[Shanghai] Osteria

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[Shanghai] Osteria

Osteria

Add: 226 Jinxian Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu / 进贤路226号, 近陕西南路
Tel: 6256 8998
Hours: 11am~11pm
Website: www.osteriaspirit.com
Price: 250~300RMB/person
Visited on: May 2012

I’ve been to Osteria once before and deemed the dishes mediocre, so I wasn’t expecting much when a friend organized a dinner there a few nights ago. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised.

We started off with glasses of Spicy Canadian “Bloody Caesar” (68 RMB), made with Dewar Whisky or 42 Below Vodka and clamato juice. This Canadian invention is similar to a Bloody Mary but with a distinct spicy flavor from Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and clamato juice (clam + tomato = clamato). It’s like sipping iced soup! Perfect for the summer.

A lovely bread basket, promptly refilled too.

Crudi (78 RMB), a platter of cured imported meats, daily crostini, marinated olives, melon & mint aperitif.

Crispy Calamari (89 RMB) with fried potato, pancetta, lemon, and sweet-chilli tomato mayo.

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[Shanghai] Masala Art

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[Shanghai] Masala Art

Masala Art

Add: 397 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu / 大沽路397号，近石门一路
Tel: 6327 3571
Hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Price: 100~150 RMB/person
Visited on: May 2012

Spent a lovely evening at Masala Art with friends. Food coma ensued after all the heavy Indian dishes went into our bellies…and oh my, were they delicious.

We started with some excellent Samosa (28 RMB), deep fried crispy patties filled with spiced potatoes and green peas.

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[Shanghai] Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet

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[Shanghai] Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet

Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet

Add: You are not supposed to know.
Tel: Non-existent.
Website: uvbypp.cc
Price: 2000 RMB/person, 20 courses
Visited: May 2012

Please note that I have omitted some details of the meal in order to not spoil your actual visit.

“If you want to use the restroom, do it now,” our receptionist suggested, “because you won’t want to miss a second of the following hour.” Is she exaggerating? Most certainly not. A meal at Ultraviolet, Paul Pairet’s much awaited multi-sensorial concept restaurant, is an immersive dining experience that engages not only your taste buds, but also your eyes, nose, and ears. As I perused the 20-course menu while sipping a glass of pear cider (which was excellent, by the way) at Mr. and Mrs. Bund where we were waiting to be picked up, I couldn’t help but feeling a bit fidgety about what I was about to experience.

And off we went…into the unknown.

After a few twists and turns, we arrived at Ultraviolet. It’s housed in a nondescript building, its exterior telling you nothing about the grand secret that lurks inside, perhaps except this purple window that gleams subtly in the sun. Our receptionist left at this point, leaving us with nothing more than a cryptic line of “just wait, something will happen.”

The door slid open, and we ventured into a dark room dimly illuminated by purple neon light. Then, a thumping of heart beats, faster, faster…and faster.

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[Shanghai] The Waldorf Champagne Brunch

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[Shanghai] The Waldorf Champagne Brunch

Waldorf Astoria

Add: Waldorf Astoria, Heritage Building, 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu / 上海外滩华尔道夫酒店 中山东一路2号
Tel: 6322 9988
Hours: 11am~3pm
Website: www.waldorfastoria.com
Price: 688 RMB + 15% or 888 RMB + 15% (includes free-flow of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and wine)
Visited: May 2012

The recently upgraded Waldorf Champagne Brunch is just about the most lavish (read: expensive) way you can spend a Sunday morning in Shanghai. As with the previous “Waldrof Brunch Tour”, brunchers commence at the Long Bar with flutes of Veuve Cliquot champagne and freshly shucked oysters, then waltz to the Grand Brasserie for its grand buffet and a la carte dishes from the Chef’s Specialties menu. Come hungry, and don’t expect to leave the place until a good 3 hours later.

A few words on Long Bar. The space used to be the gathering place for la crème de la crème of Shanghai back in 1920s, and, interestingly, is also where the first KFC in Shanghai was located. The current decor is all dark leather and dark wood, with an impressive 34-meter-long bar that was reconstructed exactly according to old photographs. Take the time to soak up up the unique charms of this legendary space, but resist the temptation to overdose on oysters – you will need that stomach space for a latter part of the brunch.

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[Shanghai] Shari

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[Shanghai] Shari

Shari

Add: 630 Yongjia Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu / 永嘉路630号, 近乌鲁木齐路
Tel: 5466 0320
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 11:30am~2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm [Sat-Sun] 11:30am~2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Website: www.shari-shanghai.cn
Price: 150~250RMB/person
Visited on: Apr 2012

5 minutes before dinner, my friend called and said in an unsure voice, “I’m at the door, but this place doesn’t look like it serves sushi…” Indeed, the colonial villa in which Shari is situated in does not resemble a typical Japanese restaurant, but no one has ever decided that sushi rolls can only be served in tatami-floorered rooms, right?

We started with an assorted appetizer plate (98 RMB), which included shari tofu (Japanese tofu mixed with mascarpone cheese), umani (Japanese traditional stewed clam), kamonegi (roasted duck and fried scallions with balsamic), tomato with avocado, onsen tamago (half-boiled egg with miso jelly), and nanbanzuke (fried white fish marinated in sweet vinegar sauce).

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[Shanghai] Le Petit Franck

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[Shanghai] Le Petit Franck

Le Petit Franck

Add: 374 Wukang Rd, near Hunan Rd / 武康路374号，近湖南路
Tel: 64331213
Hours: 11am~1am (open daily)
Price: [snacks] 15~60RMB [plates] 50~170RMB [drinks] 25~180RMB
Website: www.franck.com.cn
Visited: May 2012

In weather like this, sitting outdoor while sipping a glass of rosé at dusk is almost mandatory. That’s how I found myself on a late afternoon just a few days ago, out on the charming (and much coveted) patio of Le Petit Franck in Ferguson Lane. Wine, simple snacks, evening breeze, warm glow, buzzing conversations. It’s quite perfect.

A glass of rosé (45RMB/glass), Chateau du Puget, Cote de Provence 2009.

Terrine de Campagne (80RMB), house terrine served with salad, bread, and some pickled olives and cornichon.

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[Shanghai] Afternoon Tea at The Langham XTD

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[Shanghai] Afternoon Tea at The Langham XTD

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Cachet at The Langham XTD

Add: 99 Madang Lu, near Taicang Lu / 马当路99号1楼, 近太仓路
Tel: 2330 2288
Hours: 6:30am~10pm [afternoon tea] 2:30~5:00
Website: xintiandi.langhamhotels.com
Price: [afternoon tea] 280~350 RMB/set
Visited on: 2012-03

After sampling afternoon tea sets at so many hotels in Shanghai, I think I’m just about done. There was, however, one last hotel that I wanted to try, and that is the Langham Xintiandi. I’ve heard good and bad things about the Tiffin Afternoon Tea served at its Cachet Lobby Lounge, and what’s better than coming here and tasting it for myself?

Cachet Lobby Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows that span two stories, is a bright and airy space ideal for afternoon tea. The cherry on top? Live harp performance.

The tea-smelling set up at Langham reminds me of Smith & Hsu in Taipei. It’s an amusing and somewhat overwhelming experience to open bottles after bottles in an attempt to find the perfect blend. At the waitress’s recommendation, we settled with these two: The Langham Blend and Palm Court Exotic Blend.

The Langham Blend is, as the name suggests, the classic here. It’s a mix of first and second flush Assam, Darjeelings and Tippy Golden Orange Pekoe black teas that have been blended to create a refined and rounded flavor. The Palm Court Exotic Blend, on the other hand, is a blend of Chinese Fujian white tea with hibiscus flowers, rosehip peel and rose petals. I personally preferred the Langham Blend, though the girly girls might pick the Palm Court Exotic Blend for its pink hue. A fun detail is that tea at Langham comes with an hourglass, which guides you to steep the tea for exactly three minutes before pouring it.

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[Shanghai] Table No. 1 at The Waterhouse

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[Shanghai] Table No. 1 at The Waterhouse

Table No. 1

Address: 1-3 Maojiayuan Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu / 毛家園路1-3號1樓, 近中山南路
Tel: 6080 2918
Hours: 12~2:30pm, 6~10:30pm
Website: www.tableno-1.com
Price: [lunch] 178 RMB+15%/person, [dinner]300~500 RMB/person
Visited: Mar 2012 (visit 1, 2)

Please note that this was an arranged tasting.

I love Table No. 1 in daylight, but it is even more charming after dark. With candles lit on every table, this minimally decorated dining room becomes quite a romantic spot, and whether you are here for a date (choose a window seat) or a friendly gathering (choose a communal table), this place will not disappoint.

Our table looked into the interior courtyard, across which we could see some actions from the kitchen.

There’s also a semi-private room available for those looking for more seclusion.

I started the meal with a Dirty Lychee Martini (80 RMB), muddled lychee fruits shaken with lychee liqueur and Absolut raspberry vodka, while my friend went for TN1. Mojito (80 RMB), muddled mint leaves and lime mixed with Havana Blanco rum and topped with soda. Thumbs up to both.

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[Shanghai] Beluga & Caviar Tasting at 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo

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[Shanghai] Beluga & Caviar Tasting at 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo

8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

Add: 6-7/F, 169 Yuanmingyuan Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu / 圆明园路169号6－7楼, 近北京东路
Tel: 6087 2890
Hours: [restaurant] 6pm~12am [bar] 4pm~late
Website: www.ottoemezzobombana.com
Price: 600 RMB+/person
Visited on: Mar 2012

Spent the afternoon at 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA for a Beluga vodka and caviar tasting. Royal Kaluga Caviar by the spoonfuls, Beluga Vodka Gold Line shots, followed by delicious canapés adorned with Imperial Caviar…life is not too bad after all.

What’s Beluga Vodka? Long story short – Russian natural malt spirit (meaning that it is fermented with natural enzymes, with no synthetic additives) undergoes filtration through quartz-sand for a 3-month period, then matured in resting tanks for around 30 days to refine its structure and taste. Check their website for more info.

Their premium line – Beluga Gold Line – is really la crème de la crème. It has a limited edition due to more complicated and prolonged production process, and each bottle has an individual number as a stamp of uniqueness and quality of the product. A shot of this smooth vodka with spoonfuls of Royal Kaluga Caviar from Holland & Wilde…perfect.

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