Oh What a Night
It was such a lovely evening last night that we decided to go to the 7 Days for tea. We were intending to go on our bikes, but D's tyre had burst earlier (quite literally - it went with a very loud bang - we thought he'd been shot) so we decided that we would walk, but J would go on her bike to speed the journey up a bit. As I have explained earlier, 7 Days stands at the end of a new block of shops and restaurants that are becoming more occupied by the day - although mostly by Estate Agents unfortunately. As it is so new, I don't think I have ever seen more than 8 people in the 7 Days at a time - although it is a club (on the ground floor) as well as as a restaurant (on the second and third floors) - so for all I knew it could be packed to the rafters come 1.00am. Nevertheless, as we turned the corner we were a bit surprised to say the least to discover the car park was full of Rolls Royces, Mercedes and BMWs. We handed J's bike over to the smartly attired attendant so he could valet park it in the bike rack, feeling a little out of place in our jeans and D's t-shirt with "AVE IT" emblazoned across it. The finishing touches were obviously being applied to some sort of firework display in the far corner of the car park, and the steps to the restaurant now had a red carpet up the middle with large flower displays on each step. As we went up the steps, we could see that the restaurant was packed - my cafe au lait was looking a bit unlikely now. At that moment, the doors opened, everyone poured out (all in dinner jackets and cocktail dresses) and the sky behind us exploded as the firework display started. There was even a man with a TV camera. Our little 7 Days had turned into a national event. We came to the conclusion that this must be marking the opening of the Club, and everyone had come for dinner first. Perhaps we'd have more chance of Pork Chops if we came back a bit later. We left J's bike in the bike rack and made our way to the Pearl Restaurant at the other end of the block.
S and I had only been here once before with friends, D and J had never been. They were a little surprised to be greeted at the door by 8 chinese girls in purple ballgowns chorussing 'Good Evening'. Still, they're used to being surprised now. We hadn't abandoned all hope of Pork Chops, so we ordered some barbecued meat as a snack. The Chicken's Feet arrived...and I knew the time had come for me to try one....I got one out of the dish with my chopsticks, and (oh god) bit into one of its toes.....but - what do you know - it tasted like chicken. Chinese chicken in fact. S had covered his eyes, but J and D were watching with morbid fascination....the next moment - J had got one out and put it on her plate!!! We urged her on, the 4 waitresses around us were motionless with disbelief, as she picked it up, shut her eyes - and bit into it. I'm sure everyone cheered! She proclaimed it disgusting, but carried on eating anyway...
We finished our barbecued meat and spicy beef, paid the bill and went back to 7 Days. It was a lot quieter now, most of the people had gone (downstairs to the club I think) so we went in to see what was happening. Although there were a lot of new waitresses there, the four or so that we know all appeared immediately from somewhere to greet us like old friends. Yompee took us upstairs, then up another spiral staircase - to the roof garden. We never even knew it had a roof garden. It was now 8.30pm, dark but still very warm. There were tables and chairs with parasols and swing seats and huge flower arrangements and subdued coloured lamps - it was beautiful. The manager (who is Belgian I think, and introduced himself to us about a week ago) came over and told us that tonight was a very special night, we were very welcome to eat there, it was a set menu of soup, roast beef, fish and dessert, and there would be no charge for the food or the drinks.
And so we spent the next hour, looking out over the twinkling lights of Shanghai at night, feeling like yet again we were on the holiday of a lifetime. In true 7 Days style though, the roast beef arrived, the soup (lobster) arrived 5 minutes later with the first dessert (bananas and apples, beautifully carved and displayed), then came the fish (salmon), followed finally by the profiteroles.
S and I had only been here once before with friends, D and J had never been. They were a little surprised to be greeted at the door by 8 chinese girls in purple ballgowns chorussing 'Good Evening'. Still, they're used to being surprised now. We hadn't abandoned all hope of Pork Chops, so we ordered some barbecued meat as a snack. The Chicken's Feet arrived...and I knew the time had come for me to try one....I got one out of the dish with my chopsticks, and (oh god) bit into one of its toes.....but - what do you know - it tasted like chicken. Chinese chicken in fact. S had covered his eyes, but J and D were watching with morbid fascination....the next moment - J had got one out and put it on her plate!!! We urged her on, the 4 waitresses around us were motionless with disbelief, as she picked it up, shut her eyes - and bit into it. I'm sure everyone cheered! She proclaimed it disgusting, but carried on eating anyway...
We finished our barbecued meat and spicy beef, paid the bill and went back to 7 Days. It was a lot quieter now, most of the people had gone (downstairs to the club I think) so we went in to see what was happening. Although there were a lot of new waitresses there, the four or so that we know all appeared immediately from somewhere to greet us like old friends. Yompee took us upstairs, then up another spiral staircase - to the roof garden. We never even knew it had a roof garden. It was now 8.30pm, dark but still very warm. There were tables and chairs with parasols and swing seats and huge flower arrangements and subdued coloured lamps - it was beautiful. The manager (who is Belgian I think, and introduced himself to us about a week ago) came over and told us that tonight was a very special night, we were very welcome to eat there, it was a set menu of soup, roast beef, fish and dessert, and there would be no charge for the food or the drinks.
And so we spent the next hour, looking out over the twinkling lights of Shanghai at night, feeling like yet again we were on the holiday of a lifetime. In true 7 Days style though, the roast beef arrived, the soup (lobster) arrived 5 minutes later with the first dessert (bananas and apples, beautifully carved and displayed), then came the fish (salmon), followed finally by the profiteroles.
posted by Linda at 11:30 AM
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