[Shanghai] Xinwei Cook

Xinwei Cook
What: Pre-packaged meals for cooking at home delivered to your door
Where: Order at xinweicook.com
Price: ~RMB¥30-150 per dish

If you know me, you know Shanghai Girl does not cook. Neither do Shanghai Girl’s friends. So we took the initiative to try to domesticate ourselves. I am happy to report nothing caught on fire and that my friend’s kitchen is still intact.

Xinwei Cook is a relatively new online concept. The idea is very nice for the domestically challenged (me) and the wet market challenged (me again). You can purchase meals online and Xinwei Cook packages all the required ingredients (even butter and spices)–no more, no less–and delivers it to your door. The box also includes cooking directions.

This concept is very ideal when cooking for one because you can get a variety of vegetables and other ingredients pre-portioned. There is no way you are going to be able to go to the one stalk of celery and one piece of bok choy at the market otherwise.

On the other hand, this concept is also fun for a girls’ night in, which is precisely what we did. In the words of one of the girls, this is a novelty (for us at least since we don’t normally cook… ever). We cooked and chatted over wine throughout the night. Okay, and we also ordered some pre-made hummus & pita and salad via Sherpa’s along with our Xinwei dishes. Focus on the effort, okay?

The food is by no means Chez Jean Georges but it is helpful for the domestically challenged those who are learning to cook, those who don’t have time to shop around for all the ingredients, and those who are cooking a small amount of food.

Coral Lentille Soup (RMB¥38)
(Please note the amount of food below is two servings put together)
The vegetables were fresh and not frozen, which I was very happy about. The vegetables are probably the most appealing part of this package to me because I definitely don’t get enough vegetables, especially this variety in a day. Don’t forget to wash the vegetables!

Girl got some serious cupping remnants. Woosaaah…

Not too shabby.

Cod Fish in Hazelnut Butter (RMB¥76)
(Please note the amount of food below is two servings put together)
The only thing about this is that the fish was previously frozen but I suppose it is difficult to courier fresh fish. This is definitely a tradeoff for convenience.

The instructions said to crush the pistachios. Girl crushed those pistachios.

One of the girls and I pretty much cooked most of the cod while the rest of them ended up in the bathroom trying on makeup. Girls until the end.

The finished product. Once we get the cooking down, we will work on the presentation. We did well–good job, girls!

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