When college buds Chen Xin and He Qiqian quit their prestigious jobs at Standard Chartered to open a salad bar, their families weren’t exactly thrilled.
“I didn’t tell my wife or in-laws for months,” says Chen, wincing at the memory. “In China, decisions have to win approval from the whole family, and I was sure they’d say no.”
Chen and He have been inseparable since university, finding jobs together at HSBC before pursuing identical career paths. The world of banking, however, meant long, tedious days beneath the glare of fluorescent lights. Ten years into the practice, the two slipped into a routine of paper cuts, instant noodles and burgeoning bellies.
“We both gained weight without even really noticing,” explains He. “On weekday nights, we would leave work around 8pm, rush to a fast-food place and just inhale our food. So on weekends, it seemed okay to treat ourselves to a nicer – albeit large – meal, which probably wasn’t great for our bodies either.”
Instead of surrendering to workplace woes, the duo conspired to pack up their desk plants and turn to a fresh venture: opening a wholesome Western cafe in Mall of the World.
The eatery, O’New (which is supposed to sound like ‘all new’), champions a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. A collection of robust salads (designed to fill, not starve) comprise the bulk of the menu, along with a creamy spinach pesto pasta (RMB48) and panini (RMB30-43) that have a bad habit of selling out by noon.
When it comes to the greens, you really can’t go wrong. The slow-cooked Norwegian salmon salad (RMB58), for instance, is dressed with fresh asparagus, kidney beans, bell peppers, baby corn, olives and yellow mustard.
More obscure combos include the quinoa fresh mushroom salad with green grape dressing (RMB40) and the avocado and grapefruit over romaine, drizzled with mint sauce (RMB40).
In the case of the Mediterranean roast beef and potato with Middle Eastern dressing (RMB58), the tender steak reveals the quality of ingredients at O’New, which – aside from the locally sourced seafood – are either imported or purchased at Western supermarkets in Haizhu.
The olive oil grilled vegetable salad with balsamic vinaigrette (RMB45) combines roasted bell peppers, pumpkin, potatoes, mushrooms, squash, cashews and okra for an eclectic mash-up of vitamins and minerals. Though taste buds may long for a fatty foil to the veggie overload (like cheese), the dish is – largely to the stubbornness of O’New’s founders – undeniably nutritious.
The coolest part of the cafe’s well-being initiative? Customers will soon receive discounts on meals based on their level of exercise for the week, confirmed via apps like Health on iPhones or Nike+ Running. A specific scheme is still in the works.
Sitting before a wall of orange outlets – O’New’s signature logo – the two friends reflect on the greater vision of their endeavor.
“We hope this will be a place for people to refuel and recharge,” concludes He.
Price: RMB50
Who’s going: Athletes, businessmen on lunch break
Good for: Exercise-based discounts, outlandish but delicious dressings
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