Chef David Laris: Is there anything he is not doing?

 “I’m addicted to concepts,” admits Chef/Restaurateur David Laris, with a self-deprecating smile. So much so, that the Greek-Australian who opened the eponymous Laris fine-dining restaurant at Three on the Bund in 2004, is knee-deep in new project ideas.

His David Laris Creates company’s latest, The Fat Olive, is a “Greek chic” mezze and wine bar, with an expansive sixth-floor terrace near Xintiandi that has ‘Summer Sunday brunch’ written all over it. Opened in mid April, it is, Laris says, “the first of more.”

I turn 40 this year, and have worked in restaurants since I started washing dishes aged 16.

— David Laris

The roll out will begin early next year with a branch at the 2010 World Expo village, and “one other location.”

Another new David Laris project is also raising Shanghai eyebrows: Barbie Café, at the new Barbie concept store (550 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu 淮海中路550号芭比上海, 近成都南路).

“They approached me to do this about two years ago, and I said ‘No, I’m not doing Barbie,’” he laughs.

But a trip to LA to learn how Mattel plans to develop Barbie as a lifestyle and fashion brand, not just a doll collection, proved persuasive.

“I also saw who else was involved in the Shanghai project, names like Vivian Tam, Vera Wong and James Slade. It began to sound more fun.”

In addition to masterminding the Barbie Café concept and recruiting female chef Tessa Thompson from New York, Laris created the Barbie Loves Chocolate brand, and will acquire the license rights in Asia.

These projects are in addition to three Slice “upscale deli” outlets in Shanghai and an ongoing assignment with Hong Kong-based Swire Hotels.

“We conceptualized and created the restaurants and bars for them at The Opposite House boutique hotel in Beijing, and are working together on a new boutique business hotel brand, called East, in Beijing and Hong Kong,” Laris says. Waiting to be signed are “three new projects, including a 65-room boutique hotel near Shanghai.”

So, does Shanghai’s most active restaurateur ever get chance to sleep?

“Not much,” he laughs. “I turn 40 this year, and have worked in restaurants since I started washing dishes aged 16. I am grateful to be in this position now, and want to take on the best opportunities available.”

When not conceptualizing the next bar, restaurant or club, where does David Laris unwind?

“If it’s late at night, I like Muse or Velvet Lounge (1/F, Bldg 3-4, 913 Julu Lu, near Changshu Lu 巨鹿路913号3-4号楼1楼, 近常熟路). For dinner, I find myself going back to Gu Yi (87 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu 富民路87号, 近巨鹿路) for Hunan food, and the sushi bar at Park Hyatt’s 100 Century Avenue. The quality there is astounding. Mind you, so is the check at the end of the meal.”

getting there

The Fat Olive
6/F, Silver Court Building, 228 Xizhang Nan Lu, near Huaihai Lu 西藏南路228号6层会所餐厅南部2, 近淮海路, +86 21 6334 3288

Laris
3 the Bund, 6/F, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu 中山东一路3号外滩3号6楼, 近广东路, +86 (21) 6321 9922