Steamed Three Shreds
A carefully arranged dome of finely shredded chicken, ham and bamboo shoots served with clear broth.
How to eat it
After the broth is added, gently loosen the fine strips into your bowl instead of trying to cut a solid slice from the dome. The broth can be very hot, so serve a small portion first.
The story behind the dish
Chicken breast, ham and bamboo shoots are cut into exceptionally fine strips and arranged so they hold a precise dome. “Three shreds” refers mainly to those ingredients, while kou describes steaming them in a bowl and inverting it for service. Shanghai banquet cooking values the knife work because the shape must hold before hot broth loosens the strands.
For reference
Every kitchen does it its own way. What follows is the typical version — ingredients, heat and price shift from city to city and from one restaurant to the next, so take it as a guide rather than a fixed recipe.
If you have an allergy or something you can't eat, check with the staff before you order.