Gourmet Guru Kristen Lum has long impressed the CW team for her work in restaurant marketing and consulting. We’re also fans of her blog, (LumDimSum](http://lumdimsum.com/), where she tried to cover every Gourmet Month venue last year. Check out her post on Enoteca, which is returning for Gourmet Month 2010, beginning on April 1. We recently chatted with Ms. Lum about Gourmet Month and her killer blog.

Why did you start LumDimSum?
I’m a foodie who loves to party and I’m fascinated by Beijing’s dynamic nightlife and dining scene. In the 3 years I’ve been living here, I’ve witnessed Beijing’s drastic transformation first-hand and I see how it continues to constantly evolve with new restaurants and clubs opening and closing on a regular basis. People are always asking me what’s good and what’s going on, so I figured a blog was the next step.
LumDimSum serves as a platform for me to discuss my personal opinions on Beijing nightlife and dining along with an inside scoop on my work, my projects, and the venues I represent. Shameless self-promotion aside, my goal for LumDimSum is to provide valuable insight and tips to Beijing’s hot spots and top upcoming events around town.

And what exactly is Gourmet Month?
I think Gourmet Month is absolutely brilliant. It’s where Beijing’s top restaurants—often newly opened or very popular—create a menu that’s worth double its value. It’s a chance for restaurants to promote to new customers. And as diners, it’s our chance to indulge our taste buds and feast at the best restaurants for half of what it’d usually cost for a top meal.

What was your favorite Gourmet Month set last fall?
Bei was the most impressive and Kagen was the best value. Bei blows me away every time I dine there with their meticulous attention to detail and their food quality and presentation, with each dish coming out like a work of art. Kagen, part of the Hatsune restaurant empire and one of the venues I represent, was only ¥150 and it went above and beyond our expectations with how much food there was. One order is enough for two girls to share and the quality of the food is as satisfying as the quantity. It was so good that my friends and I went back 3 times during the last gourmet month.

You had a goal of trying every Gourmet Month venue and reviewing it on LumDimSum. How close did you get?
The first time around, I managed to gorge myself with about 20 Gourmet Month meals in 30 days. Last fall, I hit 15.

So where do you see LumDimSum three years down the road?

I’d love to build LumDimSum into a world empire, but I’m also playing with starting my own venture—to create an F&B enterprise I can be proud to call my own.

Details

Check out LumDimSum at www.lumdimsum.com. City Weekend Gourmet Month begins on April 1. Get all the details on participating restaurants and specially priced set menus at www.cityweekend.com.cn/gourmetbj2010.