Social Supply’s home-grown food and drink festival returns this weekend with a killer line up of (mostly) Shanghai’s own all-star chefs and bartenders. At this instalment of FEAST, you’ll have the chance to check out offerings from super talented chefs while enjoying crafted cocktails from some of the city’s best bartenders. It’s all happening on the rooftop terrace of The Place in Huangpu, which means you get to chill out in an urban garden amidst some totally stunning views and stellar tunes.
On top of all that good stuff, the foodie fest will also host its first-ever, FEAST-style 'Iron Chef' competition, judged by four stellar personalities in the Shanghai community and presented by us here at Time Out Shanghai. Watch four of Shanghai's top chefs battle it out in the kitchen, armed with only their own knives, a few basic kitchen tools and a surprise selection of fresh ingredients provided by Sunshine Box.
Saturday (6 May) will see Beth Cosgrove vs. Simon Sunwoo at 2.30pm, followed by Julio Gomez vs. Pol Garcia at 4.30pm. The winners of these two rounds will enter a final face-off at 7pm on Sunday in a challenge that will determine who gets the bragging rights as Shanghai's own Iron Chef.
THE CHEFS
Beth Cosgrove
Alan Wong's Shanghai
Globe-trotting Chicaogoan Beth Cosgrove has been honing her culinary skills across Asia for over nine years. From a private club in Hong Kong to a Marco Pierre White-branded restaurant in Dubai, Cosgrove stacked up some serious kitchen experience before taking the reigns at Alan Wong's Shanghai.
Simon Sunwoo
Liquid Laundry and Cobra Lily
Head chef at sleek gastro-pub Liquid Laundry since early 2015, Simon Sunwoo's unique spin on American classics have become firm favourites in the Shanghai food scene. After the huge success of Liquid Laundry, the group has since opened sister restaurant Lil Laundry, Mexican joint Tepito and kooky pan-asian eatery Cobra Lily.
Julio Gomez
Tomatito
Julio Gomez has been a cookery maestro since he was 14 years old when he began experimenting in the kitchen with his brother and friends. No longer just cooking for fun, Gomez has been hitting serious chef goals in Shanghai for over 18 months, first bagging a job as sous-chef at El Willy before moving on to Chef de Cuisine at Tomatito.
Pol Garcia
Pop Secret
Cooking his way across the globe in prestigious restaurants such as London's Soho House and Barcelona's Lupino, Pol Garcia has worked with a string of Michelin-starred chefs along the way. Garcia's latest project Pop Secret combines art, music and live entertainment to create multi-sensory tasting experiences far removed from the traditional restaurant setting.
THE JUDGES
Morgan Skye Short
Managing Editor, SmartShanghai.com
Bio: 'To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal, light up a stage, wax a chump like a candle.'
What pop icon would you like to share a jianbing with?
'Hmmm. Pop icon. Jianbing. That’s one hell of a question, Time Out Magazine. And the answer is Zsa Zsa Gabor, of course.
'Just going with my gut instinct on it. I don’t know why. Thinking that answer is going to be tough to beat Maybe Judy Garland. Maybe Charo. Maybe Joni Mitchell. Maybe Gore Vidal. Maybe Patti LaBelle. Maybe Paul Lynde. Maybe Kate Bush. Yes. Any of those people. I’m easy with my jianbings.'
Favourite flavour of chewing gum?
'Favourite chewing gum flavour… Hmm. Well, of course, anyone who says anything other than “watermelon” is a liar and a reprobate and a degenerate and shouldn’t be trusted. So yeah: watermelon.'
You're tipsy (or totally bladdered, let's be honest). What's your go-to snack?
'Favourite tipsy snacks! Good Lord, Time Out Magazine! Well. Blood of the innocent. Flesh of the weak. (Poutine, obviously. With Zsa Zsa Gabor.)'
Camden Hauge
Co-Founder, SOCIAL SUPPLY and Owner-Operator, EGG
Bio After having recently dominated both a chicken wing eating contest and boxing match, Camden is ready to be on the other side of the judge's table to lay down the truth with our fine competitors.
What pop icon would you like to share a jianbing with?
'Anthony Bourdain, mostly to expand my vocabulary of "colorful language".'
Favourite flavour of chewing gum?
'Classic peppermint. Fruity gum makes no sense.'
You're tipsy (or totally bladdered, let's be honest). What's your go-to snack?
'Er Guang sesame wontons!'
Patricia de Lamare Costa
F&B and Bazaar Manager, KTGA (Kick The Gong Around)
Bio Crazy-cat-lady and F&B/Bazaar Manager, Paty has been part of Kick The Gong Around team (KTGA) since 2015 when she moved to Shanghai. She has ten years experience organising and running high profile events in London. Paty is also a qualified wine connoisseur having studied at WSET (Wines & Spirits Education Trust – London) and regularly runs private wine tasting events in Shanghai.
What pop icon would you like to share a jianbing with?
'Jim Morrison'
Favourite flavour of chewing gum?
'Cinnamon gum'
You're tipsy (or totally bladdered, let's be honest). What's your go-to snack?
'Ramen!'
Michael Rinaldi
Social Media & Queer Editor, Time Out Shanghai
Bio Straight outta Bedford, crazy motherfucker named Michael / Here to judge your steaks, your salads and trifle – kindly contributed by in-house poet Adam Hopkins (Blog Editor, 2017)
What pop icon would you like to share a jianbing with?
'Jianbing are too precious to share, but I'd let Michelle Obama take a bite of my bing.'
Favourite flavour of chewing gum?
'Hubba Bubba Atomic Apple every time.'
You're tipsy (or totally bladdered, let's be honest). What's your go-to snack?
'Streetside chow fan is life, but really any kind of fried carb is fair game at 4am in the morning.'
FEAST is on The Place's rooftop on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 from midday to 8pm. Tickets are 80RMB per day at the door.
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