By Tan Weiyun (Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-24 10:35

Located in the former French Concession, Castle Oktober is a good place to pass a relaxed autumn evening.

The villa occupies about 1,300 square meters and was built nearly 70 years ago, a golden but decadent era.

The house used to belong to the three-star General Yu Jishi, who was one of the most important members of the Kuomintang Army and personal bodyguard of Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese military and political leader who assumed the leadership of the KMT after the death of Sun Yat-sen in 1925.

Today, decades later, the European style chateau, after careful renovation, has been turned into a place for wining and dining. The villa sits quietly back from Taojiang Road near the noisy and much-beaten path of Hengshan Road.

Initially built as a British country style villa, it was renovated early this year to be more German in style. It has a quality restaurant featuring continental cuisine on the second floor and a friendly woody European tavern style bar downstairs with various rooms for private parties and buffets.

The large space on the third floor with cream and black tones gives the feeling of being in an Alpine ski resort.

In addition, there is a smaller room off the main dining area with picnic benches and a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Castle Oktober provides hearty European cuisine and chef Diana Lin, who has about 20 years of experience, has just updated the menu.

Among the new additions is the watermelon salad. The fruit's sweetness combines with the arugula's peppery-ness and this is perfectly complimented by the Italian red wine and vinaigrette dressing. The creamy texture is delivered by the goat's cheese. Another is the smoked salmon dish which also involves a pancake and an avocado pear on the top. The accompanying sauce is comprised of caviar, Mirin, egg yolk and sake. The Mirin and the sake diffuse the strong smoked salmon taste while adding a slightly sweet taste that balances the salty caviar.

In addition, Oktober's sausages are worth a try. They are produced on an organic farm near Beijing.

Castle Oktober
Address: 39 Taojiang Rd
Tel: 021-6431-2668

      1   2     

      1   2