The Wonderkid

Why open a Mexican restaurant in Shanghai?

I wanted to be somewhere with a lot of excitement and movement, and Shanghai is the economic engine behind China's growth. Before I came to Shanghai, I was working for JP Morgan in Delaware, but the office setting wasn't ... Read more »

When did you start making chocolate? It began in 1986, when I was at The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai as a pastry chef, doing chocolate on the side. I got into it in 1998 though, because of a good opportunity. The Ritz had brought in Eric Perez and we got along ... Read more »

In China, pork is done a hundred ways–it's minced in dumplings,braised for noodles, it lends its bones to rich, wintry soups. Chinaloves the "other white meat"–that much is undeniable. Because it's so ubiquitous, it's not often that we are impressed with a pork dish ... Read more »

The blustering weather has got my taste buds longing for some simple, fresh seafood. Call me gluttonous, but all I want for Chinese New Years is a bowl (or three) of Closed Door’s garlic prawns in creamy herb sauce (RMB100) to munch on this rainy season. Served in a ... Read more »

Wine Master

Do you go by the "golden laws" in wine and food pairing? There's no "golden law" when it comes to food and wine pairing, in my humble view. If you want a white wine with your steak, well, so be it. It's a matter of taste ... Read more »

When we aren't in school, we love to play in [Green City]. Feeding the fish outside Megafit is a riot--we love it when they jump out of the water for food. Our absolute favorite restaurant is Flying Fox we love the outdoor playground there. We also get a big ... Read more »

When you started the Angels basketball team this year, what did you want to accomplish? The goal of this team is to help people who need help, such as those that were victims of the earthquake or orphans in this country. Right now, there isn’t a formal league established ... Read more »

CW boldly takes you where you haven't eaten before

You’d have to be a fool to live in Shanghai and not take advantage of the myriad of Chinese food offerings sprinkled across the city in greater abundance than weijing (MSG). But we’re not going to reintroduce you ... Read more »

SMALL TALK WITH ... David Basmajian

Every Vote Counts

With the U.S. election looming, David Basmajian is

spearheading local voter registration initiatives.

How did you get involved with voter registration here? My family and I moved here from San Francisco in February. I worked in politics back home and wanted ... Read more »

Independent theater stretches its wings

Yeah, we’ve seen Hairspray and some great Shakespeare, but what’s been missing is a bit of community theater. Something that showcases a new playwright, is a bit off-kilter, or gives a new twist on an old piece. Fortunately, for the theater buffs among ... Read more »

A Buffet For The Senses

A45-ton train perched on real tracks, rice paddies, wine sloshing on window panes providing a burgundy-hued view of People’s Square, luggage strewn on the floor, disco balls in VIP rooms, multimedia presentations on typographical errors in DVDs, massive ants marching on walls and a ... Read more »

An underground electronic music crew turns one

In the middle of Void Crew founder Nat Alexander’s set last December, a mêlée broke out on the dance floor, causing a giant tower of speakers to crash down upon the DJ. Shanghai Ultra, fellow Void mastermind, dashed to save his friend ... Read more »

Austrailian DJ duo Hermitude seeks “shelter” in Shanghai

Your first release, Imaginary Friends, was vinyl-only. Why did you go down that route? Having a vinyl release was always a big dream for us [as we were] coming up. Vinyl is expensive to manufacture so it’s not always affordable for ... Read more »

Who among us will make the next move?

By the time this column goes to print, Avril will have already dazzled us all and Linkin Park’s highly-anticipated return will be at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts, signifying the dawning of a new post-(para)Olympic era and a ... Read more »

The highs and lows of drag in the Strumpet of the Orient

Shanghai can really take its toll on a woman. Speaking for myself, I am well and truly rooted after another weekend patronizing the local LGBT-friendly community. Drag in Shanghai is more about dress-up and silliness than in other ... Read more »

Improve Your Eyesight

Cafés | Wagas

The perfect compliment to your lunch or coffee break, Wagas delivers a petite slice of carrot cake (￥15) that you can enjoy with (almost) no guilt. This cake is neither too moist nor too dense and nut lovers will appreciate the chunks of walnut in ... Read more »

Creative Tapas King

El Willy means “The Willy,” right? Yes. Why are you “The” Willy? Don’t be modest! It actually all started as a joke because it sounded similar to the famous Spanish restaurant El Bulli (The Bulldog). As Willy is my nickname, it was funny, also when translated ... Read more »

It takes a healthy dose of self-confidence and a sort of “nose up” to the ways of tradition, to present yourself to the public in your natural glory. But with Champagne, self-assuredness is a commodity supplied in buckets, so it comes as no surprise that more producers are presenting themselves ... Read more »

Back to School

"Learning Center" sounds like "school." Is that what you see this as? Definitely. I always saw it as a school. The thing is, most of our students haven't been to school in decades, so it's more of a "back-to-school" feeling. Why focus on expats? It ... Read more »

How to host a stress-free party for your baby's first birthday

My mother recently asked me if I had sent out my "Save the Date" reminders for my son's first birthday party. Save the date? It's a birthday party that Tanner won't remember, what's all ... Read more »

Lisa Law | Synapse Pilates Studio

For those who've been living under a rock, what exactly is Pilates? It's a form of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates. The Pilates method helps develop a balanced, healthy body by building core strength and flexibility and works to lengthen the spine and ... Read more »

Shanghai dance classes are stepping out of the studios

In Shanghai's roaring past, citizens flocked to dancehalls across the city to enjoy nights of footloose fun, but today, apart from the bump and grind in the clubs, modern dance has largely been restricted to the studio. Recently though, dancers ... Read more »

The Pressure's On

Most brand new hotels include lavish facilities dedicated to the sole purpose of relaxation, but the city's more seasoned veteran hotels were built with much more functional facilities, usually tacked onto a health and fitness center. The Ritz-Carlton Salon is no different. If what you ... Read more »