Pink Day 2012: Help Fundraise More for Breast Cancer

Beijing’s First-Ever Pink Day 2012 Launch in Central Park

This past Sunday, May 20th saw Beijing’s first Pink Day, a fun food and activities fair dedicated to Breast Cancer Prevention with all funds raised to support the China Breast Cancer Foundation‘s various projects and impoverished mothers with breast cancer.

Hosted by the China Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) and Savills Property Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd Central Park Branch Company, the event featured a wide host of generous vendors (hotels, restaurants, spas and wellness groups) selling great products to do their part in this fundraising campaign.

Food & Activity Stalls Galore at Pink Day 2012 in Central Park

From GungHo! Pizza to Lollipop Bakery’s delicious cupcakes, a jewelry stall, a Merry-Go-Round for kids and a Mashup Sports & Social Toss-Up for those with good aim, there was something for everyone of all ages and interests at Beijing’s first-ever Pink Day.

Friendly Smiles and Generous Donors at Pink Day 2012

The fair also featured a Breast Cancer Screening Mobile Center for FREE Breast Cancer Screenings (only 15 minutes per person for free screening) made available onsite at Pink Day with doctors from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital who gave on-site consultations.

FREE Breast Cancer Screening Mobile Center at Pink Day 2012

They had a goal of RMB 100,000 and after a fun-filled day of food and activities outdoors in Central Park, they raised RMB 94,000. Just RMB 6,000 shy of reaching their goal, May Cheng, owner of Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat has put out the request for extra donations to help them reach their goal.

“I would like to ask if you happen to be in Central Park, do drop your pocket change as a small donation into the Donation Box which can be found in our Spa.  I would then turn in the box to Savills Property Management to submit it to China Breast Cancer Foundation. Or if you wish to donate a larger sum, please proceed to Savills Management Office at Tower 3 or get in touch with Diana To (diana.to@savills.com.cn) and they should be able to assist in getting an official receipt for tax relief purposes.”

- May Cheng, Owner of Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat and Pink Day 2012 Organizer/Volunteer

For all the women you care about, please do your part and join in the fight against breast cancer by simply donating as little or as much as you can! The donation box will be available until the end of this week so hurry and act now!

To get you all a little more inspired, check out snapshots of all the volunteers, generous donors and people who came out to join in Pink Day 2012 all-day festivities.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Pink Day 2012:

Friends of Pink Day / Peace for Humanity Joins Fight for Breast Cancer

Secret Mustard Recipe Mrs. Dupps Makes Debut at Pink Day 2012

Mashup Sport & Social Hosts Fundraising Games for Pink Day

Bouncy Castle / Food Stalls at Pink Day

Jia Hau Jewelry / Lollipop Bakery Cupcakes

Fairmont Sells Giant Cookies, Brownies & Sandwiches to Fundraise for Pink Day

Pink Day Hosts: China Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) & Savills Property Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd Central Park Branch Company

Painting T-Shirts to Tossing Basketballs: Fun Activities for Kids

Entertainment for Kids / Raising Awareness / Breast Cancer Survivors Performance

LumDimSum & May Cheng (owner of Hummingbird Spa) Proudly Holding Donation Box

About China Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF)

The China Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) under China Social Work Association is a not-for-profit organization established in January 2008 with the approval of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China. Mr. Xu Ruixin, the primary vice minister of Civil Affairs of China, is the director-general of CBCF. Dr. Xu Guangwei, a well-known cancer expert and director-general of the Chinese Cancer Prevention Association, is the vice director-general of CBCF.

The mission of CBCF is to mobilize social resources to raise public awareness and knowledge about breast cancer, fund research and development in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and promote early diagnosis and early treatment techniques for breast cancer in medical organizations.

For more info, click here for CBCF’s official website. 

Beijing’s first Pink Day 2012 raises RMB 94,000!

Help them reach their goal of RMB 100,000 by Donating a Little Cash

Learn Qi Gong & Healthier Living Habits with Alex Tan

Alex Tan leading Qi Gong in ‘Eat Sleep Breathe’ Workshop 

When I first signed up for Alex Tan’s 5 week “Eat Sleep Breathe” workshop at The Hutong, I did not expect the impact it has had on my life.

My original intentions for signing myself up a month and a half ago was inspired by a general effort to be more active this year and take on healthier living habits. So when Mark from the Hutong first told me that Alex’s workshop would “change my life”, I have to admit, I was skeptical.  But over the course of the past five weeks, I have totally changed my daily habits around for the better and it’s all thanks to Alex Tan.

In bed by 11PM, up at 6:30 every morning and enough time to practice the Eight Golden Treasures Qi Gong exercises and make a hot breakfast every morning before heading off to work, I am so impressed that I’ve been able to stick with this new regime. I’ve never been a morning person, I used to save most of my work for post-midnight when I found myself most productive, but going to bed earlier and doing what I need to get done first thing in the morning is just as productive and I feel more rested with this schedule than if I slept the same amount of hours pushed back.

More than just a Qi Gong exercise workshop, Alex Tan’s “Eat Sleep Breathe” workshop is a 5-week course that introduce you to a different perspective on nutrition, diet, and introduces you to a preventative philosophy of living. Instead of just waiting to get sick and cure yourself with a quick-fix, Alex teaches you easy ways to incorporate healthy habits into your daily life for restoring and maintaining energy, being more efficient and feeling more positive.

‘There is a difference between really living and just existing. Existing is instinctual; it is involuntary, reactive, self-preserving, with the primary goal of just getting from one day to the next, without regard to quality. Living, on the other hand is the exercise of certain life skills, attitudes and abilities that you have acquired and honed.’ – Dr Phil (McGraw)

Alex Tan teaches new perspectives on nutrition, the importance of scheduled eating habits and preventative Chinese health

You would think that most of what Alex must preach is common sense stuff like “go to bed earlier” and “remember to exercise and eat regularly”, but I was blown away by the sheer amount of information I learned and really took away from the workshop.  It really changed the way I think about everything – literally everything I have been doing the past 10 years has been possibly harmful to my body and I had no idea about it.  Skipping breakfast or just grabbing a banana on the go, eating late dinners, drinking fruit smoothies all day every day, trying to cut out carbs from my diet are all disastrous and I really thought I was being “healthy”.  Of course there are a million different schools of thought when it comes to nutrition and diet, but for the first time ever in my life, someone has been able to articulately explain to me the philosophy behind Asian nutritional health and it actually makes sense for once.

I’m not kidding when I say Alex Tan is my new hero. He is motivating, he’s a living example and proof that what he teaches works and he truly wants to educate people on taking a more active stance on their own health.

I highly recommend everyone and their mom (I would totally take my Mom to Alex’s workshop if she was in Beijing!) to sign up for Alex’s next workshop starting May 5 (with a free introduction talk on April 28).  For more information, click here.

LumDimSum Snapshots of the 8 Golden Treasures Qi Gong Workshop:

Taken the day after that random snow dump last weekend, Alex reviews the Eight Golden Treasures with our class on the rooftop of The Hutong. The skies were blue, the weather was warming up and the last bits of snow added such a nice touch to the backdrop of traditional Chinese rooftops all around us.

Learn how to live a healthier life in Beijing

Hiking to the Peak of Yang Tai Shan Mountain 阳台山

Yang Tai Shan 阳台山 is a hike I tried once last winter, but only made it halfway up through the snowfall as one hiker fell ill and my shoes were drenched wet trekking through the snow.  We didn’t summit the peak as planned, but the scenery was stunning as it had been snowing all morning and everything was covered in white snow. Click here for photos and previous post of my hike on Yang Tai Shan 阳台山.

This time around, we were lucky to score a perfect hiking day.  Not too hot and (finally) not too cold, there was little wind and hardly any one in sight.

To get there, we took the subway to Beigongmen 北宫门 by the Summer Palace on Line 4 of the subway and then hopped on Bus 346 to Bei An He 北安河 (about 12 stops from Beigongmen). Total transport time is about an hour and a half (considering we met at Liangmaqiao subway station).

From bus stop to the entrance, we found our way by just walking up towards the mountains (which took about 30-40 minutes). Passing through the town, picking up extra water and snacks for the hike, we hopped over some railroad tracks and found our way to the mountain hike’s entrance.

Getting There: Over the Railroad Tracks @ Bei An He 北安河:

Random Statues by the Railroad Tracks

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yang Tai Shan 阳台山 Hike:

The entrance of Yang Tai Shan 阳台山:

We were told the hike would take about 3-4 hours and even with a speedy hike up with barely any breaks and hopping down the mountain twice as fast as we climbed up, the total hike to the peak and back down to the entrance was probably around 3 hours (but 4 hours from bus stop back to bus stop).  The hike was not very steep, but the uphill climb of rocky stairs seemed endless and I have my sore legs to prove it! 

And the Yang Tai Shan 阳台山 Hike Begins Up a Rocky, Cobblestoned Path:

Making our way between giant boulders and up towards the sunlight:

Slowly rising above the pollution with a better view:

Feeling ‘HAPPY’ all the way (It wasn’t me who graffiti’ed on the boulder):

At last we reach the peak:

And treated to a sight for sore eyes:

The view was a nice treat at the top, to rise above the hovering, low-hanging pollution and see the beautiful scenery around us.  On one side, we could see the trail that runs from Fragrant Hills to Summer Palace and the other side was Beijing from a distance.  

Feeling a bit like jello, with legs shaking and barely able to withstand the weight of my own body, we made our way back to Beijing the same way we came, but with a colorful sunset to bid us farewell.

A great hike, I highly recommend it to anyone who likes the great outdoors and wants to get away from the crowds of Beijing.  You’ll hardly run into any other people along the way and the scenery is lovely.  But be forewarned, your legs will turn to jello by the end!

And even a sunset as we say goodbye and return home:

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.

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:

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Napa in a Nutshell: Wine & Dine Napa in Just 24 Hours

The Napa Valley/Sonoma County area is just one of those magical places everyone ought to visit at least once in their lifetime. This photo was taken just after sunrise on a hot air balloon ride over all of Napa Valley just when the world is beginning to wake up. (I highly recommend for everyone to do this hot air balloon ride during their visit to Napa).  As you can see, even in January, the middle of winter, Napa is covered in green with acres of vineyards and surrounded by grassy mountains covered in trees.

Renowned for their exceptional wineries and acres and acres of vineyards, this is so much more than just a place to visit to get trashed off wine tastings, but it’s a lovely place to drive through and even just to explore by foot.

This was, by far, one of my favorite stops along our trip around California. Napa Valley is a place you can enjoy at any time of year and for any length of time you may have to spare. We only spent one night in Napa (stayed less than 24 hours) and still managed to visit over 6 different wineries, eat at some really top notch dining establishments, take a hot air balloon ride and even lounge around poolside for some extra sunshine.

Aside from the hot air balloon ride, I’d like to introduce to you some other great recommendations off-the-beaten-track of a few restaurants and vineyards you may not discover without word-of-mouth. First, there’s Mustard’s Grill which is right off of Highway 29 North (easy access if you are coming from San Fran).

This is a lovely restaurant that’s been around for 28 years (their slogan is “Sorry…everything has been delicious since 1983″) named after the wild mustard flowers that bloom in the vineyards every Spring and they even grow most of their produce in their own backyard gardens! Everything served is fresh and hearty…just see for yourself!

LumDimSum Snapshots of Mustard’s Cuisine:

Crispy Calamari with curried slaw and fresno chilies (USD$12.25) / Thai Chicken, garden greens, creamy peanut dressing, bean thread noodles (USD$14.95)

Special Salad of the Day: Beet Salad with Warm Goat Cheese / Slow Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwich (USD$13.25)

Mushroom and Spinach “Burger,” feta cheese, green papaya salad, mango vinaigrette (USD$12) / Famous Mongolian Pork Chop, sweet & sour red cabbage, housemade mustard (USD$26.50)

Fresh Fish of the Day with a Mountain of Wild Mushrooms / Seafood Pasta of the Day

Grilled Sweet Potatoes, avocado-tomatillo salsa, creme fraiche (USD$4.50)

Mustards Grill Restaurant Details:

• Address: 7399 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558
• Tel: 707.944.2424
• Email: info@mustardsgrill.com
• Website: Click here.

Next Napa Introduction:

Swanson Vineyards is one of the best wineries I have visited in Napa.

But this is not just any place you can stroll on into. They are available only by appointment, but they welcome all pre-appointed guests for wine tastings in their compounds.

We walked into a very rustic, homely environment with a fireplace, paintings all along the walls and a big, round table for guests to sit down and indulge in a beautiful 6-course wine tasting paired with various exotic cheeses, caviar and chocolate!

Famous for their Merlot wines, I actually fell in love with their whites – their 2010 Viognier in particular. But I gotta say, their 2008 Merlot and 2007 Alexis Cabernet were exceptionally beautiful wines as well.

“We take our wines very seriously, but passionately believe in glorifying the mundane, every way we can.” - Alexis Swanson Traina, Creative Director of Swanson Vineyards

Next Napa Point of Destination:

French Laundry was our first choice for dinner in Napa, but to get a seat in this extremely exclusive restaurant, you must book months in advance. Even though I was prepared to book our table last fall, the restaurant is not actually open until mid-January so unfortunately, I will have to wait until my next trip to try this legendary Napa restaurant.

French Laundry aside, we actually had a few other restaurant choices in mind to try (Napa is full of great restaurant choices), but my good friend Paul Maksy recommended a fabulous French country restaurant none of us had heard of before - Angèle Restaurant.

I’m not sure how such an impressive, high-rated and raved about restaurant could be so unknown.  We managed to make our way through about six different wineries and none of the sommeliers had been to Angèle before.  I guess that just goes to show how spoiled for choice Napa residents are when it comes to fine dining in their neck of the woods!  In any case, this restaurant is simply stunning. It’s rustic, it’s simple, elegant and refined – all the qualities you desire in a fine French country restaurant.

Angèle’s menu variety was diverse, portions were generous and we couldn’t have been happier dining here. They have a great champagne and wine list, the oysters were fantastic and stand out dishes included: Foie Gras and Fruits de Mer appetizers, Braised Pork Cheeks and Quail for main.  

An entire spread of Fresh Oysters literally devoured within minutes

Foie Gras au “Torchon (USD $18) / Petit Salé – Crispy Skin Suckling Pig (USD $16)

French Onion Soup (USD $9) / Fruits de Mer – Head-on Gulf Prawns, Savory Clam “Chowder”, Lardons, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Parmesan Broth (USD $16)

Main Courses:

Caille Rôti – Wolfe Ranch Quail Basted in Brown Butter, Herbs, Duck Confit Stuffing, Farro Verde, Crispy Pancetta (USD $26) / Jou de Pork – Braised Pork Cheeks, Butternut Squash Barley “Risotto”, Roasted Salsify, Brussels Sprouts (USD $26)

Esturgeon – Black Trumpet Crusted Sturgeon, Parsley Root, Quinoa and Wild Mushroom Ragoût, Oxtail (USD $24) / Faux Filet – Prime New York Steak, Bone Marrow Crusted Shortrib, Celery Root , Pommes Boulangére, Horseradish Bordelaise (USD $32)

While both appetizers and mains were a hit, what none of us expected to find: the best French Fries in the world. All of us concurrently agreed, never had we tried better french fries in our lives. Maybe they don’t look as impressive as they tasted, but they were out-of-this-world.

Dessert wasn’t bad either!

Pot de Crème – Valrhona Chocolate,  Butterscotch Candy (USD $8)

Angèle Restaurant Contact Details: 

• Address: 540 Main Street Napa, CA 94559

• Tel:  707.252.811

• Website: Click here.

Best of SF: Ozumo Contemporary Japanese Cuisine

After knowing and loving the Hatsune Restaurant Group for 5+ years, I’ve officially become a sushi snob.  Not any California roll will do any longer, I have a more sensitive palette to fresh sashimi, and I’ve developed an attraction to more exotic seafood tastes. From authentic Japanese to contemporary Japanese fusion, the entire spectrum of Japanese cuisine remains at the top of my list for favorite cuisines. And traveling together with a passionate Japanese restaurant entrepreneur, we were on the hunt for the best Japanese restaurants in California.

During the few days we were in San Francisco, Ozumo Contemporary Japanese Restaurant was a restaurant we booked well in advance knowing how packed they get.  One of the most expensive sushi restaurants in downtown SF, Ozumo is located just near Pier 14 with beautiful views overlooking the Bay Bridge. The design is sleek and sophisticated with a 30-person sushi bar, a traditional robata grill and a sake lounge surrounded by walls of tall sake bottles.

The menu is extensive and broken down into several sections – favorites, soups, salads, sushi/sashimi, robata, tempura and a Chef’s Osusume Course (USD$125 per person) for those who are not sure what to order and would prefer to sit back and enjoy a personalized coursed meal prepared by Ozumo’s Executive Chef.

I would recommend the Osusume course if you come alone or in a party smaller than 3, but with a group of 6 and an expert orderer of Japanese cuisine (Hatsune owner Alan Wong), I also got to sit back and enjoy as the dishes kept coming out. Normally I like to list off the meal’s highlights, but every dish that was served from something as simple as their seaweed salad platter was original in both preparation and presentation and really stood out as being exceptional.

I’ve never had a seaweed salad served in this way – with three types of Hokkaido fresh seaweed in a pile of veggies and dressing. The sashimi and sushi were all super fresh and melted in our mouth – especially the o-toro tuna sashimi. And the broth of their specialty Shabu-Shabu (hot pot) was so rich with flavor that we ended up soaking all our rice in the broth just to drink up more of that good flavor.  It was ridiculously good.

And if I had to pick a favorite dish of our meal, I would pick the Yamabuki dish – fresh uni and mushrooms in a brown rice risotto. Phenomenal.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Ozumo’s Cuisine:

Kaiso Seaweed Salad (USD$12): Three varieties of Hokkaido seaweed tossed in a sanbai-su vinaigrette and umi-shiso  dressing

O-toro Tuna and Hotate Scallop Sashimi Platter

Yamabuki (USD$12):Fresh uni, shimeji and shiitake mushrooms in a healthy Genmai brown rice risotto

Sekiwake Roll (USD$14):Spicy Tuna Roll with tobiko, tempura flakes, salmon, hamachi and peanut sauce

Bucho Roll (USD$15): Tempura Shrimp Roll with crabmeat, avocado, tobiko
and yuzu aioli

Ozumo Roll (USD$17): Grilled unagi and cucumber topped with snow crab, 
tuna, avocado and spicy sauce

Burikama (USD $23): Roasted yellowtail collar with a sunomono salad and daikon-ponzu dipping sauce

Assorted Nigiri Platter: Uni (Sea Urchin), Hamachi (Yellowtail), Foie Gras

Shacho’s Shabu-Shabu (USD$43): Washu rib-eye with a daikon radish ponzu dipping sauce, swished through a simmering  pot of aka miso dashi broth

Ozumo Contemporary Japanese Cuisine Contact Details:

• Address: 161 Steuart Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (but they have 3 restaurant locations in total – SF, Oakland and Santa Monica)

• Tel: (415) 882.1333 

• Website: Click here.

LumDimSummary: Chi Fan for Charity 2011

 First I was waiting on all the beautiful pictures and before I knew it, work started piling on and somehow one of the most important events of 2011 has slipped under the radar for a complete LumDimSum re-cap (or as I like to call it – LumDimSummary), but I refuse to let this one go.  Better late than never right?  I swore I’d complete this post before the end of 2011, so I figure it would be an appropriate time to finish off 2011 with a post dedicated to one of the most inspiring and exciting events of this year – Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC)!

Originally founded by Michael Crain, Chi Fan for Charity quickly made a name for itself as one of Beijing’s most highly-anticipated culinary and charity events of the year. Already in its third year, CFFC 2011 was beyond magnificent and I beam with pride every time I think about the dedicated team of volunteers and all the people who donated so much of their time, energy and resources to make this event such a success.

Rallying together over 500+ Beijingers to dine in Beijing’s top dining establishments with all proceeds going to support local Chinese charity organizations in need, they exceeded their goal of raising over RMB 300,000 in just one night.  Involving 39 generous and charitable restaurants in Beijing, we were able to raise a substantial amount to be donated to two very worthwhile charities – Bethel Foundation and New Hope Foundation.

 Not only was CFFC able to make a difference in Beijing, but the event was also expanded to Shanghai for the first time this year thanks to the help of organizing sponsor Austen Morris. Check out my recap of my weekend in Shanghai just to reserve my seat at Shook! together with my table host Alan Wong here.

“What started in Beijing by Michael Crain three years ago as an idea to raise a bit of money for worthy causes has mushroomed into a two city effort which this year engaged 26 of Shanghai’s best restaurants, many of the city’s most influential movers and shakers and over 200 fine-diners and late night revelers. 

Chi Fan for Charity Shanghai was able to raise over 200,000RMB with all profits going directly to Heart to Heart Shanghai, Chi Heng Foundation and Compassion for Migrant Children.  With these funds, Chi Fan for Charity has already been able to:

• Donate three life saving heart surgeries to Heart to Heart Shanghai for Chen Wenyu, Wang Zhi Yuan and Jiang Yu Han at Yodak hospital earlier this month.

• Help operate Compassion for Migrant Children’s Shanghai’s Xinan Community Center and enable:

Migrant babies and pregnant mothers to participate in CMC’s Early Childhood Development program which is designed to help migrant parents provide the best possible start for their children and covers health education, literacy, socialization and learning through play activities. 

Migrant children aged 5-13 to receive academic assistance and an opportunity to participate in creative activities (such as music, arts & crafts, dance, sports, field trips) which are aimed at helping them develop healthy social and character skills) 

We are also proud to announce that the combined efforts of Chi Fan for Charity Beijing and Shanghai raised over 500,000RMB for charity.”  - Kelly Olver, Katie Littlefield and the CFFC Team 

With all that said, here’s a recap of Beijing’s third annual Chi Fan for Charity Event.Check out photos from many of the dinners that took place throughout the city and of course my favorite part, the Official After Party at Hatsune Sanlitun with DJ Patrick Yu.

Chi Fan for Charity 2011 Dinners:

(listed in alphabetical order)

Agua:

Barolo:

Chef Too:

Cru Steakhouse:

Carmen:

Grange:

Hercules:

Kagen:

Kagen Teppanyaki:

Karaiya Spice House:

Modo:

Mosto:

Nobu:

Punjabi:

ROOMbeijing:

Sureno:

Transit:

CFFC After Party at Hatsune  Sanlitun:

Photos courtesy of the very talented Helen Couchman & Lakshitha Tharindu

A Very Merry LumDimSum Christmas

California is about 16 hours behind Beijing, so please forgive the belated post, but after a peek into my very merry Christmas, I hope that perhaps you’ll understand why I’ve been distracted.

LumDimSum Snapshots of My Christmas Day:

My LumDimSum Family

Christmas Gifts All Around – candy&caviar for Everyone!

LDS Christmas Feast:

I hope all of you had a memorable day surrounded by people you love, good food and if you were nice this year, I hope Santa brought you what you wished for!

Merry Christmas!

LumDimSum Christmas Cheer 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

Allow me to share a corny Christmas joke I just love:

What do you get if you cross a snowman with a vampire?

(scroll down for answer)

.

.

.

Answer:

Frostbite! 

No matter how much older I get each year, the traditions surrounding Christmas season never seem to get old.

From decorating our tall Christmas tree to baking cookies for Santa, listening to Christmas carols, visiting neighborhoods famous for their insane amount of Christmas lights and decorations, last-minute Christmas shopping and spending the day with family, this is a holiday that rightfully encourages childhood innocence, playful fun, generous giving, a renewed sense of hope and a charitable spirit.

If any of you have some fun or silly Christmas jokes, please feel free to share by posting a comment to this article (click here and scroll down to comments).

I wish you all a very merry Christmas wherever you are in the world!

Snapshots of My Very Merry LumDimSum Christmas:

NEW! Wellness Spa by Hummingbird in Central Park

Wellness Spa’s VIP Room

It’s bigger. It’s better. It’s Hummingbird’s newest branch in Central Park – the NEW! Wellness Spa by Hummingbird.

The original Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat is keeping it’s original space on the Northeast end of Central Park, but their new Wellness Spa (just east of Lime Cafe in a more centralized location of Central Park) will help them accommodate the high demands of their growing customer base and dedicated Hummingbird fans.

More than twice the size of the original Hummingbird branch, this new space features a lounge space waiting area, an open room dedicated to mani/pedis, a spacious VIP Room, closed off foot massage rooms for up to 4 people, and Veda room dedicated to Indian style Hot Oil Massage.

Currently in it’s soft opening stages, I was invited to a Sneak Preview Party this past Sunday to see the new space and enjoy some celebratory champagne and catering by Hatsune!

Owner May Cheng gave me a personal tour of each of her new rooms.  The spa rooms wrap around in a U-shape to maintain the same sense of privacy as the original Hummingbird Spa. It’s got dedicated facial rooms and even some new speciality rooms – I’m most excited to try their new Indian-style Ayurvedic Oil-Dripping Treatment, where warm oil is dripped onto one’s forehead and applied to body in flowing and meditative movements.

LumDimSum Snapshots of the NEW! Wellness Spa:

After seeing their new VIP room, I couldn’t wait to try it out and since I was due for another facial, I booked a reservation that very Sunday night!  May has recently introduced a new line of facial skin care by Thalgo.  Highly recommended to moisturize, I can say that I left with my face feeling baby soft.

New Facial Skin Care by Thalgo

Customers can start booking appointments in the new Wellness Spa by Hummingbird, but they are in soft-opening stages so it is not 100% complete yet. May explained that construction work was finished at the last possible moment, so they are still finishing up final touches and are still filling some of their white walls with more decor.

In any case, it’s a great space and if you find yourself in the Central Park area sometime soon, I recommend popping in and checking it out!

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hummingbird’s Spa Opening Party:

NEW! Wellness Spa by Hummingbird:

• Address:  No. 6 Chaowai Da Jie, Central Park Tower 26, Unit 103, Chaoyang District 100020, Beijing  一休保健会所  北京市朝阳区朝外大街6号, 新城国际 3号楼103, 邮编 100020

• Tel: 6597 9119

  Map of both Hummingbird Branches in Central Park

  Click here for LumDimSum’s Review of the Original Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat:  Hummingbird Retreat: Leaving You Humming Blissfully

Two Thumbs Up: Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)

Temple Restaurant Beijing has been all the rave since it finally opened it’s doors to public a few weeks back.

With an ancient history of 600 years, this venue has served many purposes from an ancient hall of worship to a factory space with slogans still left over from the Cultural Revolution. With much of the original structure still in tact, the wear and tear of this venue is real and raw.

“Zhizhusi is the centerpiece of The Temple Hotel. Today, it is part of a spacious cultural venue covering almost 3,500 square meters. Careful restoration of the Temple uncovered a treasure trove of woodwork and ceiling frescos, all hidden under decades of dust. Some of the original Sanskrit paintings on the wooden panels survived. Unfortunately, only 30% out of a total 180 panels could be restored.” 

In the couple times I’ve visited and dined at TRB, I was fortunate enough to have Ignace Lecleir, the man behind this project himself lead an introductory tour of the beautiful parts within this compound.  One of my favorite parts of this venue is the decaying rooftop of one of the private dining spaces (photo below).

More than just a restaurant, lounge and private event space, soon TRB will also have hotel rooms available in early 2012.

LumDimSum Snapshots Exploring Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB):

Temple Restaurant Beijing may be housed in a venue deep rooted in China’s history and culture, but it serves contemporary European cuisine and the design of the main dining hall is designed by Australian architectural and design firm Hassell.

The modern, contemporary design of the space is definitely a strong contrast to its exterior, but it’s a beautiful space and I have no doubt, TRB will quickly become one of Beijing’s top picks to both impress visitors and book out for special occasions.

LumDimSum Snapshots of TRB’s Indoor Dining Space:

Long Bar Stocked Heavily with Whiskey Bottles

Waiting Lounge with Floor to Ceiling Windows to Highlight the Strong Contrast of Contemporary Design within a Traditional Setting

It would be a shame for such a special dining establishment to serve anything but first rate food with five star service. Lucky for TRB, they’ve nailed both.

With Ignace behind this project, I wouldn’t expect anything less considering he really is the most poised and professional figure in F&B I have ever come across.  The perfect host, Ignace ensures flawless service from start to finish.

I was most impressed when each course was served simultaneously (we were a table of 8 pax) and to see personalized menus printed for each seat at our table.

LumDimSum Snapshots of My Private Lunch at TRB:

Amuse Bouche x2:

TRB’s Warm and Lavish Bread Basket:

Cauliflower Soup & Service:

Foie Gras with Sea Lettuce and Lobster:

Olive Oil Poached Black Cod with Spinach Veloute, Ham Saffron and Broad Beans:

Mid-Meal Refreshment with Iced Sorbet:

Carmelized Apple Tarte Tatin with Vanilla Ice Cream:

Chocolates and Madeleines:

Mini Macaroons:

Each course seemed better than the last and the dessert spread was ridiculous. Not only were we each served a mouth-watering apple tarte tatin, we were also given plates of chocolates, marvelous madeleines, and mini macaroons. It was impossible to decline such delicate desserts even after we were entirely stuffed to the brim.

If I was forced to pick a favorite part of our 4-course lunch meal, I would have to say that the highlight of our meal was the 2nd course- the foie gras with lobster. The combination of these flavors and texture was crazy good.

And going back over the photos, I’ve got to even give a shout out to their bread basket which was a combination of freshly baked breads that were savory and a nice complement to each course.  I found myself dipping bread into the cauliflower soup, pairing with the foie gras and even soaking up the sauce of my black codfish. Since each course’s portions were rather small, it was probably a good thing that the bread basket continued to make its way around the table throughout the meal.

If you are interested in seeing their full spread of dishes, you can check out their complete menu here. Still in their soft opening period, TRB is only open for dinner Monday through Saturday from 6PM – 10PM and bookings for private events.

Something to look forward to if you plan to stay in Beijing over the holidays – TRB has just announced today their “10 Days of Christmas Menu” featuring 12 dishes to choose from, available December 16-25.  Reservations can be made by emailing meet@temple-restaurant.com

Review of Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB): #23, Shatan Beijie, off WuSi DaJie, Dongcheng District. Beijing. 100009 東城區五四大街以北，沙滩北街23号; Tel: 8400 2232

Best Part:

• It’s hard to pick out the best part about a venue that just seems so entirely perfect.  The venue itself is remarkable and something out of a movie. It’s old, rustic and raw with a dining space that’s contemporary in both design and furniture. Very cool contrast. 
• The service was among the best I’ve experienced in Beijing.  It was so impressive to see each course served simultaneously with our party of 8. I would even dare say the service is better than Maison Boulud.  But I wouldn’t expect anything less from Ignace Lecleire as he is the man when it comes to flawless service and professional hospitality. It’s refreshing to be served like royalty as I’ve become so jaded to horrendous service experiences living in Beijing.
• The food was perfectly prepared and the presentation was first class. 
• I highly recommend the foie gras with lobster. 
• A top pick for private events and dinners with special guests. It’s sure to impress all who enter through their gate. 

Comments:

• With this level of fine-dining, you can expect high prices.  But TRB is not unreasonable and it’s very much worth every pretty penny. For example, their most expensive main course is Pot-Roasted Lobster with Smoked Aubergine Caviar, Artichoke Barigoule, and Sauce Vièrge for RMB 290. How good does that sound?!
• I think some of the portions could be a little bigger, but maybe that’s just because I’m American and used to bigger portions.  I guess contemporary Euro cuisine is meant to be bite-sized. Granted, this is bigger than a bite or two, but pretty much just a hand-full of bites.
• I can imagine the private space in the temple would not have sufficient heating in the winters and I wonder if heavy rain would come through the roof there? There are always pros and cons to being housed in such an ancient cultural relic. Repairs must be a pain in the neck.
• It’s hard to find, so make sure you take note of the map below before blindly trying to make it to this venue on your own.  

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

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 10
• Service: 10
• Overall Experience: 9