Post-Great Wall Half Marathon Celebration at TRB

China’s Annual Great Wall Marathon Run 2012 (Photo by Sarah Keenlyside)

After pushing myself to the limit, killing myself running the Great Wall Half Marathon this past Saturday, May 19th, I was in dire need of a few very critical things (and in this consecutive order): 1. Shower 2. Massage 3. Second Shower 4. Nap 5. A well-deserved celebration with 6. plenty of cocktails to cure my post-marathon pain.

As competitive as I can be, I wasn’t running for myself.  I ran the half marathon in place of Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)’s General Manager Ignace Lecleir to fundraise for Prevention Through Education (PTE), a 501 (c)3 nonprofit founded specifically to address the lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS in China.

This was my first-ever attempt at running a long-distance race and climbing up and down the Great Wall across 21km/13 miles was a no mean feat for me. But after exactly 2 hours and 47 minutes, I crossed the finish line barely resisting the urge to faint, vomit and pee my pants all at the same time.

The best part: The announcer broadcasting “Ignace Lecleir from Belgium” as a little Chinese girl (me!) runs across the finish line to collect my Great Wall Half Marathon Medal of Honor.

After crossing the FINISH line of the Great Wall Half Marathon (Photo by Tom Pattinson)

After completing my first couple priorities (shower, massage, second shower and nap), I was ready to get all dolled up for my post-Great Wall Half Marathon celebration with dear friends and fellow foodies at TRB – where else?!

Turning up early, I made friends with TRB’s expert mixologist Frankie Zou who introduced their new drink menu, secret housemade bitters and house-infused spirits with local Chinese herbs and ingredients like Ginseng, dates, pomelo and even a black truffle infused cachaca. So impressive.

After Frankie patiently listened to me rant about my half marathon run, he knew just the potion to cure my post-marathon pain: a cocktail concoction with ginseng, ginger, egg white and a few other secret ingredients that mixed together into one of the best cocktails I’ve ever been served.  Hats off to this brilliant bartender!

Expert Mixologist Frankie at TRB creates a killer custom cocktail to cure my post-marathon pain

TRB’s Table Centerpiece

Sitting down at our table, Ignace Lecleir helped us to both select an appropriate wine for our dinner and he personally served us out of the most elaborate wine decanter I’ve ever seen.

TRB’s Ignace Lecleir pours decanted wine out of a crazy long spout

A party of five, we ordered a mix of both TRB’s 3-course tasting menu (RMB 258) and must-try dishes a la carte as well. Hungry foodies can also choose from a 4 or 5-course TRB tasting menu at respectively RMB 358 and RMB 428 per person.

While we all chose our own dishes, we ended up sharing and tasting our way through all the dishes each of us ordered.  After living in China for so many years, it’s hard to imagine a time when we all used to just eat whatever we ordered and not pick off of everyone else’s plates.

LumDimSum Breakdown of Dishes at TRB:

Amuse Bouche

Starters:

King Crab & Avocado Salad with Citrus Dressing (Part of TRB’s Tasting Menu)

Cep and Truffle Velouté (RMB 110)

Foie Gras, Lobster and Sea Lettuce au Torchon with light Lobster, Truffle Mayonnaise Salad (RMB 138)

TRB’s Boobie Bread Buns

I really have no idea what’s the deal with TRB’s boobie bread. Only two buns were served to our table and they came out exactly as photographed above. We found it hilarious and totally random and naturally, we were curious to hear more about them. When pointing out the uncanny resemblance of boobies to his bread buns, I really couldn’t get a straight answer out of Ignace as he totally played dumb to the blatant and very indiscreet play with food.

King Crab & Fine Herb Raviolis with Celeriac Puree, Brown Butter (RMB 110)

Despite the small portions of these starter dishes, we were all very satisfied with each of these dishes. The Cep & Truffle Velouté was rich and creamy and the irresistible, strong truffle fragrance filled our table from the start. The King Crab and Avocado Salad and King Crab Raviolis were also equally as delicious and fragrant. But the winner of this starter selection is definitely the Foie Gras and Lobster au Torchon, a genius creation combining two delicacies for a perfect dish that is bound to impress the most discerning of palates.

Mains:

Braised Short Rib of Angus Beef, Spinach, Olive and Roasted Garlic Crushed Potatoes (RMB 195)

Roasted Monkfish with Pimentos, Clams Gnocchi (RMB 195)

Roasted Young Pigeon with Smoked Ventreche, Cauliflower Puree, Shallot Confit and Port Wine Jus (RMB 188)

Lamb Navarin with Spring Vegetable and Pomme Fondant (RMB 260)

I was happiest with my order of the very tender and succulent Braised Short Ribs, but I very much liked the Pigeon as well. Each dish was cooked to perfection and it seemed like our entire dinner conversation was based around all of us taking turns to rave about how good the dishes were and ceaseless praise for both the service and of Ignace’s perfect hospitality.

I very much admire and respect Ignace’s ability to make each of his guests feel so special and welcome and his unique style in working his way across each and every table throughout the evening in his very courteous, personable and professional manner is a gift.

As I’ve said before in my first review of TRB: “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.”

Desserts:

Passion Fruit and White Chocolate Cheesecake

Caramel Mousse, Coffee Panacotta and Hazelnuts

Warm Chocolate Fondant with Brown Rice Ice Cream

Most of us who ordered from the Tasting Menu chose the Passionfruit and White Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert, but my Warm Chocolate Fondant was the overall favorite.  It was a more generous portion and you’d be mad to try and resist gooey, melted chocolate and ice cream.

Post-Dinner Drinks by Frankie Zou:

A Table of Happy Humpty Dumpties at TRB:

Stylish Swedes in TRB (yes, that’s a candy&caviar shirt on the left!)

After dinner and drinks, TRB gave us a personal tour of its outside courtyard and compound of private dining rooms and event spaces.

A Perfect Post-Great Wall Half Marathon Celebration

Previous Reviews of Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB):

• Two Thumbs Up: Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)

• CFFC Napa Wine Dinner at TRB and Fairmont After Party

TRB Contact Details:

• Address: #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 of Shanghai Dining: 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Dining in the glitzy, glamorous 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

I spent last weekend with the entourage in Shanghai for Hatsune Restaurant Owner, Alan Wong’s big birthday weekend and I gotta say, when it’s Alan’s birthday, you can’t help feeling like it’s your birthday too.

Any trip with Alan automatically implies an over-abundance of super fancy meals, more fine wine and champagne than an average person will consume in a year and non-stop action. Even with a newborn baby (literally three weeks old), he hasn’t slowed down his fast-paced, action-packed lifestyle one bit.

Whenever I hang out with Alan for more than 3 days, it’s pretty much guaranteed I’ll gain 5 kilos and that’s just due to the exorbitant amount of food we consume while traveling.  If there is anyone who appreciates and enjoys good food more than me, it’s Alan. Doesn’t matter if it’s street food or in a Michelin-star restaurant, he’s all over it like a kid in a candy store. I should actually credit Alan for the foodie I’ve become since he’s taken me under his wing and introduced me to the world of fine dining and wine, treating me to the best meals of my life (L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Tokyo and countless Michelin-starred restaurants we make a point to visit wherever we are in the world).

For one of his birthday dinners (yes, there were consecutive birthday celebrations across several meals), we all dined at the newly opened 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, which just opened in Shanghai February 2012 and is also a 3-Michelin star rated restaurant in Hong Kong.  It is one of only five restaurants with three Michelin stars in Hong Kong and is the only Italian restaurant outside Italy to win three Michelin stars. A strange (and very long) name, this restaurant is a tribute to Bombana’s favorite Italian film director Federico Fellini’s 1963 autobiographical movie “8 ½”,  and Bombana obviously comes from his own name, Chef Umberto Bombana.

“Like Fellini’s movie, it is destined to be an unforgettable experience for anyone lucky enough to go on the maestro’s artistic journey with him.” - 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Alan is mad about the Hong Kong branch, so introducing us all to the newly opened Shanghai branch was a real treat, especially since we are all good friends with the Restaurant GM Gian Luca Fusetto, who used to manage the fine dining Italian restaurant Ristorante Sadler in Ch’ien Men 23 (just neighboring award-winning, fine dining French restaurant Maison Boulud). We are all well acquainted with Gian Luca and his team at Sadler as this is where Alan and his lovely wife Hannah celebrated their wedding ceremony (which I planned) back in 2009.

I’m sure the service would have been top-notch regardless of our personal relationship with Gian Luca, but having him look after us really made us feel right at home.  He booked our group into their biggest private dining room, a room entirely dedicated to Panarei (how baller is that?) and he arranged a special set dinner menu with wine pairing for each course.

And I was more than ecstatic that he gave me free-reign to go camera-crazy in his fancy-pantsy restaurant where I’d normally be way too intimated to even take my camera out of its case. It would be impossible for anyone not to want a tour of this stunningly beautiful venue and I was very fortunate to wander around as I pleased.

Before I get into our fabulous meal at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, let me first take you on a tour of the space.  The lay-out is quite odd as it’s very angular with sharp corners and segregated spaces, but the opulent design and perfect lighting is spectacular and I want to emphasize the less tangible strengths of what makes 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, the new kid on the block, already the hottest new restaurant in Shanghai.

Just stepping foot inside, you can practically taste the success of this dining establishment. Everyone is dressed to the nines and everyone wants to be seen here and it’s easy to see why.  It’s not pretend, this is the real deal. Everyone is as personable as they are professional and everything from the ambiance to the service is smooth as silk and they make it look so easy and natural.

This restaurant is so baller, people are forking over the big bucks for the temporary high they feel while you’re their guest.  It’s like walking in and out of a dream. It’s addicting and undeniably irresistible.

LumDimSum Snapshots of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana:

Ageing Room for World Class Ham & Cheeses

General Manager and Sommelier Extraordinaire Gian Luca Fusetto is responsible for selecting 450 unique etiquettes from all around the world (Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, South Africa, Lebanon, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Chile, Argentina and China).

Cocktail Bar with Unique Drinks Created by Mixologists Dario Gentile and Giancarlo Mancino

Main Dining Room of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

One of 4 Private Dining Rooms, this one is dedicated to Panerai (Our Private Room)

Wine Pairing Menu Prepared by Gian Luca Fusetto

6-course Birthday Dinner Menu

From the complimentary bread basket to the deconstructed Tiramisu and homemade petit fours, this dinner was refined from start to finish. Get ready for a LumDimSum breakdown of each of these impressive courses. 

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dishes by 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana:

Brilliant Bread Basket

(Mini baguettes, focaccia bread with sun-dried tomatoes, walnut bread and our favorite was bread with chunks of fresh olives)

As a general rule, you should never fill up on bread. It’s a major rookie mistake and poor strategy if you want to save enough stomach room to still savor your final dessert course, which is often my favorite part of the meal. I’m normally pretty good at engaging enough self-control to resist empty bread filler, but this bread basket was irresistible. They had bread with actual chunks of olives and focaccia bread with sun-dried tomatoes! Needless to say, I ate my way through every single bread variety in the basket selection but thanks to my bottomless pit of a stomach, I still ate (and enjoyed) every last bite of the rest of my meal.

Amuse Bouche – Like a Caprese salad with tomatos and Mozzarella Cheese

You can’t complain about a restaurant’s amuse bouche because it’s 1. free and 2. changes daily. I guess I can only say that I came on a different day to enjoy a more unique amuse bouche. There was nothing wrong with this dish – organic fresh Caprese salad with tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and rocket salad was lovely, but it certainly wasn’t anything new or very impressive to my taste palate.

Simon Martin Jamon “Iberico de Bellota” – arguably the Best Ham in the World

There is hardly a meal with Alan where there isn’t finely cured meat served and as this was his birthday, we got the best of the best – Iberico de Bellota, the highest grade of Iberico ham in the world. I particularly like the way Sugared&Spiced describes the undeniable value of this particular ham -

“Now we all know that Iberico ham is a priced treasure, but “Iberico de Bellota” is yet on another level of its own – it is the king of Ibericos. The pigs are fed on a diet of acorns and aged for at least 30 months before being released, and the particular ham we had was aged for 36 months, thus earning its “gran reserva” label. The result? Varying shades of red gorgeously marbled with natural fats, and a delicate consistency bursting with the richest, most extraordinary flavor.” – Sugared&Spiced in her Review of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Warm Scallops with Garden Vegetables & Black Olives

Scallops are hands-down my favorite shellfish and although 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana perfectly seared these scallops, I wished it wasn’t served in a pool of bright yellow mayonnaise which made the dish too rich. The mayonnaise was over-powering and I’m not too sure what was going on with the “garden vegetables”. It was adorable in presentation, but I’m not convinced the taste was a complement to the delicate scallop, which is the main attraction afterall.

Tagliolini Alle “Vongole” – Fresh Clams, Celery & Cherry Tomatoes

It’s amazing how something so simple can be so good. All pastas are made in house and this basic little pasta dish is explosive. There is no way this dish could have been made better and I challenge anyone who thinks otherwise to try to prove me wrong. Free dinner at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana on me if you can show me a better Tagliolini Alle “Vongole”. (Who doesn’t love a good cook-off?)

New Zealand Ora King Salmon – Slow Poached with Parsnip Puree, Tomatoes and Basil Sauce

This slow poached New Zealand Ora King Salmon was my favorite dish of the dinner. Every bite literally melted in my mouth and if I had the power to immortalize special moments in my life that I could relive on repeat, this King Salmon would make that list.

Tajima Short Ribs & Beef Tenderloin  - Plum Red Wine Sauce, Whipped Potato

By this point, I was struggling. I was so stuffed with wine, fine food and let’s not forget that stupid bread basket I couldn’t stop stuffing my face with (Correction: the bread basket was not stupid, I am to blame for my own stupidity for not having a stronger will to say no to more bread).

That being said, this dish was amazing, magnificent, awesome, delicious – every positive adjective that exists in the English language can be appropriately used to describe this dish. The plum red wine sauce drizzled over the tender Tajima Short Ribs & Beef Tenderloin was ideal to dunk into my potato puree.

Honeymelon Fruit & Sorbet

Something light and refreshing to cleanse our palate to prepare for the forthcoming onslaught of delectable desserts.

Deconstructed Tiramisu Dessert

Strong flavors for tiramisu fanatics, this deconstructed tiramisu is made with lady fingers marinated in marsala wine.  Such beautiful presentation is difficult to destroy and mash up for the appropriate combination of a perfect tiramisu bite.

Chef’s Homemade Petit Fours

Oh, the famous little golden eggs. Gooey, like jelly, with a liquid filling, this little dessert is for adventurous foodies with a sweet tooth who are comfortable with strange textures and consistencies. I also managed to eat one strawberry macaroon which was extraordinary, but I stopped myself at that. Couldn’t manage another bite of the other two homemade petit fours.

Surprise Birthday Cake for Alan Wong Courtesy of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Just when we thought it was all over, Gian Luca, Executive Chef Alan Yu and his talented team at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana come with a surprise birthday cake for Alan-san! So unexpected and very much appreciated by all of us for the thoughtful gesture.

Happy Birthday Alan-san!

Birthday Boy Alan Wong (middle) with Executive Chef Alan Yu (left) and Italian GM and Sommelier Extraordinaire Gian Luca Fusetto (right)

Hatsune Restaurant Group Owner Alan Wong (Right) with Crazy Talented Vocalist and Musician Greg Luttrell (Invited Band at the House of Blues and Jazz) (Left)

Review of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana: Rockbund, Associate Mission Building, 6-7/F, 169 Yuanmingyuan Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu 圆明园路169号6－7楼, 近北京东路, Tel: 6087 2890, Open Daily for Dinner 6PM-midnight, Bar is open 4PM-late

Best Part:

• This is the real deal. Their Hong Kong branch was awarded 3-Michelin stars last year (the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to get 3 stars) and this is about as good as it gets in mainland China. I’d really be surprised to hear any negative criticisms of their food or service as it was all on-point. 
• The opulent design of the restaurant and perfect lighting is stunning. A perfect place for a special occasion, to impress a hot date or important business meeting with some Big Kahunas. 
• Their impressive wine cellar has 450 unique etiquettes from all around the world (Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, South Africa, Lebanon, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Chile, Argentina and China).
  
• Their cocktail bar opens a bit earlier than the restaurant (4PM instead of 6PM) and showcases some brilliant cocktail concoctions by talented bar mixologists. 
• GM & Sommelier Gian Luca is a wonderful host and really went above and beyond the call of duty to make Alan’s birthday dinner special for all of us. The wines he personally paired for our dinner was perfectly matched with the food we were served and the surprise birthday cake at the end was totally unexpected and incredibly thoughtful.  The fact that Executive Chef Alan Yu also came out to meet all of us was an honor.  Big points to their team for leaving us all with a wonderful lasting impression of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana. 

Comments:

• This is glitzy, trendy, fancy and a place people are dressed to the nines and want to see and be seen. Unfortunately, this also implies that this is not a low-key place to be discreet or private (in spite of their 4 total private rooms) 
• It’s location has the advantage of showing off some great views of the Rockbund. It was a bit chilly and windy the night we dined at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, but I bet their terrace and balcony tables will be popular during the warmer summer months. 
• It’s only been open a few months and there is already a two week back-log of reservations. This is not a place you can casually waltz into without a reservation and expect to be seated. This is a pre-planned, special occasion destination that needs to be booked well in advance. 
• Let’s talk price tags: Price for dinner without wine starts at RMB 600 with appetizers running RMB 110-190, pastas from RMB 90-190, mains from RMB 250-390. A five-course degustation is available for RMB688 or RMB1288 with wine pairings. 
• From the few people I know who have had the privilege to dine at both 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana branches in Hong Kong and Shanghai, I have heard from all that as much as they enjoyed their dining experience at the Shanghai branch, they prefer the original in Hong Kong. As the film industry perpetually fails to contradict, the sequel rarely can outshine the original. 

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

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

A Perfect Evening thanks to Gian Luca, Executive Chef Alan Yu and the Team of 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Enoterra Turns 5: Birthday Wine & Tapas Carnival

Need I say more?

Enoterra Wine Bar & Restaurant is one of the best places in Beijing to enjoy quality, affordable wines. That is something worth raising your glass for!

Celebrate the past 5 years of success together with Enoterra Wine Bar & Restaurant with unlimited tapas and wine for only RMB 200 per person, a ridiculously good deal for all-you-can-drink wine and tapas all night.

I have no doubt the place will be a madhouse more than a birthday carnival with a deal like this.

I just hope for Enoterra’s sake that everyone and their mom won’t be taking advantage of this “too good to be true” promise…!

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, May 18, 2012

• Time: 6PM-late

• Location: Enoterra Wine Bar & Restaurant

• Address: D405, Nali Huayuan, 81 Sanlitun Beilu,

  三里屯北路81号那里花园D405

• Tel: 5208-6076

• Contact:  info@enoterra.net

On the Hunt for Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea: Kempinski

Afternoon Tea Buffet Bar at Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Lounge

Back at it again, LumDimSum is determined to help CityWeekend uncover Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea.  I’ve already hit up afternoon tea at the Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt and Sofitel Beijing Hotel to see how each one compares to the others and although some fare better than others, so far none have stood out as mind-blowingly spectacular. And I really don’t want to settle for anything less than that.

Next up, we have the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, whose afternoon tea was actually listed as one of Time Out Beijing’s Top 4 Picks for the city’s best rated afternoon teas.

The Kempinski Hotel is a Beijing “old school” hotel that has been around for ages and passed the test of time. From what I hear, before Beijing was swimming in choice for upscale establishments, the Kempinski was one of the biggest players around back in the day (we’re talking over 10 years ago). It’s no longer a destination people rave about, but it’s still part of a massive convention center, shopping mall and with its prime location in one of Beijing’s most important diplomatic business quarters (and close proximity to the US embassy), the Kempinski still has the leverage to hold its own against Beijing’s other 5-star hotels.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Kempinski Hotel Beijing & Rendez-vous Lounge:

Step inside the Grand Lobby of Kempinski Hotel Beijing

Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Bar & Lounge

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Bar & Lounge offers a “Weekend High Tea Buffet” from 2:30PM-6:00PM for RMB 138 per person + 15% service charge.

While Kempinski calls it “High Tea”, they should be calling it “Afternoon Tea” as British High Tea is traditionally more of a working class meal to be enjoyed at the end of the work day (after 5PM) serving heavy meat, fish and potato dishes like steak and kidney pie whereas “Afternoon Tea” involves things like manners, lace and dainty food to be enjoyed as an elite social gathering.

That being said, there is also something inherently wrong about inserting the word “buffet” alongside “high tea”. British high-tea is a time-honored tradition, and that should automatically repel any association with a “free-for-all buffet” where people pile their plates to the brim and a venue serving buffet undeniably makes the conscious choice to sacrifice quality for quantity. I can imagine how appalling this must be to Brits who might actually want to reminisce in classic British custom.

Fortunately for Kempinski, we are in Beijing and “fusion” is trendy here so there is really no point in being a stickler for respecting and upholding classic traditions in such a cosmopolitan city.  I realize that makes me sound stuffy and conservative, but in the same way that I prefer not to drink tea out of tea bags, I prefer to enjoy British high tea in an authentic fashion (I admit my position is heavily influenced by too many hours spent watching Downton Abbey).

Kempinski’s buffet was not as crass as you might suspect a “British High Tea Buffet” to be, but afternoon tea is just not the same without being served the multi-layered silver trays of dainty snacks.

As my fellow British foodie friend eloquently explained, “Afternoon tea should be enjoyed as an occasion rather than this drive-thru style.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Tea was served in porcelain white tea sets to be enjoyed on comfy, plush sofas in the Rendez-vous Lounge. Once again, my British counterpart automatically went for the classic English Breakfast Tea while I chose something a little less conventional.

Western & Eastern Tea Selection at the Kempinski

As you can see from the photos below, the selection was plentiful, but nothing was traditionally British and maybe that’s not a bad thing bearing in mind this is a Swiss luxury hotel chain with a prominent German bakery.  Before I get into details I ought to give due credit to Kempinski’s awesome Kempi Deli who supplies an abundance of freshly baked bread, cakes, pastries and sandwiches on a daily basis.

You can probably get a good sense of the items on display through the close-up shots that everything was pretty mediocre. None of the hot items were hot (not even the quiche and scones under the warming tray) and similar to the afternoon tea at Sofitel Wanda Beijing, the quality of the desserts were much more superior to the savory snacks. The best of the bunch were the Smoked Trout Baguette and Mini Prosciutto Sandwiches, but the bread was still much too thick and filling.

Dessert highlights include the chocolate mousse, fruit tarts and the Belgium Ivory Chocolate Fondue with mini cake and fruit skewers to dip. Points were deducted for serving scones with orange whip cream rather than separate sauces dishes of jam and clotted cream as it ought to be served.

Afternoon Tea at the Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Lounge:

Kempinski “Weekend High Tea Buffet” Display

Cold Soba Noodles / Prosciutto Ham Buns

Smoked Trout on French Baguette / Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Cheese

Spinach & Feta Cheese Quiche / Vanilla Scones

Mini Strawberry Pavlovas  / Fruit Tarts

Mango Tart / Chocolate Mousse Topped with Strawberry

Chocolate Muffins, Chocolate Sweets & Bran Banana Muffins

Red Berry Jelly / Emmental Cheese Platter

Kempinski Afternoon Tea Buffet: Belgium Ivory Chocolate Fondue with Fruit Skewers and Cakes to Dip

Fruit Basket & Fresh Fruit Platter

In spite of all the loungers in Rendez-vous Bar & Lounge and the wide selection on display, there was hardly anyone going up to the buffet.

Observing the other guests around me, it was clear that this is a purely functional venue. Rather than a lounge for people to relax and sip on tea, they were all meeting here for work-related meetings – drinking coffee and discussing business.

Perhaps that’s is why this “high tea” is served as a buffet (less effort) and why the entire “high tea deal” seems more like an after-thought rather than the main attraction.

To be perfectly honest, it seemed like the lounge’s clientele paid more notice to the live pianist performance more than the high tea buffet.

Live Pianist Performs in Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Lounge

I can imagine that the experience would be much more enhanced if the lounge provided outdoor seating in the hotel courtyard that is bordered by surrounding gardens.

Green View Through Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Lounge

Review of Kempinski’s Afternoon High Tea: Located on the Southeast Corner of Liangmaqiao, 50 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Tel: +86 10 6465 3388. Afternoon Tea available Friday, Saturday & Sundays, 2:30pm-6pm

Best Part:

• Come hungry because a buffet automatically implies you’re allowed to “stuff-your-face-til-you-fall-over” rule of thumb
• Save extra room for their chocolate mousse, fruit tarts and Belgium Ivory Chocolate Fondue with mini cake and fruit skewers.
• Lounge features a live pianist who performs daily.
• Their awesome Kempi Deli is probably responsible for the nice chocolates and sweet tarts on display at the dessert bar. 
• The Kempinski is surrounded by green gardens, perfect for a nice stroll after stuffing your face at the buffet.

Comments:

• This is not a place for traditionalists. Kempinski serves their afternoon tea as a buffet (don’t expect to see any multi-tiered silver trays brought to your table)
• While Kempinski’s Rendez-vous Lounge is lovely, it is clear this is a place to meet and discuss business rather than a place to relax and enjoy afternoon tea as an occasion. No one seemed to pay any attention to the buffet as the lounge was full but we were the only two people going up to the buffet.  
• The tea was fine, but the food was very mediocre, especially the savory snacks.  The Quiche and Scones were cold even though they are under a warming tray and the scones were served with an orange whip cream rather than jam and clotted cream. 
• As my fellow Brit so eloquently describes this experience - “Afternoon tea should be enjoyed as an occasion rather than this drive-thru style.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself. 

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

• Food: 6
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 6

• Overall Experience: 6

Tea Service at the Kempinski Beijing Hotel

LDS’s Afternoon Tea Reviews in Beijing:

Feast Your Eyes: Newly Opened Haiku in Jinqiao, SH

Newly Opened Haiku in Jinqiao 金桥, Shanghai

Lucky Shanghai-ers, I rarely envy you but when I stepped in to the newly opened Haiku in Jinqiao 金桥, I was so green with envy I practically turned into the Hulk. 

Designed by Alan Wong, founder of the Hatsune Restaurant Group in Beijing, the space is stunning. It is unique in its own right, but with the high ceilings and perfect lighting illuminating a soft glow throughout the dining area, it bears the same trademark of Alan’s other restaurants, especially the Hatsune Sanlitun Branch which won “Best Decor” in this year’s Beijinger’s 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Hatsune Sanlitun Branch: CFFC 2011

Contrasting Hatsune Sanlitun’s underwater, aquatic themes evident throughout the restaurant from the oceanic ground flooring and the stream of fish swimming across the restaurant into a spiraling mass in the center of restaurant’s high-ceilings, Haiku in Jinqiao features a theme of a rocky mountain face with tiered seating and bouldering tables and my favorite part is the bright sushi bar’s “firefly” lights that are only visible if you sit at the sushi bar. I should also mention that the sushi bar seats are quite possibly the most comfortable (and extravagantly expensive) chairs I have seen provided at any sushi bar.

Haiku’s Sushi Bar with Hidden “Firefly” Lights

Haiku’s doors are just now open to walk-in customers and the restaurant is already buzzing with happy sushi fanatics, but the project is not quite complete.  While the Haiku, California-style Japanese fusion side of the restaurant is complete, there is still the Kagen Teppanyaki side that is finishing up its final touches before it is fully operational.  This Haiku branch in Jinqiao is split into two concepts, the only restaurant that will combine both Haiku and Kagen Teppanyaki restaurant concepts into one.

Located just across the way from Green Sports & Leisure Center, there is no in-your-face, back-lit sign or entrance to the restaurant but just a very simple sign with Haiku’s restaurant label that you will miss unless you look for it. The unobtrusive exterior makes your first-impression that much more exaggerated once you step inside.

Stepping into Haiku, Front Door Reception Table

Everything is brand-spanking new, dressed in stylish furniture, new staff uniforms and a new menu design.  I love the size and quality of this menu, but was a bit gutted to see that my “LumDimSum” roll didn’t make the cut for this new Haiku in Shanghai.

So far so good, everything looks to be running smoothly thus far!

Stay tuned for more details regarding the other project – Pulau Ketam, a modern crab house opening in Xintiandi!

LumDimSum Snapshots of the NEW! Haiku in Jinqiao:

NEW! Haiku in Jinqiao Contact Details:

• Address: 601 Lantian Lu, near Yunshan Lu  蓝天路601号, 近云山路

• Tel: 3882 0611

Haiku Jinqiao’s Official Opening Party:

To inaugurate the new Jinqiao location, Haiku will be inviting all to attend their grand opening party on Friday, May 18th.

In appropriate Hatsune fashion, the night will be fueled by free flow sake, signature cocktails, and never-ending signature sushi rolls.  DJ Saul D from Beijing will be flying out to play alongside DJ MK. And don’t not forget the dangerous “Wasabi Challenge” and a sumo wrestling competition!

It wouldn’t be a real party without some serious sumo action.

• Tickets: RMB 100 Online Reservation or RMB 150 at the door

• Email:  info@haikushanghai.com

To the World’s Supermoms: Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

For the first time in years, I am lucky enough to be in the same country with my dearest, lovely mommy!

A strong woman loved and admired by everyone who meets her, my mom is my Supermom.  She raised two kids while running her own business, she speaks three languages fluently and she’s still the best cook in the world in my book.

To the awesome women who nurtured us into the people we are today, it’s time for us to spoil them back!

For those who haven’t booked their mother’s day brunches and dinners, here’s a great list of options:

theBeijinger’s List of Mother’s Day Brunches and Deals

Time Out’s List of Mother’s Day Specials

CityWeekend’s “Big Badass List of Mother’s Day Brunches, Lunches and Dinners” 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the World’s Supermoms!

Hail to Halal: Khatoon Iranian Restaurant

After my sweet, sweet discovery of delicious little Dareen’s Coffee (click for LDS review), my fellow Egyptian foodie friend and I have been inspired to discover Middle Eastern restaurants beyond the Biteapitta bubble of ignorant bliss we’d been living in and see what else Beijing has to offer!

Although the experience wasn’t entirely perfect at Dareen’s Coffee (mainly because of the stale and cold pita bread), we were delighted to stumble upon this new find and learn that the hummus, babaganoush and falafel is better here than anywhere else we’ve tried!  Since this recent discovery, I’ve been putting out the word to ask fellow foodies for restaurant tips on their favorite Middle Eastern finds and that’s when a little birdie told me about Khatoon Iranian Restaurant.

Pulling up to Khatoon on our bikes was a nice first impression. A rather large establishment, Khatoon is two stories with a wide entrance made of glass. I love the thick, green vines that wrap up the walls of the building.

Exterior Shot of Khatoon Iranian Restaurant

Stepping inside, a diner’s worst suspicions were realized. We were the only two diners in the entire restaurant.  It is always unnerving to be the only two people in an empty restaurant, and unfortunately for Khatoon, this awkward feeling of an empty void was magnified even more in this big space.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Khatoon Iranian Restaurant: 

First Floor Long Bar is Odd for a Restaurant that doesn’t serve or allow Alcohol

Second Floor Dining Room

Rooftop Deck Overlooking Sanlitun

I generally take this as a bad sign when there is not one other diner in the entire restaurant, but I heard Khatoon’s lamb shank is crazy good, so I was going to give them the benefit of the doubt and stay hopeful.

We were hungry after our sweaty session of Heyrobics, so we ordered more than enough to fill two stomachs.  Three appetizers, a side of fresh pita and two mains was just about right.

We started off with their Shirazi Salad (RMB 22), a diced cucumber, tomato and onions which was both refreshing and tasty, but served in a much smaller porcelain bowl than we were led to believe in their very zoomed-in picture on their menu. That being said, I am probably guilty of the same crime as the photo below makes the dish appear bigger than it really was (so best to refer to the second photo down).

Salad Shirazi (RMB 22)

The Halim Bademjan or Eggplant Dip (RMB 32) was our favorite dish of the night and although it does look just as it appears in the menu, you don’t realize how shallow the plate is so it’s actually quite a thin layer. Needless to say, this dish was demolished in a matter of minutes and as much as we enjoyed every bite of it, I gotta say that the dish really tastes more like it’s made from beans rather than eggplant.  What made matters worse is the confusion that erupted when we asked the waitress to confirm that it was indeed eggplant after she has hesitantly answered our inquiries the first time as she wasn’t sure herself.  Luckily, we had our trusted friend Google by our side, who confirmed that Halim Bademjan is indeed an eggplant dish.

Halim Bademjan or Eggplant Dip (RMB 32)

On to Khatoon’s mains: we went for the recommended lamb shank (RMB 68) and Beef Lamb Koobideh (RMB 42), an Iranian minced meat kabab. Unlike our appetizers, the portions of our mains were much bigger. The lamb meat came on a giant bone practically engulfed in a mountain of Broad Bean and Dill Rice. I can’t say that the lamb shank lived up to my expectations, but it was good and I definitely was left satisfied after finishing off both mains. The Fresh Yoghurt and Spinach Dip (RMB 25) was perfect to complement both meat dishes.

Beef Lamb Koobideh (RMB 42)

Lamb Shank with Broad Bean & Dill Rice (RMB 68)

Fresh Yoghurt & Spinach Dip (RMB 25)

Since we were the only two diners in the restaurant, I can understand why the waitresses in the restaurant might feel bored, but they should have been less obvious about it.  I figure the owner of Khatoon was downstairs so both waitresses preferred to play on their cell phones next to our table instead.

Caught in the Act: Waitresses Looking Bored & Playing on Phones

Review of Khatoon: Waijiao Apartment, 1 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District  朝阳区新东路1号外交公寓亮马河南岸; Tel: 8532 1071; Open Daily 11AM-11PM

Best Part:

• Khatoon is a Muslim-inspired restaurant with a Halal menu.

• The restaurant is spacious and the vines crawling up the restaurant walls outside is lovely.

• The rooftop dining space would be a nice option on a clear, cool summer night.

• You can order delivery from them on Jinshisong. You can also check out their full menu on their website here.

• Try their Halim Bademjan Eggplant Dish (RMB 32) to dip your fresh pita bread, it’s delicious!

Comments:

• It’s unnerving to be the only diners sitting in a big, empty restaurant. Maybe it was just a quiet night, but considering it’s location (north of Sanlitun across from Yuyang Hotel on the south bank of Liangma River), I can see that Khatoon can only rely on customers who go out of their way to dine at Khatoon (rather than walk-by traffic)

• It’s inexcusable for waitresses to be sitting down and texting on their cell phones for long periods of time in front of customers. It’s one thing to be bored and another to be flaunting their lack of work ethic in front of the people they should be trying their best to impress.

• One side of the room was surrounded in floor to ceiling mirrors.  Done correctly, mirrors can give the optical illusion of added space and depth in a small space, but here in Khatoon just made the space feel more empty and it’s weird to be looking at your reflection while eating. The classical piano music playing in the background throughout our meal was also a bit out of place dining in a Persian restaurant.

• The dishes were satisfactory. Everything was fine, but nothing was exceptional or really stood out as better than Rumi. I think everything tasted rather bland and they should turn the flavors up a notch.  Perhaps more parsley would help? While Dareen Coffee made me question my loyalty to Biteapitta, I can’t say there is anything about Khatoon that pulls me away from Rumi.

• It’s odd to have the first floor taken up entirely by a bar in a restaurant that does not serve any alcohol and does not even allow you to bring in your own drinks. Another bonus for Rumi to allow guests to BYOB.

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

• Food: 6

• Atmosphere: 3

• Service: 4

• Overall Experience: 5

Skylight for Goldfish Between First and Second Floor of Khatoon

Early Birds Catch the World: Breakfast with 85 Broads

 85 Broads: Global Women’s Network

Rise and Shine, Sunshine!

Start your morning off right with a fresh dose of inspiration together with the wonderful women’s network 85 Broads. This Thursday, May 10, 85 Broads is hosting a Power Breakfast with guest speaker Meagan Dietz, director of international business development at Godiva, the global luxury brand of premium chocolates.

…if only Beijing had a Godiva Chocolate Factory for us chocoholics to stuff our faces with Godiva. What better way to start off your morning?

I suppose Milly’s Cakes is an acceptable second choice with a range of treats that will be served including muffins, croissants, their specialty cupcakes, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, tea, and coffee.

A bit of information about this month’s guest speaker, Meagan Dietz:

Director of International Business Development, Meagan Dietz broadly works on Godiva’s global expansion. Her China work has been focused on identifying and securing the best retail and café operators as well as launching Godiva’s e-commerce and wholesale channels. She also works on new market business expansion including franchise partner selection as well as improving our performance in existing markets.

Prior to Godiva, Meagan worked at Cushman & Wakefield leading their China consulting services, and 7 years at McKinsey & Company based in New York City and Beijing, China. 

Meagan has published three articles: 1) “How Chinese Companies Can Succeed Abroad”, McKinsey Quarterly, May 2008. 2) “Protecting Intellectual Property in China”, McKinsey Quarterly, July 2005. 3) “Getting More from Intellectual Property”, McKinsey Quarterly, November 2004.

85 Broads’ Progressive Dinners are ‘anchored’ by senior women who are leaders in their respective industries and have an interest in mentoring young talent.

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

The breakfast will take place on Thursday, May 10 from 8:00AM-9:30AM.

Act early and you pay RMB 50 less than if you wait to pay upon arrival. Pre-sale tickets are RMB 80 for members and RMB 100 for non-members. Click here to get your tickets delivered to you: sendmetickets.com

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012

• Time: 8:00AM-9:30AM

• Location: Milly’s Cakes

• Address: 3rd Floor Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district; 朝阳区三里屯那里花园C308

• Tel: 5208 6071

• Cost: RMB 80 for 85 Broads Members / RMB 100 Non-Members  Pay online and Purchase Tickets at sendmetickets.com.  Additional RMB 50 if you pay at the door.

• RSVP: Email: Beijing85Broads@gmail.com

• Website: 85Broads.com

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

A global network of 25,000 trailblazing women, the “founding members” of 85 Broads were women who worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street, the investment banking firm’s former NYC headquarters. Over the past decade, 85 Broads expanded its membership to include women who are alumnae and students of the world’s leading colleges, universities, and graduate schools worldwide. Our members are located in 82 countries around the world and work for thousands of for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.

Restaurant News: Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar & Q Mex

In case you missed my article last week on Time Zone 8′s newly opened sushi bar serving Hatsune Sushi (hoorah!), check it out here.

Still in soft opening, this back-to-basics exposed brick and cement design is already showcasing a basic menu including some of Hatsune’s classic sushi rolls disguised under new names. Example: their “Red Dinosaur” Roll is actually Hatsune’s legendary 119 Roll.

After a week of traveling in Southern China with the entire LumDimFamily, the first stop once we were back in Beijing was straight out to 798 Art District with two very specific goals: to show off the new Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar space to my Lum-tourage and seek out old propaganda posters for my brother to bring back home as souvenirs for his friends.

A true 798 expert, Time Zone 8 owner Robert Bernell not only gave us a tour of his new space, he shared his top picks for must-see exhibitions and sights in 798.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar: 

Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar Entrance Reception Area

Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar Dining Space (Now Open)

Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar Main Dining Room (Finishing Up Final Touches)

Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar

The new Sushi Bar space is tucked in just behind the original Time Zone 8 Western Restaurant and Bar area.

With the sun shining and their trademark bright yellow umbrellas open, the space was crammed packed even at 5PM in the late afternoon with a buzzing ambiance of happy diners and even the bar area was bustling! (See pic below) 

More exciting news in Beijing’s ever-growing restaurant scene:

Beijingers can look forward to the upcoming opening of Q Mex, a new project by the great people behind Q Bar.

“Q Bar owner Echo Sun was at the vanguard of bringing quality creative cocktails to Beijing; with Q Mex she will be building on her strengths, focusing her palette on nuanced pleasures of both food and drink.  The restaurant will feature a contemporary setting, innovative menu, and open kitchen showcasing gourmet Mexican food; the bar will feature an Agave-inspired bar design, a cool lounge setting, and Echo’s artistry in mixology, including refreshing variations on the margarita and one of the largest Tequila collections in Asia.”

- Chris Ruggles, Chief Marketing Officer of the Q Enterprises

The opening of Q Mex is planned for early June 2012 and they will be located just below Kro’s Nest, across from D Lounge in the Sanlitun Courtyard (South Sanlitun).

My mouth is already watering at the thought of sampling their scrumptious tacos, salsas, and tamales alongside some guaranteed-to-be-awesome-and-creative cocktails and margaritas.

Stay tuned for more updates!

A Spanish Gastronomic Wine Experience at Niajo

Previous Spanish Wine Dinner at TRB Feat. Ignace Lecleir

Last time this “Spanish Wine Dinner Visit” took place at Temple Restaurant Beijing where they introduced a phenomenal 5-course menu paired with 5 Spanish wines and a presentation of 5J Iberico ham.

Spanish Iberico Ham is Irresistible

Click here for LumDimSummary of A Spanish Visit at TRB.

This week, DS Wines brings this unique wine and dine event to Niajo Spanish restaurant serving a 10-course tasting menu featuring their new Spring/Summer Menu complemented by 5 Spanish wines explained by wine expert Alfonso Cabezas and let’s not forget to mention they will again feature the ever-popular 5J Iberian ham cutting demonstration.  A Spanish Dinner hosted at a Spanish Restaurant (versus a French Restaurant like TRB) is bound to be very authentically Spanish for all you traditionalists who believe “fusion” cuisine is a sacrilege.

Seating is limited, price is RMB 398 per person. To book your seat, email rsvp@niajo.com or call 135 2262 0132.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012

• Time: Starts at 7PM

• Price: RMB 398

• Location: Niajo Spanish Restaurant

• Address: 3rd Floor Nali Huayuan (Nali Patio) 81 Sanlitun Beilu Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园三层

• RSVP:  rsvp@niajo.com or call 135 2262 0132

Step Back into Ancient China at Yao Qin 瑶琴

I first heard about Yao Qin 瑶琴 through a great e-newsletter I received ever-so-often called the Expatpackage (you can subscribe here to receive their witty and informative email updates). The way they praised Yao Qin as the perfect destination to bring out-of-town visitors made me all the more eager to try it out myself.

“Introducing Yao Qin. The interior feels like the China foreigners wish existed, with its stone sculptures, wood paneling, subdued lighting and well-spaced couches all giving a modern nod to the China of old. One can even order from an iPad (at least until it’s seized by authorities for trademark infringement).” – Expat Package

Recruiting a family of foodies, we made our way over to the little strip of restaurants across from Yu Yang Hotel.  The entrance is a massive scribed wooden wall which houses a two-story space. The first floor is a beautifully set-up tea room with well-lit block displays of ceramic and clay tea sets and a chunky wooden table top where I assume is used to pour their teas. This room was empty upon our arrival and exit, but I hope this room is functional.  It would be a shame if it was just an unused display for guests to walk past on their way up the stairs into the main restaurant dining area.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yao Qin 瑶琴:

Wooden Scribed Entrance

Yao Qin’s First Floor Tea Room

The second floor was pretty desolate with only 2 tables of two and one other group of foreigners in the entire space. The space with spread out with loungey couch seating in the center dining space, a stage area for their regular seven-stringed guqin performance that takes place every day from 7-9PM, and an entire section of the restaurant devoted to tea pouring with a wall of traditional Chinese tea supplies behind a dedicated tea brewer sits at an elaborate wooden table.  As we were a bigger group of diners, we opted to sit in curtained booth seating encircling the exterior of the room.

Looking around, you can’t help but notice the details and efforts put forth by Yao Qin to recreate the feel of ancient China using old-fashioned décor in every corner of the restaurant.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yao Qin Restaurant Decor:

Yao Qin specializes in Zhejiang cuisine. I’m not as familiar with this type of Chinese cuisine relative to others, but the presentation was elaborate and I was not expecting to be ordering dishes off an iPad screen. (Click here to see PDF for Chinese names of dishes recommended by Expat Package).

Most of the dishes were quite pricey ranging (RMB 40-200), but we selected a decent range of dishes and were most satisfied with the DIY crispy pork buns and mustard prawns.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yao Qin’s Dishes:

Review of Yao Qin 瑶琴: No. 6 Xinyuan Xili Dongjie (diagonally across the street from Yu Yang Hotel) 朝阳区新源西里东街6号, (渔阳饭店北门的斜对面); Map: Click here. Tel: 8451-7877, 8451-2633

Best Part:

• The venue’s detailed decor is sure to impress out-of-town visitors with its “ancient China” feel

• Every evening from 7-9PM, Yao Qin features a lovely guqin performance on the restaurant’s centered stage. This adds an additional touch of authenticity and elegance to Yao Qin.

• The restaurant has a dedicated tea brewer who has an area I presume is his own “performance stage” devoted to the art of traditional Chinese tea.

• The bathroom sink faucets are lion heads. So badass.

Comments:

• This venue was recommended by Expat Package and although I was pleased to have checked it out, I was much less impressed with the food than with the restaurant decor and ambiance. The food was also beautifully presented, but everything was very pricey and really not that memorable.

• I can definitely imagine out-of-town visitors loving this place, but I would prefer to bring them to venues like Dali Courtyard for great Yunnan in a phenomenal courtyard setting or Karaiya Spice House for authentic Hunan food that makes this place a must-try destination whether you like spice or not.

• It was a shame how desolate the restaurant was. We went on a Thursday evening and there was really no one else there.

• Regardless that we were among the only diners in the entire restaurant, the service was painfully slow and rather unfriendly. No smiles, no encouragement, just the bare minimum or coming over when called and serving food as it come out of the kitchen. 
  

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

• Food: 6

• Atmosphere: 8

• Service: 6

• Overall Experience: 6

On the Hunt for Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea: Sofitel

A Pyramid Set of Afternoon Tea by Sofitel Wanda Beijing

Another stop along my journey to uncover Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea, LumDimSum and CityWeekend are ticking off the hotels one by one from afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton Beijing to Park Hyatt, the third stop is to see how Sofitel Wanda fares in comparison.

The Sofitel Wanda Beijing branch is the flagship Sofitel in Asia Pacific region, which is why this branch is so lavish and grandiose with super-high ceilings, oversize décor and let’s not forget to mention that the first thing you see when you step inside is a finely crafted, $2 million set of three Swarovski peony flowers on the wall of the main hotel lobby.

Sofitel Wanda Beijing’s Mural of Three Swarovski Crystal Peony Flowers 

Once you manage to move your feet past the wall of giant Swarovski crystals and quite possibly one of the biggest bling-ed out chandeliers I’ve ever seen, hang a left (opposite to the reception area) and you step inside Sofitel’s Vous Lobby Lounge where you can enjoy afternoon tea all day every day from 7am-midnight.

Considering the Sofitel is a hotel with strong French influences, it’s understandable why Afternoon Tea wouldn’t be traditionally English in either the service time or the form it’s served in.

“The striking design draws on Sino-French influences and accentuates the strong cultural links between France and China reflected in the overall theme and décor.”  - Sofitel Wanda Beijing

LumDimSum Snapshots of Sofitel’s Vous Lounge: 

Afternoon Tea may be an English time-honored tradition, but creativity ought to still be encouraged, especially in a cosmopolitan city like Beijing.

Taking into consideration their diverse range of regular customers, Sofitel likes to keep things fresh and in season with an afternoon tea theme menu that changes each month. I was gutted to hear I just missed last month’s tea set, which was a fresh strawberries theme, incorporated luscious, giant strawberries in each of their savory and sweet snacks on display.  This month’s theme is Green Tea, which you will see explained below.

Although the next few months are yet to be confirmed, they anticipate the month of May to follow a Spanish theme serving sangria and margarita drink options and possibly even flying in a guest chef from Spain, who will be responsible for creating an authentic tapas menu.

With each afternoon tea set including a choice of green tea, English Breakfast tea or Coffee together with a pyramid of treats, the set is priced at RMB 198 for two people + 15% service tax.  This is considered moderately priced among Beijing’s afternoon tea sets at 5-star hotels for an afternoon tea set for two.

Beyond the ridiculously extravagant mural of Swarovski flowers, I was impressed with the plush furniture and I love the triple-tiered pyramid presentation of Vous Lounge’s afternoon tea.

Once again, my fellow taster and I varied in what we chose to sip on – he got a black coffee while I went for the featured Longjing tea set recommended by Sofitel’s PR manager Thomas Jouan. *Note that to order this Chinese speciality tea, the price would be inflated to RMB 258 + 15% service charge for two.

Sofitel’s Traditional Chinese Longjing Tea Set

Sofitel’s Coffee comes with three cookies

LumDimSum Breakdown of the Sofitel’s Afternoon Tea Pyramid:

Sofitel’s Triple-Layer Pyramid Afternoon Tea Set

Top Tier of Green Tea Panna Cottas:

Although I love drinking green tea, I generally avoid anything green tea-flavored including green tea ice cream, green tea, frappachinos, you get the idea. So I can safely say that I’ve never had Green Tea Panna Cotta before, but I was a big fan of this dessert. The green tea flavor was subtle and the panna cotta texture was perfectly creamy and light.  The twirl of white chocolate perched on top was a nice touch to complete this very well-executed dessert.

Middle Tier of Savory Snacks: 

We were off to a promising start with the green tea panna cotta, but the quality plummeted the next round.  None of these three savory canapes looked appetizing and, to be perfectly honest, they tasted even worse. Everything was stale and bland and although I generally will eat anything and everything you put in front of me, I didn’t take more than one bite out of each of these and that was just enough to get a taste to write it up for this review. It was all really low quality and I’m surprised that a 5-star hotel would allow this to be served to guests.

Cream Cheese with Pistachio Canape / Shrimp with Scallop Canape / Chicken Breast Sandwich

Bottom Tier of French Sweets:

I was slightly traumatized after the middle tier, but Sofitel was almost able to redeem itself with this bottom tier.  Back up to the same quality as the green tea panna cotta, these sweets were indulgently rich and excellently executed. Their macaroons are perfect and I was very much impressed with the green tea opera cake. The contrast of consistencies between the crispy wafer biscuit at the bottom with the soft cake and creamy chocolate mousse was a lovely compliment to each other. The only dessert I didn’t like was the green tea mousse with red bean cake. While it looked like it had a muffin consistency due to its exterior coat of powder, it was actually very slippery and disintegrated at your touch, which made it very difficult to even pick up.  A very odd dessert in my opinion, but Sofitel boasts this particular dessert as one of their most requested desserts as it is very popular among their Chinese clientele.

Green Tea Opera Cake / Green Tea Macaroon

Green Tea Mousse with Red Bean Cake / Green Tea Muffin

I am no Goldilocks, but I was secretly hoping that this third tea review (after trying the Ritz-Carlton and Park Hyatt) would be “just right”. To my dismay, this third try at Sofitel missed the mark and was not the “third charm” as I had hoped it would be.  The combination of indulgently rich French desserts paired with practically inedible savory snacks left both of us feeling sick to our stomach. I actually really liked the sweets that were served as I thought they were exceptionally well done, but it was just way too much sugar to stomach in one sitting.

And as it turns out, the reason behind the huge inconsistency in the quality of sweets vs. savory is that Sofitel’s French pastry chef follows a Lenotre standard for all desserts and bread and they have a different chef who is temporarily handling their savory canapes until their new executive chef comes in. So until their new chef comes in, I would avoid trying any of the savory options in the afternoon tea set.

That being said, although I may not recommend ordering the afternoon tea set, I would still encourage interested parties to visit Sofitel’s sumptuous Vous Lounge for at least a drink. The entire lounge spewing luxury out of every corner was impressive on its own, but with the added touch of soft lighting just after sunset, I turned camera-crazy with each shot coming through picture perfect.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Sofitel’s Vous Lounge by Night:

Review of Sofitel’s Afternoon Tea: Located west of Wanda Plaza on Jianguo Lu, 93 Jianguo Road , Tower C Wanda Plaza , Chaoyang District Tel: 8599 6666. Afternoon Tea available daily, 7:00am-midnight

Best Part:

• The triple-tier pyramid display is slick and well-designed
• Stick to their sweets as their chef for all sweet treats served follows the famous French Lenotre standard for pastry and breads. 
• The sumptuous French dessert spread is exceptional, try their macaroons.  
• Atmosphere is especially quiet, I don’t even recall hearing any background music now that I think about it, but Sofitel did mention that they will have someone playing the piano during some events. 
• The menu switches out once per month so it never gets old and there is always a reason to come back and try something new. I definitely would have liked to try the strawberry themed menu.
• Afternoon tea at Sofitel is offered all day, everyday. Literally, you can have it any time between 7AM and midnight. 

Comments:

• There is a huge lack of consistency just within the triple-tiered pyramid. I’ve confirmed the savory snacks are done by a different chef than the French pastry chef and it’s very obvious. The sweets are very well done while the middle layer of savory snacks were practically inedible. Really should not be good enough to serve to customers. 
• While Sofitel’s Vous Lounge is lovely, it is clear that the afternoon tea set is just used to compliment the available menu for in-house guests and business men chatting away rather than something you’d go out of your way for. 
• Sofitel’s afternoon tea is more about the presentation of serving something tall and elegant to impress guests or business partners rather than honoring the tradition of a proper English afternoon tea ritual. 
• Ambiance was quiet on a Friday afternoon with few people throughout the lounge. 
• I hate to say it, but out of the three afternoon tea sets I’ve tried, Sofitel’s afternoon tea stands as the worst of the bunch (Ritz-Carlton and Park Hyatt).  The sweets were good, but the savory snacks really did kill the entire spread beyond the point of redemption.  I hope they get their new exec chef ASAP!  

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

• Food: 5
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 5

• Click here for previous review of the Ritz-Carlton Beijing’s Afternoon Tea.  

• Click here for previous review of the Park Hyatt’s Afternoon Tea.

Fear not, LumDimSum is fiercely determined to push forward on my mission to hunt down Beijing’s Best Afternoon Tea!

Stay tuned for more Afternoon Tea reviews to come…!

Eat Hatsune in 798: The New Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar

Anago Tempura with Salt n Peppa Dip

Have you heard the news?!?  The new Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar will be serving up Hatsune sushi in 798 Art District!

A collaboration between Hatsune Restaurant Group owner Alan Wong and Time Zone 8′s Robert Bernell, these guys are bringing the F&B scene in 798 to new heights.

I only recently met Robert at Alan’s Chefs Dinner at Hatsune Guanghua Lu branch a few weeks back and he is easily one of the most friendly, easy-going guys I’ve met in a long time. His story from Texas to China is fascinating, but a brief introduction goes something like this-

Originally from Texas, Robert has been in Beijing since 1995 and before that he spent 2 years in Nanjing and 3 years in Hong Kong. He originally opened the ever-popular Time Zone 8 in 798 Art District as a bookstore that happened to serve coffee (the trend back then linked coffee to bookstores), but people wanted food so the cafe quickly expanded into a full-blown Western restaurant. Last year, Time Zone 8 took it up another notch and evolved the space to also include a bar.

From this breakdown, it’s easy to see the reasoning behind Time Zone 8′s ever-evolving expansion, but to jump from a bookstore cafe to a Western restaurant and bar to serving Hatsune sushi is a big leap.

When I asked Robert about his choice to add sushi and how he linked up with Alan Wong of the Hatsune Restaurant Group, here’s his story in his own words -

RB: I’ve always been a fan of sushi, but when I discovered Hatsune, I discovered sushi rolls and what contemporary Japanese cuisine and sushi rolls was all about. My love affair with Japanese food really caught fire with Hatsune.

LDS: And how did you link up with Alan Wong?

RB: When we set up Time Zone 8′s bar and restaurant, I worked with Bill Gibb, previously the Executive Chef at Capital Club who was an outstanding chef and, in my opinion, one of the best in Beijing. Just from this experience, I knew that I needed to work with the best of the best so I tracked down Alan and kept after him until he eventually relented and agreed to work together with me to make this sushi bar.

LDS: Can you share your concept behind the new Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar?

RB: If you look at restaurant, it’s a reductive design of just brick and cement. I wanted to create a very simple, back-to-basics and unpretentious environment that can showcase and really give justice to Alan’s incredible food. I wanted the food to speak for itself and not create any noise that might distract from the food.

LDS: What are you most excited about this new expansion of Time Zone 8?

RB: The food that Alan has created is approaching art, if not art itself.

LDS: How do you think this restaurant will affect 798 Art District?

RB: It brings diversity to 798 for the first time. There must be 35 cafes that are all cookie-cutter copies of each other and a few less-than-stellar examples of Chinese food, but not much diversity when it comes to the art of food so I’m hoping this will lead to other varieties of food and something approaching the art of food in other parts of 798.

LDS: Still in soft opening period, are you already taking walk-in customers today? 

RB: Starting today (Monday, April 30), we’re going to step on balloons and light some incense. We still don’t have our printed menu, but people can come in and order from the basic menu. Our new sushi bar is in the back of Time Zone 8, in the same building around the west side, but it also has its own entrance.  

There you have it! Hatsune sushi has made its way to 798 thanks to Time Zone 8!

Stay tuned for a full LDS Review of Time Zone 8′s new Sushi Bar.

Time Zone 8 Restaurant Details:

• Address: 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, 798 Art District, Chaoyang district 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号

• Tel: 5978 9917

• Website: http://www.timezone8.com/osc/

Deceptively Delicious Middle Eastern at Dareen Coffee

Try the Middle Eastern Food at Dareen Coffee

As soon as I heard a friend rave about Dareen Coffee‘s Middle Eastern food, I grabbed my Egyptian foodie friend, Paul Maksy, and hauled him over to try Dareen Coffee with me.

We almost rode right past it on our bikes since the restaurant’s exterior sign is not lit up. Located on the strip of cafes and bars just north of Sanlitun Village North, Dareen Coffee is probably a great summer spot with plenty of outdoor tables and umbrellas, but it’s interior is a very small set up resembling a take-away rather than a sit-down destination with only a handful of tables inside.

Dareen Coffee needs a new sign outside

Stepping into the desolate Dareen Coffee (the place was entirely empty), I immediately felt less confident about my decision to bring my friend to dine here.  Glancing over the three-folded pamphlet menu and seeing dishes spelt wrong like “fatoosh” and “BaBaghanooj” , I took it as another warning sign. I admit I’m not an expert when it comes to Middle Eastern cuisine, but even Paul thought it strange these items were spelt that way.

I saw a man smoking in the corner of the restaurant, who I assumed was the owner of the place, so I didn’t want to be rude and turn around to make a quick exit and besides, I heard the food here is superb.

I quickly ordered a handful of classic dishes from Falafel, Babaganoush, Fattoush Salad and a Chicken Couscous Main Dish and we settled in on a table outside (to avoid the cigarette smoke).

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dareen Coffee’s Middle Eastern Dishes: 

 Hummus (RMB 30) / 5-pc Falafel (RMB 35)

Fattoush Salad (RMB 30) / Baba Ganoush (RMB 30)

Chicken Couscous with Sauce (RMB 55)

Spread of Dishes at Dareen Coffee

Before I get into the details, I want to say that we were incredibly impressed with the food at Dareen Coffee. In spite of a badly needed renovation (new sign outside and the interior is a real fixer upper), the food speaks for itself. For the most part, everything is super authentic and the quality and taste is exceptional.

My Egyptian friend Paul and I both excited agreed that this was by far the best hummus, baba ganoush and falafel in the city. There is nothing that could have made these three things any better, there were that good.  The only room for improvement is for Dareen to provide better quality pita bread. Ours was stale and cold and if they could grind out this kink, we’d be choosing Dareen over Bitapitta any day.

The Chicken Couscous with accompanying sauce was also very tasty and the stewed carrots, potatoes and cabbage were very traditional in the way it was prepared. On the other hand, the Fattoush Salad pales in comparison to Biteapitta’s version. It was much too oily and should have had more lemon and parsley and instead of croutons, they should be using dried pita crackers.

All that being said, we are now big fans of Dareen Coffee and plan to be returning in the very near future. The owner, Kareem, came up to our table as our food was being served and we learned that he’s been in China for 30 years and not only does he make everything on the menu in-house, he also makes sardines, canned stuffed grape leaves and white cheese that gets exported back home.  We promised we’d be back again to try his stuffed grape leaves.

As a final note, I should mention that I’ve heard nothing but praises for their coffee. I won’t stuff the stuff, but I hear the Ugandan Coffee is worth trying.

I hear the coffee is excellent at Dareen Coffee

Review of Dareen Coffee: Just north of Sanlitun Village North and next to imported wine shop, 29 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯路29号; Tel: 6415 0557; Open Daily 7am-midnight

Best Part:

• The best hummus, falafel and babaganoush I’ve had in Beijing.

• The Palestinian owner Kareem has been in Beijing for 30 years and he even produces Middle Eastern products here (sardines, canned stuffed grape leaves and white cheese) to export out.

• Everyone I’ve talked to uniformly agrees that the coffee here is awesome. A friend recommends the Ugandan coffee.

• It’s next door to an imported wine shop so you can order generous pours of wine for as low as RMB 10-25.

Comments:

• It’s amazing I only heard about this place recently. It’s been around for years and everyone seems to love it, but they don’t get nearly as attention or credit as Biteapitta, Rumi, or other Middle Eastern joints. If anything, this has sparked our curiosity and I plan to do a bit of research to seek out more Middle Eastern options outside of the Biteapitta box I’ve been living in the past 3 years. Anyone have any recommendations to share for quality Middle Eastern bites?

• Having dined with a foodie partner who is Egyptian American, I can more confidently say that the hummus, falafel and babaganoush at Dareen Coffee is not only fantastic, it’s authentic and exactly as it should be.

• The owner was exceptionally friendly (especially after he started conversing with Paul in Arabic), but I suspect that without the owner on-site, the service would be very mediocre. They mixed up our order (which was immediately corrected by the owner), but probably would not have been such a quick fix if he was not present.

• Out of the five things we ordered, we loved four – Hummus, Falafel, Babaganoush and Chicken Couscous. The Fattoush salad was the only dish we weren’t a fan of as it was too oily, should have more lemon and parsley and the croutons should have been dried pita crackers. Our only real complaint however is the dry, stale and cold pita bread we were served. It was awful and almost killed the awesomeness of the hummus and babaganoush. I’ll definitely be back to confirm whether this is a consistent problem or just a bad day for pita bread at Dareen Coffee. If it continues to be a problem, I would seriously consider buying pita bread from Biteapitta and bringing it to Dareen Coffee.

• The big question is whether or not Dareen Coffee is good enough to compete with Biteapitta in Tongli Studio by Sanlitun South Village. Most of the dishes we ordered were better than Biteapitta, but it was a hit or miss where Biteapitta’s level of quality is more consistent. It may not all be as good as Dareen, but everything is more than passable. And I gotta say that the ambiance of dining in Biteapitta is much better than Dareen, which could really use an upgrade (starting with a proper sign outside that you can actually see at night). 
  

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

• Food: 7

• Atmosphere: 4

• Service: 7

• Overall Experience: 6

CFFC Napa Valley Dinner at TRB & Fairmont After Party

Since it’s inception three years ago, Chi Fan for Charity has since raised over RMB 850,000 for worthy local charities in China.  Hats off to founder Michael Crain for putting together this brilliant formula of bringing together good eating + good company for a good cause.

While the main CFFC event is held in November every year (where Chi Fan gathers 40 of Beijing’s premium restaurants to host tables of 10 and over 500 people rally together to make this event Beijing’s top charity culinary event of the year), last Tuesday, April 17th marked the first time CFFC teamed up with 20 Napa Valley Wineries to co-host paired wine dinners at 5 elite restaurants including the new Brasserie Flo, Grange (Westin Chaoyang), Maison Boulud, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) and Vasco’s (Wangfujing Hilton).

The choice to dine at TRB was an easy one knowing the perfectly professional and courteous Ignace Lecleir and his gracious team would be looking after our party of 40. Each of the five participating restaurants were also allowed to seat up to 40 people, but TRB and Maison Boulud were the two that managed to fill every single one of their 40 seats. In spite of the volume, I knew it was safe to say we would be in good hands.

Each of the five participating restaurants played host with four vintners from Napa Valley region. TRB collaborated with Schramberg Vineyards, Salvestrin Winery, St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery, and Somerston Wine Co.

Our warm welcome began with two sparkling welcome drinks courtesy of Schramsberg Vineyards – their 2008 Brut Rosé and 2009 Blanc de Blancs. A great story about these sparkling wines was shared by the Schramsberg representative Maryann Bautovich who explained that “in 1972 the 1969 Blanc de Blancs was served at the “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, between President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai and Schramsberg wines have been served by every subsequent presidential administration.”

Settling in with Schramsberg’s Sparkling Wines at TRB:

Before we were served the first course of our meal, CFFC introduced each of the four vineyard representatives who briefly stood up to introduce two of the beautiful wines they would be serving throughout the meal and we ended with an introduction of the charity we were gathered together to support, Children’s Hope Foundation, a local orphanage that provides long-term care for disadvantaged youth as well as life-saving medical attention for orphans so that they may be adopted into loving families.

5-Course TRB Dinner Paired with Napa Valley Wines:

First Course -

I’ve had this Garlic Egg Salt Cod Veloute every time I’ve dined at TRB and it’s still remains as one of the stand-out dishes on their menu. It’s so good, it was paired with not one, but two white wines: Salvestrin’s 2010, Sauvignon Blanc and St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery’s 2011, Sauvignon Blac, Estate.

The Salvestrin’s 2010 Sauvignon Blanc was very unique as it is one of the only Sauvignon Blancs from St. Helena, a single vineyard, all estate grown and 100% of the process is controlled. Everything is done in-house, promising extreme consistency and a very selective production. Only 800 cases of this particular wine was ever produced. The reason why this wine stood out to me so much was that they gave a Chardonnay treatment to a Sauvignon Blanc, where 60% was in neutral French oak giving a nice minerality to the wine (rather than the typical fruity characteristics of Sauvignon Blacs), giving a soft mouth feel and friendly for food pairing.  Thank you to Salvestrin’s bubbly rep Megan Gordon for her thorough explanation!

I’ve actually had the pleasure of tasting this exact Sauvignon Blanc from St. Supery Estate in my last trip to Napa Valley at the beginning of 2012. This wine has a entirely different taste as it is produced at a different elevation, higher up in the hills and rather than being oak barrel fermented, it is produced in a stainless steel vat, producing bright and vibrant flavors. This wine was a nice contrast to the Salvestrin 2010 Sauvignon Blanc.

Garlic Egg Salt Cod Veloute

Salvestrin, 2010, Sauvignon Blanc / St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery, 2011, Sauvignon Blac, Estate

Second Course -

While the second dish was my least favorite of the meal, the paired Salvestrin 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon stood out as my favorite wine of the night. Named “3D” after the Salvestrin family’s three daughters, this is the most expensive wine they’ve produced. Aged three years, there are only 130 cases of this wine ever made making it extremely rare and in high demand. This wine was elegant and soft with oak flavors and hints of darker berries like blueberries, boysenberries and blackberries.

Ham Hock Terrine Sauce Grebiche

Salvestrin, 2008, Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 D

Third Course -

While some of my dining counterparts complained about the monkfish having a tough, rubbery texture, this was my favorite dish of the night. The roasted monkfish had a unique firm texture and the infusion of smoked bacon and mushrooms put me over the top. This was phenomenal and it was paired with the first Somerston wine of the night – a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon made from unfiltered, rich and balanced fruit on 44 year old vines.  “This is a 100% Cab.” – Craig Becker from Somerston Wine Co.

Roasted Monkfish Bacon Shallots Sauce Matelote

Somerston, 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon, Somerston

Fourth Course -

The Saddle of Lamb was tasty, but by this point, I was already stuffed, making it difficult to really savor and enjoy each bite. And to make matters worse, I should confess that all the wines beyond this point started to muddle together and it didn’t help that I failed to jot down any tasting notes. So…I have no choice but to let the photos speak for themselves.

Roasted Saddle of Lamb with Capers Garlic Confit Anchovies Rosemary

St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery, 2007, Red Blend, Estate Elu

Fifth Course -

Goat Cheese Tartine, Manuca Honey Thyme

Somerston, 2009, Red Blend, Stornoway, Somerston

TRB’s Signature Petit Four

Finishing up CFFC Dinner at TRB

Wrapping up dinner and struggling to move our Humpty Dumpty tummies, we eventually managed to lift our arses off our comfy chairs and make our way over to the official Chi Fan for Charity After Party at the Fairmont Hotel’s lobby bar for more, free-flow Napa Valley Wines.

This was hands-down, the best party set-up you could ever want – a party showcasing all of the participating 20 Napa Valley Wineries and their select range of very exclusive, fine wines.

A party full of wine geeks, we were like kids in a candy shop, curious eyes taking in the entire wine gallery and greedy hands grabbing one after the other to sip and taste our way through each wine and savor this rare opportunity to indulge in so many Napa Valley wines.  

LDS Snapshots of CFFC After Party at the Fairmont w/ Napa Valley Wineries:

Founder of Chi Fan for Charity, Michael Crain (center)

Favorite Quote of the Night:

“My nipples are hard over Napa Valley Wines” – Anonymous

For the time being, I will keep this person’s identity a secret until an occasion arises to blackmail.

Nevertheless, this is a brilliant quote that left me with a side cramp after laughing uncontrollably for at least 10 minutes.

(I was slightly intoxicated after consuming far too much amazing Napa Valley wine)