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chocolate fountain corner
with pink or green or blue meringues and things on sticks It's Sunday - I decided to take a hit for Patti and James by going to the Waldorf Astoria for lunch - research you see.
I checked The whole of the Waldorf Astoria out last night, walking around as if I was staying there. A smartly-suited Australian man walked by and said 'Good Evening' without breaking his stride and, with a slight nodding bow of his head. Such a confident swing.
The tiny hook of elaborate attention to every possible detail pulled me to return today. This place is full of wealth and glamour but it isn't that that attracts me, it's the languid calmness of the place and the attention to every possible tiny architectural detail in how the rooms curve, how the light falls, how the elaborate floral decorations sit symmetrically exactly directly below huge vaulted ceilings holding crystal chandeliers or in front of ink paintings, it's how the baby grand piano is played, how the place is decorated in appropriate crystal, mosaics, carpets, silver and leather, how the clack clack of a woman's heel sounds as she walks across the floor and the sharp pin-pointed, charismatic, attention given to every customer that walks in the door
by the Director, Jonah.
Spending huge amounts of money on food and seeing so much go to waste doesn't work for me so when I was faced with brunch - something which lasts 3 hours and you can order anything from the A la Carte and eat anything from the buffet was a bit too much and went against the grain.
Before I sit I ask, could you tell me how much lunch is? Yes, 248rmb says the hostess, so I'm happy to sit not knowing how it works or what comes next.
Good afternoon, would you like sparking water or still?
Ho, what perfect English, I say to the really lovely waitress, - sparkling please.
And, would you like the brunch win or no win?
mmm, this win thing - I'm sorry, I don't understand and then she repeats it and the penny drops. It is 880rmb (95 English pounds) for the brunch with wine and 680rmb without.
Oh, I don't drink wine and how did lunch get to be 680 or 880rmb? I realise that the Waldorf is not really a place that you ask the price but when brunch
the long restaurant
you can see my place - cleared is fully explained - 3 hours - you can order anything from the A la Carte plus eat anything from the huge, vast, expansive buffet that reaches the length of a tennis court for 680rmb, I sit in wonder. So let me figure this out - more food than I normally eat in a week for 680rmb? The water is already poured but I still can't do this.
I'm sorry but I don't want to eat this amount of food. It is too much and too expensive. So she says she will ask the director, I sit back and wait drinking the water and she comes back with a compromise - the A la Carte - I can have anything on the menu (3 courses) except the lobster for 300rmb. I'm happy.
I'm comfortable in any situation, in any place in the world. I've lived at Chatsworth and been to some pretty elaborate dinners, and cocktail parties there, I've been to lunch with Patti and James works at the Criterion in Piccadilly where Irakli welcomes us with the grace and attention of a cultured, educated owner of a grand restaurant to be proud of but the Waldorf is
something quite different and I am still slightly captivated by it and only wish Patti could see it all and that James could see all the food, and that Jess could eat it.
I'm happy not having access to all those sweet, rich deserts - after all, how many rich deserts could I eat before feeling sick especially after not having eaten a biscuit or any chocolate for nearly 3 weeks?
I choose eggs benedict, steak (why?) with truffle pasta and a dessert of almond profiteroles with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce and sit back. Actually, I sit on a cushion because I am too low for the table. It's beautiful everywhere and I spend 2 hours off the street, out of the searing 35 degree heat and eat just enough. In the end, someone - I'm not sure if it was Jonah or the waitress, brings me Earl Grey tea and two of the small cakes from the spread in front.
In all honesty, just walking around this place and sitting in a gentle calm when all outside is chaos, is worth the money and whether research or just Sunday
afternoon pleasure - I recommend the Waldorf Astoria, No 2, The Bund, Shanghai to everyone. Call it what you want but it is an absolute delight, if you don't look a the wasted food.
8th July - 6am.
a little stroll along the Bund under the Kites watching everyone and I am invited to play badminton by a rather nifty lady who quite by chance has a spare raquet. She totally thrashes me but we laugh and laugh. These are actually the moments that are more precious than a fancy dinner.
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Andi
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Thanks for amazing travel adventures
Tracey This is an amazing adventure to share. Big thanks really enjoying it luv Andi x