As White as Snow

Many choose to go into hibernation whenever the weather dips below a certain temperature and while I am not a fan of the cold, I am a snow bunny.  There’s something about fresh powder (ie pure, white snow) that calls me out play.

Beijing witnessed another decent dump of snow this weekend, and I soaked it up to the nth degree.

Until this weekend, I had only been to Nanshan Snow Park to get my fix of winter sports, but Wang Long Ski Resort is a whole other experience.  It’s quite a bit farther away (about 4-6 hour drive depending on traffic), but a proper ski resort in terms of the height of the mountain, length of runs and range of difficulty. For those who know what they’re doing and crave a run that lasts longer than 5 minutes, Wang Long is your answer.  But I would still recommend Nanshan for beginners (shorter runs that are easier to learn on), experts (best snow park around with big kickers and tricks for jumping) and those who want just a day of fun in the snow (much more accessible for a day trip rather than an overnight trip to Wanglong).

Growing up in Sacramento, I spent most winter weekends up in Lake Tahoe, so I was stoked to discover Wang Long – Beijing’s closest bet to a proper ski resort.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Snow Bunny Action at Wang Long’s Ski Resort:

After a full day of snowboarding, I went on a beautiful 6-hour hike up Yangtai Mountain.  Covered in snow, it was truly a winter wonderland.  I highly recommend Yangtai if you enjoy getting out of the city for a moderate hike offering beautiful scenic views.  As it was snowing most of our hike, the visibility off the mountain was not good, but to be surrounded by everything covered in white was one of the most serene and blissful feelings imaginable.

To get out there, head to the bus stop by the Summer Palace West Gate and hop on bus #346 and get off at Bei An He Xi Kou 北安和西口。

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yangtai Mountain Trek:

CAI Fundraising Evening at Mughal’s

CAI is hosting a fundraising dinner at Mughal’s Indian Restaurant on Thursday, March 10 with funds donated to CAI’s empowerment programs for migrant children and migrant teacher training.

The event will include a 3-course dinner by Mughal’s (appetizer, main and dessert) + complimentary drink for RMB 200 per person (RMB 110 will go directly to CAI).  *Tickets bought after March 7 will be RMB 220 per person.

The fundraising event will also be displaying a silent auction featuring CAI’s migrant children’s original artwork.

Seating is limited, for reservations, email: janel@cai-china.org or call 134 3922 9636

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011
• Time: 6:00PM-8:00PM (first seating) and 8:00PM-onwards (2nd seating)
• Location: Mughal’s Indian Restaurant
• Address: 4th floor of Nali Patio, Sanlitun North Bar Street 三里屯酒吧街3.3大厦南侧, 那里花园4层

• RSVP: 134 3922 9636 or e-mail janel@cai-china.org
• Website: www.cai-china.org

Nobu Beijing: A Soft-Opening Preview

Highly-anticipated, world-famous restaurant chain Nobu (created by Japanese celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa) is currently in it’s soft-opening stages with an invite-only guest list.

I was lucky enough to tag along with Hatsune Restaurant Group owner Alan Wong and his lovely wife Hannah for a full-on Nobu experience inclusive of an 8 dish menu by the chef followed by a private kitchen tour by Head Nobu Chef from Norway Øyvind Naesheim.

I had not previously dined at one of the Nobu restaurants so I was not quite sure what to expect, but I was beyond excited to find out.  The restaurant design is absolutely stunning and as soon as you step foot in, you are quickly made aware that this is a high-end restaurant.  Most diners were dressed smart in suits and cocktail dresses and combine that with very formal service, it made for a very posh restaurant atmosphere.

Despite mixed reviews about their service, we found it to be very professional.

The food is obviously very different from traditional Japanese cuisine but it’s also very different from the Japanese fusion restaurants in Beijing like the California-style Japanese fusion at Hatsune and Northern Asian fusion at Bei.  I would definitely consider Nobu to be classified as Japanese fusion, but a Japanese and Chinese fusion.  The majority of the dishes were cooked, many were fried and very saucy (creamy rock shrimp and eggplant miso) and some were quite sour in taste (Toro Toban Yaki).  Highlights were the black cod and selection of sushi platter.

A few of Nobu’s Signature Dishes we tasted:

*photos courtesy of Øyvind’s website

Spicy Tuna Salad / Black Cod Saikyo Yaki

Toro Toban Yaki / Creamy Rock Shrimp / Selection of Sushi

According to Øyvind, Nobu will open with an a la carte menu on Tuesday, March 1 and there are rumors of a grand opening party sometime in April with restaurant chain co-owner Robert de Niro possibly making an appearance.

LumDimSummary: Belita Jewelry Grand Opening Party

Last night, Belita’s Grand Opening Party on the first floor of Eric Paris Salon was the talk of the town.

Packed with beautiful people, a mini runway fashion show showcasing their most glam jewelry pieces and live music, guests were treated to wine by Top Cellar, snacks by Punjabi Indian Restaurant and sensationally sweet cupcakes by Lollipop Bakery.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Belita’s Fashion Runway Show:

LumDimSum Snapshots of Belita’s Grand Opening Party:

Belita Jewelry:

• Address: 1st Floor of Eric Paris Salon (behind Sanlitun Village) 43 Sanlitun Bei Jie Nan, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯北街南43号楼贝丽塔珠宝店
• Website: lizamjewelry.com

CCSweets: Made Just for Kids

Playful and adorable, CCSweets is like a fairytale come true for kids.

Created by Carol Chow, the CC stands not for her initials, but for CupCakes or Cakes and Cookies, Candy and Ice Cream, or Custom Created sweets. Mother of two twin girls, CCSweets is her “labor of love” and she gets exactly what kids (and their mothers) want.

“Carol create things that she loves to eat and share with friends.   They are not too sweet in taste but they will add some sweet memories to your celebrations.”

Stepping foot into her store in Central Park, you will find pretty pink furniture made just for little princesses and the store is decorated with all kinds of fun, creative characters on display.

More than just cupcakes, I think CCSweets’ birthday cakes are brilliant and the perfect addition to any kid’s birthday party!

Check out a selection of some of CCSweet’s cake & cupcake creations:

On my visit, I sampled two of her flavors: Chocolate & Banana and Red Velvet & Cream Cheese.  Both were beautiful and moist, but sadly lasted only seconds (ie, 2 bites)!  It didn’t bother me that they were not as sweet as I am used to, but they are also not as big as I am used to!  CCSweets’ standard cupcake is definitely much smaller in comparison to Lollipop Bakery and Colibri’s cupcakes.  However, they do come in three sizes: mini, classic (medium) and Royale Deluxe (large). I guess I’ll have to stick with the Royale Deluxe size!

Chocolate Banana / Red Velvet & Cream Cheese Cupcakes (RMB 120 for 6 cupcakes or RMB 240 for a dozen)

Some other fun flavors: Strawberry Shortcake, Vanilla with Rum buttercream frosting, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

With an easy-to-order bilingual website and a charming little store in Central Park, CCSweets is a marvelous addition to Beijing’s cupcake market.

Review of CCSweets: Shop 109, Central Park Tower 11, 6 Chaoyangmen Wai Dajie, 朝阳门外大街6号, 新成国际11号楼底商109号, Tel: +136-8328-1648

Best Part:

• Adorable custom creations in the form of cakes, cupcakes and cookies

• Their store in Central Park is made just for kids with mini kids’ furniture and fun creations on display all around.
• Cupcakes are not only pretty, they are high-quality using ingredients that are imported or from well-known, local organic sources.
• CCSweets offers a range of sugar-free and gluten-free cupcakes.

Comments:

• CCSweets says up-front – they are not too sweet in taste so if you’re a sweet-tooth like me, you may prefer the rich taste of Lollipop Bakery.
• They are similarly priced to their competitors – Lollipop Bakery, Colibri, etc., but their cupcakes are much smaller in size.  Really cute and really great presentation, but quite mini (can be eaten in 1-2 bites) where my max is not eat more than 1 or 2 of Lollipop cupcakes.

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

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

Invincible Ramen 无敌家: Beijing’s Best Ramen

Standard Ramen RMB 35

Japan is the undisputed King of the best Ramen worldwide, but if you are living in Beijing - Invincible Ramen无敌家 is your closest bet to traditional Kyushu-style ramen noodle soup.

Their fresh noodles and soup is what sets Invincible Ramen apart from other Japanese ramen chains – their simmering pork broth is both incredibly thick and flavorful, slowly cooked for hours on end.

Depending on the ingredients you would like in your ramen (ranging from vegetarian to extra eggs or meat), Invincible Ramen’s choices of ramen dishes run from RMB 28-45 – a steal compared to what you’d normally pay in Japan for the same dish.  The pork ramen (RMB 38) comes with steamed greens, seaweed, bamboo, bean sprouts, tender pork slices and a halved boiled egg with a creamy bright yellow yolk.

A few other noteworthy dishes: stir-fry bean sprouts (RMB 28), Jiaozi (RMB 18) and steamed egg tomago (RMB 23).  They also offer sushi rolls ranging from RMB 55-98, but I really wouldn’t bother.  Stick to what’s their specialty – if 1 order of their ramen isn’t enough, order a second.

Located on the second floor of a building opposite KFC on Xiaoyun Lu, Invincible Ramen is set in a cozy, intimate setting with a 2 separate rooms and one open kitchen with giant ramen pots of simmering pork broth.

Review of Invincible Ramen 无敌家: Across from KFC on Xiaoyun Lu 朝阳区霄云路32号2楼(KFC对面), Tel: +86 10 64677688 / 64672988

Best Part:

• Best place in Beijing for traditional Kyushu-style Japanese ramen

• Cozy atmosphere, a perfect place to warm you up this winter
• Prices are very reasonable, great value

Comments:

• While they offer a pretty extensive menu, stick with their ramen, it’s by far the best thing on their menu.
• It’s not the easiest place to spot on Xiaoyun lu, so just keep your eye out for hanging red Japanese lamps on the second floor.
• As with many of the world’s yummiest things to eat, Japanese ramen is a gluttonous indulgence (I think I packed on an extra 5 kilos after eating ramen 2 nights in a row last time I was in Tokyo), so as delicious as it is, you probably should not make this a regular dining destination (for the sake of both your arteries and physique).

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

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7

Belita Jewelry Grand Opening Party

This Thursday, February 24, BELITA Jewelry will host a Grand Opening Party from 6-9PM on the 1st floor of Eric Paris Salon.

Guests will be treated to wine by Top Cellar, cheese by  Le Fromager De Pekin, cupcakes by Lollipop Bakery, catering by Punjabi Indian Restaurant, live music and the main event – a luxurious jewelry fashion show by Belita Jewelry.

And in the event that you see something you like, all guests enjoy 20% off all jewelry and hand bags.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011
• Time: 6:00PM-9:00PM
• Location: 1st Floor of Eric Paris Salon
• Address: 43 Sanlitun Bei Jie Nan, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯北街南43号楼贝丽塔珠宝店

• RSVP: 15711128542 or e-mail contact@lizamjewelry.com
• Website: lizamjewelry.com

candy&caviar: Men’s FW 2011 at MRKET LV

Sharp and tasteful, candy&caviar’s FW Men’s 2011 Collection is an absolute explosion of creative fabric combinations and meticulous design details.

Stand-outs include 100% wool double-layer peacoat, 100% merino wool hoodies and a recreation of candy&caviar’s signature hooded blazer.

Featured designer at MRKET Las Vegas at the Sands Expo (The Venetian), candy&caviar exhibited this newest collection just this past week:

Check Out candy&caviar’s Men’s FW 2011 Behind-the-Scenes:

*Click here to watch video on Vimeo (if you are outside of China)

Stay tuned for the Women’s FW 2011 Collection soon to come…

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905

Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

theBeijinger 2011 Reader Restaurant Awards: Vote Now!

Click photo for Beijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards Survey

theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Restaurant Awards are now live until March 14, so vote up and give due credit to the restaurants you love and frequent.

With 44 categories and featuring over 253 nominated restaurants, Beijinger’s stepping it up a notch with “the biggest, fattest, most ambitious survey to date.”

Restaurant Award Categories are broken down into 3 Sections -

First Section Breaks Down Regional Chinese Restaurants:

Best Cantonese (affordable and high-end are broken down into 2 separate categories), Best Beijing Duck, Best Sichuan, Best Dim Sum, Best Hot Pot, Best Kung Pao Chicken, Best Yunan

Second Section Breaks Down All Non-Chinese Restaurants:

Best French (both affordable and high-end restaurants are divided into two separate categories), Best Indian/Pakistani, Best Russian, Best Italian (affordable & high-end), Best Japanese (Hatsune obviously), Best Spanish, Best Mexican/Tex-Mex, Best Middle Eastern, Best Thai, Best Vietnamese, Best American, Best Korean, Best Pizza, Best Sandwiches, Best Steak, Best Burger

Third Section focuses on Specific Categories:

Best Business Lunch, Best Afternoon Tea, Best Culinary Event of the Year (Hatsune’s 9 year Anniversary Party!), Best Family-Friendly, Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Late Night Dining, Best Brunch (both affordable & high-end), Best Vegetarian, Best Wine List, Best for a Romantic Meal, Best Chef, Best Decor, Best Service, Restaurant of the Year (Chinese & Non-Chinese).

*Hatsune was nominated for:

• Best Japanese
• Best Lunch
• Best Culinary Event of the Year (our 9th Anniversary Party)
• Best Decor (Sanlitun Branch)
• Restaurant of the Year!!

Click here to vote!

Care for Children Charity Dinner at Capital M

On Saturday, February 26, there will be a fabulous charity dinner hosted at Capital M for the charity organization Care for Children.

Capital M is generously donating 10 tables of 10 and each table of 10 selling for RMB 8,888, 100% of the proceeds from tables will be donated entirely to Care for Children.

If that’s not enough reason to support such a worthwhile event, they will also be featuring a 5-star auction with some big-time items up for bid including:

• 1 week at Soneva Kiri www.sixsenses.com/soneva-kiri <http://www.sixsenses.com/soneva-kiri> on the private Thai Island of Koh Kood worth US$14,000
• Two Upper Class tickets with Virgin Atlantic to London.
• The chef from Private Kitchen will cook dinner for 4 at your home (specialising in Afro-Caribbean cusine)
• Hummingbird Therapeutic Retreat has donated 2 of their signature massages “Pleasure 4″ for 2 people along with a gift voucher valued at RMB 200 for each attending guest.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, February 26, 2011
• Time: 8:00PM-11:00
• Location: Capital M
• Address: 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street, 前门大街2号3层

• Cost: RMB 8,888 for a table of 10 (100% goes to Care for Children)
• RSVP: Marie-Claire Lalor: 139 1107 9543 or e-mail marieclairelalor@gmail.com

Care for Children Background:

Care for Children exists to relieve hardship, distress and sickness in abandoned and orphaned children in China by the introduction of strategic initiatives in child care practice, at the request of, and in cooperation with, the Chinese national and local authorities.

Since it’s start in 1998, Care of Children has directly trained staff from over 200 orphanages, estimating that there are now over 200,000 children in families! They have a vision to see 1 million children in families.

Using a successfully replicated training program for social workers and orphanage staff across the country, Care for Children has effectively created a solution for a long-term benefit to give orphaned children a family of their own.

To Know More: www.careforchildren.com

LumDimSum Discovery: ‘Dinner Teaser’ at Punjabi

Punjabi has recently released a new photo menu (click here to view) of over 25 pages packed with everything from specialty Indian drinks (they have the best Mango Lassi ever), soups, appetizers, BBQ dishes and combos, curries, vegetarian dishes, rice dishes, roti and nan bread, New Delhi famous street food including Kristen’s Kathi Roll (yup, that’s me!), South Indian dishes, Indian and Chinese fusion dishes, and traditional Indian desserts.

With a million and one options, it’s near impossible to choose out of so many dishes and still get enough variety, so Punjabi’s owner Gireesh has created a “Dinner Teaser” set menu. Perfect for two, the set dinner menu includes a six course menu highlighting Punjabi’s new menu featured items.

Punjabi’s ‘Dinner Teaser’ Set Menu:

• 2 Drinks: The Cinderella (a super strong Indian cocktail) or Mango Lassi (non-alcoholic option)

• Tamatar Ka Shorba (tomato soup)

• Masala Pappadams Appetizers (pappadams with chopped vegetables)

• Half BBQ combo order of chicken and lamb mix

• Kristen’s Kathi Rolls (Indian burritos made of BBQ’d meat, mint and tamarind sauce)

• The Thali – a special curry set served on a silver platter (available for sale worth RMB 2,188) with 5 silver bowls featuring some of Punjabi’s most popular curry dishes:
  • Butter Chicken (BBQ chicken in a tomato and cream buttery sauce)
  • Gosht Saagwala (lamb with spinach and cream)
  • Jhinga Curry (prawn curry in an onion based sauce)
  • Mix Vegetables
  • Sweet Dahi (Fresh Thick Yoghurt)

• Desserts to share: Mango Custard (made with milk and Indian Mango pulp) and “Gajar Ka Halwa” made from carrots, milk and cardamon.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Punjabi’s Dinner Teaser:

The Cinderella Indian Cocktail or Mango Lassi

Rich Tomato Soup / Masala Pappadams

BBQ Chicken & Lamb / Kristen’s Kathi Roll

The Thali: Silver Platter featuring 5 of Punjabi’s most popular curry dishes

Mixed Vegetables / Lamb with Spinach and Cream

Butter Chicken / Prawn Curry

Sweet Dahi

Desserts: Mango Custard / Gajar Ka Halwa

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

Punjabi’s Address:

Located on Lucky Street, opposite 21st Century Hotel, 朝阳公园路C-8号二层, Tel: 5867-0221/23

Midnite Clash: DJ Kid Fresh and Yao

After their Midnite Clash premiere event on New Year’s Eve, Punk is bringing back Kid Fresh with DJ Yao – a young, talented producer hailing from SF’s Bay Area, whose many influences include “jazz, funk, soul, Brazilian, black futuristic, and psychedelic music and movements, which he incorporates into his own distinct style of production”.

Together with Punk’s resident DJ Saul D, Midnite Clash 2011 will be breaking new ground in new school club music.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, February 19
• Time: 10PM-late
• Door Charge: RMB 50 (after 11PM)
• Location: PUNK (Opposite House)

The Kro’s Nest: Back and Better than Ever

After complicated legal drama, Kro’s Nest is finally back and it’s even bigger and badder (bad as in bad-ass) than the original.

Fulfilling the same reputation it had before, Kro’s Nest is still the place in Beijing to gather a big group and pig out on pizzas and beers. With RMB 20 pint-sized draft beers and the biggest pizza pies in town, you’re guaranteed to leave like stuffed Humpty Dumpties and still have plenty of left-overs to take home.

That being said, there have been both improvements and a few let-downs with the new Kro’s.

No longer printed in newspaper style, they now have a full-on menu packed with personality and a wealth of options to choose from.  More than just pizza like the “Artery Clogger” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, they’ve also got a large range of starters, salads, desserts like funnel cake and Rocky Road Rice-Krispy Pie, and a large selection of both fun cocktails, milkshakes and beers.

For a complete Kro’s Nest experience, we were ambitious enough to start off with a round of cocktails (in order of L to R): Beach Tea (RMB 50), Hop Skip Jump and Go Naked (RMB 45), Strawberry Daiquiri (RMB 50) and Mudslide (RMB 40).

While all 4 drinks tasted OK, they were tiny for their price tag and the general consensus was that all the drinks were pretty weak in pour.  After we each finished off the cocktails in a few slurps, it was a no-brainer for us to switch to draft beers, which was a much better choice at only RMB 20 for a pint.

To go along with our drinks, we also couldn’t resist the urge to try a few items from their fun range of starters (as we had heard their kurly fries and onion rings were off-the-hook).  Kro’s signature kurly fries came in 3 options: with spicy chili salt (RMB 25), Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese (RMB 28), plus bacon (RMB 30).

We tested out their kurly fries with spicy chili salt, their onion rings (RMB 25) and buffalo wings (RMB 42). While Kro’s kurly fries were OK, it was pretty weak in comparison to the curly fries I know (Jack in the Box aka the KING of curly fries) and the flimsy onion rings were also quite a let-down compared to the thick, golden whole onion rings I’m used to.  And while the buffalo wings looked great, they also missed the mark as they had a strange sauce that left an unpleasant taste.  Unfortunately, all the starters were overall disappointing.

Kro’s Signature Kurly Fries with Spicy Chili Salt (RMB 25) / Onion Rings (RMB 25)

Buffalo Wings (RMB 42)

The cocktails and appetizers got us off on the wrong foot, but on the plus side and most importantly, their pizza is awesome.  Their pizza is enormous, thick, greasy, tasty, loaded with toppings and you’re spoiled with choice for creative combinations. They even come with a selection of dipping sauces from garlic butter to pesto, ranch, marinara sauce, etc. More sauces for your pizza – what a brilliant concept.

We ordered a medium size of half Pepperoni Explosion and half Steak n Cheese (RMB 115) which was big enough for 4 big eaters to share.  The Pepperoni Explosion was the winner out of the two with its classic flavor generous pepperoni portions. While the Steak n Cheese was good, there was hardly any steak and to be honest, it looked more like a vegetarian pizza than it did a “Steak n Cheese”.

Medium Size Kro’s Nest Pizza – half Pepperoni Explosion & half Steak n Cheese

Overall, Kro’s remains the place to go with a big group to enjoy greasy, tasty, giant American-style pizza that’s easy to share and fun to order.  While their other menu items win points for creativity, they do not follow in the same suit as their pizzas in terms of portion or taste.

Another bonus is that Kro’s Nest has matched their gargantuan-sized pizzas by moving into a colossal space (over 1,000 sq m) with a massive open kitchen, brick pizza window and a 2-story back space perfect for events, parties, shows, etc.  With a bird theme prevalent throughout the venue, you can find trees and crows around the venue as decor and they also have wifi and free video arcade games!

LumDimSum Snapshots of Kro’s Nest:

Kro’s Video Arcade Games ROCK (and they’re free!)

Push the Boat Out with Hatsune’s Sushi Boat

Always staying fresh and ahead of the game, Hatsune’s constantly switching things up with both exciting events and fun, quirky attention grabbers.

Recently imported from Tokyo, Japan, Hatsune has just introduced a new way to serve their large sashimi combo platter – on sleek, wooden sushi boats, an impressive new way to present their sashimi combo platter (RMB 398 includes 30 sashimi pieces (5 types of sashimi/6 pieces each) + serving of fresh uni aka sea urchin).

Next time you’re dining at Hatsune, impress your guests and treat them to Hatsune’s new sushi boat loaded with fresh sashimi (perfect for a group of 6 or more)!

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune’s New Sushi Boat:

Roses Are Red…

“All I really need is love,

but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!”

- Lucy van Pelt from “Peanuts”

Whether you’re single or madly in love, today’s your day to indulge in as much chocolate as you crave guilt-free.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

*What is a LumDimSaying? A quote I find worth noting. And sharing.