Shang Palace at the Shangri-La

Shang Palace
Shangri-La Hotel
10 avenue Iéna, 16th
Tel 01 53 67 19 92

Shang Palace is the third and final restaurant to open in the gorgeous new Shangri-La Paris Hotel overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Not that you’ll see the Eiffel Tower from this upscale Chinese restaurant, as it’s located below the ground floor with no windows. It’s spacious and well-decorated, and I probably wouldn’t have noticed the lack of windows except my dining companions (it was a press lunch, so we’re all journalists) pointed it out. All experts in Chinese cuisine (whereas I am not in the least), they also pointed out every little discrepancy between how they thought the food should taste or look with how it tasted and looked at Shang Palace (which is odd, as Chef Frank Xu apparently has the right pedigree for high-end Cantonese food). Personally I thought it was delicious (well, except for the “Buddha Jumping over the Wall", but that was because I didn’t like the flavor, not because it wasn’t made well).

Other dishes included a Dim Sum assortment, barbecued meats, sautéed turbot, something called Beggar’s Chicken and a lovely dessert of chilled mango cream with pomelo and sago. Each course was served with French wines (and tea), and you get the option of using the chop sticks or actual cutlery. The French at the table were shocked when the fortune cookies were presented at the end of the meal, but I always think they’re fun. There are private rooms for large groups. Despite the grumblings at my table (French food journalists are hard to please), I think this is the best place to come with your Chinese-food-snob friend, and it’s a lovely restaurant and a much-needed addition to the Asian food scene in Paris. Get a reservation before they get their star!

Private rooms are in the back, separated by wooden screens.

The Dim Sum Assortment.

The Barbecued Meat Assortment.

The Buddha Jumping Over the Wall

I think this was the Beggar's Chicken.

Chef Frank Xu (on the right) and his four sous-chefs.

Endless opportunities for funny translation errors: the French just don't get it yet.

La Bauhinia at the Shangri-La

10 Ave d'Iéna, 16th
M° Iéna
Tel 01 53 67 19 53

http://www.shangri-la.com

The main restaurant of the newly opened Shangri-La hotel is named for the flower found on the Hong Kong national flag. The setting, at the far end of the vast lobby, beneath an immense skylight and custom-made chandelier, makes quite a first impression. Mezzanine seating allows for some great people-watching over the wrought iron balcony.

My Yam Som O starter.

My friend and I were among the first to arrive in an almost empty restaurant at 8pm. By 9pm it was almost full. Start off with a glass of pink Bollinger bubbly. The menu is small but full of enticing dishes. There are no set menus, all is à la carte. The cuisine is a fusion of French and Asian, with specialties from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand next to traditional French dishes like Terrine de Canard au Foie Gras and Noix de St Jacques (scallops).

My Curry Laksa main dish (I poured more sauce on it after I took the photo).

There were little chili peppers designating hot dishes, and since I know even the hottest dishes in France can’t put a dent in the hot sauces I grew up with in Arizona, I boldly ordered the Yam Som O, a Thai grapefruit salad shrimp and spicy peanut sauce for a starter, and the Curry Laksa with chicken, shrimp and tofu in a lemongrass and curry sauce as my main dish. They started out mild enough, but the cumulative effect was indeed quite hot, perfect for a chilly February in Paris. Both were superb, and my friend (from the Midwest) coveted my choice. Although her foie gras with a layer of green apple chutney was divine (I ended up eating half of it) and her Otak Otak dish of cod in papillote with a coconut, lime and basil sauce was also perfectly cooked.

These profiteroles were so good they get two photos: an action shot and a close up.


I had a glass of tangy white Riesling, which went perfectly with the spicy food. And I was smart enough to save room for the dessert. This time my friend and I got the same thing (probably because she was aware of my “no dessert sharing” policy): the mango sorbet profiteroles with chocolate sauce…next time I’m starting the meal with this! They were kind enough to leave the pot of melted chocolate so we could pour it directly onto our spoons to finish it off. We finished the evening with herbal tea and little chocolates, while discreetly checking out the crowd from our seats.

Finishing my wine while the tea steeps and another waiter zips past.

The wait staff seems to be everywhere at La Bauhinia, quick to remove an empty dish, refill a water glass, and refresh the flatware or lacquered chopsticks. They were never intrusive or overbearing, and made excellent suggestions for the wine.

My friend doing the same, while admiring the immense chandelier.

La Bauhinia is open daily:
Breakfast 6:30am –11am
Lunch noon-3pm 
Afternoon Tea 3pm-5:30pm
Dinner 6:30pm –11pm

Update on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:30AM by Heather

COMING SOON: L'Abeille

The second dining room at the Shangri-La, the classic French restaurant L’Abeille, will be opening in mid-March. It has a more intimate atmosphere, and overlooks the hotel’s private gardens. Can’t wait to try it!