Michelin-rated chefs shine in Shanghai

The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong has assembled seven culinary luminaries, with 10 Michelin stars between them, to strut their stuff at the hotel chain's 3rd annual Asia-Pacific Food and Wine Festival.

But the chefs themselves are surprisingly modest. "Forget the ratings and just enjoy the food," says Sergi Arola, the 2-star champion of Catalonian cuisine from Barcelona, who seems as eager to talk about his rock-and-roll guitar-playing and his motorcycle-riding as about his food. "This food festival is a party," he says, raising a glass of Tio Pepe sherry.

Massimo Bottura, the 3-star headliner in the group, jokes that he "took the snottiest thing in French cuisine and shaped it like an ice-cream bar."

The hazelnut-crusted result had plenty of flavor and panache — and a little preciousness, too: Buttura filled each foie gras croccantino with 100-year-old basalmic vinegar made by his family. The four-day food fest ends Sunday.

Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong; 8 Century Avenue; 021-2020-1888

June 15 events: 11:30 am - 2 pm, Cantonese luncheon by chef Daniel Wong paired with 2004 Dom Perignon Champagne, 488 per person (champagne extra) Noon - 2:30 pm, All-Star Brunch, paired with 2004 Dom Perignon Champagne, 1,288 per person (champagne extra) 1:30 pm - 5 pm, Italian afternoon tea by chef Rafael Charquero, 298 per person (sparkling wine extra)