Results tagged “italian”

In Shanghai there are two types of Italian restaurants that really should be judged separately from each other. There are the ones with actual Europeans somewhere at the helm, which feature different primi and secondi piattis, huge wine lists and tend to leave you about 500RMB lighter (per person) at the end of the night. Then there are the ones not run by Europeans, with dishes that are just... different. Not to knock different, it's the same way Chinese dishes in Italy taste different, even if they're tasty. Aura is one of the latter.

The perennial search for good pizza continues … from this side of Huangpu River. Finding good pizza in Shanghai, or anywhere in China, is like being in a Western movie. You’d have tried and seen it all - the good, the bad … and the kind that tastes like melted plastic.

Right when we walked into Issimo, the classy new Italian restaurant at the Jia boutique hotel, we wanted to fall in love with the place. Dressed in brick and wood and adorned with dark leather furniture, Issimo seduced us with its warm beauty. The staff seemed to be in on the game as well, lining up near the large and lively open kitchen to greet us as we walked in.

And now a diversion away from the earthquake news. After playing around with the actual performance date, the Asphodèles Theatre Company from Lyon, France, will perform a unique show this Thursday at Fuzhou Rd's Tianchan Yifu Theatre. Under the tag "Harlequin's trip to China," the show is part of the French and Chinese Cultural Festival called "Croisements."

The title of "Best pizza in Shanghai" is a hotly contested one that frequently sparks passionate debates, not least within Shanghaiist towers, and these days, it's a crowded field in Shanghai, with a number of restaurants jostling for position. However, in this correspondent's humble opinion, Pizza e Pasta might just pip the others to the post.

By Benjamin Cohen

It wasn't until we read this interview in Salon with Jennifer 8. Lee (and that's not a typo, folks), New York Times journalist and author of the book The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, that we suddenly realized that it has been forever since we've had beef with broccoli or General Tso's chicken. We think it's because we haven't made room in our ordering agenda given the unbelievable amount of variety and selection in Shanghai in terms of Chinese food. The interview definitely wants to make us read the book as a way to cross-check and validate our experiences as a Chinese-American raised on American-Chinese food (go Panda Express!).

Way back in '04, when we were young(ish) and brazen, we declared that Da Marco on Yandang Lu had the best pizza in Shanghai. "I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life," is what we said. It was easier to be so sure-minded about pizza back then, because there were very few reasonable options Shanghai. Are there more now? We think so. But perhaps, after nearly six years, our definition of "reasonable pizza" has changed a bit.

The match is part of the Galaxy’s pre-season tour of East Asia and will also serve as a prelude to the start of the new domestic season in China later this month. Pre-season showpiece games aren’t usually noted for being particularly exciting, but then, for a lot of people, this match isn’t really about the football – it’s about catching a glimpse of David Beckham. As reported yesterday however, it’s still unclear whether the former England captain, currently marooned on 99 caps for his country, will be risked for the match given his history of injury problems since moving to LA last year.

The dire restaurant choices at Pudong Airport will get a boost when Terminal 2 opens on March 26.

Not that free jazz hasn't landed plenty of times already here in Shanghai, in fact all too often jazz bands that come through town are a bit too "free" for most audiences. But such is the nature of that beast called free jazz...it's certainly not for everyone. But in any case now it has begun to have its own regular performance by a locally-based group, so those of you who do like this unique musical genre can come support it. The group, called Blue koi collective, is led by Italian pianist Gabriel Meirano and performs every other Sunday night for the first set at JZ Club. That's starting from 9pm, and playing for about one hour. The group's next performance will be this coming Sunday, February 24, and after that the next one is March 9th.

The Italians are famous for their invention of romance and pizza. The Chinese are famous for expertly copying the Italians. And now along with Dolce and Prada, romance and pizza have been copied in time for Valentine's Day. Perusing the delivery menu of Deli Roma Pizza, you will be delighted to discover the 10" Love Pizza–heart-shaped and extra cheesy for 98 RMB (buy-one-get-one-free, in case you don't like sharing, also comes with chicken wings and 1.25 L of Pepsi or 7up).

This Italian delicatessen in the Old French Concession (Yongfu Rd) has been opened for a few months now, and manageress Alessia Vettore will not hesitate to open bottles and unpack fresh Italian cheese to seduce your palate. Even if supplies come in small quantities, the tiny place offers a wide range of “choice-quality traditional Italian products, including Modena balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, dressings, pasta, ready-to-serve sauces and creamy savouring toppings, wines, cheeses, cold cuts and confectionery.” Although a bit pricey (the cheapest – albeit delicious – wine is 175 RMB), this shop could satisfy a few food cravings, and it’s only a stone’s throw from LaBella Café and Yongfoo Elite restaurant.

Mediterraneo is really a restaurant rather than a bar, but we were curious to check the place out, having known Sunny and his various former work locations over the past few years. Food wise, prices are up there with Mount Everest, so any food critics wanting to drop in had better ensure someone else is picking up the tab. Drink prices are generally 'Bundish' or a tad more. Bottled beers start from RMB40, with a pint of Carlsberg costing a whopping RMB60. There are also wines by the glass from RMB48, most cocktails at RMB58, with martinis at RMB68. Standard spirits are mostly RMB40-45. There is, however, a 4-8pm happy hour during which all standard drinks, excluding wine and champagne, are half price. The extensive wine list (150+ labels) is weighted towards French and Italian vineyards. There is a spacious upstairs bar and lounge, suitable for functions, which is more low key than the super swish ground floor dining room. Decore in this lounge is actually rather tacky, including faux fire places. In warmer months, diners can enjoy the huge garden or the large upstairs terrace. The whole villa dates back to the 1920s and was one of the many properties owned by Soo Mei Ling (check). Mediterraneo was established a couple of years ago by Marziano Palli, who was briefly the personal chef for Mikhail Gorbachev (if that's any recommendation). Palli also owns and manages six restaurants in Russia. For special occasions and functions this place is worth considering, just remember to bring your gold credit card.

With Christmas just around the corner, there are plenty of parties to attend, plus more wine tastings and other opportunities to get thoroughly blotto. Here's what Winopete has heard about so far: Nov 29 Oriented Happy Hour at MoCA art gallery in People's Park. Please visit www.oriented.com for details. Nov 29-Dec 1 Italian wine exhibition at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre (Tongren and Yan'an Roads) hosted by the Institiute of Fine Italian Wine. No other details...

DONGPING ROAD: DOOMED OR REDISCOVERED? As some readers may know, the strip of Dongping Road on the south side from Hengshan to Yueyang Roads is leased to the bars, restaurants, tailors etc by the music college behind them. Most of the leases are coming up for renewal over the next 2-12 months.There has been some concern that the music college may decide to reclaim their land for their own expansion purposes, rather than renew the...

If you love pizza, pasta, risotto and the rest, then no doubt you've come across some shocking examples of pseudo-Italian cuisine in Shanghai. However, the experience of one Shanghaiist reader at Babela's Kitchen, the newest establishment in the Food Park on the corner of Beijing Lu and Jiangning Lu, was truly scary. "I found a shard of glass as big as my little finger in my risotto, after I'd already put it in my mouth....

Yet another diplomatic tussle looms large between Beijing and the Vatican in the days ahead. It all started when the Catholic News Agency sent out the following really short story a few days ago, alleging that the Bible is "among objects prohibited at the 2008 Beijing Olympics":

Organizers of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing have published a list of “prohibited objects” in the Olympic village where athletes will stay. To the surprise of many, Bibles are among the objects that will not be allowed.

Continue reading "Beijing slams Catholic News Agency for "blatant lie""

About 100 Chinese teachers are expected to arrive at state schools in the United Kingdom (yes, that haven of foreign language education) by next year, but schools which have already employed some of those teachers in their classrooms (which they described as "lovely") have already found problems, such as the following:

"Their lack of familiarity with the English system of discipline, target setting etc is a problem."

"They also tend to have different, perhaps unrealistic, expectations of pupils."

"Concerns are expressed about Chinese teachers' abilities to manage pupils, particularly whole classes or where there is a tendency for students to be disruptive."

It is official...the golden week has finally hit Shanghai, and it is hitting us hard, with a multitude of music festivals. So for those of you who are taking the vacation serious and drinking so much you can't think straight, Shanghaiist is here to do the thinking for you. Feel free to print and paste the sample itinerary listed below to that one pair of underwear you plan on wearing for the entire week.

Two Italian soldiers kidnapped in Afghanistan were freed on Monday during a raid by NATO-led troops.

September is quickly sliding into history, which means for all us music fans that the orgy of music festivals Shanghai will experience in the first weeks of October is almost upon us. And of course Shanghaiist is here to bring you the latest in festival news.....

5. Contribute to the building of a harmonious society.

Hardcore Public Enemy fans in China, don't attempt to kill yourself or your flat mate just yet. According to Beijing promoters, Public Enemy is not canceling their BJ Pop Festival appearance scheduled for the 8th of September. So put in your gold teeth, hang some bling around your neck and get your ass on a plane.

The problem with objectively trying to discuss food is that it’s an inherently subjective experience. Let’s face it; when it comes to eating out, everybody and their uncle has an opinion, and they inevitably polarize into two distinct groups: those who think ‘this place is great!’ and those who think ‘this place should be razed to the ground and sown with salt so that nothing can ever grow in this spot again.’ It makes discussion… difficult.

There have recently been whispers all across town that Enoteca is the hottest place for wine connoisseurs right now. We were willing to give hearsay a run for its money. So we turned up, yesterday to be precise.

Popular Italian sports and casual wear brand Paul & Shark launched their Spring/Summer 07 line across their 30 China stores with a beach themed bash in Hong Kong earlier this week.

From Photo District Online we found out that a recent Ogilvy & Mather advertising campaign for an unnamed Italian restaurant used a photograph of a crying child that seemed eerily similar to a series of photos by photographer Jill Greenberg (click here to see some of Greenberg's pictures).

An absolutely stunning 35-yard freekick from Shanghai Shenhua midfielder Xiao Zhanbo just three minutes from time was not enough to give his side victory in an East China derby match with CSL new boys Zhejiang Lvcheng.

Avril Lavigne’s new single, “Girlfriend” from her new album The Best Damn Thing is already a hit, currently sitting at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S. What makes Avril’s newest song unique is that she recorded an alternate version of the song partially sung in Chinese. In order to capitalize on her popularity in (East) Asia, she recorded the chorus of the song in Mandarin, as well as Japanese and five other European languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese. Hindi was attempted, but alas it proved too difficult for the Canadian singer. The chorus of the Chinese version is a direct translation from the English version of her song, which goes “I don’t like your girlfriend / You need a new one / I want to be your girlfriend / I know that you like me / It’s not a secret / I want to be your girlfriend”.