Travel in Shanghai: loads of life in 'little Europe'(2)
Unorthodox displays of shoes.
Coffee Tree and the Franck Restaurant
Walking past the two-storey Leo Gallery, there's a European-style café with a serene outdoor seating area. This branch of the chain Coffee Tree is significantly less busy than some of its equivalents. With its mid-size outdoor patio overlooking the goings-on of Ferguson Lane, the café is a dependable quiet spot to get some work done on weekends. Suited business men huddled behind laptops or talking on cell phones are a common sight. The Coffee Tree offers organic coffee and a variety of afternoon teas, as well as a selection of sandwiches and snacks.
Located a few paces further down the road is the French themed restaurant known as Franck.
Franck is known for its exclusively French menu (no Chinese or English language menu provided), and executive chef and restaurant owner Franck Pecol has 25 years experience in the catering industry. Last year Franck was elected best French Bistro in Shanghai by Food and Wine magazine.
There is something rather singular and old-fashioned about Franck that strikes the customer as soon as they enter the restaurant. An elegant and casual atmosphere pervades, as diners tuck into the high priced but quality wine and authentic French bistro food.
Apparently Franck himself wakes up early everyday to ensure the freshest ingredients are purchased from the local market. However don't be fooled into thinking that because the food is bought locally, it will be served at a low price. Like many French restaurants in Shanghai, the average cost of a meal at Franck's is around 500 yuan ($73.24).
Fashion catering to European demands
To satisfy the need for affordable European fashion is one matter, but solving the often heard complaint among expatriates of being unable to find their size, in China, is quite another. Dutch Items Shanghai (D.I.S) in Ferguson Lane is a place designed to solve both of these problems.
Stylish and urban-style clothing are available at D.I.S at relatively affordable prices. A cocktail dress costs around 300 yuan ($43.94), and a polo shirt less than 200 yuan ($29.29).
Walking deep into the lane, on the left side, it is possible to find the shoe shop Mary Ching. Co-designed by London and Shanghai architects, this two-storey boutique displays shoes in a refreshingly bizarre fashion. Footwear is displayed on synthetic legs, which stick out of the shop wall. The platform shoes there have a four-inch height and are designed to be worn with sophisticated outfits. The shop has a tasteful blend of European and Asian influences.
