Futian District Archives

Nadagogo Japanese Restaurant Pre-Opening at Wyndham Grand Shenzhen

Step through the double doors on the right of the Wyndham’s Grand Kitchen and you will be greeted by a resounding chorus of ‘Irasshaimase!’ – ‘Welcome’ – to Nadagogo Japanese Restaurant.

Tastefully decorated to give an authentic Japanese feel, Nadagogo is unlike any other Japanese restaurant in Shenzhen. The opening ceremony was certainly an occasion to remember. The pièce de résistance was a 70 kilogram Yellowfin tuna, which was expertly prepared in front of a rapt audience. Costing roughly 30,000 RMB for the whole fish, this was an amazing treat for connoisseurs of exquisite foods.

The chef gave a running commentary on how the fish was being prepared and the uses of its different parts, one of which was for the sashimi course of the celebratory dinner. Dinner also included other delicacies such as slow cooked lobster with black truffle egg yolk paste, robata-yaki A5 Miyazaki Wagyu beef and minced shrimp wrapped with perilla leaf tempura.

In contrast to other Japanese restaurants which usually specialise in one type of cooking, there are five different cuisines and atmospheres in Nadagogo. Select your area depending on your mood and dining preference. Each section has its own specialty chefs ready to prepare your food as you order it.

Kushiyaki consists of grilled skewers of a variety of meats, vegetables and seafood, including the famous ‘yakitori’ – grilled skewered chicken Japanese style. You can choose to sit at the bar and watch the food being cooked, or sit at one of the tables and enjoy the friendly, relaxing ambiance.

For a more intimate experience, the teppanyaki room can seat up to ten people. You will enjoy your personal chef displaying his culinary skills on the iron hotplate that is ubiquitous with teppanyaki. Here you can share tastes of your favourite dishes – and perhaps try a few new flavours – with your friends, family or colleagues.

If a more formal dinner is required, such as for business meetings or special occasions, a special kaiseki menu is available in a private room. Here a more traditional Japanese style of cuisine is engaged. There will be several courses of haute cuisine and you can expect to see excellence in every detail.

Of course, no Japanese restaurant would be complete without fresh tempura, cooked to perfection while you watch at the bar. Sushi and sashimi is currently prepared behind the scenes, although in the future there will be a sushi counter for customers to enjoy the skills of the chefs up close.

Nadagogo also specialises in robatayaki – Japanese ‘fireside cooking’, similar to barbequing yet with that authentic Japanese style. Every dish is prepared with the utmost care as the chef carefully monitors the heat of the charcoal to bring out the best flavours of the food with the minimum of seasoning.

To accompany the sumptuous food is the best range of sake in Shenzhen. Nadagogo has roughly 130 varieties of sake in specialised dispensers, ready and waiting for you to try. This may seem a little daunting, especially if you know very little about sake; however, the restaurant sommelier is on hand to explain the different types and recommend pairings with particular dishes.

If you wish to try your hand at finding your perfect combination there are descriptions to accompany each bottle, along with a brown, green, blue or red character which indicates the main flavour. You simply have to top up the exclusive card at the cashier desk, insert it into one of the nine machines housing the sake and choose your desired beverage.

Top chefs from Japan, Hong Kong and mainland China, many of them having trained in Japan or at well-known Japanese restaurants, bring their talents to the table here. Nadagogo brings the perfect combination of Japanese cuisine and sake culture to Shenzhen.

Opening hours:

Lunch 11:30-15:00

Dinner 17:00-23:00

Address:

3rd Floor, Wyndham Grand Hotel, 2009 Caitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen

深圳温德姆至尊酒店三层,中国广东省深圳市福田区彩田路2009号

To reserve a table call: 0755-88398330

Wyndham Grand Kids Puppy Activity

The second season of the Wyndham Grand Kids Activity was a howling success. With a theme of puppy dogs plus scrumptious food, games and competitions, the children who attended had a ‘pawesome’ time!

There was even a real live puppy to greet the children as they arrived!

Puppy balloons surrounded the outdoor garden of the lobby lounge and decorated the tables. To top it off, a stage was set up at the front with a huge ‘Discover the Cutie Doggy moment’ display.

Exciting objects and gifts could be found on every table, including pots of modelling clay in a range of bright colours for the children to play with. Wyndham Grand mugs were carefully wrapped as an additional gift for the adults at the event, although some of the children were so excited they unwrapped those as well!

One of the competitions was for the best clay model made during the afternoon, which almost all of the children (and some of the parents!) took part in.

The models showed off some very creative skills and great imagination. Puppies, chicks, ladybirds and snails were just a few of the creations displayed for the competition – it was very difficult for the judges to decide the winners!

The prizes were giant soft toy dogs, ready and waiting for a new home. They found their new homes with a green dinosaur, a multi-coloured hedgehog and a lime with a tiny hedgehog and carrot on top.

Even the food was puppy themed. Doggy-licious desserts – some in the shape of the most popular dog breed in China, the Shar Pei – made a mouth-watering display.

Mini plant pots filled with sponge cake, crunchy flakes, fruit and chocolate, complete with a tiny spade; heart shaped chocolate truffles; all kinds of macaroons; puppy-shaped biscuits; mini waffle cones filled with fruit cream; chocolate, fruit and nut balls covered in purple chocolate; and frozen lime and pineapple-shaped desserts were a selection of the delights on offer.

The dessert display was completed by a pink chocolate fountain with marshmallows, jelly sweets and fruit skewers all ready to dip.

As for the main courses, every appetite was catered for. From finger sandwiches and BBQ chicken wings to kung bao chicken and sushi, an eclectic mix of Chinese and Western cuisines was on offer.

No kids’ activity would be complete without a ball pool, and the Wyndham Grand was no exception. Kids of all ages had a pawsitively fantastic time playing with the inflatables, balls and balloons.

The final competition was a ‘fetching’ game where the children had to find and retrieve small blue boxes. Each box contained a piece of paper with a number which could result in a prize – from small red puppies to giant 2m long soft, fluffy dogs all ready and waiting to be taken to their new home.

As usual the Wyndham Grand staff were ever present, helpful and involved with the event and the children.

Look out for the Third Season of the Wyndham Grand’s Kids Activity, coming early next year. An event definitely not to be missed!

Address: 3rd Floor, Wyndham Grand Hotel, 2009 Caitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen (深圳温德姆至尊酒店三层,中国广东省深圳市福田区彩田路2009号 )

Tel: +86 755 8299 8888 (EXT 8560)

Grand Halloween Tradition at the Wyndham

The Wyndham Grand, Futian, doesn’t do events by halves, and Halloween this year was no exception. The Grand Kitchen, the Wyndham’s buffet restaurant, was host to the Halloween Buffet Dinner. No word could be used to describe it other than ‘spectacular’.

As soon as the elevator doors opened on the third floor, you were greeted by Halloween decorations and spooky sounds. Cobwebs were draped over light fittings; staff were dressed in cloaks and witches hats, with the occasional addition of scars, vampire teeth or dripping blood; skeletons and skulls caught your eye in every direction.

The most remarkable aspect was the amount of effort that had obviously gone into the Halloween themed food. Even the bread was shaped like ghostly faces!

From 6pm to 9.30pm over 100 people came to spend Halloween eating sumptuous savouries and delectable desserts. Appetizers included a selection of Asian-style and Western-style salads, as well as ‘design-your-own’, sushi, sashimi and an array of imported seafood – the Grand Kitchen’s specialty.

Everything from New Zealand scallops to oysters from Iceland, Alaskan salmon to South American shrimp, was available for the guests’ delight.

At the opposite side of the restaurant, a wide variety of Asian and International dishes greeted guests.

Alongside the usual dishes such as beef brisket, braised noodles with seafood, fried sole fish with cream sauce, Chinese BBQ chicken and pork, and Guangdong-style soup, the food was accentuated by Halloween specials.

A ‘Terrorist Mummy’ of BBQ pork rib with sausage was the centrepiece, complete with ketchup blood, laid ready and waiting to feed hungry guests.

The pièce de résistance of the whole experience was – without a doubt – the desserts. This is where the Halloween theme really came alive – or undead! A human brain, a bleeding heart and a dismembered arm were proudly displayed, surrounded by tombstones, spiders and skulls.

Luckily they were filled with delightful flavours like chocolate cake with raspberry and cream filling, almond cake or Swiss roll. They looked so good people were almost afraid to eat them!

As well as these masterpieces there were over 30 different types of dessert, all designed and made by the bakery chef.

Eyeballs filled with chocolate truffle and nuts, honeycomb witch hat cupcakes, Halloween sugar cookies, sweet witch poisoned soup, 3D spider puffs, fruit tarts in mini white chocolate coffins and chocolate spiders were just a few of the petrifying puddings on offer.

The treats didn’t stop at food either. Free-flow soft drinks and beer were also included with the buffet, along with a complimentary glass of wine and exclusive Halloween mocktails.

Free face paint, stick on scars and wounds, hats and masks were provided for anyone who wanted to embrace their inner scariness.

To top off a spectacular evening, what Halloween celebration would be complete without a pumpkin carving competition!

Eight guests took their places in front of fresh pumpkins, ready and waiting for life to be carving into them. Two children joined in, although after a while it became clear that their parents were doing most of the work as the children decided to go elsewhere and play!

After intense concentration and hard work from the participants, the restaurant manager chose a winning pumpkin. All pumpkin carvers received a Wyndham Grand mug as a special gift and the winner also received an exclusive bottle of house wine. The decision was very difficult to make as a lot of thought and effort had gone into every Jack o’lantern.

This was the third consecutive year the Grand Kitchen has put on a special Halloween Buffet and Mask Party, ever since the Wyndham Grand opened in 2015. If you can’t wait until next October, the international seafood buffet is also available every day for lunch and dinner!

From Monday to Thursday the buffet is RMB268, and RMB318 between Friday and Sunday. All diners are also welcome to enjoy one complimentary glass of wine. Prices are subject to 10% service charge and 6% VAT.

Address: 3rd Floor, Wyndham Grand Hotel, 2009 Caitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen (深圳温德姆至尊酒店三层,中国广东省深圳市福田区彩田路2009号 )

Tel: +86 755 8299 8888 (EXT 8560)

Unlimited World Cup BBQ & Beer at the Wyndham Grand

The Wyndham Grand is a well-known international 5-star hotel. Open in Futian CBD, since January 2015, the Wyndham Grand never ceases to impress, and this summer is no exception. To celebrate the FIFA 2018 World Cup beginning on 14^th June, the Wyndham Grand is hosting a summer barbeque buffet with free-flow craft beer for the bargain price of RMB188 per person.

Situated in the picturesque outdoor garden of Vintage Bar on the ground floor, the barbeque buffet offer will begin on 13^th June and run until 15^th July when the World Cup ends. Matches will be shown live on televisions in the only outdoor hotel garden in Shenzhen. What better way to enjoy the game than with unlimited glasses of ice-cold craft beer and a never-ending plate of tasty barbeque food?

As well as free-flow craft beer or soft drinks, there is a delightful range of barbeque foods cooked fresh to order. Shrimp, squid, oyster and Japanese mackerel are the seafood delicacies you can sample, along with a variety of beef, lamb, chicken and pork barbeque dishes, all seasoned deliciously. If vegetables are more your style, try the barbeque corn-on-the-cob or roasted garlic eggplant. All of these dishes will be cooked as you order them to ensure the freshness of the food and that they are prepared to your requirements.

Before and between the matches there will be the opportunity to play games and win prizes. For every match you can predict who you think will win and each entry will have the chance to win a voucher for RMB500 that can be spent in any of the Wyndham Grand’s bars or restaurants. Whoever predicts the winner of the final will be in with a chance to win RMB3000 voucher plus free-flow beer at Vintage Bar until the end of 2018! A fantastic prize, by any standard. In addition, there will be smaller prizes on offer for customers who score a goal in the Wyndham Grand mini-goal.

Director of Food and Beverage from the Wyndham Grand, Shenzhen, Roy Huang has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years and joined this hotel about 2 years ago. He shared with us his aim is to have the best outdoor bar in Futian CBD, and he understands that the key element is staff. To that end, all new staff have at least two whole day’s training in the first month before they are assigned to the appropriate position to provide quality service. All employees also have training once a month to ensure the highest standards are maintained. This process is obviously working as there has been an excellent retention of staff since opening.

The Vintage Bar and attached open-air garden is a stylish setting, suitable for any event. The Wyndham Grand is in an ideal location in central Futian, easy to get to by metro (Gangxia station) or by taxi. A warm welcome will greet you as you enter the foyer and on your left you will see the distinctive sign of Vintage Bar. A list of match dates and times will be on display in the entrance to the bar, so you can keep track of who is playing when. Due to the time difference between here and Russia, some of the matches will be on well past midnight; however, Vintage Bar – and the barbeque – will stay open until the last match finishes each night.

Whether you enjoy football (or soccer, as some people call it) or not, the Wyndham Grand World Cup Combo offer is one not to be missed. Bring your friends, play some games, win some prizes, and enjoy 5-star food and drink in an exclusive setting, all at the same time and for the great price of RMB188+10%+6% per person. . What more could you ask for?

For reservations or enquiries call 0755 82998888 ext.8550.

Address: 2009 Caitian Road, Futian CBD, Shenzhen.

Try Something New For Lunch Every Day At Marco Polo’s Deli Grab & Go

There is a certain satisfaction in finding somewhere you can go to regularly for a late breakfast or work lunch. Whether it’s a place you know you can grab a late breakfast and it will hit the spot or it’s a restaurant that has that meal you always end up grabbing during lunch at work.

The thing is, even your favorite snack or your go-to lunch spot can begin to lose its appeal if you are ordering the same thing, day in and day out. You find that where you used to scoff down that muffin, you now end up leaving half on the plate. That smoothie milkshake that you used to rave about is starting to taste a bit bland.

With the opening of Deli Grab & Go in the Marco Polo Shenzhen, a fresh new concept is being introduced that promises a constantly changing and evolving menu that will keep customers coming back time after time. This corner of the Lobby area offers both sit-down and take-out options, as well as cuts or scoops.

The concept is the brainchild of Michael Loh. Having worked under Michelin star winning chef Richard Ekkebus in Amber restaurant in The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, he has brought his wealth of ideas and experience to Deli Grab & Go.

At Deli Grab & Go, the menu is never the same two days in a row. Customers can still choose from a selection of sandwiches, salads, cakes, and other baked goods, while there are coffee, smoothies, and milkshakes on offer to drink. Rather than provide set menu items, however, what is on offer each day will depend on the ingredients they choose and the new concepts they wish to introduce.

Each day, the staff selects what the ingredients will be and using what they have, conjure up some creative and new specials for customers to enjoy. It’s an approach that Michael believes reaps the best results. “I love to encourage staff creativity, where they can make what they love and enjoy what they are doing with food rather than following instruction and doing the same thing every day.”

The menu promises to continue to evolve, but for now, Michael has recommended three signature items of Deli Grab & Go. There is the Apple Pouch, which is an apple pie with a twist. In Chinese, apple pouch can mean a bag of lucky money, which this sweet baked good also resembles in appearance.

Continuing the trend of playful designs is the aptly named Chocolate Hat. On a base of cookie crunch, sits a peanut butter and coffee mousse, which is finished off with a charming little top hat consisting of white marshmallow.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Tiramisu Cup. This jar of sweetness is not just for those with a sweet tooth, but also perfect for those looking for an afternoon boost of energy.

What can be assured is that no matter what ingredients are available that day and what specials are on offer, customers will get the same high quality, day in and day out. As Michael puts it, “The most important thing for the staff is to show love of the product. For Deli Grab & Go, this is more than a business. It’s a labor of love.”

So if you are in the area of Futian looking for somewhere to get lunch or grab a quick drink, why not give Deli Grab & Go at Marco Polo Shenzhen a try? Who knows for sure what will be on the menu, but then again, isn’t that just what makes a normal day that bit more interesting?

Address: 28 Fuhua 1st Road, Futian CBD, Shenzhen, China 518048

(深圳市福田中心区 福华一路28号邮编: 518048 )

Tel: (0755) 8298-9888

The Japanese lifestyle brand is building their first-ever MUJI hotel in China！

MUJI HOTEL SHENZHEN

MUJI hotel is located in one of the largest villages Baishizhou in Shenzhen.

MUJI Hotel Shenzhen will be located on the top two floors and comprise 79 rooms in five different layouts. The designers will furnish the rooms in a clean and minimalist style with MUJI products, from the toothbrushes to the bed sheets.The second floor of the same building will also host a MUJI Diner. Guests of the hotel will have access from breakfast through dinner, with a bar available during certain hours. A brand new MUJI store on the second and third floors will begin operation on the same day of the hotel opening, aiming to help customers experience the worldview of MUJI.

The hotel has been designed to reflect an anti-gorgeous, anti-cheap concept.

At MUJI HOTEL, The goal is to offer great sleep at the right price, provide a space supporting both body and mind while away from home, and connect travelers to local people and places. For our visitors, every detail, from the texture of the towels to the layout of outlets and switches, to the restaurant menus, helps form the bedrock of a successful trip.

Malaysian and Thai food in the middle of Shuiwei village (Cheap Eats)

Cheap but good Malaysian and Thai food can be found in the village of Shuiwei in the southern part of Futian. The prices are so reasonable that it is worth the trek from the nearest Fumin metro station to come hear for the food and experience. The name of the place is Redang Island Asia Cafe.

Thai Mango Fish with rice is only 28RMB. This isn’t boneless fish perfect for the expat that prefers their fish without bones

Mango and fish — Thai Mango Fish with Rice 28RMB

Wash that down with a fresh coconut.

The night we ate there recently they were playing French jazz music so though the environment is nothing to write home about but for the price it is comfortable and clean.

The owner Alex is from Malaysia and be sure to say hello to him and his wife Ping who speaks great English and can take good care of you.

While you are in the area you might want to try a massage.

Dinner at Frankie’s Futian

checking out and having dinner at Frankie’s Futian I know they have opened a new place in Nanshan and the main owners have moved over to a better life in Hong Kong can they keep the quality?

Frankie's Futian Front Door — Frankie’s Futian front door right by the free trade zone

My dining companions recommended not trying the burger at Frankie’s even though that’s what they’re supposed be known for. He recommended to avoid it as the supplier is different from what he was used to so instead I tried the pulled pork sandwich which I found to be okay but nothing special as the the BBQ sauce was just squirted on the pork.

The bar had a good variety of draft beers some of which are brewed right in Shenzhen for around 50RMB.

With about 8 of us eating appetizers, mains, and drinking it came to about 200RMB per person.