Results tagged “drink”

A few weeks after Chris St. Cavish's epic breakdown of Stardog, we revisited Channel One mall to see how things have progressed for Shanghai's pioneer in the field of Asian contemporary hot dogs.

Fans of China's roaring 50's and all its rosy cheeked proletariat propaganda may want to take a trip down to Shanghai Stadium to try 9 Che Jian (9车间). One of several restaurants that wrap around the rear of the stadium, this Sichuanese establishment decks itself out as a 1950's era Chinese factory; the name itself refers to a factory's internal segmented workshops. The place is quite a sight; huge windows stretch from its floor its very high ceiling, from which thick beams and industrial lights dangle. The wait staff wear factory overalls, socialist slogans pepper the walls (there's nothing like the words "unity is strength" to spur the appetite), and propaganda ditties blare incessantly from the overhead speakers. Oh, and a large statue of the esteemed Chairman Mao casts a serene look over all.

Before one even gets out of the taxi, it's fairly evident who the celebrity is on the small restaurant stretch of Guyang Lu. Ji Heng (吉亨), an undersized eatery specializing in Taiwan-style beef noodles, is the only place on the block with a line of fans queuing up outside the door.

Greek munching: The Fat Olive, another recent David Laris project, serves some pretty good food. It's just that there's not very much of it. We went there a couple of weeks back and became smitten with the burger, which is served open-faced on a pita that cushions the drizzling juice from the tender, glazed patty. The meat on the kebabs were big, succulent, with a hint of spice but overwhelming original in flavor. A basket of toasted pita and tangy tzatziki were able sidekicks. But as far as mains go, that's about it. The Fat Olive is more for imbibing than it is is for eating, what with that huge terrace and the glam view of Pudong. Snacking on some simple Greek offerings is probably the more operative term. Check it out.

The new Barbie flagship store aims to capture the attention of more than just those with blonde ambitions, and nowhere is this effort more apparent than the Barbie Cafe.

McDonalds ain't messing around with its China strategy. Having already spread out its home delivery service last year, and then lowered prices for its popular items on the China menu two months ago, it's now announced plans for a major hiring spree.

We really hope all this great weather we've been experiencing this past week is going to hold up until the end of May, because we plan to be spending the entire weekend of May 29-30 outdoors at the Lujiazui Central Green for the inaugural Foodelicious, a food and wine event that aims to be the signature culinary event for all of Shanghai. From the press release:

Issimo does lunch: The popular high-end Italian restaurant inside the JIA hotel is offering a lunch set dubbed 'Expressimo,' promising to get diners in and out within 45 minutes of ordering. 88 RMB (plus service charge of 15%) will get you a small salad, a pizza or pasta, and coffee. We love dining at Issimo, and this lunch set would be very seductive if only the pizzas were just as good during the day as they are in the evening. Hopefully, they'll get there before the deal ends at the beginning of May.

Taiwanese food in downtown Puxi has traditionally been the purview of second cousins Charmant and Bellagio. Somewhat ignored is Qian Qiu Shan Fang (千秋膳房) on Baoqing road, a few blocks down from Charmant. What it lacks in decor and vibe it more than makes up for with competent basics and great value for money.

On the eastern stretch of Guyang Lu, straddling the border between Gubei and Xuhui district, is a somewhat hidden block of Taiwanese and Japanese restaurants. We've tried a handful, all of them worth writing about it at a later date, but the standout for us so far is Yamatoya, which, while retaining some izakaya-ish features (there is a separate shochu bar and plenty of Japanese business folk talking shop), is popular because the food is pretty damn good.

It's almost as though Shanghai restaurateur Kelley Lee is reading our mind. First she opens Shanghai's best Mexican place, Cantina Agave, a short stroll from Shanghaiist headquarters (and she always has the flat screen tuned into classic NBA games). And now, we learn (from her) that she is opening a Boxing Cat Brewery almost next door to us. (If next Kelley takes over the Iranian consulate building and turns it into an art house movie theater, the wife may start to get suspicious.)

Christopher St. Cavish reports that superstar chef Jereme Leung is out at Whampoa Club, the restaurant he helped found. Cavish also says David Laris is now acting as a consultant to the restaurant that bears his name. Meanwhile — and this should be classified as gossip for now — a source on the Bund recently told us that days could be numbered for several of the tenants of the former Union Building. Stay tuned.

                                                 

A nice crowd of beer lovers gathered at Southern Barbarian on Saturday afternoon to ... well ... drink beer. Very good beer. And eat food. Very good food. Mission accomplished. For attendees who left with minds foggy thanks to the strong beers, these photos should jog your memory. Yes, you did drink that much.

Around three hours until our craft beer tasting at Southern Barbarian. Plenty of time to take in "A Better Brew: The rise of extreme beer," Burkhard Bilger's story in the latest New Yorker. That should get you in the mood. See you soon.

Shanghaiist and Cotton's are teaming up to throw a Christmas party on Saturday, December 20 at the new Cotton's on Xinhua Lu. We'll have many more details very soon. But you can rest assured you'll be able to have your photo taken with Santa.

Updating yesterday's list of Lucky Draw prizes for Saturday's beer tasting at Southern Barbarian, Sherpa's has generously offered RMB 500 in vouchers as a prize. See you Saturday. Come thirsty.

Our big beer event at Southern Barbarian this weekend is just a few days away, so it's time to give you a few more details. Below you will find a complete list of the beers on offer for unlimited tastings. But first, let's run down the event's lucky draw prizes (everyone who attends will automatically be entered into the drawing):

SH mag food guru Chris St. Cavish somehow got his hands on two free passes to the Shanghaiist beer tasting at Southern Barbarian. Check out his latest column for details on how you can win a ticket from SH. (And everyone loves a good sandwich joke. Those never get old.)

Sorry for posting about a Saturday event so late on Friday, but we spent all day looking for an Australian slang version of "craic." We're still looking. Anyway, if you're looking for a live sporting event that doesn't involve rackets and famous people, you might want to head out to the British International School's Nanxiang campus tomorrow:

Enjoy an autumn afternoon tasting world-class American craft brews.

                                                                 

Thanks to the couple hundred people who attended our Election Hangover get-together last night at Sasha's, co-hosted by American Craft Beer Partners. It was a great end to a wonderful day (unless, of course, you wanted the other guy to win).

Looks like many (most?) of us will have reason to celebrate tonight at Election Hangover. We'll be on the third floor of Sasha's (11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu, 东平路11号, 近衡山路) from 7 pm onwards. Drinks are half price including these fine beers from American Craft Beer Partners: Kona Longboard (from Obama's Hawaii), Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn IPA, and Rogue American Amber Ale. (If you drink enough, perhaps Pennsylvania will begin to take its proper shape on this map.)

It's almost over! By Wednesday evening — assuming there are no hanging chads — we should know who the next leader of the free world will be. And, either way, there will be reason to drink. Some will want to celebrate ... others will want to drown their sorrows ... and many will just be relieved the damn U.S. election is finally done and dusted. And all of them — be they Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Socialists, Communists, Whigs, Tories or just thirsty — are welcome to attend Election Hangover on the 3rd floor at Sasha's (11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu, 东平路11号, 近衡山路), an extended happy hour presented by Shanghaiist.com and American Craft Beer Partners on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 7 to 11 pm. Drinks, including ACB's fine American microbrews, are half price ... political discourse is free.

UPDATE: The best costumes for the evening will be awarded great prizes from Sherpa's! 1,000 RMB will go to the top male and female costumes, and the runners-up will get a case of Brooklyn Lager! Start getting your costumes ready today! (More details here.)

"I don’t know what La Bella’s space will become afterwards—surely it will still be some kind of French Concession-esque bar/cafe where young urban hipsters and professionals hang out. Whether or not that sense of community will transfer or can be quickly rebuilt is another matter entirely." We wish Isabella all the best. [Source]

We just got off the phone with a very upset American Steak & Eggs employee who confirmed the diner's forced closure until August 6. They said it was because the teams playing in the USA Basketball International Challenge are training in Jing'an Stadium, which houses the restaurant. "There's lots of security outside right now," she said. "It's really bad." She said Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, also in the building, was also forced to close. This is all quite strange to us — wouldn't the members of Team USA, who we hear are staying at the Portman Ritz-Carlton next door, enjoy some American steak and eggs? Also read: Tongren Lu to close for the Olympics?

Direct from SmartShanghai's newly spruced up website comes this piece of bar news: "The British Bulldog ... has completed their renovations and is (soft) open for your drinking needs. Apparently these renovations were quite intense with a new second floor terrace, a new DJ booth, and sports relegated to their third floor with a private viewing room for you and your 'mates.'" SmSh also reports (in The Wire, which you can't link to directly for some reason?) that a big U.S. Independence Day party is planned. (The Brits celebrate it too you know: good riddance!) Perhaps we'll reserve judgment on why our favourite sports bar is trying to banish the footy upstairs until then. No answer on their "Dog and Bone", so if you head down to the Bulldog before July 4th, you do so at your own risk.

It's perfect BBQ weather! As we're sure you've all heard, tonight's the night for the Shanghaiist Benefit for Sichuan’s Earthquake Victims at Sasha's. Word travels fast in Shanghai and some people have received the benefit announcement from five different sources!

Set back from the junction of XinLe Lu and XiangYang Lu, opposite a blue-domed Russian Orthodox Church stands the Mansion Hotel.

Perched high up in a pod between the two terminals of Pudong airport, the hotel bar for both Motel 168 and it's sibling Ease Hotel. The cool design and eighth floor view is worth a look for anyone waiting for a delays, alcoholic plane spotters or location scouts for 1970s Bond movies.