Hello and welcome!

My name is Sophie Steiner, and welcome to my food-focused travel blog. This is a place to discover where and what to eat, drink, and do in Shanghai, Asia, and beyond. As an American based in Shanghai since 2015 as a food, beverage, travel, and lifestyle writer, I bring you the latest news on all things food and travel.

During my tenure in Shanghai, I have worked in F&B in both media and on the frontline in restaurants and bars. To put it lightly, I have an (un)healthy obsession for all things food, drink, and travel.

An American travel addict, ardent foodie, craft beer enthusiast, WSET Level 2 oenophile, and recipe creator, I have a passion for food and drink that pushes me to seek out every hidden gem, mom and pop shop, back-alley eatery and luxury restaurant to find that perfect bite, wherever I am in the world. And I enjoy talking about, writing about, and photographing food almost as much as I love eating it!

My travel style is to dive below the surface to discover what exists beyond the beaten path. I aim to break away from the crowds, find the best value local spots, and immerse myself into the culture of wherever I am to attempt to experience it as the people that live there do.

Whether that means meandering down hidden alleyways in Vang Vieng to taste the best local produce, biking unmarked paths to uncover the hidden waterfalls of northern Bali, popping into massive wet markets in Phnom Penh to witness the early morning hustle and bustle, or joining in with the sunrise tai chi practicers in my own neighborhood on Shanghai’s Bund, I am interested in it all!

Along with exploring, I LOVE eating, and food is my absolute favorite way to learn about a destination’s culture. I have been known to travel hours out of the way just to sample a local dish. I plan my travels specifically around the food spots I want to visit, drumming up equal excitement for a famous lady's soup stand in Vietnam that has served up the same iconic bowl for decades as I do for visiting a UNESCO Protected World Heritage Site. And that same appetite for exploration carries over to my own hometown for the last 10 years, the mega-city of Shanghai.

I’ve learned that a foodie isn’t just someone who eats everything; rather, it’s someone who recognizes the between flavored versus flavorful, salty versus savory, raw versus tender, charred versus overcooked, and confused versus inspired. I break through the noise of social media and popular culture to truly discern high quality versus over-hyped.

I am driven to keep my finger on the pulse of each city I visit, anticipating food trends in advance and sharing my opinions with others, even if those opinions go against the norm. With so many restaurants out there, it’s easy for good quality food to get lost in the fray, and I want to help weed out the mundane to provide my readers with the best tips, tricks, and hacks to enjoy every meal in every city as much as I do.

When I’m not eating my way through new destinations, you can find me outdoors. I love to be physically active and have been known to walk over 35,000 steps in one day. (Thailand still holds my record at 64,000 steps in 24 hours!) To burn off all those extra calories (aka make room for tasting even more food) I love to get the adrenaline pumping by hiking, scuba diving, swimming, tubing, biking, and everything in between.

I look forward to sharing my food exploration and travel adventures with you, and I hope that through my reviews, writeups, tips, tricks, itineraries, and guides you will find the inspiration to eat the best food, take the best vacations, and live your best life.

Note: This is my personal social media channel that is 100% independently owned and run solely by me. My brand is not connected to my professional media job, or any past or future jobs I may hold. I choose collaborators based on how they authentically fit my audience, and I maintain the right to not promote or review products unrelated to my brand.