[Photo provided to China Daily]

Dish: Classic Milanese veal chop

Chef Riccardo Le Perna has been in Shanghai long enough to know the local residents' penchant for fried meat chops. From street-side vendors to the city's most historic Western restaurants that were opened in the 1930s, golden crispy pork chops have long been a popular choice, both as a snack and during important dining occasions.

So le Perna decided that Shanghai was the perfect city to popularize his hometown veal chop. Using what he considers the best part of the cow, he said the trick to cooking this dish is to pan-fry the meat without getting its surface rippled.