For one reason or another, Spanish cuisine, arguably the world's hottest thing on the dining table nowadays, finds little place in China's food metropolis, Shanghai.

Local housewives can make French croissants and baguettes at home even without recipes, while pizza, pasta as well as tiramisu are as common as dumplings for the city's young foodies. The word "tapas" alone, however, can confuse diners here.

But given its "world city" reputation, Shanghai is latching on to both modern and traditional Spanish cuisine, especially as a sluggish economy plagues Europe, closing down fine dining restaurants and sparking layoffs for top chefs.