dragonball

I first had xiao long bao as a kid and have always loved how the juices inside these dumplings burst through with the first bite - spilling hot liquid down my chin.

I've since perfected the art of eating these dumplings - usually with a porcelain spoon and ensuring I engulf them in one bite - juices and all in my mouth and not on my shirt.

There are usually two versions of this Shanghai-nese dumplings - traditional pork or crabmeat. I have no preference for either and would usually order both - given the option.

Due to the lack of a Chinese community in the Czech Republic, finding quality Chinese food from home has proven quite a challenge. Many of the Cinska restaurants here are run by Vietnamese who have no idea what real authentic Chinese cuisine is. As a result, the local Czechs have been exposed to poor quality, MSG-laden faux-Chinese food and are really none the wiser.

When The Prague Post recently reviewed a Chinese Restaurant serving xiao long bao, we were naturally curious. So we went, and we tried. Turns out the owner was from a province near Shanghai and spoke mandarin. In what broken mandarin I could muster, we managed to order two portions of pork dumplings.

I can't say it was the best xiao long bao I've ever had. In fact, they were probably the worst I've had. The skin which should usually be paper thin was quite thick however the pork inside was quite flavoursome and similar to what it should usually taste like. That said though, I'm not sure I will be returning in a hurry.

xiao long bao with vinegar

guo ji
kyjevská 12, prague, 160 00

+420 728 675 228

white gold

It's no secret that white truffles are rare and highly prized by chefs and foodies all around the world. But what would possess anyone to pay thousands of Euros for what is essentially just a mushroom?

Shave them on risotto, eggs or mashed potatoes, the simpler the dish, the better it is to enhance the essence of the white truffle. There is no disputing the unique aroma of the Tartufi Bianchi.

We went in search of these decadent, super expensive mushrooms over a December weekend in Piedmont, Northern Italy, where these truffles are found amongst the countryside in and around the towns of Asti and Alba.

A random Google search and several emails later, we found ourselves in the town of Monchiero - just 30 minutes south of Alba at a nondescript bed and breakfast. I was sceptical at first. The hunt had cost us only 50 Euros for the both of us, whereas many others were charging well over 150 Euros for the same privilege. But my expectations were low. At worse, it was a very expensive excursion to walk someone's dog on some random land.

There were five of us in total on the walk/hunt including the 'hunter' Giovanni. Unfortunately for us, Giovanni spoke not a word of English and us not a word of Italian, save for a few obligatory greetings and pleasantries. Thankfully, the other couple on the walk were kind enough to translate in their broken english.

The hunt was on! Jolly, our truffle dog, led the charge. We donned our wellies, canes in hand and began the steep descent behind the bed and breakfast. 30 minutes in, thorns in my back, thorns on my hands and struggling to navigate the muddy and steep terrain, I was losing hope. Surely by now, we should have found something. Each time Jolly raced ahead and circled another patch of ivy we got excited, only to be disappointed each time.

At last about an hour into the walk, we finally struck gold. White gold. And boy was it a great find! The aroma from the freshly dug white truffle was amazing and unlike anything I have ever smelt. I've smelt black truffles at the delis and restaurants in London and also in Prague but due to the travelling times, they were never as pungent. Fortunately, it was not 50 Euros down the drain but no, we were not allowed to keep the find!