[Shanghai] 8 Hands Dinner @ Unico

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8 Hands Dinner (2015)
Location: Unico by Mauro Colagreco
中山东一路3号外滩3号2楼(中山东一路广东路口) – Floor 2, Bund No. 3, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu near Guangdong Lu (黄浦区 Huangpu District)
Date: April 1, 2015
Price:
RMB¥498 + 10% service charge per person

Every year, 4 chefs and their 8 hands come together under one roof to create an odyssey of a meal. Our 8 talented hands this year were Mauro Colagreco (Unico), Michael Wendling (Cuivre/T for Thai/CU2+), Brad Turley (Goga/Hai by Goga), and Scott Melvin (The Commune Social). No need for introductions for any of these esteemed chefs of Shanghai.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

First things first, we drink. Unico has opened a second bar called El Lab serving a small selection of drinks with premium spirits.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Cottonpolitan with vodka, cranberry juice, and quinoa. The cotton candy melts as soon as the liquid is poured into the glass. A sweet but potent drink.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Our busy chefs working on the main event in the kitchen. It is a war zone in there but it is a delicious one. Clockwise from top left: Chefs Scott Melvin, Brad Turley, Michael Wendling, and Mauro Colagreco.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

We started with Unico’s signature warm Argentinean bread to share.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

What can make foie gras even better? Bacon. Three epic slabs of foie gras “torchon” with bacon jam, orange port wine & balsamic juice (MW). That’s a per person portion.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Refreshing bay shrimp & spring pea salad with feta, leaves crostini (BT).

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

A surprisingly delightful combination of grilled broccoli, beetroot tartare, goats curd, crispy chicken skin (SM). The beetroot and goats curd matched so well together and I always love my chicken skin. The broccoli was a bit hard and could have been steamed longer.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Beef soup, light turnip & beans (TB) was a bit salty so just a few sips.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Surf & turf mains: crusted tuna loin, hummus, baked bell pepper & coriander (MW) and Argentinian tenderloin paired with sesame sauce & roasted vegetables (MC).

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Spicy crust and peppers reminiscent of Southeast Asia flavors.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Great Argentinian beef paired with an excellent sauce.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Crumbles of bits and pieces of smoked white chocolate, coffee, aniseed & lemon (SM) in true Commune Social fashion.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

Staying true to his Argentinian roots, Chef Mauro’s dessert resembled a deconstructed alfajor with dulce de leche, coconut, and cornstarch cookie (MC). Alfajor is a dulce de leche cookie with many variations across Spain and South America (see El Bodegon for a traditional Peruvian version). Perfect ending.

8 Hands Dinner Shanghai

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