Chi fan le ma?

I grew up hearing stories about how little Shanghai people eat. A classic example is that of the guest from North China who was invited to eat at a Shanghai household. He was offered a tiny bowl of rice and a few small dishes. As they merely whet his appetite, he ate a second dinner after leaving his Shanghai host's home.

Today I recall with awe how 10 years ago I could gulp down 200 grams of rice and a main dish in my college canteen. Nowadays, 50 grams of rice is about all I need to get full. Ok, it must be said that Shanghai people are not that different from anyone else in the country, other than having eaten better and longer.

The Chinese cuisine has greatly changed in both taste and appearances over the years. People no longer prefer their food salty and oily. Restaurant chefs do all they can to create new dishes that cater to customers?desire for something new.