to buy a gas grill, whether beginner or experienced.

If you are looking to purchase a decent gas grill, my highest recommendations are the Weber Genesis E-320 and the Weber Genesis E-310, which are coincidentally the two best selling Webers out there.

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The Fruit Flush Diet Explained

When the buzz goes out that a "new diet" has hit the scene we all get curious, and maybe excited. The fruit flush diet is one of the newer diets that are debuting in on the diet stage. The diet's creator, Jay Robb, is a certified clinical nutritionist and personal trainer.

What Makes the Fruit Flush Diet Unique

We have all heard of a few of these "cleanse" or "detox" type diets, and possibly even tried several. What is unique with the fruit flush diet is the addition of protein, which helps the body burn fat and preserves muscle mass.

It also differentiates from juice diets in that fruit still requires your body's digestive system to remain functioning. This prevents the shift to the low metabolism that "cleanse" diets can have.

Processing fruit requires very little work from the body's digestive system, which gives your weary digestive system a break. With not having to expend so much energy for digestion, energy is freed up to help the body detoxify and cleanse itself.

The Fruit Flush Diet 1-2-3

The fruit flush diet is a fairly simple plan to follow. It is a 3 day diet plan. The first day consists of protein shakes. You should get about 10 servings of protein on day one, in the form of protein shakes.

For the next 2 days of the diet, you eat fruit every two hours. You can eat any kind of fruit, so long as it is not frozen or canned. On days 2 and 3 you also have a dinner consisting of raw vegetables, and a small serving of lean protein, or another protein shake. The beverage of choice for these 3 days is, naturally, water. Only water.

During the 3 days of the detox exercise is not encouraged; it has been shown that those who exercise lose less weight than those who do not.

For those who are addicted to caffeine, sodas, or sugars, the first day of this detox can be uncomfortable. Expect to experience headaches, possible stomach trouble, and general discomfort.

The fruit flush diet is designed to cleanse the body of toxins, as well as to increase weight loss. But, it is also about laying the discipline and foundation for new healthy eating patterns and better attitudes towards food. It encourages discipline, and making decisions that support your desire to look and feel fit and healthy.

As with all diets, you must be sure to check with your doctor before embarking on the 3 days of fruit, fruit and more fruit. The fruit flush diet can have positive results in terms of weight loss and cleansing, but you must be sure it is safe for you.

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