[My Weekender]: Olivier Ceccaldi

Olivier Ceccaldi is General Manager of Zeal. With his Kung-fu powers, he can rip your heart from your chest while simultaneously making himself a delicious smoothie.

My Weekender (I mean literally mine) is a laugh because due to the F&B industry I work in, my whole week is a “weekend” in the sense of partying, ahem…working till late and waking up late. Fridays and Saturdays are, of course, the busiest work days for me, but I manage to sneak in some relaxation time, grab some good food, and see some friends (or, better yet, make them come to see me…)

Friday, I get up earlier than the literal weekend mornings as it's the last day to see my office colleagues for meetings and to tie up things loose ends for weekend events. I am also trying to get back to the wushu level of my youth, when I was actually quite the martial artist. But the shifu is tough and my age, well it hurts. Sometimes the gym is a better option. Moving on… though I love the local food here in Shanghai and happily eat post-work breakfasts on Fangbang Lu with my team, I take advantage to have a late lunch at Chambar before the onslaught of Friday night.

Site check for Zeal ops, then I meet with our new resident DJ D.O.Q., who will launch a funky new disco event called Studio 22 on…(drum roll, please...) July 22nd! I admit my age when I say “I like it aha aha.”

Dinner sees me move to MMB for the great food, and friends too, of course! After yakking to all my fellow Frenchies, I dash to Barbarossa for wake-me-up shots with Greg.

Then show time starts. My work “day” begins.

Saturday morning at 5am as Zeal winds down. I've got a couple of options:
1. Dragon for a drink(s) until they kick me out at a respectable hour.
2. Sneak home now at the current respectable hour.

Whichever I choose, Saturday still starts at the same time: just after lunchtime. It’s a homemade organic health smoothie before I run to Zeal to do ops site check for Saturday night. It’s going to be a busy Saturday as I plan to drop by the Wharf 1846 Music Festival next door to meet mon ami Philippe who is organizing the Hi-Tec Summer Trinity DJ fest next Friday 15th. That will be a super long night for me as we are hosting their After Party after our own fashionable and crazy Wasabi party! Yeah! (Red Bull diet for me that night!)

My stomach growls. Oh, I was thinking too far ahead. I haven’t eaten yet. Ok. Choices, choices. That’s the wonderful thing about Shanghai – the variety to choose from in food and drink. If I am in a rush, then I go to BRIX downstairs from Zeal to have some fab hearty pub food courtesy of Mario and tap beer at my table... Or maybe Nougatine and a glass of wine with Jacky. Choices.

Sunday, my day of rest and recovery starts at 3pm with a late breakfast (or brunch) with friends either at Franck, if he lets me in, or Xintiandi. Then I hit my favorite DVD haunts on Dagu Lu or Xinle Lu with a taxi booked straight thereafter to my sofa. Chilling, the remains of the day with la joie de vivre.