Classic moviehouse on the peak of Moganshan Mountain in China transformed into The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace

MOGANSHAN, Zhejiang Province, China - The team behind Le Passage Mohkan Shan, a French-style luxury country house hotel and restaurant situated a 2.5 hour drive from Shanghai in China, is delighted to unveil its newest chic Moganshan destination – The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace. Located at the peak of the scenic bamboo-covered mountain, The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace transforms a heritage moviehouse dating from the 1970s.

The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace will showcase the gourmet fare and French savoir faire that guests savour at Le Passage Mohkan Shan, the country house hotel located further down the mountain. The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace is taking dining at the top of the mountain to the next level serving a signature selection of Western-style food. It will remain open until late at weekends, making it a welcome destination for evening dining, lounging and entertainment on the peak.

Talented Head Chef Toyo Koda from Japan will oversee the kitchen at The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace. Chef Toyo was voted one of the ‘Top 35 Chefs in Asia’ by the San Pellegrino Restaurant Awards in 2013 for his work as Head Chef at acclaimed French restaurant Franck in Shanghai. He became Executive Chef of Le Passage Mohkan Shan in 2015, where he crafts fine French and organic cuisine. His aim is to establish Moganshan as an international gourmet destination in the wilderness. Prior to moving to China, Chef Toyo worked at some of Paris’ finest restaurants including Les Saveurs de Flora, Le Sens and Hotel Plaza Athenee.

The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace is a relaxed space to dine and lounge in style in the original mountaintop enclave popularized by vacationing Shanghai elites in the 1930s. The menu focuses on French bistro classics and light snacks.

Homemade gourmet pizzas are a specialty, including the signature Bamboo and chicken pizza using seasonal organic bamboo freshly harvested from the Moganshan forests. Guests can also order pizzas for delivery to anywhere on the mountain. French rotisserie chicken, salads, homemade sausages and terrines, and a cold cut and cheese platter are other specialties on the menu. Desserts include tiramisu, mango misu and Le Passage’s famous homemade ice cream using fresh milk imported from France.

A sophisticated drinks menu includes wines by the glass or bottle, local and international beers, plus a selection of expertly mixed cocktails. Sipping a Margarita or a specially-crafted French-inspired cocktail by Grand Marnier in the lounge bar or on the mountain-view terrace rooftop is a spectacular new Moganshan experience. Red ball Grand Marnier glasses and ice cubes will become a feature of the summer at Moganshan, with the cocktails being featured up and down the mountain.

The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace is housed in a stone building dating from the 1970s. It occupies the high-ceilinged space that was originally the lobby area of a movie cinema. Interiors incorporate original features, including exposed stone walls and patterned terrazzo floors. Huge Colorful cartoon portraits and art-deco inspired paintings on the walls create an atmosphere that harks back to the golden age of cinema. The restaurant seats 120 guests in the main dining room, with an open kitchen, plus 100 on the rooftop terrace.

An adjoining heritage building, also managed by Le Passage Mohkan Shan,offers the biggest private event space on the top of the mountain hosting up to 300 guests with plenty of scope for creative events, conferences and parties. A casual food court concept will open here in August 2015, serving grab-and-go delights such as hot dogs, popcorn, candy floss and soft-serve ice cream.

The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terrace is part of a larger entertainment concept set to be completed in 2016. At that time, the 500-seat tiered cinema auditorium beside The Old Cinema Restaurant Bar & Terracewill be filled with water to become a stunning swimming pool and clubhouse welcoming guests for swimming, pool parties, movie screenings and other special events.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia