On September 8, Shang Palace will open at the dazzling Shangri-La Hotel in Paris. Cantonese Chef Frank Xu will oversee a team of Hong Kong chefs in the first restaurant in Paris devoted to fine Cantonese dining. In fact, this is Shangri-La’s first gourmet Chinese restaurant in all of Europe. Easily one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year in Paris, Shang Palace is already causing a stir among the city’s exacting food critics, who were quickly smitten with L’Abeille (the hotel’s French gastronomic restaurant).
Showcasing seasonal produce, the 60-dish menu will include herb-based soups, made-to-order dim sum, and stir-fried Cantonese specialties. Highlights include Lo Hei Salmon, served sashimi style with shredded fruit, vegetables and minced jellyfish with sesame dressing; Braised Whole Abalone with Wild Mushrooms and Goose Foie Gras; and Poulet du Mendiant, or Beggar’s Chicken, roasted in a lotus leaf and clay crust (must be ordered 24 hours in advance). Not-to-be-missed: The two-course Whole Peking Duck, served first in crispy slices of skin with pancakes, and followed by wok-fried meat with lettuce. An extensive tea menu will complement these gastronomic dishes.
Comprised of three private dining rooms named for the Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties, Shang Palace has naturally found a home in what was once Prince Roland Bonaparte’s mansion, now morphed into the swank Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. Open Thursday to Monday for lunch and dinner. For reservations or more information, call (33 1) 5367 1998 or e-mail [email protected].