Grand Chronicles: Meet our Chef

The magic of Grand Hyatt Shanghai comes from the Culinary Team headed by Executive Chef, Michael Dinges.  With a family heritage deeply rooted in the restaurant business, his fondest memories include standing at his family’s butchery counter at 2-yrs old and cooking with his grandparents. His calling to be a chef started as a 6-year old child because, “I like cooking, I like eating”.

As a father, Chef Michael enjoys his time playing with his daughter. He believes food is also a way for kids to explore with colors and flavors. This bond through food can also teach children the healthy ways of selecting ingredients and having fun through cooking.

Chef Michael will launch a Summer Weekend package where parents and children are given an opportunity to take a culinary class together.

Parents and Kids Cooking Class

Every weekend from July 1 to August 30, 2015

Time: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Price: CNY 228 per adult (kids are free when attending classes with a parent)

Free for parents and kids when purchasing the "Summer Weekend Package"

Venue: Cucina, Canton, Wine Bar

The 6th Jieqie-- Guyu

The 24 “Jieqi” in in Chinese calendar are 24 sub-seasons representing different climates. This calendar is the crystallization of wisdom and accumulated agricultural experiences. 

Traditional Chinese society evolved around farming. And patterns of the sun were the greatest consideration. Hence, how the earth orbits round the sun were carefully calculated. And “jieqi” had become the predictor of the farming schedule. On the other hand, the relatively famous--Chinese Lunar Calendar involves the cycles of both the sun and the moon. 

“Guyu” is the sixth jieqi of the year usually occurring in mid-April of the Western calendar. It is the last sub-season of spring, indicating the cold and wet weather will end soon, temperatures will rise quickly, rains will happen more frequently and the crops’ earing speed will accelerate.