[Shanghai] Stiller’s Cooking School

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[Shanghai] Stiller’s Cooking School

Stiller’s Restaurant & Cooking School

Add: Bldg 13, 6-7/F, The Cool Docks, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu 老码头, 中山南路505号6-7楼
Tel: 6152 6501
Hours: email cookingschool@stillers-restaurant.cn for course schedule and time
Price: 420~650 RMB/class
Website: www.stillers-restaurant.cn
Visited: Nov 2011

I have known about Stiller’s Cooking School since the first time I dined at his restaurant, but it wasn’t until two weeks ago that I eventually signed up for a class. So how does haute cuisine actually work? Let’s find out.

Stiller’s cooking class is held on the 6th floor in an open kitchen gorgeous enough to make any housewife jealous. I arrived at 10:50am, greeted the chef, put on my apron (ours to keep), and carefully perused the recipes while waiting for my fellow classmates to trickle in. What’s on the menu? The theme of the class was “Stiller’s Autumn Set Menu” (650 RMB), and the recipes read foie gras, turbot, venison, and chocolate cake…looking good, looking very good.


The cookware and utensils, all glistening.

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[ShanghaiI] Kush

Categories restaurant
[ShanghaiI] Kush

Kush

Add: 98 Yanping Lu, near Xinzha Lu 延平路98号, 近新闸路
Tel: 5175 9822
Hours: 11am-10pm
Website: www.kush.sh
Price: [starters & salads] 36~59 RMB [mains] 47~69 RMB [drinks] 30~60 RMB
Visited: Nov 2011

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

After a most gratifying but artery-clogging meal at Kota’s Kitchen, I sought respite at Kush (“happiness” in Sanskrit), a vegetarian cafe serving light-hearted dishes. Lentil burgers, vegetarian pastas, hummus wraps, green smoothies…the dishes here can be hit or miss, but we all need a clean meal like this once in a while.

The place is small, with only 4 tables available. The decor is simple and light: blonde wood, white tabletops, and a scroll of The Heart Sutra hanging on the wall.

Numb from the freezing weather, I skipped the cold appetizers and went right into the hot dishes. I really enjoyed the Lentil Burger (59 RMB), complete with greens, sun-dried tomatoes, chives, walnuts, corn, avocado slices, fresh tomatoes, and pesto on toasted buns. It’s a wonder how meatless burgers can taste this good.

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[Shanghai] Urbn Hotel

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[Shanghai] Urbn Hotel

Urbn Hotel

Add: 183 Jiaozhou Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu 膠州路183號, 近北京西路
Tel: 5172 1300
Website: www.urbnhotels.com
Visited: Nov 2011

After lunch at Downstairs, I got a quick tour of the penthouse suite at the Urbn Hotel, a sustainable project developed from a renovated factory warehouse. The hotel’s interiors are made with 100% local sourced and recycled materials, and energy-efficient technologies and heating and cooling systems are installed throughout the establishment. Here are some snapshots, starting with the reception area:

The back wall is constructed from 25 suitcases, all collected from the Dongtai Lu antiques market. What’s the story behind each suitcase? Makes you wonder.


And the penthouse suite:

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[Shanghai] Goga (2)

Categories restaurant
[Shanghai] Goga (2)

Goga

Add: 1 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu 岳阳路1号, 近东平路
Tel: 6431 9700
Hours: 6:30-10:30pm
Prices: 300~350 RMB/person (without wine)
Visited on: Nov 2011 (visit 1)

Another casual dinner at the small but delicious Goga, and this time I made sure to reserve a bar seat where I could see the open kitchen in full action. Alas Brad Turley wasn’t there that evening, but it’s good to know that his staff is able to manage the place without his presence.

We started the meal with something we haven’t tasted before – Sizzling Kampachi Sashimi (95 RMB) with fresh yuzu, white soy, and white truffle. A few irresistible slices of kampachi resting a a puddle of white soy and white truffle, delicious.

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[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA

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[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA

The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA

Add: 55F, The Ritz-Carlton Pudong,  8 Century Avenue 世纪大道8号浦东丽思卡尔顿酒店55楼
Tel: 2020 1888
Hours: 9:30am-10pm
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/shanghaipudong
Price: Signature Jade Qi Yun Treatment 1,200 RMB + 15%
Visited: Nov 2011

What does it take to be included in “Conde Nast Traveler Hot List Spas 2011“? Let’s find out by visiting The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA, the one and only spa in Shanghai that made the list.

The decor at ESPA is clean and modern with crisp lines, dramatic angles, and Art Deco finishings. The entire place is done in white, but soft yellow lighting makes the space warm and welcoming.

At the reception, a pot of soothing tea and a simple questionnaire.

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[Shanghai] Cuivre

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[Shanghai] Cuivre

Cuivre

Add: 1502 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu 淮海中路1502号, 近乌鲁木齐路
Tel: 6437 4219
Hours: [daily] 6-10:30pm [weekend brunch] 11:30am-2:30pm
Website: www.cuivre.cn
Price: [dinner] 250~350 RMB/person [brunch] 188 RMB/set
Visited: Nov 2011

It’s hard to not notice the warm glow exuding from Cuivre’s windows if you pass by its storefront. This upscale French bistro, adorned with copper coils (very approrpiate given the name Cuivre, “copper” in French), leather chairs, woven wood/bamboo light fixtures, is a welcoming and slightly quirky place. Fill the space with Michael Wendling’s straight-forward and delicious Southern French fare, and we’ve got a winning combination.

Bikes converted into bar seating? They don’t look very comfortable.


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[Shanghai] Hof (2)

Categories shanghai
[Shanghai] Hof (2)

Hof

Add: 30 Sinan Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu 思南路30号, 近淮海中路
Tel: 6093 2058 / 6093 2052
Hours: [Tue-Thu] 11am-midnight [Fri-Sun] 11am-1am
Price: [cakes] 30~42 RMB [truffles] 10-13 RMB [wine] 38-55 RMB/glass
Visited: Nov 2011

Hof is old news, but its selection of chocolate desserts never fails to draw a steady crowd.

I arrived at 2pm sharp to claim my reservation, and was luckily given the innermost sofa seats.

The two of us went a little crazy and ordered 4 cakes and 3 chocolate truffles…but you can’t blame us, everything looked too alluring. And yes, we finished ’em all. Mmhmm.


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[Shanghai] Red Town 紅坊

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[Shanghai] Red Town 紅坊

Red Town 紅坊國際文化藝術社區

Add: 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Kaixuan Lu 淮海西路570号, 近凯旋路
Tel: 6281 7382
Website: www.redtown570.com
Visited: Nov 2011

If you are looking for an outdoor hangout to enjoy the fleeting Shanghai fall weather, try Red Town. This creative zone has a grassy central area, some very interesting free-standing sculptures, and a collection of cafes, gift shops, and offices. What you can find here: Shanghai Sculpture Space, MAO Live House, BECA Cafe & Bar, Minsheng Art Museum, JOYCE Warehouse, etc. Worth exploring.

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[Shanghai] Vienna Cafe

Categories shanghai
[Shanghai] Vienna Cafe

Vienna Cafe

Add: 25 Shaoxing Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu / 绍兴路25号，近瑞金二路
Tel: 6445 2131
Hours: 8am-8pm
Website: www.viennashanghai.com
Price: [coffee] 25~40 RMB [cakes] 20~45 RMB
Visited: Nov 2011

Vienna Cafe is old news. This cozy little place has been around since 2004, attracting coffee drinkers with its dark wooden decor, marbled tabletops, warm lighting, and a lovely sunroom that’s perfect for lazy afternoons.


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