It was only a matter of time, wasn't it? Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo had the guts to put that name out there. Congrats to you, fearless trailblazers.

The name, in fact, comes via Tokyo, where Salvatore Cuomo rules over a vast and prosperous empire of Jap-Italo vassal restaurants. XeX (pronounced "zecks") is one of them. Over there, it's a rich cocktail bar with a baby grand, and Japanese and Italian food. In Pudong, it's squeezing into part of Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo's outdoor terrace. What's a restaurant without a bar/lounge/djs/jazz singers/gazebo these days, anyway? The views from over there are sublime and the Paulaner doesn't really cut it as a lounge.

Grand Opening is this coming Friday, the 26th, but it's private. Fortunately, we've already been informed how fantastic it was/will be: "XEX ON THE BUND took guests on an indulgent evening journey of fabulous cocktails and authentic Italian and Japanese cuisines accompanied by uplifting tunes of live music performances. On the night of the glamorous opening, being intoxicated with the live Jazz band, around 150 esteemed guests released their zest for XEX ON THE BUND’s compelling cocktails. The dancing and enjoyment lasted through to midnight with many guests being reluctant to leave."

Expect that to be an accurate description of your everyday, starting this weekend.

More details, and a splendid picture, here, in Mr. Cuomo's online diary.