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!
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.
What makes a classy restaurant? Well, there is the understated décor and stately furniture. There’s the number of bottles in the wine cellar. There’s the grade of the steak and where the oysters come from.
But there are also those small, almost indefinable, details. The way the light illuminates the room. The way the waiter appears and disappears as if they are reading your mind. The way the music slowly lures you in.
Rather than try defining what makes a classy restaurant, it might be easier for me to give you an example. Allow me to introduce you to Duke’s Wine & Grill at The Langham, Shenzhen.
They say first impressions are important. This is equally true when going to a new bar or restaurant as it is when meeting someone, if not more so. Well, when I first entered Duke’s Wine & Grill, the restaurant certainly made a strong impression.
My eye was drawn from the classic leather couches and tub chairs to the contemporary art adorning the walls to the high ceilings. Duke’s was lively and was already brimming with the kind of atmosphere you associate with a jazz bar.
I took a table and the manager offered to introduce me to the wine cellar upstairs, to which I duly obliged and he led me to the second floor of Duke’s where the wine cellar is located alongside a private dining room.
If you prefer a fine single malt or a blended Scotch, then you can explore the extensive spirits list. Highlights include Hibiki 17 Years, Macallan 25 Years, and Royal Salute 38 Years. Duke’s Wine & Grill also boasted an impressive choice of imported cigars. The limited run of Cohiba Talisman 2017 Edition, in particular, caught the eye.
I headed back downstairs to my table and started to peruse the food menu. As I flicked through the pages, it quickly became apparent that Duke’s Wine & Grill boast one of the most delectable selections of dishes around; from the Anceline Oysters from France, the Beluga Caviar, the Canadian Lobster, to the Australian Wagyu Tomahawk Steak. Duke’s Wine & Grill only serve the finest of the fine.
As I ordered some dishes, the entertainer for that evening took to the stage and sat behind her piano ready to play. She introduced herself as NaTasha Rogers and when she started her set with a silky smooth rendition of This Masquerade by George Benson I knew we were in for something special that evening.
NaTasha quickly captivated the entire restaurant as she moved on to the Jazz classic Autumn Leaves. By the time she had started to play Lovin’ You by Minnie Ripperton, she had already cultivated that special kind of ambiance, which you only feel in the best Jazz bars.
Soon after, our dishes began to arrive. First up was Duke’s Signature Salad, an intriguing mix of Oyster, Avocado, Bergamot Pear, Manchego Cheese, and Quinoa. The chef struck just the right balance between sweet and savory to deliver a healthy salad you will want to keep coming back to.
Next was a favorite of fine-dining restaurants in China, the Pan-fried Foie Gras. The foie gras is served with mango chutney, which really brought out something new in the dish, and a candy brioche, which was somewhat of a surprise selection but paired unexpectedly well with foie grasAfter the Foie Gras, the Silver Cod Fish Filet arrived, 180 grams of the freshest and most succulent cod available. The cod was expertly matched with a basil clam sauce and came with a side of the softest baby potatoes and pearl vegetables.The final dish was something from Duke’s Wine & Grill’s meat selection. As tempted as the Australian Wagyu Tomahawk looked, I opted for the Salt Marsh Coastal Lamb Loin. Imported from New Zealand, the lamb loin was cooked with parsley, garlic, and breadcrumb, and presented with a rosemary and thyme sauce. The vegetables and herbs really offered the perfect balance to the dish.After another glass of the house white and a couple more songs from NaTasha, it was time for dessert. The intriguingly named Tropical Explosion certainly lived up to its name. The tropical mango’s crispy exterior betrayed the rich mousse inside while the passion fruit ice cream sprinkled with coconut melted in the mouth.Later that evening, I had a chance to chat with the Western Executive Chef, Fabrice Bruto. When he talked about his dishes, there was one element that ran through them all. For him, it is not about where a dish originated from, but the connection between the elements. It is about creating combinations and contrasts resulting in new flavors and sensations.
Before he left, he recommended that next time I try the Venison Rossini Burger, which sounds like the king of gourmet burgers; Venison Patty with Foie Gras and Black Forest Ham topped with Iberico Cheese, Arugula, and Caramelized Red Onions, served in a Brioche Bun with a side of Homemade Truffle French Fries.
I left Duke’s Wine & Grill having thoroughly enjoyed my evening and being reminded what a restaurant is capable of being. While it may be debatable what exactly makes a restaurant classy, there is little doubt that Duke’s is one of, if not the, classiest spots in Shenzhen.Address: Level 3, The Langham, Shenzhen, 7888 Shennan Boulevard, Futian, Shenzhen 518040 (中国深圳市福田区深南大道7888号, 深圳东海朗廷酒店, 3层)
Opening Hours: 6:30 pm to 1:00 am (Sun – Thurs), 6:30pm to 2:00am (Fri – Sat)
Whether it’s for a few days, months at a time or even half a year, it’s important to find the right place to stay when visiting Shenzhen. What people wish for above all else is somewhere they can feel safe and secure. Somewhere they can relax and unwind after a long day. Somewhere where there are people on hand to assist at any time. Somewhere just like Fraser Suites Shenzhen.
Fraser Suites is a global brand that offers serviced apartments that are renowned for its sophistication and luxury. Whether in London or Dubai, Fraser Suites is the choice of the most discerning business executives. Now with a new location in Shenzhen, Shenzhen Party were invited on a tour of the city’s newest exclusive accommodation.
Fraser Suites Shenzhen could hardly be more perfectly situated with a prime location in the heart of Futian. The serviced apartments are within comfortable walking distance from both Huaqiang Road and Huaqiang North subway stations, providing access to lines 1, 2, and 7. Across from Fraser Suites Shenzhen is a modern shopping mall complex with designer brands, high-end restaurants, international supermarkets, and cinemas. To the west, the serviced apartments overlook the park, where residents can enjoy an afternoon stroll or go for a morning jog.
Fraser Suites Shenzhen is truly surrounded by many things to do and also offers such easy access to the rest of the city, but in truth, you can find all you need without ever leaving the lobby.
You can dine at Feast on Seven where you can enjoy a quiet meal at brunch or invite friends over to enjoy the buffet in the evening. Choose from a menu, which offers the best of both Western and Eastern cuisine, including Nasi Goreng, Seafood Spaghetti, and a host of healthy salad options.
Grab a coffee downstairs at Centro Café & Lounge or arrange to have a lunch meeting over some cake and tea. The café is located to the left of the lobby and also has outdoor seating available for those who like to watch the world pass by as they sip on their cappuccino.
If you are looking for a place to go for a few drinks with your partner or if you are looking to chill out after a busy week, head up to Ding Sky Bar. The rooftop bar is located on the 7th floor and offers unparalleled views of the area. There are few finer spots in the city to grab a beer or try a cocktail or two.
Also located on the rooftop is what must be one of Shenzhen’s most exclusive swimming pools. The infinity pool offers quite simply breathtaking views as it overlooks the rest of Futian. It’s the perfect way to relax on a sunny day.
But it’s not the only thing to do at Fraser Suites Shenzhen. The management prides itself on providing its residents with ways to chill out and enjoy their time.
On the same floor of the swimming pool, residents can also find the gym, which is equipped with all the latest equipment and also has a room for group classes and one-on-one training. After a long workout in the gym or several laps in the pool, enjoy a well-earned rest in one of the sauna rooms or plunge pool.
If you are looking to improve your handicap, but don’t have time to get out down to the course, hit a virtual round of 18 on the state-of-the-art golf simulator. If you are more of a snooker player, play a few frames on the table on the 7th floor. You can take the family with you too. Your partner can relax in one of the several massage chairs next to the snooker room, while down the hall is a children’s play area that will keep the kids occupied for hours.
Of course, we’ve yet to talk about the most important part of Fraser Suites Shenzhen. We need to mention the rooms. When considering a stay, be it short or long term, the most important factor is the accommodation itself. In this respect, Fraser Suites Shenzhen sets the bar high.
The first thing to strike you is the spaciousness. Suites vary from 48 square meter Studio Deluxe to 168 square meter Two Bedroom Executive Study, but whichever you choose, the rooms have been designed to maximize the space.
The quality can be felt in all the rooms even in the smallest details. From the cozy reading chair set by the window overlooking the park that invites you to pick up that book you were meaning to finish to the deep bathtub that entices you to take a long soak after a long day. The kitchen area is large and well-equipped so residents are free to have fun cooking at home and can do their own washing whenever needed.
So for those looking for a high standard of living in Shenzhen, there really is no other answer. With luxury accommodation, five-star service, state-of-the-art facilities, and one of the top swimming pools in the city, there is no competition for Fraser Suites Shenzhen. Start enjoying a higher class of living at Fraser Suites Shenzhen today.
When done well, nothing quite compares to Italian food. It could be Black Squid Ink Risotto at a Michelin-starred restaurant in a luxury five-star hotel in Milan. It may be a plate of Linguine Pasta with Seafood at a tiny family-run restaurant in a small town in Abruzzo tucked away off the street. It might even be at a friend’s apartment in Rome who has prepared a home-cooked classic Mushroom Lasagna with Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese.
Like a glass of Barolo or a bottle of Ferrari Brut, once you have tried Italian food as it was truly meant to be, it’s hard to go back to the way you knew it before. What a delight it is then, to have found Oggi Enoteca.
SEARED TUNA IN PISTACHIO CRUST WITH SWEET PEPPERS CREAM AND SICILIAN CAPONATA
I must admit, I was excited to hear that the Oggi group was opening a new restaurant in Shenzhen. Oggi opened its first branch in Guangzhou in 2005. Over a decade later, the Italian brand has opened another four restaurants in Guangzhou and one other in Shekou. Each branch represents a different aspect of Italian culture and cuisine, but they have all become synonymous with quality in the dining scene of Southern China.
Their restaurants are the places to be seen and the guest list on any given night can be like a who’s who of some of the most famous people in the city. The likes of World Cup winning football coaches Marcelo Lippi and Luiz Felipe Scolari, Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, and world-renowned pianist Maksim Mrvica are all counted amongst Oggi’s guests.
THE ENTRANCE OF OGGI ENOTECA, LOCATED IN THE HIP NEW UPPERHILLS AREA IN FUTIAN.
In UpperHills, Oggi has found the perfect place to open their latest restaurant. Boasting some of the most exclusive fashion brands and the world’s first ever Muji hotel, the newly opened complex is fast becoming one of the hippest areas in town.
The layout and furniture are exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Oggi name. From the simple and clean modern seating to the touch of quality you can feel when you take your seat or run your hand across the table top. The lighting is set perfectly to a warm glow. The music is at a volume where it can be enjoyed without it impeding on the conversation. Oh, it’s Andrea Bocelli, in case you were curious.
THE SECOND-FLOOR BALCONY BOASTS A STUNNING WINE SELECTION
What is most striking about the restaurant is the wine collection located on the second-floor balcony. Accessed by a spiral staircase, those who ascend the steps are rewarded with one of the finest selections of wines this side of Tuscany. For Oggi Enoteca, which Enoteca translates as Wine Shop, wine is at the heart of their concept for the restaurant.
In fact, speak to the staff and they will be on hand to recommend a bottle of wine that pairs perfectly with any of the dishes. Speaking of which…
DILL AND SALMON STUFFED HOMEMADE RAVIOLI, SAUTEED PRAWNS AND BISQUE REDUCTION
The food menu is like a tour of Italy. Reading through the dishes you get a real sense of the history and the culture of the country. Unsure of which part of the Beautiful Country to visit, we ask the manager, Alessandro Petrini to be our guide and to select some dishes for us.
There are several famous quotes included in Oggi’s menu. From Irish poets to Italian proverbs, they are full of wit and no small amount of wisdom. One in particular reads, “You don’t age while seated for a meal”.
RADICCHIO RISOTTO WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE FONDUE
As the chef prepares our dishes, we have fascinating chat with Alessandro. We talk about Italian politics, football, and everything in between. And true to the quote in the menu, by the time our meal arrives, I do not feel I aged one bit. It’s a welcome reminder that a good conversation can be as nourishing as a Calzone Folded Pizza or a Seafood Stew from Tuscany.
Another quote from the menu reads, ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one hasn’t eaten well’. After the meal we were about to enjoy, we would have no problem doing any of the aforementioned.
The starting courses set the bar high. Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Avocado and Quinoa Salad arrive alongside Seared Tuna peppered in Pistachio Crust with Sweet Peppers Cream and Sicilian Caponata. The salad is rich with hearty and fresh ingredients, but it is the tuna dish that really captures the imagination with its mix of European and Middle Eastern flavors.
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES, AVOCADO AND QUINOA SALAD
The starters leave us wanting more, and thankfully, more dishes promptly arrive. A risotto, a dish that is hard to find in China the way it is intended, and a ravioli, a dish I struggle to find in China at all. The Radicchio Risotto is a piece of art in balancing the bitter Italian chicory and the bite of the gorgonzola. While the black colored ravioli catches the eye, it is the inspired filling of poached salmon and mascarpone cheese that stays with you long after your last bite.
There is still more to come, however, as the Pan-Fried Sea Bass Fillet and the Roasted Rack Of Lamb appears. The Sea Bass comes with roasted potatoes and a sauce of made from capers, olives, and oregano. The pan-fried fish is locally caught, but tasting it you would be forgiven to feel you were in a restaurant on the Amalfi Coast. The Rack Of Lamb is served with a puffy potato sufflè and a Montepulciano red wine reduction. Farmed in New Zealand, it is truly a superior cut of meat.
ROASTED RACK OF LAMB, POTATO FLAN WITH GLAZED BABY CARROTS AND MONTEPULCIANO WINE SAUCE
All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, that includes a meal at Oggi Enoteca. Yet it’s no time to despair because before we leave there is still the desserts to sample. The selection proves to be inspired as the rest of the courses. The Fresh Strawberry Tiramisu is recommended for two, but you would be forgiven if you wanted to order one of these all for yourself. The Hot Chocolate Cake is served with Vanilla Ice Cream, providing the kind of contrast that all fine desserts have.
After I take my last spoonful of tiramisu, I am left with an unfamiliar feeling. My heart and stomach could not be more content, but as I cast a glance at the menu on the table, I see so many more dishes I still wish to try. And as I leave, I’m already planning my next visit.
PAN-FRIED SEA BASS FILLET WITH ROASTED POTATOES, CAPERS AND CHERRY-TOMATO SAUCE
Oggi Enoteca truly is a tour of Italy and its rich and beautiful cuisine. One evening you come and through the Radicchio Risotto take a trip through Northern Italy. Come for lunch and explore Sicily by sampling the Seared Tuna with Pistachio Crust or the Melanzane alla Parmigiana.
So, what are you waiting for? Begin your tour of Italy today with Oggi Enoteca.
TONNO SCOTTATO IN SALSA DI PISTACCHI, CREMA DI PEPERONI DOLCI E CAPONATA SICILIANA
SEARED TUNA IN PISTACHIO CRUST WITH SWEET PEPPERS CREAM AND SICILIAN CAPONATA
That definitely a plate inspired by Sicilian tradition with middle-east influences. The sweet and sour of eggplants reminds to the Arabic domination of Sicily.
PAIRED WITH:
CUVEE ROSÉ “Santa Margherita” IGT – (ITALY)
Grape variety: Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
RISOTTO AL RADICCHIO CON FONDUTA DI GORGONZOLA
RADICCHIO RISOTTO WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE FONDUE
Typical risotto from north of Italy (Veneto), which balances brilliantly the bitterness of radicchio and the spiciness of Gorgonzola cheese.
PAIRED WITH:
CHIANTI “Barone Ricasoli” DOCG – TOSCANA (ITALY)
Grape variety: Sangiovese
RAVIOLI SALMONE E ANETO, GAMBERI SALTATI E BISQUE RIDOTTA
DILL AND SALMON STUFFED HOMEMADE RAVIOLI, SAUTEED PRAWNS AND BISQUE REDUCTION
Strikingly looking black handmade ravioli with squid ink, poached salmon, and mascarpone cheese filling with a reduction of prawns bisque and cherry tomatoes.
Our friend asked us for dining recommendations in Futian district for dinner tonight. Here are some suggestions we came up with.
– Butao Ramen – Popular Ramen chain from Japan that just opened in the Ping’an building.
– Mambo – Mexican fare in the Shuiwei village area
– Braceria Pugliese – Italian food from a real Italian owner always keeping the quality very high.
– Kitchen Rouge – Mauritian Chef with a fusion mix of cusines.
Have a glance at more Shenzhen restaurants in our restaurant listings.
The Coco Park Starbucks is so busy it is one of the few 24 hour coffee shops in Shenzhen. To squeeze more people in it has lost a bit of its coziness but in the end is a great place to people watch when you are in the Coco Park Shopping Mall. It is right across the street from the Futian McCawley’s where you can people watch out side over a beer.
