Spanish eatery El Willy at Bund 22 has just launched Menu No. 10, featuring killer chef's specials - from Willy and Chef Koen Vessies - the likes of Sexy Boston Lobster Snacks (118RMB, pictured below), kingfish and sea urchin tiradito in a smoked yellow chilli sauce (125RMB), and a 1kg lamb shoulder cooked on the el Willy BBQ and served with potato, peeled tomatoes and Jerez (448RMB). Delicious!
Further up the Bund, Jean Georges finally revealed a complete dining room and kitchen renovation that looks almost unrecognisable from its former decor and layout. The new space (pictured below) is much lighter and brighter with semi open kitchens and a small bar area. Keep an eye on our blog for details of the new menu shortly, and find out more about the man behind the brand in our interview here.
The Jingan Shangri-La has launched a great value lunch deal at 1515 WEST Chophouse, where you can take a 45 minute lunch challenge (hourglass included). For only 158RMB, you can choose two courses plus get a coffee or tea (or three courses at 198RMB). If the meal is not served within 45 minutes, you’ll get it free.
From the appetisers, the Southern fried chicken is a must-order, unless you’re trying to be healthy in which case the asparagus salad with a poached egg is pretty damn tasty too. From the mains, the grilled steak (on our visit, Cape Grim grass-fed beef) and the slow-cooked salmon are both plentiful and perfectly cooked. If you’re opting for dessert - we can vouch wholeheartedly for the hot chocolate fondant, the caramel crème brûlée and the strawberries and cream - and yes, we tried them all, what of it…
At Zhong Plaza (where we recently spotted hoardings for a new branch of Sproutworks and another naked Hub in the works), wonderfully fun bar and boozing hangout, Logan’s Punch has now started serving food from the folks behind BYFO hot sauces. Offerings range from bar snacks and share plates (including deep fried nacho cheese balls served with sour cream at 35RMB), to quesadillas (from 50RMB), burgers (from 60RMB) and pizzas (from 50RMB). There’s also a bunch of BYFO sauces available to spice things up.
While we're on the topic of pizza, Pizza Express (all branches) have just launched a new spring/summer menu lightening up offerings for the warmer months. Along with fresh new salads (including a delicious duck and orange salad at 53RMB, pictured below) and appetisers (including chicken wings at 48/68RMB), there’s a moreish Char Siu pizza (92RMB), with succulent chunks of char sui pork on a bechamel base with sesame and pineapple chutney. The inspiration for this unique combination came from Rahim Mohammed, the Greater China Product Development Director, who now associates the smell of char sui with memories of his grandmother and his childhood - awwww.
Another key dish hitting the new Pizza Express menu in Shanghai, and already a best-seller in Hong Kong branches, is the Lava Pizza (128RMB). The tomato base is topped with Parmesan, cherry tomatoes and olives, before being baked and topped with the vital ingredient: a heavy smattering of burrata (a ball of fresh mozzarella with a mozzarella and cream interior). Dessert wise, save room for The Big Bad Brownie (52RMB) - a happy combination of chocolate brownie chunks, vanilla ice cream, crushed Italian biscotti, pistachio, egg roll and caramel; all squished into a glass jar for your eating pleasure. Also, just a little FYI, all of the Pizza Express branches (except Xintiandi) have introduced a bottomless Hoegaarden beer deal for only 69RMB. That’s right; all you can drink beer for 69RMB per person. It almost rivals the killer deal at Indian buffet joint Rangoli!
Finally in online shopping news, Swiss Butchery has launched their WeChat store and are offering free delivery until this Friday 15 April to celebrate. Delivering to both Puxi and Pudong every day except Monday, all orders passed before 4.30pm will be delivered between 5.30-7.30pm the same day. Payment can be made via WeChat or on delivery. Follow them on WeChat for more information and to order - WeChat ID: SwissButchery (or check out their online store at www.swissbutchery.com). Currently on offer among the range of beef products are plentiful BBQ sets that you can order based on the number of people you’ll be cooking for. They’ll even rent you a BBQ if you don’t have one. Simple.