Le Bouchon Shanghai

Open in 1997, Le Bouchon is the oldest historical French restaurant in Shanghai and recipient of many events and memories. And the story shall continue…

“Le Bouchon, since a very long time…” Once upon a time… there was a very small family style restaurant that served a mouthwatering array of rustic French dishes in such an authentic decorum that you would forget being in Shanghai. A new story is about to start. One of those that end happily ever after, and fill your stomach and soul... Some says Le Bouchon exactly straddles two different districts: Jing An and Minhang, and is therefore submitted to none. Some says it was once a high place of diplomatic intrigues. Some even says it is haunted… Open in 1997, Le Bouchon is the oldest historical French restaurant in Shanghai and recipient of many events and memories. And the story shall continue… After being hungry visitors of Le Bouchon for over 15 years, FnB veteran Charles Belin and partner Denise Unkel, an avid entrepreneur and foodie, decided to revive what they like to present to be the frenchest French restaurant in town. “It’s very simple, says Belin, at Le Bouchon you were never really in China anymore. It is France. All these years Le Bouchon has been a refuge when feeling homesick. This place has never failed in bringing childhood memories back. Madeleine de Proust effect guaranteed. I want Le Bouchon to remain this quirky, out-of-time sort of French tavern operating in the most traditional way and providing family style, generous, tasty and rustic French cuisine. As a matter of fact, I will introduce few of my grandmother’s recipes including a honey roasted pork knuckle, farm eggs deviled and a “very fondant” chocolate cake inherited from my grand-auntie which I have kept the handwritten recipe of since I am 9 years old.” If Le Bouchon has never closed in nineteen years, it had kept quite silent for the past years but Belin says “it is too unusual for a French to keep so quiet! I have decided to tickle and revive it! We miss the loud chatter, the laughter, the smell of garlic and parsley warm butter. Le Bouchon has the potential to be the guardian of authentic French cuisine it used to be; and not only to please our French fellow citizens, but to entertain and ravish a majority of non French guests wanting to experience the rusticity and candor of a traditional French.” For the food, Belin and Unkel have called back Chef Michael Jakovljev (previously executive Chef at KEE Club and presently opening his own restaurant “Plume” in the French culinary region of Alsace). Chef Jakovljev and Belin have designed a strong minded, full taste cuisine, some timeless French paired with wines from the cellar, exclusively French biensûre. Le Bouchon will reopen in September just in time for to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. Expect a jolly noise and some French “Joyeux Anniversaire” singing to animate the quiet corner of Wuding and Jiangsu.