Calypso Restaurant & Lounge at Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai recently launched their spring and summer seasonal menu, curated by Chef de Cuisine Tonino Giglio.
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The menu centers around the equally colorful and fresh flavors of Mediterranean cuisines – including Spain, southern France, and a strong emphasis on authentic and rustic Italian cuisine – offering diners a culinary-driven “vacation” to the Mediterranean Sea.
Image courtesy of Calypso
Hailing from Ancona, a seaport city in eastern Italy, Chef Giglio sports a pedigree of over 20 years of cooking experience across the globe – from Naples to Singapore and the Maldives to Vietnam, ultimately landing in Shanghai.
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His cooking theory is simple – interpret Mediterranean flavors combined with local seasonal produce to recreate the wholesome feeling of joy and warmth one experiences when dining with close family and friends.
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Case in point, Chef Giglio’s family recipe for Trippa All’Anconetana (RMB98) – showcasing stewed veal tripe and cannellini beans in a light tomato broth.
Coated in a generous shaving of melted parmesan cheese, the casserole pot is sheathed by a pizza dough topper, one that bubbles and chars as it bakes, locking in all of the moisture and flavor of the ingredients below.
The result is expertly cooked tripe – springy without being mushy, best enjoyed atop a tear of tomato sauce-dunked crispy crust.
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Sous vide Octopus (RMB128) tentacles encircle crispy potatoes, vine-ripened tomatoes and fried squash and zucchini crisps, dotted with zippy paprika aioli and chili oil.
With a flavor profile similar to Galician pulpo a la gallega, this dish is an homage to coastal Spain, with a Shanghai twist.
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Ensure your daily five servings of fruits and vegetables with the Grilled Peach & Ricotta Salad (RMB98) – a toss of mesclun greens, grilled Wuxi peaches (prized throughout the country for their honey-like sweetness), ricotta cheese, toasted walnuts, radish, and swirling 'roses' of freshly sliced avocado, all tossed in a delicate sherry wine vinaigrette
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Perfect for sharing, the Seafood Crudité (RMB218/2 persons, RMB408/4 persons) showcases the high-quality seafood on offer at Calypso.
Citrus marinated tuna belly, cured salmon draped in a crisp fennel salad and dollops of sour cream, marinated anchovies and red bell pepper slivers, plus a trio of dipping sauces – basil pesto, Greek tzatziki, and mashed guacamole – make up this refreshingly balanced plate.
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Pan-seared then baked salmon filet is the centerpiece of the Salmone alla Puttanesca (RMB218), a crackly crispy skin encases demurely flaky flesh, accented by baked potatoes, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers and basil pesto, all swimming in a white wine reduction.
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A true taste of southern Italy, the grilled Lobster Linguini (RMB298) sees half of an herb oil-slathered Boston lobster presented alongside prawn ragu, flecked with shaved lemon skin and salt-forward bottarga, all bathing in a mildly spicy, thin tomato sauce.
Other homemade seasonal pastas span thick tubes of Paccheri alla Carbona (RMB138) to purple potato Gnocchi Al Gorgonzola E Noci (RMB128) to home-made squid ink Tagliolini allo Scoglio (RMB188/2 person, RMB368/4 persons).
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Baked in a Napoli pizza oven, the Focaccia e Mortadella Pizza (RMB148) sees a thick slather of pistachio mousse adorned with paper thin ribbons of Italian-imported Mortadella ham, and garnished with seasonal heirloom tomatoes and a nip of chili oil.
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A white chocolate sphere encases Fiori vanilla gelato, lemon mousse and cookie crumble as the Lemon Raspberry Sphere (RMB78).
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A warm raspberry coulis poured tableside seeps crimson raspberry sauce out of each crevice, pooling in viscous, plasma-like puddles around a shmear of sticky lemon curd holding the sphere in place.
Tart and light, this sweet finish is much more than just beautiful presentation.
Happy Hour at Calypso
Image courtesy of Calypso
With seating for 90 people inside and 70 in the outside courtyard, Calypso is the ideal place to unwind after in the afternoon sun.
From 5pm until 8pm every day, the upstairs space offers a buy-one-get-one happy hour deal for RMB98 (including all taxes and service charge fees) on selected cocktails, tap beer and wine that guests can mix and match.
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Choose from Aperol Spritz, Negroni, Gin Basil Smash, G&T, Espresso Martini and more, plus five wines, Asahi and Stella.
Image courtesy of Calypso
Enjoy your drinks in the airy two-story glasshouse, designed by world-famous architect, Shigeru Ban. The tall glass panels upstairs retract in the warmer months for guests to enjoy alfresco dining surrounded by greenery, yet in the heart of the city.
The upstairs opens at 5pm on weekdays (just in time for happy hour to start), and 2pm on weekends.
Bonus: From now through July 31, Calypso is also offering all day discounts on selected bubbles bottles, including:
A bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose for just RMB898 (originally RMB1,385)
A bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut NV for RMB768 (originally RMB1,108)
A bottle of Dom Perignon Brut Vintage 2012 for just RMB2,388 (originally RMB3,381)
There are 10 discounted bottles of bubbles to choose from, and the deal is available all day, every day through the end of July!
Image courtesy of Calypso
Calypso Restaurant & Lounge, South Wing Plaza, Jing-An Kerry Center, 1218 Yan'an Zhong Lu, by Anyi Lu 延安中路1218号静安嘉里中心南区广场, 近安义路.
[Cover image by Sophie Steiner/That's]
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