Delicacies

Local delicacies: Shanghai and Hong Kong

By Li Xingzhu and Donna Mah (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-17 18:30

Shanghai

The Bund has always been the premier location for high-end restaurants in Shanghai, and many international restaurateurs have taken advantage of this and prospered.

The owners of Shook! Shanghai are no exceptions. Their restaurant enjoys the company of history and the established reputation of a Shanghai icon, the Peace Hotel, now refurbished and re-opened as the Swatch Art Peace Hotel.

The original, a landmark along Nanjing Lu, was built in 1906, where it has overlooked the Huangpu River and Pudong skyline through both turbulent and opulent times.

Shook! is owned by YTL Hotels, an international chain of full service hotels based in Malaysia, and it was through the persuasion of one diner who ate at its Kuala Lumpur restaurant that the idea of coming to Shanghai was mooted.

That diner was the global president of the Swatch Group, and he talked YTL into starting a similar eatery at the Peace Hotel.

Shook! Shanghai mixes Chinese and colonial traditions, using rich textures and sumptuous fabrics to create a style that is distinctively Chinoiserie.

Lining both walls of the entrance hall are wine cellars with some of the best vintages from around the world. Rare Bordeaux such as Chateau Cheval Blanc and the celebratory Chateau d'Yquem are all available and vintages range from 1945 to 2010.

Unlike most restaurants that cordon off the kitchen area, Shook! Shanghai showcases the open kitchen by the side of the main dinning room.

The restaurant features four distinct cuisines with seasonal trends and boasts an adventurous journey of East and West, from Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asia to modern Western.

Among some truly delightful dishes are snow-white dancing prawn and Cajun-style sea bass. A stir-fried prawn with hot mayonnaise topped with honey-glazed walnuts is served in a crystal cocktail glass while a sea bass lightly dusted with Cajun spices is served with pimento mayo, avocado cucumber salad and a twist of chili.

The chef's favorite main course is juicy slow-cooked grain-fed beef served with a goose-liver crust and truffle sauce.

Set meals are available in price ranges that range from 448 yuan to 795 yuan ($69-122) per person.

Hong Kong

Scones, clotted cream, rose-petal jam, cucumber sandwiches - these are what come to mind when people mention afternoon tea. Before I moved to Hong Kong, the idea of tea in the afternoon did not really exist for me. It was breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dinner eaten at 6 pm, so there really wasn't time for something like afternoon tea.

I now happily embrace the break - which is more a social event than a meal. It is a great way to spend a few hours catching up with friends, and a perfect way to just relax and chill. For some, it's also a great time to see and be seen.

By far the most popular afternoon tea venue in Hong Kong is The Peninsula hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Built in 1928, the ornate lobby of The Peninsula, with its neo-classical arches and elaborate gilded and sculpted ceilings, takes you to a different era. The classical string quartet plays from a balcony while you dine on three tiers of scones with Devonshire clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches and mini-pastries, and sip your hot tea (or coffee).

It's sophisticated, it's indulgent, and it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon. The hotel doesn't take reservations, so you have to queue for a bit before being seated. Standing in line provides a great opportunity for you to people-watch and check out the other patrons who are definitely not wearing flip-flops and shorts. Tea for one is HK$278 ($35), plus 10 percent service charge, and HK$498 (plus 10 percent) for two.

For a designer tea, the Landmark Mandarin Oriental's MO Bar is serving a French champagne afternoon tea with Bo Bo from May 2-31. Bo Bo is Chinese luxury jewelry brand Qeelin's best-selling panda made with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

The tea set includes French pastries, savories with an Asian twist, a Bo Bo cupcake buffet, and of course, scones with your coffee or tea. All this, plus a glass of champagne and a special gift from Qeelin is HK$325 (plus 10 percent) per person.

For afternoon tea that feels like you're on top of the world, Cafe Gray on the 49th floor of the boutique hotel, The Upper House, is the perfect choice. With stunning views all around, the tea set here is a reasonable HK$185 (plus 10 percent) per person, or HK$345 (plus 10 percent) for two. The set with sweet and savory nibbles is beautifully presented on a three-tiered tray and served with your choice of coffee or specialty teas.