Home Banquet with a Feng-Shui Master

What To Expect

In this three-hour exploration, you will visit a local lady's cozy home in the center of downtown. While enjoying an exquisite family-style luncheon in Shanghainese culinary, you will try Mahjong (麻将), the Chinese house party game that has been popular for over hundreds of years as a derivative of Feng Shui (风水), and learn a bit about how the Chinese use Feng Shui to mitigate anxiety or depression instead of seeing a psychologist. YOUR CAPTAIN: Sophia Dong Born and raised in Shanghai, ex-expat in Paris for over ten years, Sophia is an expert in both eastern and western culinary and dining etiquettes. Sophia is the kind of person that always cherishes the moments with her friends and loved ones. Often at home, she entertains them with three remarkable talents—her culinary skills, enthusiasm in Feng Shui reading, and prowess in Mahjong (she modestly yet proudly claims to have a win rate of nine out of ten games). “If we play mahjong together", says Sophia, "it means my home is your home”. LANGUAGES: Sophia speaks English, French and Chinese GROUP SIZE: 4-8 guests PLACE TYPE: Private Home EXPLORATION DETAILS You will turn into the alley of "Wuyuan Road," one of the most artistic small streets in Shanghai, and ascend the steep wooden stairs. Suddenly, the view brightens. Sophia's dining room is located on the top floor of a row of old villas, where sunlight pours down onto the balcony and the dining table unobstructed. Then, enjoy a formal 10-14 course private home banquet, including appetizers, main courses, staple foods and desserts. Sophia's exceptional culinary talent lies in her ability to craft traditional Shanghainese delicacies with a modern twist. With the use of premium oils, seasonings, and ingredients, you will savor the quintessential home-cooked dish found in the banquets of ordinary Shanghai households—red-braised pork; you will also encounter moreish morels, a common ingredient in French cuisine, but here they are paired with fresh shrimp in a technique known as "stuffed" or "酿" in Chinese. After the meal, you will receive a beginner's introduction to feng-shui and mahjong. In China, mahjong is more than just a game; it is a social glue that brings families and friends together. During festive seasons, mahjong tables are often set up. It's a game of strategy and patience in endless unpredictable odds, embodying the ancient Chinese philosophy perpetuated through I Ching and Feng Shui.