Beautifully designed, sumptuously photographed and chock-a-block with invaluable information, Shanghai In 12 Dishes is the first in a new series of food-centric travel guides. The aim is to help travellers cut to the chase, culinarily speaking. Aimed at the food-lover, it’s for visitors to Shanghai who want a reliable entree into local dining, without having to mess around. It’s for people who desire authentic food experiences and who want to rub shoulders with locals.

Focused squarely on Shanghainese cuisine, the content of this pocketable book is structured around 12 iconic dishes, with information that guides the user to places where they can easily be found. Dishes such as sheng jian bao (pan-fried pork buns), xiao long bao (soup dumplings), crab-braised tofu and red-cooked pork. Dishes that define Shanghai and that you’d be nuts to leave the city without trying.

Shanghai in 12 Dishes doesn’t stop at just those 12 dishes, however. The restaurants listed represent much more than these essential bites - they are starting points for one’s own culinary finds. The content also includes a foodie shopping guide, a day trip itinerary for Suzhou, a listing of bars with great views, dining tips from a Chinese celebrity chef, where to find food streets and more.