SHANGHAI, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- During the just concluded Shanghai Coffee Culture Week, Corentin Delcroix, a Shanghai-based French chef, indulged the city's caffeine addicts with his desserts, that contain a touch of coffee -- non-alcohol whiskey flavored coffee caramel puddings.
He shared his recipe with Chinese netizens via social media, gaining thousands of "likes" for his delicate design.
Shanghai, an international metropolis diverse in taste, boasts more than 7,000 coffee shops and the world's most Starbucks outlets -- over 940 franchises. For Delcroix it's just a 15-minute walk from home to the nearest 10 coffeehouses.
Having been observing the city's coffee consumption market for decades, the Frenchman found the city's innovative spirit the most impressive. "There are various assortments of flavors, and you could always find new beans and recipes," he said.
The Chinese megacity's inexhaustible creativity deeply enchanted Delcroix. "Innovation, as the unique flavor of Shanghai, is what attracts me most to this city. And it could be also tasted in the coffee here," he added.
Like many other foreigners in the city, Delcroix takes a cup of sugar-free black coffee brewed in a French press with his wife every morning. When it comes to the afternoon, he prefers to share coffee and desserts with colleagues in the studio to perk themselves up.
Hailing from Douai, northern France, the gourmet recalls family members enjoying coffee at teatime during his childhood. As a child, he would wonder what he would think of the bittersweet taste of coffee as an adult. "Coffee was a little bitter for children, and I thought I would be a true grown-up when I could savor it."
Though the chef always comes up with new ideas on novel dishes, he regards himself "quite conservative about coffee." He finds many coffee products in Shanghai have come out of the box very well and still taste great while maintaining some of the traditional flavors.
The Frenchman was fascinated by a myriad of Chinese cuisines when he first visited China in 2002. After further studying French cuisines in his home country, Delcroix came back to China and started his own business in Shanghai, developing new dishes while updating food blogs.
"I once put some preserved vegetables in foie gras to add some Shanghai flavors and it was a successful attempt. Therefore, it became quite natural to add coffee, which is popular among Shanghai residents, when making the caramel pudding," he said. Many of his awesome ideas were inspired by his wife, a local resident in Shanghai.
Now, Delcroix hopes to contribute more to the splendid food culture exchanges between China and France in the future, while continuing to share his novel recipes and enrich the dining experience for his customers.
"Open your mind and you will find many chances awaiting in Shanghai," he said. ■
