Portofino, the residential development owned by the Overseas Chinese Town in the Nanshan district, has been a magnet for expatriates since its opening five years ago. The neighborhood is as close to western-style living as you can find in Shenzhen, perhaps Guangdong. That is not so much because of the design of the apartments and townhouses, but because of the ambience that has been created here by the developers. It is almost comparable to Discovery Bay in Hong Kong, with a strong community atmosphere centered on a ìplazaî which, in Portofinoís case, is set around a small lake called Swallowís Home.
The lake is really more of a pond, but it does have real ducks – and not the kind you would expect to be served up at one of the outdoor tables of the signature Cantonese restaurants here, the Laurel.
The Laurel has become a household name in Shenzhen, with three other branches around the city, including the dim sum restaurant at Luohu Commercial City that has a standard one-hour waiting time for a table. It deserves the reputation, as its food is superb. We particularly enjoyed the fish cooked with fresh vegetables and fruits, which is a kind of fusion food. But all the Cantonese standards are cooked with care here, too.
Clustered around the pond is a collection of restaurants, most of which offer tasty fare of varying styles. We enjoyed the western-style Princeís CafÈ, where our waiter prepared the caesar salad with a base of mustard and soy sauce at our table. The pasta sauce was well balanced and the service was attentive but not overbearing ñ which is rare for western restaurants in Shenzhen. Around the corner is the Brownís Wine and Cigar Bar, which is a high-class place for fine wines, cigars, and delicacies such as Swiss cheese.
