There are some dishes that capture the heart with a first taste, when titillated taste buds trigger off a sentimentality for that instantly warm fuzzy feeling.
Another cozy Italian restaurant has opened on Julu Road in Jing'an district, where dozens of stylish eateries as well as designer boutiques are already gathered. But Il Bambino, with only 30 seats, is an intimate experience.
Chefs, too, need to do their homework to keep up to date. And as Ye Jun reports, some even go on excursions to learn more about ingredients and food trends in regional cuisine.