Domaines Barons de Rothschild-Lafite Dinner at Jade on 36

(Shanghai - February 28, 2007) - How do you take an already incredible dining experience at Jade on 36 to another level? Invite the CEO of one of the world's most well-known wineries and throw a tasting dinner in his honor.

The quality of Château Lafite Rothschild needs no introduction. Situated in the great wine-producing village of Pauillac in the Médoc region to the north-west of Bordeaux, the estate has been occupied since at least the 14th century. Owner of Château Lafite Rothschild for five generations, the Rothschild family has been based in this Bordeaux vineyard since 1868.

And through numerous acquisitions, including Château Duhart-Milon, Château Rieussec, Château l’Evangile, Château Paradis Casseuil, Château Peyre-Lebade, the Chalone Group, and Vina Los Vascos in Chile, the winery is poised to maintain its position for at least another 700 or so years.

Starting at 7pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Summergate Wines has arranged a night of delicious food and wine, along with one of the finest views in Shanghai. After dinner, Rothschild-Lafite's CEO , Chirstopher Salin, will briefly speak about the winery and answer questions from the audience.

For 2,488 RMB, you'll get to sample the following vintages paired with dinner:

• 2005 Legende AOC Bordeaux Blanc
• 2004 Chateau d'Aussieres, Languedoc
• 2004 Los Vascos Grande Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
• 2003 AOC Legende Pauillac
• 1983 & 1990 Chateau Lafite
• 1998 Chateau Riuessec
• Reserve Speciale Lafite Cognac

For more information, contact Mariel Meyer at Summergate by phone 6329 4433 x. 109 or email mariel.meyer@summergate.com.

What does $25,000 buy you these days?

(Bangkok - February 12, 2007) What do you do if you've got an extra US$25,000 laying around, while at the same time battling the munchies?

Head to Bangkok and grab a once-in-a-lifetime meal at the lebua at State Tower Luxury Hotel with 39 other “Epicurean Masters of the World.” (that is, until the first US$100,000 meal is announced)...

Last Saturday evening, a 10-course menu was prepared by six world-class chefs and featured some of the world’s rarest wines (you didn't expect MD 20/20 did you?), all for a tidy sum.

For 25 big ones, you could have feasted on the following:

1st course:

• Creme brulee of foie gras with Tonga beans
• 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal
• Prepared by: Alain Soliveres from Taillevent in Paris, France

2nd course:

• Tartare of Kobe beef with Imperial Beluga caviar and Belon oysters
• 1995 Krug Clos du Mesnil
• Prepared by: Antoine Westermann from Le Buerhiesel in Strasbourg, France

3rd course:

• Mousseline of “pattes rouges” crayfish with morel mushroom infusion
• 2000 Corton-Charlemagne, Domaine Jean François Coche-Dury
• Prepared by: Alain Soliveres from Taillevent

4th course:

• “Tarte fine” with scallops and black truffles
• 1996 Le Montrachet, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
• Prepared by: Antoine Westermann from Le Buerhiesel

5th course:

• Brittany Lobster “Osso Bucco”
• 1985 Romanee-Conti, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
• Prepared by: Jean-Michel Lorain from La Cote Saint Jacques in Joigny, France

6th course:

• Ravioli with guinea fowl and burrata cheese with a veal and truffle sauce
• 1961 Chateau Palmer
• Prepared by: Annie Feolde from Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, Italy

7th course:

• Saddle of lamb “Leonel”
• 1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
• Prepared by: Marc Meneau from L’Esperance in Vezelay, France

8th course:

• Sorbet “Dom Perignon”
• Supreme of pigeon en croute with cepes mushroom sauce and cipollotti
• 1961 Chateau Haut-Brion
• Prepared by: Heinz Winkler from Residenz Heinz Winkler in Aschau, German

9th course:

• Veal cheeks with Perigord truffles
• 1955 Chateau Latour
• Prepared by: Heinz Winkler from Residenz Heinz Winkler

10th course:

• Imperial gingerbread pyramid with caramel and salted butter ice-cream
• 1967 Chateau d’Yquem
• Prepared by: Jean-Michel Lorain from La Cote Saint Jacques

Ladies and Gentlemen, please remember tax and gratuity are not included with the price of your dinner, so please tip accordingly.

And who said the Cupola was expensive?

Trader Vic's Hits the Shores of Shanghai

(Shanghai - February 10, 2007) The world-famous Trader Vic's has opened its doors in Shanghai, just around the corner from Thai Gallery.

For those of you unfamiliar with Trader Vic's, think upscale South-Pacific beach bar/restaurant, with prices to match. Legend has it that the founder of Trader Vic's created the Mai Tai - a delectable concoction of rums, pineapple juice, sweet and sour mix, and a few other ingredients.

From now through March 18th, enjoy a 20% discount on food only (valid for lunch and dinner) by printing this coupon.

Trader Vic's
Address: 598 Fengyang Lu (by Nanjing Xi Lu)
Phone: 5228 3882
Cards Accepted: All Major
Nearest Metro: Middle Henan Road

New year, new yè shanghai in new Shanghai

(Shanghai - January 23, 2007) Shanghai culinary icon yè shanghai is crossing the river to the bright lights of Pudong for the New Year – and taking on a jazzy new look.

The newest yè shanghai is a reflection of the bold, energetic spirit of the new Shanghai, a sleek complement to the retro-glam of its famous sister restaurant in Xintiandi. yè shanghai Pudong has an elegant, contemporary look very much in fitting with its futuristic surroundings among Lujiazui’s stand of 21st century skyscrapers.

Located right on the Huangpu River in the landmark Citigroup Building, yè shanghai’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer picture-postcard views of the historic Bund and busy river traffic. Clean lines and black and white dominate the space, which is animated with splashes of mango and lavender. Despite its contemporary look, the new yè shanghai – like Shanghai itself – has its roots firmly in China. Its glossy walls of lacquered bamboo reflect the neon energy of the river and the sophisticated glow of the Bund; classic Ming-style wooden cabinets dot the room; waiters and waitresses glide by in uniforms reminiscent of the golden age of Shanghai dining.

The cuisine is the same yè shanghai food that has wowed customers and critics in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo – distinctive interpretations of classic Shanghai dishes and the cuisines of the surrounding provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. The techniques are age-old, but their interpretations are contemporary. yè shanghai fans will find all their old favourites in this sophisticated new setting: fried whole king prawns with XO chili sauce; double boiled superior sharks’ fin consommé with whole chicken and jinhua ham; sautéed minced chicken with pine nuts served with sesame pastry pockets; sautéed beef short ribs with black and green peppercorn sauce; steamed dumplings and a host of other delectable dishes.

Each of yè shanghai’s distinctive private rooms offers spectacular views of the river and the Bund, and can be configured to include pre-dining function space, if required. Climate-controlled wine towers hold a connoisseur’s selection of wines from both Old and New Worlds, and a special selection of Shaoxing rice wines are on offer as well.

“The addition of the new yè shanghai in Pudong completes intellectually the concept of Shanghai as a celebration of both classic sophistication and cutting edge dynamism,” says Paul Hsu, managing director of elite concepts, the successful restaurant group that created yè shanghai. “People in Shanghai sometimes want to explore their city’s past, and sometimes they want to focus on the future – but they always want to enjoy Shanghai’s delicious classic food. Now they have a choice of two yè shanghai restaurants, depending on their mood – and of course, on which side of the Huangpu River they find themselves on.”

yè shanghai
Address: 3/F, Citigroup Tower, 33 Huayuan Shiqiao Lu (Pudong)
Phone: 5878 5660
Cards Accepted: All Major
Nearest Metro: Lujiazui

Say it ain't so, Eduardo! 239 unexpectedly closes.

(Shanghai - January 19, 2007) - Shanghai lost a star earlier this month, when Eduardo Vargas' popular 239 Restaurant on Shimen Yi Lu was forced to close its doors unexpectedly.

It seems 239's landlord wanted to cash in on the sudden property value appreciation as a result of the residential complex going up next to the Four Seasons Hotel just down the street. And to help expedite the eviction process, the building suddenly began experiencing "perfectly-timed" power shortages to make life uncomfortable for both restaurant employees and diners.

It is unknown whether or not 239 will find a new place to call home - but if it does, it is unlikely to keep the name (which doubled as the actual address). One thing is for sure, Eduardo is already planning to do something, somewhere that will ease our minds and palates. Stay tuned for more details.

The Bird is the Wird

(Shanghai - November 10, 2006) - The fourth Thursday of November is right around the corner - so all of you Yankees know what that means..... turkey, turkey and more turkey. However, the typical Shanghainese turkey lover faces one of two problems come Thanksgiving. Either:

1. we don't have an oven in our house (no, a combo microwave/convection oven ain't gonna cut it); or
2. the oven we do have is big enough to maybe cook a 3kg whole chicken, but nothing larger.

Cutting up a raw turkey and cooking it in pieces throughout the day is simply not an option.

Come Turkey Day, there's nothing quite like sitting down with family and friends, having a whole bird on the table with all the trimmings and carving it yourself. Then filling up your plate with some of the bird, along with homemade stuffing, steaming mashed potatoes and more veggies that you'd normally eat in one sitting.

San Francisco Steak House (with locations in Pudong & Hongqiao) is going to try and make a difference for those of you who will be in Shanghai this Thanksgiving, but don't want to go out to a restaurant and eat with complete strangers. They are preparing complete sit down dinners with all the trimmings that you can pick up and enjoy in the comforts of home.

For 688RMB, you get:

• Oven-roasted whole turkey with gravy
• Turkey stuffing
• Green peas with carrots
• Steamed cauliflower & broccoli with cheese sauce
• Mashed potatoes
• Steamed sweet yams in brown sugar syrup
• Mixed green salad
• Dinner rolls
• Fresh cut seasonal fruit platter
• Home-made strawberry cheese cake

They are requesting that you place your order at least ONE WEEK prior to Thanksgiving, which means you have until next Thursday (November 16th) to order your bird.

For more information - or to place your order call:

San Francisco Steak House (Pudong): 5047 3377
San Francisco Steak House (Hongqiao): 6209 3377

The Best (new) Burger in Shanghai?

(Shanghai - November 9, 2006) - Although it's only been open a little more than one month, Gourmet Cafe is already becoming well-known around Shanghai for its mouth-watering burgers and other tasty sandwiches, including the Fowl Play (58RMB) - a chicken breast with cheddar cheese on crispy lettuce and bell peppers in a burger bun.

Some even say this newcomer dishes out the best burgers in town. With a selection of more than 25 gourmet burger creations like the Stand and D'Liver (with pan-fried foie gras), and The Don (with pancetta and pesto), there is bound to be something that tempts your taste buds. And if your thirst needs quenched, try their healthy (and delicious) smoothies.

If you find yourself in the middle of the hustle and bustle on Nanjing Xi Lu and want a break from the masses, Gourmet Cafe just might do the trick.

Gourmet Café
Address: 455 Shanxi Bei Lu (near Beijing Lu)
Phone: 5213 6885
Cards Accepted: All Major
Nearest Metro: Shimen Yi Lu