Wednesday Night Drinking

1st Stop:  Sake Tasting at Morio

Perks from my job: Alan inviting me to tag along with him to a sweet Sake Tasting at Morio (Hotel G).  It’s quite perfect timing that the great Taka Yamamoto chose this particular time to host a Sake Tasting at Morio – while Alan and I are in the midst or sorting out all the details for Haiku’s Sake Tasting on August 12!

Alan and I are both a little puzzled upon arrival as we are seated at a 2-person table, expecting that we’d be sitting together with a group in an isolated section for the sake tasting. I guess it was not meant to be a group thing.

Taka was great to introduce some very fine and exclusive sakes for the tasting – we tried 5 different sakes, which were paired with the first 5 courses (7 in total).

Just to give you a taste of what we were served:

1^st course: 3 Appetizer Sampler included beef tenderloin in fresh spring roll, two kinds of beans puree, paired with sake marinated Hirame

2^nd course: Cyu-toro Maguro carpaccio + Oyster with sea urchin, caviar and quail egg – big WOW

3^rd course: Grilled Agu fish (kind of creepy to eat)

4^th course: Braised Veggie Dish

5^th course: Scallop & Sea Urchin Tempura

6^th: Rice in Soup

7^th: Watermelon Jelly with Vanilla Ice Cream ** ridiculous, perfect ending to the meal

As great as the meal was, it was good for us to attend another sake tasting to learn from them and tailor our’s to fit Haiku and our specific clientele.

If you are interested in attending, you can sign up by sending me an e-mail, see details below. Please keep in mind that seating is limited.

Become a Sake Samurai:

Exclusively at Haiku by Hatsune

Hosted by Alan Wong, the master Sushi Sake Samurai himself, Haiku by Hatsune presents its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party.  Learn the culture, origins and significance behind sake and the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water.  Together with a special set menu highlighting Haiku’s signature dishes, Alan will be introducing premium bottles of sake from his own personal collection.  Join us as we show you the path to become a Sake Samurai.

RMB 200 per person includes a special Haiku tasting menu along with four unique types of sake.

Limited Seating, RSVP Required: Contact Kristen Lum, 13240114868 or e-mail:  lum.kristen@gmail.com. Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 7:00pm

2nd Stop: Purple Haze Bistro

After a 7 course meal at Morio and more food at Dan’s local Hunan Spot by 7-11 at Shuangjing Qiao, we head to meet friend at Purple Haze (by Hooters on Gongti Bei Lu) and was reminded that this is a great spot!

Dan Rockin' his New Shades at Purple Haze

Every Wednesday, they have a live jazz band and their drinks are so cheap!

RMB 15 for a big mug of Beijing Draft Beer (my sources compare it to taste similar to Yanjing Beer)

RMB 35 per glass of house red or white wine

RMB 40 for their Shakes (Mango, Berries, Banana flavors)

Rm. 201, Building 3 China View, C2 Gongti Donglu, Gongti (South of The Den)
工体东路丙2号中国红街3号楼201室  The Den的南边

6501-9345

3rd Stop: Vics 威克斯

I don’t get Vics. Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.  I always come randomly (through invitation or spontaneously), but whenever I do, I’m dumbfounded.  And since I’ve been to Beijing, it has changed again and again.  But not just through renovations, it changes all the time, as does its clientele.  You definitely see some of the same faces who call Vics their home and are there on a daily basis, but I love to just walk around in Vics and soak in the scene.  As great as it is to come to Vics at 5am after Bling closes, it’s almost more entertaining to go to Vics sober on a Wednesday night.

While it was cool to make rounds and greet the usual suspects, it was quite sad that someone from Vics actually came up to me and said, “Hey! You work at Bling?  You can’t be here!”

“Why?”

“Because you work at Bling.”

‘So?”

“I’m going to tell on you.”

Seriously?  Seriously. Nice one Vics.

Best Part about Vics: It’s consistently full Wednesday–Saturday nights.

Comments:

Wait staff pours out your bottle as quickly as possible and if you leave the table for a split second, your glasses (and the rest of your bottle) will be gone.

They are Haters of Bling, which is sad, we should be friends.

Vics:Inside Workers’ Stadium north gate, Gongti (next to Mix)

工体北门内东侧

5293-0333

The Beginning of a new Tongli?

It’s remarkable how completely different Sanlitun looks during the day compared to the bustling night scene. And I’m not talking about the Village, I’m talking about the street running perpendicular, Tongli Studio – with Aperitivo, Luga’s, my favorite DVD spot, and about 5 new restaurants that just recently popped up: Muse, a Japanese restaurant with sushi, teriyaki and noodles, Salud, and Juliette’s – a fine-dining French restaurant with chef from Jaan, Guillaume Gaillot.

I’ve observed Juliette’s from the outside and by walking by it multiple times, and you can tell this venue was much more refined than it’s neighboring hubs like Shooters and Luga’s, but I was taken aback to find it to be so fine-dining, as in Maison Boulud fine-dining.  A la carte menu’s appetizers average about 75RMB, main entrees about RMB 200 (the lobster dish is RMB 450) and desserts in the same price range as appetizers.  It will be interesting to see how Juliette’s develops and whether its affect on its neighbors will be stronger than its neighbor’s affect on Juliette’s business/clientele/image.  Juliette’s is definitely the first of its caliber on Tongli Studio .

After flipping through the menu, the set lunch was the obvious choice:

• 2 courses for RMB 78
• 3 courses + coffee RMB 98
• 2 courses with 1 glass of house wine RMB 108
• 3 courses + 1 glass of wine + coffee RMB 128

For the starter, I tried the ‘Vichyssoise Soup with Pesto’ dressing followed by the ‘Poached beef tenderloin with fried potato, natural jus’  while my friend who works for the Village Times, Annabel Greene, opted for the Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Salad and the ‘Grill Salmon Fish with Celeriac Puree and Beetroot Reduction.’

Best Part:

• Portions were generous, Taste was on-point
• I like the name
• Set Lunch Meal was a great deal
• It’s conveniently located

Comments:

• Furniture, seating, and venue layout seems more suited for a more casual bistro rather than a fine-dining restaurant
• Prices from ordering off the a la carte menu is 8x more expensive than its neighboring venues, wow the contrast is quite extreme. When I see these prices, I immediately compare it to the standards set by Maison Boulud.  While the food and portions were satisfying, the service, interior, and dining experience as a whole is just not up to par with the Big Boulud.

Say ‘CHEESE!’

I have made a brilliant new discovery!  I have just stumbled upon a haven for cheese addicts; I now know where to get my cheese fix – Scarlett in Hotel G.  Originally known as the super-pricey, trendy burger joint 25 Degrees, the space has improved ten-fold as Scarlett – a wine bar and restaurant with a line-up of kick-ass weekday promotions and the BEST Cheese Selection Deals in Beijing.

I came to meet some friends for Scarlett’s Bodega Fever Promotion – All-you-can-eat tapas for RMB 88 every Thursday.  The place was pumping, I was surprised to see it so packed on a Thursday and while their tapas were great, what sold me was their glorious display of cheese. Unreal.

Their cheese selection changes regularly, but they consistently have between 12-15 types of cheese to choose from on a daily basis.

Today, their list of cheeses include: (provided by Scarlett’s manager, Alex Bouvier)

Glorious Cheese Selection @ Scarlett (Hotel G)

• Brie
• Livarot
• Epoisses
• Camembert
• Tomme de la Chataigneraie
• Ossau Iraty
• Comte
• Beaufort
• Valencay
• Crottin de Chavignol
• Pyrenees Brebis
• Chevre Feuille
• Sainte-Maure de Tourraine
• Gaperon
• Bleu d’Auvergne
• Buchette de Manon
• Tomme de la Pebre d’ai e

If you love cheese as much as me, you’d understand how delighted I was to find all those beautiful wheels of goodness by the bar when you walk into Scarlett and then to see their menu to find:

Cheese Platter Selection:

Cheese Me Please

3 Cheese  RMB 78

5 Cheese  RMB 98

8 Cheese  RMB 168

And even better:

Combo Platter Selection

*Parma Ham & Brie Cheese   RMB 48

Large Plate with 5 Cheese Selection & 5 Cold Cuts  RMB 128

And if this isn’t enough to satisfy your cheese cravings, then hit up Scarlett’s Executive Lunch Special:

Cold Cut Meat Selection to go alongside all that good cheese

A buffet selection of salads, cold cuts, cheeses, and desserts on top of an entrée – (Scandanavian poached eggs with smoked salmon/ Pan fried rainbow trout with almonds and spinach/BBQ pork spare ribs with potato wedges/Grilled T-bone steak with green peppercorn sauce) and coffee/tea.  All for 98RMB Net

Need I say more?

Scarlett Info: Left side of entrace of Hotel G (down the alley way across from Bellagio, behind Destination) address:  Hotel G, No. A7 Gongti Xulu  Tel: 6552-2880

Scarlett @ Hotel G: Previously 25 Degrees, Scarlett has now taken over as a seductive a wine bar and restaurant with a line-up of kick-ass weekday promotions and the BEST Cheese Selection Deals in Beijing.

Best Part:

• Scarlett’s glorious cheese selection
• Strong Weekday Promotional Drink & Food deals that actually work
• Alex (Scarlett’s Manager) and Marc (Hotel G’s Marketing & Sales Manager) are both superstars – two of the coolest, most personable yet professional managers I’ve had the pleasure to meet
• Attractive interior design & clientele
• Chocolate Fondant & Crunchy Chocolate Mousse Desserts

Comments:

• This is the perfect place to start hosting wine dinners like the ones I used to host at Block 8’s Med & Domus. If you’re looking to organize a nice wine dinner for you and your friends, contact me: lum.kristen@gmail.com

I’m Hooked

Top Spots to Work with Wifi

1. Bookworm: Spacious, nice rooftop, best book selection to dive in, a lot of natural light
2. Le Petit Gourmand: Cozy, plugs everywhere, great crepes, but a little dark for my taste
3. All-Star Sports Bar & Grill: a lot of lights, super fast wifi, favorite burger (Californian Guacamole Bacon Cheeseburger) and milkshakes
4. Café Zarah: Cozy, relaxed little coffee shop with great wifi and a nice people-watching perch.  See posting for details.
5. Vineyard Café: Their brunch is reason to go alone
6. e.a.t. (Gulou): Cozy cafe with good sandwiches and salad options

Veg-ging Out

A friend I met in Beijing two years ago was stopping through for a few days between her 4-month program abroad in Japan on her way back to the UK to continue her studies in Brighton.  Remembering she was a vegetarian, I did my homework and wanted to take her to a restaurant where she could enjoy Chinese cuisine without worrying about everything cooked in animal fat.

Pure Lotus Experience: With raving reviews everywhere, I was eager to check out this vegetarian hub run by genuine Buddhist monks.

Best Part:

• Dining was truly an ‘experience’ – from the moment we walked in, they sprinkle your hands with rose water, the décor is really phenomenal, the menus are giant picture books, the complimentary fruit was served in a basin with dry ice, and they gave us a lotus flower on our way out the door. Really a special experience, perfect to bring a vegetarian tourist. J
• Their Vegetable Hand Roll with Seaweed was fantastic (see photo here).
  

  Pure Lotus Veggie Hand Roll

• Complimentary watermelon for dessert, which was served in a big basin with dry ice, which was a very nice touch.  (see photo here).
  

  Watermelon Served in Dry Ice

• Ordered the ribs out of curiosity, very tasty, but definitely didn’t taste like real meat. Not sure why people say the taste of fake meat is ‘just like the real thing.’ I beg to differ.

• Highly recommend ordering a pot of tea – great selection and presentation
• Reasonably priced (about RMB 100 per person)

Comments:

• Given three giant menus that were beautiful, but rather than descriptions of the food items, there was a lot of philosophical jibberish  that made no sense. And when asked the staff to describe dishes or provide suggestions, they just pointed at pricier items.
• We asked to move to a different table, but wait staff said it was reserved, but table remained empty until we left (about 10:30pm).
• As with most Chinese restaurants, I recommend going with a minimum of three people so you can order more and get more variety in dishes.

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

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 9
• Service: 3
• Overall Experience: 7
  

What Sundays Mean to Me: Brunchathon Breakdown

When I was a kid, Sundays meant ‘the day before Monday’, which was almost as dreaded at Mondays themselves.  Sundays meant that the weekend was almost over and I had to prepare for the long stretch of the school week ahead – 5 long days of waking up early, homework, piano lessons, more homework and tests.

Now that my weekends are the most hectic and busy days of the week for me, with my Fridays & Saturdays running straight from morning to late night – 4 or 5am – Sundays are now the days I look forward to most, they are my days of bliss and leisure.

And my favorite part about Sundays?  BRUNCH!!

Here are my top picks for Sunday Brunch (See Below for Details):

1. The Vineyard Cafe

2. Solaire Bistro

3. Village Cafe

4. Chef Too

5. Element Fresh

6. Cafe Zarah

———————————————————————–

1. The Vineyard Café: A hidden gem, down an alley across from Yonghegong (Lama Temple). I say ‘hidden’ in the sense that it’s a bit difficult to find, but it’s incredibly popular. I went there today without a reservation (who knew?) and now I know, especially if you want to sit in their outdoor courtyard seating.

For those looking for a hearty meal after a rough weekend, I highly recommend the “Full English Breakfast” for RMB 65, which gets you generous portions of the following:

• 2 Pork Sausages
• Sautéed Potatoes
• 2 Rashers of Bacon
• Grilled Tomato
• Button Mushrooms
• Baked Beans
• Toast & Butter
• Egg (however you like it)

On top of all that, you also get a choice of coffee or tea AND a glass of fresh apple juice (which is just the icing on a cake)

My personal favorites:

• Ben-e’fish’-ial RMB 35

Like Eggs Benedict, but with imported Norwegian smoked salmon on a bed of arugula instead of ham.  Only downside is that it’s quite small.  Instead of two halves of an English muffin with 2 poached eggs, etc., it’s just one half, so I recommend to also get a side dish.

• Natural Yogurt RMB 11 with a side of honey

The Yogurt with Musseli and Fresh Fruit looked really tempting as well.

*Best to check map to make sure you don’t get lost:

31 Wudaoying Hutong,Yonghegong - west of Yonghegong 
五道营胡同31号  雍和宫桥南

6402-7961

2.  Solaire Bistro: An all-you-can-eat Organic Sunday Brunch for only RMB 88!! (from 11am-3pm)

All-You-Can-Eat & Drink includes:

• Unlimited Fresh Fruit
• Organic Homemade Yogurt
• Fresh Mango Lassi
• Tea & Coffee
• Organic Salad
• Fresh Bread
• Cheese Platter
• Pumpkin Soup
• Baked Scallops**soooo good
• Samosas (a bit of Indian influence from Solaire’s manager)
• Potato Croquets
• Organic Bacon and Sausages
• Organic Omelets

In addition to the unlimited salad and appetizers available, you also get a choice of One Main Entrée:

• Grilled Lamb Chops** I recommend this, it was perfectly cooked and so so delicious)
• Home-style Beef (like a meatloaf)
• Potato Gratin
• Grilled Sea Bass Fillet
• Pork Ribs

Solaire’s brunch is a great option for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone looking for a healthier brunch option.  Make sure you check out a map on your way there so that you don’t get lost.

Beside Wanda (Sofitel) on Zhenzhi Lu at Cable 8 Block B ground floor,
CBD/Guomao
Beside Wanda (Sofitel) Facing Guomao
北京朝阳区建国路郎家园8号尚8创意产业园区B座东侧108

5208-3689

3.   Village Café (Located on the First Floor of Opposite House in Sanlitun):  Wonderful selection of brunch items and came highly recommended to me.

Best Part: Every dish I’ve seen and sampled– from their Eggs Benedict to their Banana Pancakes and Sandwiches are top-notch.  Food is delicious. Period.

Comments:

• Chairs could be more comfortable
• The food and selection is great, but too pricey considering all the other great brunch options in Beijing.

4.  Chef Too – Known for their steaks, I’ve just been for their brunch.

Best Part:

• Great Brunch Selection
• Delicious Eggs Benedict

Comments:

• Super Pricey – I think it’s close to RMB 100 just for eggs benedict

5.  Element Fresh – People love to hate Element Fresh. Why?  It’s overpriced, it’s overrated, it’s not as healthy as it seems, the service is terrible, they always run out of everything…and yet we keep coming back.

Best Part:

• Element’s got the best smoothies in town, and it’s exactly what your body craves and needs after a long weekend.
• Salad Combinations are Awesome
• Huge outdoor terrace, perfect for a nice summer day

Comments: See above.

6. Café Zarah (located on Gulou): A sweet little Cafe on Gulou

Best Part:

• Cozy, relaxed little coffee shop with great wifi
• Good people-watching perch
• Breakfast Combo selections includes a great selection of breads, ham/salami, cheese, boiled egg, tomatoes, cucumbers, jelly, and some include nutella.
• Also offer a lot of sandwiches, pastas, etc.
• They sell ice cream provided by Gustomenta

Comments:

• Limited staff and quite busy, so everytime I needed anything, I needed to walk up to the counter to ask for drink refill, napkins, maidan, etc.

42 Gulou Dongdajie , near Jiaodaokou
鼓楼东大街42号

8403-9807

In a league of it’s own:  Top Hotel Champagne Brunches

1.   Senses (The Westin Financial Street) – Expect to drop a pretty penny, but it’s worth it.  This is by far the most elaborate, extensive, high-quality hotel brunch in Beijing. Champagne included is close to RMB 400 including the 15% service charge, it’s about 50 RMB less without the bubbly.

2.  Monsoon (InterContinental) – Pricier than Senses as its RMB 398 + 15% service charge for free-flow champagne, but they also have infinite Haagen Daaz Ice Cream.

3.  VIC short for Voyage of International Cuisines (Sofitel Hotel by Wanda Plaza) RMB 358 inclusive of champagne

Not the best brunch, a lot of variety, they have a great cheese selection and their dessert section has beautiful chocolate eclairs and I always have so much fun here.

Recent Brunch Experience:

Agua Aperitivo Brunch:

I had the pleasure of joining my friend for a complimentary meal at Agua when they first launched their new Aperitivo Brunch – all-you-can-eat tapas for RMB 198 per person.

Best Part:

• Enjoying the sunshine on Agua’s lovely outdoor terrace with its beautiful view overlooking the Legation Quarter (I don’t like to call it Ch’ien Men 23)
• The fact that you can order as many tapas as you’d like (20 choices)
• Salad with Avocado, strawberries, asparagus and hazelnut is outstanding
• Great Diced fresh fruit dessert with ice cream on top
• Service was very friendly and attentive

Comments:

• Too much mousse/foam…in everything
• Spanish Omelets were just scrambled eggs combined with other ingredients
• Not a good drink selection – only one fresh fruit drink
• Only 2 other tables in the restaurant

Ch’ienmen 23, 23 Qianmen Dongdajie,
Tian’anmen
前门东大街23号

6559-6266

Do it…Just Do It

I’m a girly girl, so it’s not a surprise that I was in a sorority in college (and the best one obviously): Delta Gamma. Having been in a sorority for four years, it should also not come as a surprise that  I love theme parties!  So when I got an e-mail invitation last week to attend Santana’s ‘Santoga’ birthday party, I was eager to fumble through my closet and happily found a sarong and shoe laces = a homemade toga.  
 Brilliant.

A Rule to Live by: No matter what the theme, no matter who’s party it is, you should always dress up.

Think of it this way- If it was your party, wouldn’t you want the people who came to dress up?

And even knowing it is someone else’s party, wouldn’t you want to be one of the few dressed up at a theme party rather than part of the minority who didn’t dress up?

In my experience, I have found that Beijingers totally get into theme parties and in this case, considering that it was Santana’s birthday party, I was safe to assume that I would not be the only one turning up in a toga.

When you get into a theme party and go all out, it doesn’t just convey to others that you are fun and creative, but it also shows the party host/organizer that you care.  No one who decides to have a theme party wants people to not  dress up. Although it’s expected that not everyone will dress up, the host is always delighted by those who took the time and made the effort to play along.  It’s all part of the fun, the more people who dress up, the more people get into the theme party, thus, the rowdier the partier gets and everyone has more fun!

Santoga Party Pic

To Favor or To Be Fair?

To Favor or To Be Fair?  That is the question.  To be perfectly honest, I’m a stickler for rules. I’m a stickler for fair game, not favoritism. So what do I do when I have a restaurant with a long waiting list of walk-in customers on top of a fully booked restaurant and someone comes in with some kind of “guanxi” that’s supposed to set them apart from everyone else?  Easy, I do what’s right.

Naturally, I’d like to tell them to get in line behind everyone else who’s waiting. Fair and Square.  But I also know it’s China.  And if people think they have Guanxi, then I should give them Mianzi, and make their Guanxi seem worthy.  So I smile and I tell them I’ll squeeze them in when I actually just put them in line on my waiting list of tables.

It’s never what you say, it’s how you say it that’s important. If people expect special treatment, just give it to them.  That’s just good customer service.   It’s all about communication.

Most of the Hatsune staff gets easily overwhelmed, so their solution? To turn away customers.  Rather than explaining that Hatsune is fully booked and  that we have a waiting list, they prefer to say, “I’m sorry, we’re fully booked. No more tables. Next time.”  And it’s not a lie. Since the day Hatsune in the Village opened on April 17^th, it has been fully booked. Whether is Friday night or Monday, we are fully booked with reservations.  Unless you come before 6pm or after 8:30pm, there’s almost no chance you can just walk in and be seated without a reservation.  But the beauty of it?  There are always last-minute cancellations or changes that allow us to have a system with a waiting list that moves pretty quickly.

In China, it’s all about the mianzi and “special price for a special friend,” hence the concept of bargaining.  If Hatsune was actually catered towards local Chinese, I suspect Alan would have increased all his prices by 10% so that he could account for all the customers who asked for a “special discount” since they are “老客”。 As a long time, loyal customer of Hatsune before I had any affiliation with Alan or Block 8, I would never have even thought to ask for a discount – and why would I? Just because I come there often?  What an absurd concept. I guess it’s a good thing Hatsune is recognized as a venue serving quality, international cuisine so we don’t get those requests too often.  In a country without tips and hardly any customer service standards, it’s pretty interesting how bold and aggressive clientele can be.

Example:  I was escorting a couple to their reserved table to find that the table next to theirs had taken an extra chair.  I exclaim, “I’m sorry, I guess they stole one of your chairs.  Let me grab another for you, just wait one moment”, as I rush off to find an extra chair to bring to their table.  Upon returning, the table who took the original chair was furious that I had accused them of “stealing one of their chairs” and despite the amount of profuse apologizes, I couldn’t diffuse their fury.  WOW.  In retrospect, I should not have used the word “steal”, but ironically, five minutes later, a client grabbed a magazine from the reception on his way out and said, “Hey, I’m going to steal one of your magazines, thanks again, it was great!”

Welcome to the World: Mason Kalei Wong

Today something wonderful happened.  Today, Mason Kalei Wong was born at 2:30pm, a beautiful, healthy baby boy came into the world.

At 9am, I get a text from Alan warning me that this could be the day!  Unsure of exactly when Mason was going to come, I waited to hear back for more news.  Around 3pm, I get a text from Alan, “Baby Mason Wong was just born”.  Naturally, I flip out and immediately call him to congratulate him and his response? Alan starts singing, “I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa” – HAHAHA, typical.  I haul ass over to Beijing United.

You’ve seen movies and movies about pregnancies (Nine Months, Father of the Bride 2, Juno, & Knocked Up to name a few) – they are always racing to the emergency room when the mother-to-be’s water breaks and when she’s giving birth, she’s drenched in sweat, screaming in pain throughout the ordeal.

To my surprise, that is all completely over-exaggerated and not even close to Alan & Hannah’s experience today.  According to them, Hannah’s water broke around 5am, woke Alan up and said, “I think Mason’s coming now” and then proceeded to take a shower, wash her hair, pack some clothes and were in absolutely no rush as they gathered together necessities for Mason’s arrival. After an hour or so, they leisurely made their way over to Beijing United and checked in to their Maternity Suite, where they waited, prepared, gave birth in that same maternity suite, and where they continued to stay for the next three days.

When I arrived (completely drenched wet after a crazy sudden heavy thunderstorm while trying to bike my way over), Mason was sleeping soundly in a little bedded table beside his mother Hannah, Hannah’s sister, Alan & his auntie. Mason and his new family were all just chillin.  Hannah looked great, she said she was fine, that Mason’s birth was much quicker and less painful than she had expected and to my surprise, she was already up, walking about – even giving birth doesn’t phase her.

Alan showed me a little video clip he had taken of the event (tastefully done with no crotch shot) – it showed Hannah laying back with 5 or 6 nurses/doctors all around her and then Mason just came out covered in goop, which the doctor and nurses quickly and efficiently removed and washed away.

Naturally everything in movies is much more hyped up and dramatic, but I never imagined it to be this calm.  But then again, Hannah’s always so composed.  Even in the days up to Mason’s birth, Hannah was never nervous or anxious about the big day, only saying that she hoped he’d come out sooner rather than later.

The whole day, Mason was in the suite with his mom and dad, there was no isolated room for him and all the other newborn babies to sleep in – in this case, all the babies stayed together in the maternity suites with their parents.  Visitors came in and out all throughout the day, to get a glimpse at the superstar himself, commenting that he looks exactly like Hannah, especially his eyes & nose, but mouth takes after Alan.  With a head full of hair and a rosy pink complexion, Mason was the center of attention.

But as noted in the guidebook provided by Beijing United, Mason did as expected – he just slept and slept and slept. And if he did wake up, it was one eye that opened just for a glimpse before shutting again.

According to Uncle Evgeny, who so happens to be a baby-expert, baby’s see the world upside down in their first few days until their eyes have time to adjust and turn everything right-side up again.  So if Mason did just open one eye, he looked rather wary or as Evgeny beautifully put it, “Mason’s hungover, he’s had a rough night.”

Another fun-to-know baby fact: It’s a misconception that a newborn baby should be bundled up tightly.  While you should make sure your newborn is warm enough with sufficient layers of clothing, head beanie, and blankets, you should also allow for movement and stretching, rather than constricting his arms, legs, body too tight together.   And it’s also good practice to place your hands below your newborn’s feet and allow for him to kick against your hands to get their leg muscles developing sooner, which can lead to them walking sooner as well.

Who would have known Uncle Evgeny was such a pro when it comes to babies?  Always full of surprises.

And just as I am about to walk across the street to order some Annie’s take-away, Uncle Asher comes just in the nick of time with massive portions of homemade meat lasagna and Fettuccine Bolognese. So Bomb and so clutch.  I don’t know how he does it. I can’t wait for him to start up his own place, he’s got a gift worth pursuing.

As Uncle Evgeny, Uncle Asher, Auntie Kristen (me) and other visitors each took turns holding baby Mason, it was easy to point out that this baby has a LONG line of people willing and devoted to not only babysit and look after, but also protect, nurture and love him as he grows up.

And while this is only Mason’s first day in the world, he’ll soon discover that he’s arrived into the loving arms of two perfect parents and a wonderful circle of Uncles and Aunties just waiting to show him what this world has to offer.

Here are some shots of the superstar himself: Mason Kalei Wong with Papa & Mama Wong. What a beautiful new family.

Baby Mason getting burped by Papa Alan

Mama Hannah holding Baby Mason

Just the Beginning of George & Mason

George misbehaving

Mason Goes Home!

...with George

From Diaries to LumDimSum

Since the 5th grade, I have kept diaries that I wrote in almost every day until last May 2008. For so many years, I wrote as a form of expression, documentation, a way to vent, to release, to explore and analyze ideas, emotions, actions.  I didn’t know if I would start writing again, but it’s nice to know that I have the option to reminisce and relive all those memories and remember what it was like to be back in junior high when my life was consumed by homework, piano lessons, soccer practice and my dreams and aspirations were to be a lawyer like Ally McBeal.  Back in those days, I played Oregon Trail on my massive home computer and you weren’t cool unless you had your own private phone line with conference call.    As they were my diaries, I only wrote for myself and never with the intention of allowing any other eyes to read them but mine.  And after my time?  I request for them all to be burned.

I’m not sure why I stopped writing in my diary last year, I suppose I missed a few days, which turned into weeks and before I knew it, I had let too much time go by and was too busy to go back and re-trace my daily activities to catch up.

China’s funny like that.  It’s easy to get caught up in everything around you and forget to stop to smell the roses…no, breathe fresh air…haha. It’s easy for me (and everyone who’s an expat) to tease China, to say that if I had a nickel for every ridiculous encounter/situation/scenario, I’d be rich.  But alas, as much as it can be frustrating and challenging to live in a foreign country, it’s also incredibly exciting, fascinating, and full of opportunity and potential.  Never have I felt more helpless and valuable at the same time.  Never have I felt such an intensity of life as I do here in China.  I wake up each day to a day of hope and promise. Every day is a new day to discover new things, new places and to meet new people.  In China, I have learned to expect the unexpected.  A year ago, I had my diary. Yesterday, I had nothing. And today, I have LumDimSum.

“Embrace the rise of this country as having all the complicated aspects of human ‘progress’ in general. It is disorienting, it is sometimes disturbing, it creates problems as well as benefits. But it is a very interesting and exciting part of this era’s human saga and is worth people around the world paying close attention to.” – James Fallows

An Intro to LumDimSum: Sharing Small Tastings from Me to Beijing

How ironic that a name which used to torment me and make me squirm with discomfort is the name I have chosen as my blog name. Call it irony, but now I just think it’s fitting.

Not only does Dim Sum rhyme with my last name, which makes it that much more fun to say, dim sum cuisine originates from Guangdong Province, which is home to my father’s family. Dim Sum is not only a staple food of my culture, but it has always been a significant part of my life in terms of countless times it brings my family together.

Above this, I chose LumDimSum for the significance that dim sum is served in small portions -perfect for sharing, which LumDimSum emulates in its own way. LumDimSum is my way of sharing with you small tastings of my thoughts, pieces of my day, and most importantly, I share with you the best parts and highlighted events in this always-changing, ever-evolving social scene that is Beijing nightlife and dining.

DimSum YumYum

K. Lum in Da House

Written Courtesy of Blake Stone-Banks, my dear friend who was kind enough to take the time to help me set up LumDimSum Blog:
My name is Kri$’n Lum
And I’m a$ $ick a$ a fuckin’ bum
$ittin’ at home on my bum
$pittin’ rhymes and $ippin ‘Cardi rum

my homie Blake
baked me up dis blog cake
$o I can make da house $hake
with the$e mad rhyme$ about my bellyache

i think i got food poi$on
tryin’ to get my noise on
next weekend I’ll deploy $um
of my mad $kills with the boys on

the mic over at da Bling
when i $tep into da ring
with dj Keza da hip-hop king
y’all mutha$ best git down with da LUM DIM SUM thing!

y’all, peace

About LumDimSum

This is me, Kristen Lum, on the Job at Bling. May 2009

About LumDimSum:

First and foremost, let me explain what LumDimSum is all about. Don’t be fooled by my name, this is not a blog about DimSum (although I am a HUGE fan) and it is not limited to discussions about dining in Beijing.
I decided to create LumDimSum to share my experiences (both personal and work related) with family & friends abroad, along with anyone interested in the life I live as a PR socialite in Beijing. as a newly graduated, ABC living in Beijing, my life has taken off on a path of its own and my goals and aspirations have morphed, grown, and leapt in ways I never expected or imagined.

Having lived in China for the past three years, my life and career goals have taken off like a roller coaster. I originally came to Beijing as a student at a private Language Program and within just two years, I’ve since planned the wedding of the year, hosted two restaurant openings, and managed the PR, Marketing and Media for Beijing’s top nightlife and dining destinations: Block8, BLING, LAN Club, the Hatsune Restaurant Group, just to name a few.
LumDimSum not only recaps some unique experiences and thoughts on my daily life in Beijing but also serves as a platform for me to discuss my personal opinions on Beijing nightlife and dining along with the inside scoop on my work and the venues I represent. Shameless self-promotion aside, I hope that LumDimSum will provide valuable insight and tips to Beijing’s hot spots and top upcoming events around town.

Contact Info:
E-mail: lum.kristen (at) gmail.com

Dantas Rock

Facebook: Kristen S. Lum
Twitter: kristenslum

My CV: Served in DimSum Portions

Kristen Stacy Lum 林斯瑶
Sierra Oaks Elementary School (1990-1996)
Arden Middle School (1996-1998)
Rio Americano High School (1998-2002)
University of California, Santa Barbara (2002-2006)

Beijing (2006-2009)
World Link Education (Sept. 2006- Feb.2007)

Eastwei PR (Feb. 2007- July 2007)

American Chamber of Commerce-China (Jan. 2008-July 2008)

Block 8 – Director of Communications & Public Relations (Jan. 2008-Oct. 2008)
Hatsune Restaurant Group – Director of Marketing & Media (Oct. 2008-Present)
Alchemy Consultancy – Director of Media, Marketing & Communications (March 2008-June 2009)
*All-Star & Bling – PR Consultant to Director of Communications (June 2008-Present)
*Domus – PR Consultant (July 2008-January 2009)
*Cabaret, Shanghai – PR Consultant (October 2008-January 2009)
*Lantung Thai Bar + Bistro – PR Consultant to Event Planner (February 2009-Present)
*LAN Club Beijing & Shanghai – PR Consultant (February 2009-April 2009)

Wedding Planner for Alan & Hannah Wong (May 2009-June 2009)

*candy&caviar – Director of Media, Marketing and Communications/Honorary Chairman (June 2009-Present)

*Glen Group – Media, PR Consultant (September 2009-Present)

*Purple Jade Country Club – Consultant (September 2009-Present)

(*) Current Projects