Prime Rib Heaven In Shanghai

Posted on March 4, 2008 by WoAi

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Because of its location by the sea, Shanghai historically has been for many travellers, China’s front door, the entrance to the middle kingdom. Perhaps for this reason, many foreign companies today still choose Shanghai as the place to launch their first foray into the massive China market.

And so it is with Lawry’s The Prime Rib restaurant chain, which started in Beverly Hills, California way back in 1938 and has outlets in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Chicago, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Dallas, Singapore, Taipei and as of February 2008, Shanghai.

As their name implies, they specialise in Prime Rib, and their menu is extremely simple. Customers only need to decide what cut (size) of beef they would like from a choice of four cuts, starting with the tiny 6oz California Cut, to the 20oz, 2 inch thick Diamond Jim Brady Cut option. I went for the Lawry Cut which is about 10 ounces of fine beef. The price includes mashed potato and Yorkshire pudding which will make English diners feel right at home, despite the very American heritage of this chain. Sides are available too, such as creamed spinach (my choice) or creamed corn.

Their famous spinning salad also comes included in the price. They wheel out a huge metal bowl with salad in it balanced on a bed of crushed ice. They then spin the bowl while pouring the dressing on which I suppose is meant to ensure the sauce is evenly distributed. Frankly it’s a bit of a showy gimmick and the salad itself was just average for my taste.

But the same can’t be said for the main course which was simply perfect. They wheel out the rib on a specially designed silver carving cart that apparently costs 30,000 US dollars each. The waitress asks you how you’d like your beef and then the specially trained chef, complete with gold medallion, cuts it to your requirements. My requirement was a HUGE three quarter inch thick cut of medium rare prime rib which just melts in the mouth. For the record, I love eating, but I am not a big eater, yet somehow I managed to eat the entire cut of beef and still have room for the English trifle.

The waitress was very attentive as you’d expect from a newly opened franchise that wants to make a good first impression. She explained everything to us step by step, including how to use famous Lawry seasoned salt and seasoned pepper, which itself is a 150 million dollar business (annually) owned by Unilever.

All in all it was a wonderful dining experience, apart from the vibrations made by the throbbing bass coming from the bar on the floor below, which I am sure the Lawry’s management aren’t too thrilled about. The meal wasn’t cheap at 1600 rmb for two (including a bottle of Lawry’s Cabernet Sauvignon and a side each of lobster tails purely for research purposes!) which is arond 230 US dollars! You have to wonder whether at that price level, they will be able to sustain a constant flow of customers needed to survive, but their Xintiandi location should ensure a steady flow of tourists and business travellers.

I’m not a very good food critic so if you’d like to read more, there’s lots of reviews here of the Chicago Lawry’s and the Beverly Hills branch. From what I can see, my experience in Shanghai is very consistent with their other branches across the globe.

I for one though will be back, but perhaps not before a visit to the gym!

Posted in Food | 16 Comments

Banking Blues

Posted on March 3, 2008 by WoAi

A good friend who follows this blog but never comments, made an observation recently that over the years, my attitude to life in China has become more positive and I moan a lot less than I used to. Well Nicholas, all that’s about to end.

For some reason I can’t access my bank account from the internet anymore and I have lost my bank book which would provide a history of my earlier transactions, so this lunch time I headed to the bank to accomplish to very simple missions:

1. To get a replacement bank book.

2. To have my online banking password reset.

The branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICBC) close to my office has a novel queuing system. Everyone sits – yes, sits – in a queue consisting of 4 rows of about 8 chairs. When one counter is free, the person at the front of the line goes to be served and everyone (yes, about 30 people) moves along one seat. Call me whacky, but I think a simpler system would be to issue tickets on entering the bank, then everyone could sit in the same seat till their number comes up.

After queuing for about 30 minutes (half my lunch hour) it was my turn to be served. Here’s the dialogue:

WoAi: Good afternoon kindly looking bank clerk, I would like to reset my internet password please.

Bank Clerk: We don’t do that here.

WoAi: Oh, where should I go for that?

Bank Clerk: That counter over there at the back.

WoAi: Oh, I see. Forgive my foolishness. There is one other small matter you can help me with. I have lost my bank book. Can I have a new one please?

Bank Clerk: No, sorry we don’t do that here.

WoAi: Oh I see. And which counter should I line up at to replace my bank book?

Bank Clerk [shouts across to another bank clerk]: Where do they issue bank books?

Bank Clerk #2: He Nan Road, by Ning Bo Rd.

Bank Clerk #1 [speaking to WoAi]: You have to go to He Nan Rd, by Ning Bo Rd. We can’t issue bank books here.

WoAi [looking surprised]: Oh, I see. You really can’t just give me a new bank book here and save me a taxi ride in the remaining 10 minutes of my lunch break?

Bank Clerk #1: Bu ke yi (meaning no, we can’t).

So, 100% failure at my first attempt. I head over to the counter for changing internet passwords.

WoAi: Hello, I’d like my online password reset please.

Clerk: Please fill out this form.

WoAi [after filling out said form]: There you go.

Clerk: Did you apply for online banking at this branch or did you apply online?

WoAi: I applied online.

Clerk: Oh, then we can’t reset your password, sorry.

WoAi: Oh I see, so what should I do?

Clerk: Well, we can cancel online banking and then you can apply again here.

WoAi: Ah, yes, well, okay that seems like a good idea, especially since it appears to be the only option.

In case you haven’t picked up on it, the issue isn’t just how difficult and long winded the procedures are (and trust me when I say they are long winded), it’s also the attitude of the staff who will only answer the specific questions you ask and will not offer a solution unless you specifically ask. Inexplicably, when I asked to get a new bank book, she simply said she can’t do it. She did not tell me where I can get this done until I asked. The fact that there is a special location for replacing lost bank books just adds to the misery.

Things in China are improving all the time and some things here are way better than they are in other parts of the world. Banking isn’t one of them!

Posted in Arrrrggghhh!, This is how we do it | 24 Comments

Bad Money (part 2)

Posted on February 29, 2008 by WoAi

So after my recent experience at the convenience store I read with interest that a Chinese couple from Zhejiang province was arrested in Paris after trying to pay for goods with a suspected counterfeit bill at the famous Galeries Lafayette in Paris.

The couple were taken to a police station, strip searched and bizarrely, the woman’s underpants were cut into small pieces! The bill was eventually declared to be genuine, but when the couple returned to the store, the cashier again refused to accept the bill (presumably because it had a corner missing or something!).

The management of the store has since made a very genuine and public apology to the couple, offering to pay for the couple to return to Paris at a later date (and some new underwear I hope!).  In light of this gesture, I don’t think the store should be further criticised even though some Chinese groups such as the Chinese Tourism Authority are calling for a boycott of the famous Parisian retailer. They have obviously realised that Chinese tourists represent a huge revenue potential for them and are desperate to avoid provoking further reaction.

Deeper criticism though is aimed at the French police who seem to have been somewhat over zealous in their handling of the couple.

I was quite amused to find the story was also reported on the website fuckfrance.com!

Posted in Amusing, Current Affairs, Travel | Leave a comment

Blogspot For All

Posted on February 29, 2008 by WoAi

Yes, who knows for how long, perhaps it’s related to the Olympics coming up in August, but after years of being blocked by the government, Blogspot is currently accessible from China – enjoy it while it lasts folks! I for one am headed straight to Angie’s blog to catch up on the latest and perhaps I’ll stop by Pastey White Guy.

[Edit: 1st March 2008] Well that didn’t last very long, did it!  Already blocked again, I guess it was just a glitch.

Posted in Censorship | 7 Comments

Bad Money

Posted on February 28, 2008 by WoAi

I was in the convenience store yesterday buying a couple cans of Coke. The total cost was 4.6 RMB (2.3 RMB each) so I handed over a 10 RMB note. The clerk gave it back to me and asked if I had another note because the one I gave her, although brand new, had a tiny portion of one corner torn off.

Now I know this isn’t such a big deal and what I should have done was taken out another note and passed it to her, but I guess I was in a pretty rotten mood already because while I was trying to get out of the elevator moments earlier, someone trying to get into the elevator barged in, blocking my exit and almost pushing me over at the same time.

On top of this, it can get quite frustrating when people frequently refuse perfectly good money because they think it’s a fake or it’s too soiled or it’s too large a denomination for them to change or because they can’t take notes bigger than 5 RMB between 3pm and 4pm on Thursdays, or some other ridiculous reason.

So what did I do? I did what any mild mannered Briton would do in a similar situation – I went into a rage and started screaming at the clerk who would not change her mind and insisted I provide another note. I eventually picked up one can and threw it on the floor behind the counter and walked out.

At that moment, the store manager came out to see what all the fuss was about. I put forward my case and he kindly agreed to listen to reason and accept the note. He saw the (remaining) can of Coke still on the counter, rung it up and gave me the can and my change. Of course, I decided not to point out that I in fact wanted two cans of Coke, not one, and that the second can was now somewhere on the floor behind the counter where I had very rudely thrown it.

I guess I won’t be using that store for a while, which is a shame as it’s right next to my office!

Posted in Amusing, Arrrrggghhh! | 12 Comments

Arrive Alive

Posted on February 27, 2008 by WoAi

I was walking to lunch the other day and stopped at a junction to wait for the traffic lights to turn red. A French couple who were also walking in the same direction, ignored the traffic signals and continued walking across the road as cars swerved around them.

Whenever I have visitors from England they are usually horrified to see the way I sometimes cross the roads here. But some junctions are laid out in such a way that there is actually never a good time to cross, because even when the lights are red, there will be cars making right turns or something. You simply have to take a deep breath and go for it.

So my guess is that this couple were not tourists but more likely long term Shanghai residents, although if they continue with their blatant disregard for road safety, their stay might not be a long term as they were planning! And of course, if they were sadly killed by an oncoming car, the French media would likely blame the poor driving standards in China for the accident, rather than the stupidity of a couple of their own citizens.

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In England, we have all had to learn the Green Cross Code, which is a step by step guide to crossing the road safely launched in the 1970s and still in use today.  Dave Prowse, a former body builder – pictured above – was chosen to personify the Green Cross Code man (and he later went on to star as Darth Vadar in the original Star Wars film although someone else’s voice was used).  Our French couple would do well to pay attention to the following steps which I am reproducing here in the hope of saving a few lives:

1. THINK FIRST. Find the safest place to cross, then stop.

2. STOP. Stand on the pavement near the kerb.

3. USE YOUR EYES AND EARS. Look all around for traffic, and listen.

4. WAIT UNTIL IT’S SAFE TO CROSS. If traffic is coming, let it pass.

5. LOOK AND LISTEN. When it’s safe, walk straight across the road.

6. ARRIVE ALIVE. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross.

So there you have it folks, be safe, live long and prosper!

Posted in Arrrrggghhh! | 10 Comments

Love Is All Around

Posted on February 26, 2008 by WoAi

Three unrelated stories with a common theme for you today, all courtesy of the China Daily which can always be relied upon to supply gems on a slow news day.

A lot of young people these days are pressured by parents to settle down and find a spouse. This has caused many to resort to desperate measures to alleviate some of the pressure. Zhou Chao decided to hire a girl to pretend to be his girlfriend when he returned home to spend the Spring Festival with his parents. But it all backfired when his parents found out and were none too pleased.

A similar thing happened in Zhengzhou, Henan province where a guy paid a colleague (100 rmb per day) to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays. They weren’t found out, but a dispute arose when the girl refused to return the red packets of “lucky money” (totalling 4700 rmb!) that the boy’s parents and relatives had given to her. They eventually agreed to split the money equally between them! I don’t know why the boy is complaining, he made more than enough to cover his “rental” costs!

And finally, at their wedding ceremony, a couple of student doctors from Nanjing each presented a 1 ml test tube containing liquid in which their DNA had been blended together to signify they would never be separated. They apparently “collected oral mucosa and hair, broke down the cells and then dissolved them in water”. Who says romance is dead!

Oh and if anyone is interested in financing my new rent a girlfriend business, please contact me immediately!

Posted in Amusing, Love and romance, Sex in the city | 20 Comments

Where’s The Party?

Posted on February 22, 2008 by WoAi

A certain China blogger is turning 40 in May.  It’s hard to believe.  Most people think he looks somewhere between 18 and 25, but sadly this is far from the truth.  But I digress.  I was in Attica last night having a drink with my best buddy and enjoying the always gorgeous sights.

As I am starting to think about where to hold what is going to be the biggest event of the Shanghai social calendar this year, (and may well overshadow the Beijing Olympics), I enquired about the cost of booking a sofa for me and a few friends in May.  The conversation went something like this:

WoAi: Hello pretty lady, do you come here often?

Pretty Lady: Yes, everyday, I work here.

WoAi: Ah, well that’s great news for me because I was wondering, it’s my 40th birthday in May and I would like to book that sofa so that me and some friends can celebrate this momentous occasion, possibly with some alcoholic beverages and a fruit platter.

Pretty Lady: 40?  That’s impossible, you look like you’re in your twenties!

WoAi: [chuckle] Well yes pretty lady, indeed, you are not the first person to say that to me.  My mother tells me that all the time.  So how much would it cost to book that sofa over there?

Pretty Lady: 20,000 rmb.

WoAi:  Sorry pretty lady, perhaps the music is too loud and you misunderstood.  I only want to book the use of the sofa for a few hours, I do not wish to buy the sofa for my (very spacious 3 bedroomed) apartment!

The search for an appropriate venue continues ….

Posted in Amusing, Entertainment, Nightlife | 21 Comments

Genocide Olympics?

Posted on February 19, 2008 by WoAi

Yes, nobody can fail to have noticed the news that following pressure from the likes of Mia Farrow (ex Mrs Woody Allen), Steven Spielberg has withdrawn his support as artistic consultant for the Beijing Olympic games which will be hosted in August. The reason for his withdrawal is related to his concern that China isn’t doing enough to stop the genocide and other atrocities in Sudan.

This has predictably sparked heated discussions on internet sites everywhere including Shanghaiist and my preferred source for slightly more balanced journalism (than say, the Daily Mail), The Guardian (UK).

Obviously this is a very complicated issue and it’s hard to make comments without knowing more. I do think it’s stretching things a bit to blame China for what’s happening in Sudan but at the same time, Spielberg’s withdrawal has focused some attention on what is clearly a serious humanitarian crisis. So my view is this: if he wants to pull out of his commitment then well, that’s fine with me. The opening and closing ceremonies I am sure will be spectacular without his contribution (I’m not really sure why China needed him in the first place as Zhang Yi Mou is more than capable of putting on a show by himself). No hard feelings then Steven, not the smartest move you’ve made but you still make great films.

As for Mia Farrow, well that’s a different kettle of fish. In an effort to lay on the guilt, she outrageously compared Spielberg to Leni Riefenstahl, who helped Hitler document the 1936 games in Germany for propaganda purposes which would obviously hit a nerve with (Jewish) Mr Spielberg. But Ms Farrow’s comparison (and dubbing the Beijing games “The Genocide Olympics) is obviously a little misguided, since Hitler killed millions of people in an attempt to wipe out an entire race, whereas the Chinese government has not.

Posted in Current Affairs | Tagged | 14 Comments

Quanjude Goes Electric

Posted on February 19, 2008 by WoAi

It may surprise some readers to know I am very traditional in some ways. I prefer my wine bottles to have corks in them rather than metal screw tops, and I like my Beijing roast duck roasted in a traditional wood fire oven.

Imagine then my horror when I read in the China Daily a while ago that Beijing’s oldest and most traditional Beijing roast duck restaurant chain – founded in 1864 during the Qing dynasty – is replacing its traditional wood fired ovens with German made electric ovens in some of its branches, causing quite a stir in the Beijing duck industry. (It was also reported surprisingly in The Scotsman).  Isn’t it interesting that the duck chain that promotes itself as being one of the oldest duck restaurants in Beijing (and even renamed itself “Quanjude Peking Roast Duck – Since 1864″) would be one of the first to go electric.  But I guess this is just another example of technology and convenience winning over tradition.

I’ve been to Quanjude in Qianmen, and all I can say is their ducks didn’t taste that good to start with and most of their success has been due to their reputation and history.  There are far better options available, such as my personal favourite, Da Dong.

Posted in Amusing, Business, Current Affairs, Food | 3 Comments