Shanghai is a city that loves flash, dash and all things trendy, so it’s surprising that the nose-to-tail dining trend hasn’t yet caught on here yet. But it will if Apothecary has any say about it. The bar’s management team is quick to point out that its philosophy is more to control quality than as any kind of promotional ploy, but nonetheless, it’s a story that deserves to be told: full pigs are brought into the restaurant and butchered in-house so that every part of the process (and pig) can be vetted and monitored. Add it all up and you get “bar food” that’s better quality than the fare you get at most other places in town. The dish that best exemplifies this philosophy is the bar’s charcuterie plate (RMB190).

The five-part platter contains bacon, Andouille sausage, two types of Tasso ham and, last but not least, head cheese set in jelly. Our favorite is the chunky bacon–sharply savory and smoky–but the spicy Tasso hams and meaty Andouille sausage are also excellent Cajun-style bites. Don’t be shy with the seasoned head cheese–it’s better than it sounds, and if you really can’t stomach it, you can always pair it with a glass of Sazerac to wash it all down.

DETAILS

What: The charcuterie plate

How much: RMB190

Where: Apothecary | 4/F, Bldg 2, Sinan Mansions, Lane 507 Fuxing Zhong Lu 复兴中路507弄思南公馆2号楼4楼

Tel: 3368-9419