Hotel chain dishes up authentic local cuisine

"Foods in different areas are so different ... We are conscious of that and want to be able to offer authentic local foods in the hotel, especially to leisure guests," he says.

Meanwhile, connoisseurship is not just about dishes. He says in Europe, farmers come to a market with organic, boutique and hand-made produce, such as cheese, yoghurt and fruit jam. He would like to see that happen in China. The hotel is coordinating with local farmers to see what they want from them.

Koehler says he has observed some changing trends concerning food in China.

"People are still curious to try Western food. The buffet, where people can try many different things, is still popular. But they have a greater appreciation for their own cuisine," he says.

Moreover, people are more conscious of their health, and therefore eat more healthily, which affects what they choose to eat.

The restaurant business is a great indicator of economy. China's high-end dining field has been greatly affected as the Chinese government issued policies to curb waste and spending on public funds.

"For sure it had an impact. What people order and what we offer has changed as a result," says Koehler. "But there is still a lot of demand for quality produce that is good value for money that the hotel offers."

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts has many brand names, but little is known about Andaz, their hotel brand that has opened in Shanghai. But it is already successful in the US. Koehler says they are being quite careful not to just take something from the US and put it here. Instead, they are "taking comments and making changes".