The Vine Leaf: Traditional British Fare at its Best in Beijing

A very unassuming little house on a little hutong alley, The Vine Leaf is the saving grace of traditional British fare in Beijing. No longer can people poke fun at the British for having bad food because The Vine Leaf will prove you wrong.

As an American, I guess my opinion doesn’t count for much when it comes to really knowing British comfort food or “Pub Grub” like fish & chips, steak and ale pies, Sunday roast, pasties, etc. Although I may not have grown up on it, I’ve had my fair share of Sunday roasts and meat pies in my day and in any case, it’s not only me who loves The Vine Leaf!

Every British person I know in Beijing is testifying to (and raving about) both the authenticity and excellency of The Vine Leaf’s recipes in executing these traditional British staples to perfection.

A one page menu, the offerings are straightforward and concise. A few apps, a few soups, a few pies and puddings, here is a select range of British classics that are simple, hearty and wholesome for a down-to-earth meal that will leave you satisfied and stuffed.

Keep an eye out for their chalkboard menu of daily offerings that are “off-the-menu specials” like their cheese fondue when we were there and also some daily ales and brews available by the bar or while you’re dining for a true “a pie and a pint” experience. For anyone who may prefer the Vineyard’s standard European fare, the Vine Leaf also offers The Vineyard’s entire menu spread of salads, burgers, pizzas, etc. as well.

So here you have it – from Fish & Chips, Scotch Egg, Cottage Pie, Steak & Ale Pot Pie and Apple Crumble, The Vine Leaf is serving British food at its very best:

LumDimSum Snapshots of The Vine Leaf’s Traditional British Classics:

Scotch Egg (RMB 46) served with a side salad and homemade Piccalilli Pickle

Off-the-Menu Special: Cheese Fondue Sharing Pot with platters of bread chunks, cured meat & steamed vegetables

Fish & Chips (RMB 72) / Cottage Pie (RMB 70)

Chicken & Mushroom Pie Pie (RMB 74) / Steak and Ale Pot Pie (RMB 74)

The Vine Leaf’s Apple Crumble Dessert with Custard (RMB 36)

Their Scotch Egg (RMB 46) appetizer was the one dish everyone wanted to order and the perfected cooked egg inside the layer of sausage meat and bread crumbs is something worth noting as not an easy task to master (as I was repeated told by my fellow British foodies). That being said, it was delicious and a great start to our meal.

The giant sharing pot of cheese fondue was big enough for us to share in a group of 10, passing from one end of the table to the other. We all should agree in unison that melted cheese makes everything better especially no-brainer dips like bread and cured ham, but who knew steamed veggies like broccoli, carrots and asparagus would be so good dipped in melted cheese?

Almost everyone at the table went for one of the meat pies for their main course.  I ordered the Cottage Pie (RMB 70)- the original Shepherd’s Pie with handcut beef slow cooked in beef stock and topped with mashed potatoes and a side of peas, baby carrots and bread.  I was happy with my cottage pie but after tasting a bit of everyone else’s, I’ve got to say my favorite was the Steak and Ale Pot Pie (RMB 74) with thick beef chunks, bacon and vegetables slow cooked in ale in a proper pie crust. I think the thing I was missing was a proper pie crust on my cottage pie and even the Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pie (RMB 74), which only had the pie crust on the top layer of a ceramic pot.

The Fish & Chips (RMB 72) is a generous portion and while the fish was tender and the batter was crispy, the only criticism was that the mushy peas was more like puréed peas instead of mashed peas.

In addition to the birthday cake we brought to share, we also ordered three Apple Crumble desserts (RMB 36) to be shared around the table.  Served with a side of custard, the apple crumble came fresh out of the over and it is phenomenal. Definitely another highlight to our delicious meal.

Generally, it’s a rare occasion for British people to “rave” about much, and let’s be honest, if they are excited about something, you’d hardly be able to tell most of the time! So that says a lot about The Vine Leaf already, they’ve really done something right (if not everything right) to have such a perfect score among all my British foodies in Beijing who are praising The Vine Leaf in unison, saying “finally someone’s done it right”.

LumDimSum Snapshots of The Vine Leaf:

Review of The Vine Leaf: 9 Jianchang Hutong, 箭厂胡同9号; Tel: 6407-6308

Best Part:

• The first to serve authentic, proper traditional British Classics from Fish & Chips, Scotch Egg, Steak and Ale Pie, etc.
• Owner Will Yorke has done his research and really done an excellent job with executing these British classics properly.  Instead of serving Shepherd’s Pie, he’s opted for the original Cottage Pie, with handcut beef instead of mutton. 
• Everything is simple, hearty and wholesome. 
• I highly recommend the Steak and Ale Pie (RMB 74). 
• The restaurant atmosphere is cozy and cute, you’re made to feel like you’re eating a home-cooked meal in a cottage home. Really unique and very down-to-earth.  
• This normally doesn’t make it into the “best” category, but I’ve got to say – I was dreading their bathroom knowing how most hutong bathrooms can be, but even in the dead cold of winter, their bathroom was spacious, warm and clean. By far the best hutong bathroom I’ve come across! 

Comments:

• The Vine Leaf menu is only one page, but they also offer the entire Vineyard menu for anyone looking for more selection. 
• Owner Will was kind enough to take our order and make sure everything came out promptly, but the staff was also attentive and friendly. 
• Prices are not cheap, but I think very reasonable considering the amount of attention and detail that has gone into each dish. 
• It’s down and in some little hutong alley, so be sure to check a map for it’s location if you are not familiar venturing into the hutongs.

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 8

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dining at The Vine Leaf:

Lady Sarah Ready to Blow Out her Birthday Candles.  

Now, excuse me, while I go and finish watching the 2-hour Christmas Special of Downton Abbey!

Emergency WHALE! at 4corners! Tonight!

Blue Alert! It’s a WHALE! Emergency TONIGHT!

WHALE! is holding a last-minute emergency party tonight, Friday, January 27, 2012 at the newly opened 4corners肆角餐吧 bar by the Drum and Bell Tower in Gulou.

Previously, WHALE! parties were rocking Beijing with monthly gigs around town, but since winter hit, it’s been a few months without some WHALE! fun.

So what calls WHALE! out of hibernation?  A member of the WHALE! family is leaving Beijing for a few months and this is his unofficial leaving party.

Who is leaving you ask?  Well, they are all masked by alias names, but here’s one hint: It’s the only DJ who changes his alias name every WHALE! party. This time around, his name is DJ No Requests.

Who is WHALE!?  Check out CW’s article on WHALE!’s DJs here.

If WHALE! is a new concept for you, the best way to sum it up quickly: WHALE! is “200 tons of danceable rock and electro in the deep, dark hutong”.  

And the eclectic music mix will be played by the regular WHALE! DJ Line-up featuring DJ Assassin Eyes, Bobby Dropper,  DJ Fun Party, DJ Dirty Pirate and our beloved DJ No Requests.

This has been something in the works the past weeks, but they’ve only just announced it and as this is the unofficial leaving party of DJ No Requests, there will also be an unofficial dress theme: Cardigans.

I was hoping to find some quirky picture of a whale wearing a cardigan, but I guess it figures the reverse is more likely.

So here you have it: Whales knitted onto a cardigan.

Close enough.

…or perhaps you prefer this knit WHALE!?

OK. Enough fun for now.

Time to WHALE! at 4corners! TONIGHT!

Click here to see pictures from previous WHALE! parties:

• WHALE! on a Rainy Night in the Deep, Dark Hutongs
• “W” is for WHALE!
• A WHALE! of a Good Time

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, July 29, 2011
• Time: 10PM-late
• Location: 4corners 肆角餐吧
• Address:  By Drum and Bell Tower on DaShibei Hutong 西城, 大石碑胡同27号 (See map below)
• FREE ENTRY 

Din Tai Fung’s 鼎泰丰 Delicious, Decadent Dumplings

With branches all over the world and listed as one of “Top 10 Restaurants in the World by the New York Times”, Din Tai Fung is an ever-popular Taiwanese chain where I happily enjoyed a full spread of delicious 小笼包 dumplings on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Made famous from their signature pork dumplings, they have an extensive menu that should not be ignored and some new menu items that should be your top picks.

Check out the full-on Din Tai Fung spread I devoured like a dragon to ring in the new year.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Din Tai Fung’s Delicious Dishes:

Braised Beancurd with Black Mushrooms (RMB 20) / Tossed Beancurd with Seaweed and Bean Sprouts (RMB 18)

Huai’s Style Mushrooms (RMB 35) / Steamed Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Pork (RMB 30) 

Din Tai Fung’s Delicious Dumplings:

“Every Din Tai Fung steamed specialty dumpling is skillfully hand-made, each displaying at least 18 delicate folds. All of our dumplings are steamed by a powerful automatic steaming machine, allowing for the perfect tenderness of our steamed dumpling.”

 Din Tai Fung’s Signature Steamed Pork Dumplings (RMB 23 for 5 or RMB 45 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Black Truffle & Pork Dumplings (RMB 88 for 5 or RMB 176 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Goose Liver & Pork Dumplings (RMB 68 for 5 or RMB 136 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Shanghai Hairy Crab Roe Meat & Pork Dumplings (RMB 39 for 5 or RMB 78 for 10)

Steamed Specialty Mini Pork Dumplings Served with Soup (RMB 33 for 10 or RMB 65 for 20)

Steamed Shrimp & Pork Shaomai (RMB 33 for 5 or RMB 65 for 10)

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings (RMB 23 for 5 or RMB 46 for 10)

Sauteed Water Lily (RMB 30) / Noodle with Sesame Sauce (RMB 25)

Steamed Red Bean Paste Bun & Sesame Paste Buns (RMB 15 per order of two)

You really can’t go wrong with any of their cold appetizer dishes as I’ve tried almost all of them, but my all-time favorites are their tofu appetizers.  The Braised Beancurd with Black Mushrooms (RMB 20) may not look appetizing in the least bit (a bit like little brown sponges), but they are full of savory and sweet flavor and really unique in consistency and taste.

Of all their signature steamed dumplings, I love the Mini Pork Dumplings Served with Soup (RMB 33/65 for half/full order) as these mini ones are just as tasty as their big brothers, but more bite-sized so you minimize your risk of a burnt tongue. The clear soup is also a nice compliment.

And if you’re willing to splurge just a bit, I encourage you to try their new Black Truffle and Pork Dumplings (RMB 88/176 for half/full order). If only all dumplings could have a pinch of black truffle!  As soon as this batch comes to your table, the smell of Black Truffle engulfs you and the taste is phenomenal!  If only I had a better photo of the inside of the Black Truffle & Pork Dumplings, but that would not even do the taste justice.  The Goose Liver Dumplings were OK, but if I had to pick a second favorite, it would be the Shanghai Hairy Crab Roe Meat & Pork Dumplings, which really taste of crab meat if that’s your cup of tea.

A surprise favorite dish is their Noodles in Sesame Sauce (RMB 25), which is basically a non-spicy Dan Dan Noodle dish 担担面.  It’s really tasty and perfect to share if you come in a small group of foodies. And whether you like green veggies or not, you should definitely try an order or two of their greens – either their Sauteed Water Lilly dish (RMB 30) or their Sauteed Bean Shoots (RMB 48) are both really healthy and it’s not often you come across greens in a Chinese restaurant not drenched in oil.

Review of Din Tai Fung: 24 Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区新源西里中街24号; Tel: 6462 4502

Best Part:

• Their delicious, decadent dumplings! From their signature specialty pork dumplings to their new Black Truffle and Goose Liver filled dumplings, these are among the best dumplings you will find in Beijing and quite possibly “in the world” (according to The New York Times)
• Din Tai Fung’s dumplings are the highlight, but don’t ignore their amazing appetizers, soothing soups and their green veggie dishes are also among my favorite dishes on their menu
• They have plenty of options for vegetarians including vegetarian dumplings, plenty of green veggie appetizers and dishes and desserts! 
• Restaurant is clean, atmosphere is bustling and service is decent.

Comments:

• Regardless of which branch you head to in the world, you will always encounter a line.  Most don’t take reservations, so be prepared to send someone there early to take a number in line.
  
• Their staff does not generally speak English, but you can get by easily with their easy-to-order big picture menu.
• Restaurants are often in a mall or if they are stand-alone, then decor is very simple and straightforward. Basic table seating layout and it’s comfortable enough, but nothing impressive and certainly not flashy.  People come for the consistently good quality food, not the decor or service. 
• Service is rushed and dishes come out quick enough, but even a friendly smile might be asking too much. 
• They have three locations in Beijing: this one which is off of Xindong Lu, one on the 6th floor of Shin Kong Place (87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区建国路87号华贸中心新光天地6层, tel: 6533 1536), and one in Haidian District (7/F, Dangdai Shangcheng, 40 Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian District 海淀区中关村大街40号当代商城7层, tel: 6269 6726) 

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 5
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 6

Hike and Explore Beijing’s Fragrant Hills in Peace

Beijing’s Fragrant Hills 香山 are a popular escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, particularly when the seasons are changing – when cherry blossoms are in full bloom or the leaves are changing colors.

It’s pretty much the dead of winter at this time of year, but I also think this is one of the best times of year to hike up Beijing’s Fragrant Hills. I like to savor the few moments where I can feel like I get to enjoy a place all to myself. No more crowds, making way for big groups of people crawling up or coming down, people playing techno music out of their hiking backpacks. And best of all – no more booming fireworks blasting into my ear drums at all hours of the day (and night).

I much prefer a hike that’s spacious, quiet and peaceful and when the air is brisk and fresh to keep you cool as you hike up an endless mountain of stone stairs.

Sounds a bit daunting, but once you reach the top, you are rewarded with an amazing view of the entire Beijing city on one side and rolling mountains on the other. You may already be breathless from the steep hike up, but that does not mean the view is any less breathtaking in itself.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Beijing’s Fragrant Hills 香山:

Directions to Fragrant Hills Park 香山公园: 

• Taxi: You can go directly to Fragrant Hills 香山公园
• Subway: Take Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen Station and get off from Exit A. Then transfer to bus 331 or 696 to Xiangshan Station. 
• Take bus 318, 331, 360, 714, 696, 698 and get off at Xiang Shan Station.
   Beijing Bus / Subway Search
• Tickets: RMB 5 (Nov. 15-Mar. 31) or RMB 10 (Apr. 1-Nov. 15)

Beijing Art: At the Stroke of Midnight, CNY 2012

Beijing at the Stroke of Midnight: Chinese New Year 2012 by Tom Pattinson

For the past six years, I have been in Beijing during the Chinese New Year holiday and although I’m kicking myself each year for not pre-booking a tropical getaway to some sunny beach far away from this city turned ghost-town where the majority of the population evacuates, streets are empty, everything closes down, taxis are impossible to comeby and temperatures drop to -17 degrees Celsius.

In spite of these downsides of Beijing at this time of year, I also love being in this city at one specific moment – when the skies light up with firecrackers.  I’m not talking about the loud firecrackers that start at the crack of dawn or the ones that are just plain loud and cease to stop even days after new years day, but the hour where all the best firecrackers are simultaneously fired into the sky at one go.

Every year, and without fail, at the stroke of midnight on Chinese New Year’s Eve, the dark skies of Beijing are illuminated at every angle with the most brilliant, vibrant firecrackers. It truly is a magnificent sight.

And although there are plenty of awesome parties happening all across town (in the restaurant, bars and clubs who chose to remain open), who wants to be indoors or in a dark basement and miss this special moment? For me, that would defeat the whole point of ringing in the Chinese New Year in Beijing. This glorious hour of fireworks should be the main event of the week-long holiday. Whether you’re firing them off yourself or just happy to watch, it’s a sight no one should miss if they are among the few stragglers who chose to stay in Beijing this desolate time of year.

There are many excellent vantage points to view this extraordinary display of extravagant fireworks, and one of my personal favorite places is on the rooftop of a tall building in the Gulou area. Normally the square between the Drum and Bell Towers is a choice pick for a great view, but fireworks have been forbidden here the past few years. Fair enough, as fireworks are often a terrible accident just waiting to happen and probably best to steer clear of any cultural and historical relics.

So with that option ruled out, we did the next best thing: bundle up and head up to the rooftop balcony of their apartment off Nanluoguxiang and watch the fireworks display until we couldn’t feel our fingers (it was a cold night) and honestly, after an hour of listening to fireworks booming into my ears, I feared the possibility of also going deaf if I didn’t head back indoors.

Spending the new year with close friends, this Chinese New Year was one of the best I’ve had and I’d like to thank Tom Pattinson for capturing the moment with his perfect picture.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon!

Have a Happy Lóng Chinese New Year 2012!

Like me, I’m sure many of your email boxes have been filling up the past week with Chinese New Year E-cards and thoughtful holiday messages. While I’ve received  lot of cool designs featuring dragons, the color red, symbols of good luck and fortune for the upcoming year of the dragon, I’ve got to say the most creative design for a CNY card would be by Nathan’s Famous.

This card creatively emphasizes its brand identity while simultaneously wishing Chinese New Year holiday wishes for all with a dragon head sketched out of our famous hot dogs, burgers and chicken tenders! A brand synonymous with the world’s best hot dogs, 100% beef burgers, unique golden crinkle-cut French fries, Arthur’s Treachers quality seafood products and Chicken Classics, they have branches all over the world and currently have three locations in Beijing.

Some additional good news from Nathan’s is that they have just launched a partnership with Beijing’s best delivery service – Jinshisong.com. Open throughout the Chinese New Year holiday week, you can get Nathan’s delivered straight to your door!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Lóng and Happy Chinese New Year!

* Lóng (龙) is Chinese for Dragon.

The Orchid & Great Leap: Chinese New Years Eve Party

 Of all the Chinese New Year celebrations I’ve heard of, The Orchid Boutique Hotel‘s party is the first one to really spark my interest.

Set in a uniquely traditional, classically beautiful setting, this boutique hotel is located in a traditional Chinese courtyard and with the contemporary twist of featuring Western management and service. Having the best of both worlds, this seems like the natural choice for an ideal venue to ring in the Chinese New Year.

For this annual celebration, they are opening up to their space to the first 100 who sign up.  Teaming up with the guys at Great Leap Brewery, they are offering all-you-can-drink Great Leap beers and their signature house mulled wine for RMB 350 (RMB 300 pre-sale). One of the best views of fireworks in the city, party begins at 9PM.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, January 22, 2012
• Time: 9PM-late
• Location: The Orchid Hotel
• Address & Map: See below
• Website: Click here.

Snapshots of The Orchid Hotel:

Directions to The Orchid Boutique Hotel:

From Gulou Dong DaJie (Gulou East Street) simply walk ~200 meters up along the main Baochao Hutong alley, past the large military airforce base on your right, past Dali Ren Jia Yunnan restaurant and just up to Mr. Shi’s dumplings. The Orchid is only 5 meters beyond Mr. Shi’s dumplings. Look to your left for a very thin alleyway with The Orchid’s large white entranceway at the end.

Address:
#65 Baochao Hutong, Guloudong Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100009
北京市东城区鼓楼东大街宝钞胡同65号
Map
Tel: +(86) 10-84044818

AnyShopStyle.cn: Chinese New Year Shopping Treat

In the spirit of celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year, AnyShopStyle.cn is giving away RMB 200 to shop online with purchases of their featured designers’ collections.  Just type in the code “wSdaxN” and you get RMB 200 discount on any purchase!

 From Non-Season’s winter accessories to Wear-and-Tear’s “Knit Fever” collection, Luvon by Luliu’s capsule coat collection and candy&caviar’s Autumn/Winter collection, there’s a ton of great buys and with the promotion only running from January 20-31st, you better hurry while supplies last!

Shop Non-Season’s Winter Accessories on AnyShopStyle.cn

 Shop Xander Zhou on AnyShopStyle.cn

Grinders’ Great Ginormous Sandwiches

Sandwiches are one of the greatest food creations of all time. Such a simple idea – two slices of bread with fillings, and yet the possibilities are endless. Everything from the ingredients you select to the type of bread, to whether you make it hot or cold, to the sauces you either spread on or place on the side for a dip, yada yada, you get the idea.

But in spite of the fact that sandwich possibilities are infinite, that does not ensure that all sandwiches are good.  It may be simple, but certainly not easy.  A good sandwich, a really good sandwich is still not easy to come by in Beijing.  Often it’s because the ingredients used are not fresh enough or quality is not up to par, or it’s not hot enough.  But that is certainly not the case with Grinders, who’s really shown the rest of Beijing how proper sandwiches are meant to be made.

A Western bar/restaurant in Shuangjing, Grinders is home to some of the most giant, delicious sandwiches I’ve tasted in Beijing. While they are very much a sports bar as much as they are a restaurant, I came for the food. Surprise Surprise 

But as you can see from these photos, many people hanging out were either just watching whatever game was playing on their TV screens or hanging out and drinking Grinder’s fine selection of imported beers. For the many foreigners based south of Guomao, Grinders has got to be a haven for them and is clearly a choice destination for the local community to hang out and return on a regular basis.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Grinders: 

Run by owners Trevor Metz and Canadian Chad Lager, also owner of Fubar and previously The Rickshaw (closed in 2010), Grinders is all about doing the basics right.  From salads, burgers, and sandwiches, each item was created with care and thought. For all you Canadians out there, they are also one of the few places in Beijing to have poutine on their menu! Here’s a quick snapshot of a piece of their menu so you can get an idea of their sandwich selection and with prices at only RMB 50-60, their value is incredible.

It took me awhile to pick my sandwich of choice, but I went with the Slow Roast Pork Sandwich (RMB 55) with mushrooms, onions, peppers, melted Mozzarella cheese and their homemade BBQ sauce. As you can see from this photo below, this sandwich is more like two sandwiches and certainly big enough for two to share.  If I didn’t have such a monster of an appetite, I maybe would have suggested to share with my foodie friend and just eat one of the two giant halves on my plate, but I managed to eat my way through both and then felt like I was going to fall over.  But I certainly could not have kept going if the sandwich was not that tasty.  I couldn’t stop it was so good! The Mozzarella cheese melted over the top of the slow roast pork and veggies was delicious. But mental note for myself: *next time I will just eat half as half would have been entirely sufficient to satisfy my appetite.  As usual, I went a little overboard.

Grinders’ Slow Roast Pork Sandwich (RMB 55)

My friend ordered the Spicy Sanchez Sandwich (RMB 55) with slow roasted beef, sharp Cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and their “secret Sanchez sauce”. A regular customer at Grinders, the Spicy Sanchez is his favorite go-to sandwich on the Grinders’ menu.

Grinders’ Spicy Sanchez Sandwich (RMB 55)

As you can see from these photos, the sandwiches at Grinders’ are ginormous, but not all their portions are equally as large.  It’s not like I’m complaining about not being satisfied, but their “complimentary sides of potato salad and garden salad” are tiny little spoonfuls and just disproportionately small next to their heaping sandwich portions.  Of course I’d prefer a bigger sandwich and smaller sides than the other way around, but just seemed a bit extreme. In any case, it’s not a big deal, but just an observation I had and hopefully next time their Garden Salad will be more than bitesize.

We didn’t come to drink, but after glancing over their drink list, we decided to order two of their cocktails, which were also pretty giant in size. I recommend trying their various specially-infused cocktails, but they also have a wide selection of imported beers and an equally long wine list to match with some bottles going for as low as RMB 200.

Review of Grinders’ Bar & Restaurant: Near The Brick in Shuangjing, Unit 3-02, Bldg 2, Tianzhi Jiaozi, 31 Guangqu Lu (northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao),
朝阳区双井桥东北角广渠路31号院天之骄子2号楼底商3-02; Tel: 8775-1847

Best Part:

• Grinders’ giant sandwiches big enough for two to share are great value at RMB 50-60 per order
• The specially-infused cocktails are equally as large and very tasty.  Try their Moscow Mule
• They have a long imported beer and wine list
• Chilled out atmosphere is generally bustling with foreigners happy to eat hearty Western food and enjoy a few drinks
• Sports fans will be happy to know that this is a good alternative to Beijing’s other sports bars 

Comments:

• I didn’t order it, but saw that Grinders’ is one of the few venues in Beijing that has poutine!  Will have to try this next time around. 
• Big eaters will love Grinders’ giant portions, but if you’re not one with a big appetite, I recommend sharing one order with a friend or take the second half home because I swear finishing the entire two halves was enough food to last me two days. 
• The side of potato salad and Garden Salad that comes with your sandwich order was disproportionately small.  Like two bites small.  Not complaining, just not consistent with their other portions. 
• Service was OK, but they weren’t so good at handling questions or recommending dishes or drinks. 
• Washrooms were a bit messy and not looked after well. 
• The menu says loud and clear “Sandwiches take 20 minutes, all our Grinders’ are homemade and baked fresh”. Be prepared to sometimes wait longer than 20 minutes, but here’s just an excuse to start off with one of their delicious, specially infused cocktails or have a beer while you wait for your sandwich to arrive. It’ll be worth the wait and, in any case, you should thank them for allowing you extra time to build up your appetite for your monster sandwich to arrive in front of you.
  
• They’re closed on Mondays. 

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 7

LumDimSum Discovery: Susu’s Post Road Flip

Susu’s Post Road Flip (RMB 50)

IKI’s a Keeper: IKI Korean Barbeque Restaurant

Those living in the Shuangjing area all pretty much keeping this place under wraps.  Whenever I’ve spoken of IKI Barbeque to others, generally most haven’t heard of it…unless they live in the Shuangjing area. In spite of its remote location on the little street north of the Bank of China and 7-11 intersection, this little Korean BBQ joint was mega-packed out when I tried to get in.  They don’t take reservations unfortunately so we had to wait about 40 minutes for a table to open up (since we chose not to dine sitting on stools around their bar).

A well-kept secret among the neighborhood residents, I can see why they’d want to keep it for themselves! The prices are completely reasonable, they are not at all overpriced in spite of the beautiful contemporary design of the space that gives it that “expensive restaurant” expectation.  From the entrance, the restaurant follows a narrow layout with a long drink bar on the left and dining tables on the right that expands up into an open second floor. We didn’t order any drinks, but I hear their cocktails are legit and definitely worth trying.

Their menu is very straightforward.  Not too much to where its overwhelming, but enough to be spoiled for choice. Even as a party of two, I couldn’t help but order a little bit of everything to sample and taste my way through their menu.

We started off with four different cold appetizers from their signature kimchi (RMB 15) to tender tofu egg with cucumber and seaweed (RMB 25).  While the appetizers were generous in portions, the green soybeans were way too salty, I didn’t really care that much for their signature kimchi and their fresh octopus salad was a miss.  That was the dish I was most excited about and most disappointed by.  I had imagined the fresh octopus salad I’d had at Tori Tei Japanese Yakitori, but this was too saucy and the flavors didn’t mix well.  The only appetizer we finished was the tender egg tofu dish, which was light and tasty and the portion size was huge.

Meal highlights were definitely the LA Style Marinated Short Ribs (RMB 62), which were recommended by their waitstaff to us.  They said it was their most popular menu item and even though we weren’t sure what “LA style” meant, we gave it a go and it was awesome.  Super tender and the marinade for the short ribs makes it perfect just on its own. We also loved their Spicy Korean Dobogi (RMB 35) which was a nice addition to the little Korean BBQ wraps I was making in our fresh lettuce beds.

We had tried ordering their pork belly and a number of other recommended dishes, but IKI was actually sold out of a few items on their menu.  In any case, their waitstaff was helpful in recommending other dishes to order. Their “IKI classic homemade sausages” (RMB 42) sounded good and once again, out of the 3 or 4 choices, our waitress recommended the “Taiwanese style” option and although it was OK, it paled in comparison to the marinated short ribs.

LumDimSum Snapshots of IKI Barbeque’s Dishes:

 Green soybeans seasoned with salt and black pepper (RMB 15) / IKI’s signature spicy kimchi (RMB 15)

 Fresh octopus slices mixed with Korean spicy sauce, sesame garlic and jalapeño (RMB 32) / Tender tofu egg served with sliced Korean kimchi, cucumber and seaweed dressed with sesame oil (RMB 25)

Korean spicy dobogi stir fried with onion fish cake (RMB 35) / IKI’s classic homemade sausage (Taiwanese style) RMB 42 

 LA Style Marinated Short Ribs (RMB 62) / BBQ Eggplant (RMB 18)

 Mini Japanese rice ball stuffed with Korean spicy kimchi and tuna coated with seaweed (RMB 35) / IKI Chocolate Ice Cream sprinkled with Fresh Cocoa (RMB 20)

Not all of IKI’s dishes were hits, but overall the restaurant was very well-received and I would definitely want to go back again.  If I lived in the Shuangjing area, I would definitely be going on a regular basis. That being said, I would definitely recommend for all Korean BBQ fanatics to make the trek down to Shuangjing and check out IKI.  You might take a bit of time to locate it and you might have to wait for a table, but once you sit down, you’ll be happy you made the effort.

Other LDS Recommendations for Korean Cuisines:

• LumDimSum Discovery: Maan’s Bulgogi Burger 
• LumDimSummary: BJ FOoDiEs “Harmony” Charity Dinner at Ssam
• Killer Korean BBQ: Ai Jiang Shan

Review of IKI Korean Barbeque Restaurant: From 7-11 and Bank of China intersection, go north and IKI is beside Bang Bang Pizza. 102, Bldg 24, Shuanghuayuan Nanli Sanqu,
双花园南里三区24号楼102号; Tel: 152-1042-5223

Best Part:

• The LA style marinated short ribs are ridiculously good
• The contemporary Korean restaurant design is simplistic and elegant.
• Prices are very reasonable and their menu is not at all overpriced as many Korean BBQ restaurants tend to be
• They give each table their own grill and staff can either BBQ for you or you can DIY

Comments:

• If I’ve had a few separate people come to me raving about how good IKI BBQ is and how I have to review it on LumDimSum, it automatically gets prioritized to the top of my restaurant hit list. IKI certainly did not disappoint and I would definitely recommend it to others, but the food was not all perfect.  It helps that the prices are very affordable, but out of all the dishes we ordered, many were hit-or-miss. 
• Service was very friendly and knowledgeable with their menu and able to make dish recommendations, but they were a bit absent and we had to raise our hands to get their attention multiple times even though they were never far.
• The place doesn’t take reservations and we had to wait a bit for a table, but they were friendly about it and had a professional hostess manage all waiting customers.

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7

Thumbs UP! for IKI Barbeque

A New Revolution: A Hidden Gem of a Bar by Yashow

Revolution in words: The cover of Revolution Bar’s Drink List

The Revolution I speak of is not an act of change in power, but rather a hidden little gem of a bar in the alleyway just west of Yashow Market that is covered head to toe in a red hue and communist decor and a drink menu full of cocktails with personalized, quirky names.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Revolution Bar:

The owner and main bartender Xiao Ming used to work at Fubar and I believe this bar is also affiliated with Chad Lager (owner of Fubar). This being said, the drinks are all legit. Like Fubar, they also offer Hendrick’s Gin (hooray!), Captain Morgan’s Private Stock and a bunch of other quality whiskeys in stock.

Although I was tempted to order a Hendrick’s Gin and Tonic, but I was curious to try one of their more creative concoctions and considering I was freezing this evening, I ordered one of the special hot drinks: a Hot Apple Toddy (RMB 50).  The drink tasted a bit more of lemon than it did apple, but it definitely hit the spot and made me feel all warm and toasty in minutes.

Revolution Bar’s Hot Apple Toddy (RMB 50)

After a few drinks, it’s natural to start craving junk food right? We asked Xiao Ming what food they offered and although they only serve French Fries, they were absolutely delicious (even a food as basic as French fries can be delicious, right?!) and an extra bonus is that they encourage hungry drinkers to feel free and order in GungHo! Pizza delivery!  A pepperoni pizza and an order of French fries was exactly what we needed and a great compliment to the drinks we were chugging down at Revolution Bar.

GungHo! Pepperoni Pizza Delivered Straight to Revolution Bar

With such a big inventory of good bottles and even Tiger Beer on tap, it’s no wonder Revolution Bar was full of happy drinkers Friday night and so busy, there was hardly room to make your way around. If you haven’t done so already, I highly recommend Revolution Bar for early night drinks to kick off the night or a chill place to hang out all night with friends.

Review of Revolution Bar: West side of Yashow, Gongti North Road,
工体北路雅秀市场西侧; Tel: 6415-8776

Best Part:

• The drinks are legit – not only is the alcohol definitely real, the drinks are as delicious as they are unique and well-made. 
• The bartenders are both friendly and very professional. Clearly trained well with a background at Fubar, these guys are personable and really make an effort to know their customers and accommodate their needs.
• They have drink specials and seasonal drinks (I recommend to try their hot drinks during the cold winter months!)
• They are open 12PM-late (get your drink on early!)
• They let their hungry customers order in GungHo! Pizza Delivery! (they also serve some pretty awesome fries) 

Comments:

• It won’t be hidden for long, but this is a great little gem in the Sanlitun area that is a much better option than any bar on Tongli Studio (gross). 
• It’s nothing fancy and certainly not swanky. Quite the opposite actually. It’s down-to-earth and really low key. A good place for a few drinks with friends or a chilled out night in the Sanlitun area. I like the low-key vibe even when it’s packed out. 
• Drinks aren’t cheap, but they are worth their price – ranging from about RMB 40-50 per drink. 
• It’s not hard to find – just go down the alley on the west side of Yashow, just north of Nearby the Tree.  

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Drinks: 9
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 9
• Overall Experience: 8

LumDimSummary: The 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open

L-to-R: 2nd place Sam Hulbert (USA), 1st place Juuso Laivisto (FIN), 3rd place Roope Tonteri (FIN)

For the second time at the TTR 5Star 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open, Juuso Laivisto (FIN) reclaims his throne (he won first place in 2010) winning first place in this year’s 10th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open.

Although US rider Sam Hulbert was ranked first going into the Super Finals, Juuso stole the show hitting a “back-to-back bs900 mutes, followed by a 50-50 to method on the polejam, bs lipslide on the downrail finishing off in style with a tweaked out fs360 nosebonk on the Red Bull cube.”  If you don’t speak “snowboarding”, then just imagine a lot of super fast spinning flying off massive kickers.

“It’s been awesome to see how the event has grown the last few years, and to see such legends in the judging booth made it extra special to win here today!”   - Juuso Laivisto, Winner of Red Bull Nanshan Open 2012

Juuso Laivisto flying off the big kicker. Photo courtesy of PM:Studio

Head judges Iztok Sumatic (SLO) and Ishi (JPN) alongside snowboarding legends Ingemar Backman (SWE), Michi Albin (SWI), Scotty Wittlake (USA), and Alan Wong (PRC/USA) made all the difference in the riders’ performances.

After seeing Roope Tonteri (FIN) rip every run and ranking first after blowing everyone away in the qualifying runs on Saturday, many expected him to come out first in the finals. But I gotta say, I was still rooting for Juuso all along! My favorite rider and good friend from his first trip to Beijing two years back when he won first place in the 8th Red Bull Nanshan Open, I was stoked to see my favorite rider come out first once again!  Super happy to see such a talented rider and happy person do so well and shine so bright in China!

10th Red Bull Nanshan Open Rider Rankings:

The only rider to hit the jib section’s oversized-pipe with a 50-50 to bs360 out after a bs720 to fs1080 on the kicker, Sam Hulbert (USA) took second place in this year’s Nanshan Open. Not too shabby as this was his very first time riding in the Red Bull Nanshan Open!

2nd Place – US Rider Sam Hulbert; photo courtesy of PM:Studio

Like I said earlier, Roope was the anticipated superstar for this year’s Nanshan Open and he definitely blew everyone away in the qualifying rounds. He had the biggest runs and probably would have taken 1st place if he was able to land his attempt at a cab900 indy.

“Roope Tonteri (FIN) unfortunately was unable to stomp what could have been a first place run, landing a cab900 indy but reverting out on his impressive bs1260 mute attempt – still finishing his run off in style with a switch boardslide 270out on the polejam and a lipslide 270out on the downrail, enough for third place.” – Olli Fenwick-Ross, organizer of the Red Bull Nanshan Open and member of the mellowparks.cn team

3rd place – Rider Roope Tonteri (FIN): photo courtesy of PM:Studio

LumDimSum Snapshots of the 10th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open:

To follow me on Instagram, you can add me: @LumDimSum

Mellowparks: The 10th Annual Red Bull Nanshan Open

This weekend is 10 years in the making for the men and women of mellowparks.cn, and a momentous moment for Steve Zdarsky, the Godfather of Snowboarding in China.

The 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open is taking place this Saturday & Sunday, January 14-15 with some of the top riders of the world flying into Beijing for their chance to win prize money totaling USD$50,000!

Attracting widespread international media attention and national TV coverage, mellowparks is making a huge impact on China’s snowboard scene and bringing it to international fame as Asia’s largest slopestyle event of the year with 5Star TTR status.

With event host Eric Zhu introducing riders and explaining each run’s tricks and falls, the event is sure to be pure, non-stop entertainment.  This year also welcomes back head judges Iztok Sumatic (SLO) and Ishi (JPN) along with a team of experienced judges: Ingemar Backman (SWE), Michi Albin (SWI), Scotty Wittlake (USA), and Alan Wong (PRC/USA).

With live TV coverage, the event rundown goes like this:

 Live TV coverage schedule of the 10th Red Bull Nanshan Open:

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

11:00-12:00 CST (1st run of Qualifier)

13:30-15:30 CST (2nd and 3rd runs of Qualifier)

Sunday, January 15th, 2012 

11:00-12:30 CST (Finals)

13:30-14:30 CST (SuperFinals)

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday & Sunday, January 14-15
• Time: Sign Up starts at 9AM, qualifier competition from 1PM-3PM
• Location: NanShan Park (click here for directions and park details)
• More Info: www.mellowparks.cn

Say Goodbye to D-22 this Friday, the 13th with Mohanik

After six strong years as one of Beijing’s iconic live music venues, D-22 is officially closing their doors this Friday, the 13th of January.  Over the years, this little WDK rock venue has built a tight music-loving community committed to the local music scene and they have undoubtedly helped to open doors and jump-start the fame of many of Beijing’s most well-known bands like Carsick Cars and Hedgehog.

Going off with a bang, they are hosting Mongolian garage rock/punk band Mohanik (from Ulan Bator) as their first act of their closing night.

In the middle of the 4 day China tour (from Hohhot to Beijing to Ningbo to Shanghai), this will be their second stop, but D-22′s first act of the night followed by Shanghai metalheads Moon Tyrant, Beijing surf-rock band The Flying Mantas, and a DJ set from DJ B.O. (aka Brian Offenther, Shanghai-based music promoter Trash A Go-Go).

Click here for Time Out Beijing’s recent interview with Mohanik.

Come out and bid D-22 farewell, though Michael Pettis had said in a few interviews that they plan to open a new music venue to accommodate “today’s Beijing”.

• See interview with Michael Pettis by pangbianr.com here: Michael Pettis on the End of D-22

• See interview with Michael Pettis by Andy Best on Kungfuology.com here: D22 Closing: Full Interview with founder Michael Pettis 

Event Details: 

• Date: Friday, January 13, 2012
• Time: 10PM
• Location: D-22
• Address: 242 Chengfu Lu, Haidian district 海淀区成府路242号
• Website: Click here.