nanamoose

Inauguration of "My Favourite Restaurants" in Shanghai

It is easy to become delusional in Shanghai. You often believe yourself to be in Europe only to be immediately transported back to mainland China with the snap of a finger, the yell of “fuwuyuan!” (server!), the sight of a man spitting into a perfectly manicured garden or the typos on the menu. However, to my surprise, my experience at Casa 13 on Huashan Road was rid of all such similar mishaps.

Casa 13 is the latest addition to the ever expanding Eduardo Vargas family (Azul, Viva, iiiit) and features Mediterranean classics in a secluded renovated 1920s house in the heart of the French Concession. My one time experience there was flawless by Shanghai standards – the food was great and perfect for sharing (and those who know me will know that I’m a sucker for all things tapas!), the service polite, and the house tastefully decorated.

This is the perfect place to impress a date or to round up a group of friends, sit out in the terrace while kick starting the meal with the charcuterie board over a glass of sangria. On the night I was there I received a little notebook named “My Favourite Restaurants” from my friend K. Might as well, Casa 13 can the first one listed.

Casa 13 is on No. 13, 1100 Huashan Lu
near Xingguo Lu 华山路1100号13室 近兴国路

Tel: (86) 21-5238-2782

(one of) The Original Chong Qing Chicken Pot

Why does the original look so much dowdier than the Hong Kong version?

Lost Heaven Found in Shanghai

With Lost Heaven billing itself as the Folk Cuisine of Yunnan and with an address smack in the middle of the French Concession on Gao You Road in Shanghai, I knew this would be my kind of restaurant. However, for some reason Lost Heaven has never gained a following amongst the Asian expatriate crowd in Shanghai and accordingly I have been kept in the dark from it until now.

This is not to say that Lost Heaven is not popular. In fact, it is VERY popular and on the Friday night that we visited the three of us had to cram in a two-person table right above the stairs. The moment I stepped into the little courtyard leading to the main reception area I was bought. I have to say this again: this restaurant is just so me! Stylish, hip, yet rustic and ethnic – could this be nana’s bags you are talking about? In Lost Heaven’s courtyard hangs pictures of rice paddies and ethnic minority women at work while the main restaurant area is backlit with long strips of miao embroidered runners. Scattered throughout the restaurant you find nice surprises like lamp bases made of ethnic silverware and ethnic sculptures in the restrooms. Lighting is dim, the walls are crimson and the mood is laid back and romantic. You will even find a small cosy bar on the ground floor.

The most pleasant surprise of all came from the food. Everything we ordered was utterly delicious. The menu boasts cuisines from the ethnic tribes of Dai, Miao, and even Burma, and though their authenticity is questionable, who really cares when they taste so good? We ordered a spicy melon, stir fried mixed wild fungus, spicy chicken, spicy mussels and stir fried rice cakes with tomato and egg (ethnicity and ingredients unknown –was too excited about my find - but all on the spicy side), which turned out to be all, very good indeed.

If you like nana’s bags, you will absolutely adore this place. Lost Heaven has made it to nanamoose’s top Shanghai list, so make sure you book a table in advance the next time you visit!

Lost Heaven is at 38 Gao You Road, Shanghai (near Fuxing Xi Road) tel: +86 21 64335126