Privy had an eventful weekend in Shanghai which featured a lovely private wine dinner hosted by Privy member Andrew Bigbee, a telecom business executive and Le Maitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux’s Shanghai chapter. The cozy affair took place at one of Shanghai’s newest fine dining establishments, the Strip Prime Steakhouse. Owner George Chen (of Roosevelt Prime fame) and Bigbee crafted a special five-course menu to pair with the six elite vintages of Bordeaux wines we experienced, courtesy of the Commanderie de Bordeaux.
Chen and his wife joined us for the evening, as did Privy Seoul Ambassador Stream Lee; Ted Lai, SVP of Warner Brothers China; Beijing banker Joe Chang; private equity investor Shaw Chen; Machiko Kodaka, international businesswoman from Tokyo; Tina Cheng, head of Jigo City Taiwan and the new Groupon for Asia; Lisa Chang, PR extraordinaire in Shanghai; Esther Song of ES Song Group; and Clement Lee, owner of Ministry of Sound Singapore among other businesses.
To start off the evening, Privy guests mingled and enjoyed free flowing Varnier- Fanniere Grand Cru (unlocked with a secret Privy password) on the restaurant's beautiful 6th-floor terrace. We shared stories and sipped away while savoring the breathtaking panoramic view of the Shanghai skyline.
Before we knew it, it was time to move inside to our own spacious corner of the 6th-floor lounge area for dinner. Elegant lighting reflected off the weathered brown-gray wood floors, adding a touch of warmth to the modern space. Whimsical steakhouse-themed pop art, including a couple framed Andy Warhol prints, adorned the bright red wall to one side of our party, while brick and glass walls stood adjacent.
The setting was the perfect backdrop for the tasting journey we were about to embark on, and we were privileged to have Bigbee as our knowledgeable tour guide. We began with an appetizer course of ahi tuna napolean canapé on brioche paired with a 2009 Bordeaux White, Enclos de Tour d'Auron. Next we had a lobster cappuccino cup with black truffle infusion. We were able to try both a 2005 Lalande de Pomerol, Chateau Sergant and a 2005 Lussac Saint Emilion, Chateau Lyonnat with this course. We moved onto our first main course of Petrosian chicken and shrimp with caviar, which we enjoyed along with a 1996 Chateau Lyonnat. The climax of the meal came with the second main course of roast USDA Angus filet mignon with a trio of julienne and an au poivre demi glaze. We took our time savoring our final vintages of wine--a 1976 Chateau Sergant and a 1970 Chateau Lyonnat Magnum--with this course. The meal was topped off with a chocolate fondant with raspberry coulis and french vanilla ice cream.
The wines were exquisite, the dishes on point, and the pairings perfectly conceived. There's nothing quite like wine and delicious food to facilitate a lively evening of hearty laughter, vibrant conversations, and an all-around good time. Bigbee's thoughtful discussions of the wines educated our minds and enlightened our palates.
Once the food and wine were gone, we weren't ready to part ways, so we headed out for a night on the town. We stopped by Drop, a Hong Kong import, before heading over to the grand opening of Prive (How appropriate, right?!), also from Hong Kong. It seems like the the trend of Hong Kong clubs opening Shang
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