Nathan’s New Salad Wraps & Jinshisong Delivery

Most of you who follow LumDimSum.com know that I am always looking for a healthier option (should a healthy option be available) whenever I’m eating out.

So instead of stuffing myself with Nathan’s 100% pure beef hot dogs and chili cheese fries multiple times per week, I am now stoked to be eating (and sharing with you) their newest menu items: 3 New Savory Salad Wraps!

Available in three flavors: Spicy Chicken Tender Salad Wrap, Phillycheese Steak Salad Wrap and a warm, buttery imported Lobster Sensation Wrap (my personal favorite), these are hands-down my new go-to menu items!

Aside from being a healthier choice, these wraps are so freaking good and such great value – priced at RMB 15-25 if ordered alone and if you want to be extra healthy, you can also switch out the side of Nathan’s crinkle cut fries for a bowl of steamed corn (another favorite of mine) and a drink for only RMB 27-37 for a complete combo meal.

For those who prefer to eat in the comfort of your home, Nathan’s is now partnering up with Beijing’s Best Delivery Service - Jinshisong Delivery!

To get Nathan’s delivered straight to your door, just call 4000300517 or you can even order directly online and save the headache of speaking to anyone over the phone: Click here to order Nathan’s on Jinshisong’s website.

Aside from Nathan’s, Jinshisong also delivers many other great restaurant options including:

• Kro’s Nest
• Blue Frog
• Hatsune
• Flamme
• Union Bar & Grill
• Karaiya Spice House
• Kagen Japanese Restaurant
• Colibri Cafe
• Biteapitta
• Crepanini
• La Pizza

And the list of restaurants continues…check out full list of restaurants here.

Nathan’s Famous Contact Details: 

• Dongzhimen Raffles City Branch 

• Address: Raffles City Shopping Mall B1-07, No.1 Dongzhimen South Street, Dong Cheng District, Beijing
• Hours: 8:30AM-10:00PM

• Wanliu BHG Mall

• Address: Beijing Wanliu Shopping Mall, No. 2 BaGou Road, Hai Dian District, Beijing (Located just outside of Ba Gou Subway Stop, the last stop on Line 10)
• Hours: 9:30AM-9:30PM

• Mastercard (Wukesong) Stadium

• Address: No.69 Fuxing Road, Haidian District
• Open for events

BJ FOoDiEs ‘Magic’ Dinner & Hilton’s Charity Auction

The first BJ FOoDiEs event of 2012 is setting up to be a double-whammy!  Switching things up, this is one of the very first times that a BJ FOoDiEs dinner will not be held on a Sunday, but on a Friday night. And since most of those in attendance have a charitable heart and generous spirit, it only makes sense to see BJ FOoDiEs teaming up with the Hilton Beijing, The Beijing Beatles, and Hoegaarden for the 2012 Charity Auction!

So mark you calendars for next Friday, February 10 for a night dedicated to the spirit of generous giving and good food. Not only will foodies be spoiled with a special dinner, those who make the highest bids for Beijing’s Dashing Bachelors and Bachelorettes will again be once again rewarded with another dinner at One East!

The night’s rundown is quite packed in, so by signing up for the BJ FOoDiEs dinner, you’re also signing yourself up for a full-on charitable evening with all proceeds going to two very special charitable organizations: Morning Tears and Magic Hospital.

First off, foodies are treated to an indulgent, 3-course contemporary American meal at One East in the Hilton Beijing hotel.

While the restaurant is said to specialize in Steaks & Burgers, the BJ FOoDiEs dinner unfortunately will be serving neither.  But alas, you can enjoy everything from a crustacean sea platter this eatery combines hearty US dishes with a swig of innovative californian flavors

“Be WARNED – This is going to be a night of feasting, drinking, debauchery & party-tastic times.  It’s going to be one of the best TGIF CELEBRATIONS so do join us for the night….we’ll hopefully all remember it the next morning. WoOT WOOT ” – Xixi Cheng, Founder of BJ FOoDiEs

Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar: Expect Straight-Up Seafood

I’ve had my eyes set on Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar ever since I saw the perfect 5 star review it got by Cityweekend’s Dining editor Sienna Parulis-Cook when it opened late 2o11. Described with words and phrases like “absolute joy”, “superb”, “exceptional”, “unmissable” used throughout the review, I went in with pretty high expectations for greatness.

So perhaps I set the bar too high, walking in expecting too much. Well, what I did not expect when I walked in on a Thursday night at 7PM was for me to walk in to an entirely empty restaurant.  I was the first and only customer for a good 30 minutes until my tardy foodie friend finally joined me.

I was always taught to be skeptical of empty seafood restaurants as everyone knows seafood is best when it’s fresh and you gotta start questioning the freshness of a seafood restaurant’s products if the restaurant is empty. To prove this theory correct to some degree: I thought about ordering some oysters to start with until the Chinese guy sitting at the table next to me asked when the last shipment of oysters came in and the waiter honestly answered “the previous Monday”, meaning it had been over a week since they had a new delivery of fresh oysters.  Hmmm. The guy still went ahead and ordered a dozen oysters, but that’s when I opted out.

I should insert now that in spite of the slow start, by the time we left (around 9PM), the restaurant had filled out with most diners coming in around 8PM. Considering most of the clientele were foreigners, I guess it makes sense that majority of diners would come in later in the evening.

Back to my dinner – although oysters were out of the question, I was still eager to try a restaurant recommended specialty item and noticed the blackboard posted on their wall with an intriguing special scribbled out in chalk.

“Jet Fresh Manila Clams from WA, USA – sauteed with shallots, white wine and butter sauce. Perfect for sharing as a starter or a light main for one person. RMB 150″

I asked the waiter about it and he said it was a popular dish, especially among women (?) and then the foreign manager/owner stepped in and explained in English that it comes with a side of bread that’s perfect to dip in the clam’s tasty, buttery wine sauce. SOLD.

We decided that we’d share this clam dish as a starter (as the chalkboard recommended) and then share the Shrimp and Polenta dish (RMB 108) for our main, which was described as “exceptional” in the CW review.

Two problems: 1. Instead of bringing out the clams first for us to share as a starter as requested and as recommended by themselves, they brought out the clams and the shrimp and polenta main dish out at the same time so we had to eat our starter and main dishes side by side.  2. While the clams were a heaping portion of delicious, fresh clams in a even more delicious sauce (perfect for dipping with bread), I did not see any special about the Shrimp and Polenta dish.  It was decent, there was nothing wrong with it, but it certainly was not “exceptional” in our opinion. According to my foodie friend, the polenta was very authentic among Beijing standards, but the shrimp sauce was bland and the best thing about this dish was that it was filling enough to supplement the bowl of many baby clams.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dishes at Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar: 

Complimentary Basket of Assorted Breads / Seafood Special: Manila Clams from WA, USA

Shrimp and Polenta (RMB 108) and Chocolate Mousse (RMB 45)

For dessert, we again went along with the CW recommendation of the “unmissable chocolate mousse…with perfect texture and flavor”.  Our chocolate mousse was accompanied by a portion of super tangy, sharp passionfruit sauce. We were a bit baffled as to how it was served – were we meant to pour the sauce over the chocolate? Eat them separately?  We asked the waitress who served us our dessert and she said she did not know.  She brought the foreign manager/owner over and she explained that it’s meant to be eaten separately…so a spoonful of chocolate followed by a dip of passionfruit. Both were tasty, but I don’t think the flavors complimented each other and again, I would have to say that although the dessert itself was decent overall, I’ve had better chocolate mousse in Beijing – Modo, Scarlett in Hotel G and also ROOMbeijing’s chocolate mousse bars with pop rocks (awesome).

I don’t mean to sound harsh, but as I previously explained, perhaps I just felt a bit let down after the spectacular, perfect review Starfish received from CW. In my honest opinion, it did not live up to our expectations.

I wouldn’t be opposed to going back to Starfish by any means because I did enjoy my dinner, but I can’t say that I would recommend Starfish over other seafood restaurants in Beijing and I can’t say I’d go out of my way for a return visit anytime soon.

Review of Starfish Wine & Seafood Bar: Just west of southwest corner of Xindong Lu and Dongzhimenwai, 22-1 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, 东直门外大街22-1号; Tel: 6416-5499

Best Part:

• Known for their fresh seafood, I recommend trying their specials.  I was very happy with their current special of Manila Clams (RMB 150). 
• They have a decent selection of imported fresh oysters, but I would first ask when the current stock of oysters were delivered to the restaurant. 
• From their name, you can expect an extensive wine list. 
• Very stylish design. Simple and elegant, I love all the archways and curves along the walls and ceiling.
• From the restaurant design to the details of silverware and complimentary bottle of water displayed at each table, I was impressed by the little details of this restaurant. 
• Complimentary basket of assorted breads were served warm and toasty and they were delicious. 
• It’s a brand new restaurant, so everything is very clean, new and in tip-top shape. 

Comments:

• Although there were two English speaking foreigners (who I’m guessing are the restaurant’s owners) on standby support, the general waitstaff was pretty lost with basic questions regarding the restaurant’s menu, getting our order right and also the dishes that came out. 
• I would have liked to try more of a selection off their menu (it’s pretty extensive), but with a party of two, there was only so much we could order.  
• The food was decent, but with most dishes ranging between RMB 100-200 per dish, you can expect to pay over RMB 300 for a dinner for two (not including drinks). 
• Starfish is definitely a step up from a place like Let’s Seafood, but I would prefer a restaurant like Modo, Mosto, SALT, or Terra if I were craving a massive seafood splurge (Western style as opposed to Japanese or Chinese seafood options).
• Menu is pretty much all seafood, so definitely check out Starfish if you can’t get enough of crab cakes, shrimp, fish, clams, lobster, etc., and go with a bigger group of friends so you can taste more of their menu’s extensive list of seafood dishes.

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

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

*To Follow Starfish’s updates and promotions, click here for their Official Facebook Page.

LDS Hook-Up: Free Craft Beer from Slow Boat Brewery

“Slow Boat is once again introducing new beers to the Beijing’s craft beer scene.”

Slow Boat Brewery will be hosting their next pop-up Craft Beer night at Grinders restaurant in Shuangjing on Friday, February 17 starting at 7PM.

Founded by Chandler Jurinka and and Daniel Hebert, two Americans living in Beijing, they are proud to be tapping fresh kegs to pair with Grinders’ hearty food (click here to see LDS review of Grinder’s ginormous sandwiches), music and friends are all invited to join them in a chilled out and informal environment and try out their specialty craft beers.

“Our beer is fresh and unpasteurized. No preservatives, no chemicals, just purely delicious beer. Carefully selected for their distinctive flavor profile, the beers are classically fermented to produce a smooth, bold taste.”

To learn more about their unique craft beers, click here and learn about their delicate process of hand-brewed craft beers “made from imported German specialty malts, which are regarded as among the finest malts in the world”.

Their current selection of brewed beers includes American Pale Ale, Pacific NW Red Ale, Coffee Porter, Oatmeal Stout, and Brown Ale. Now, here’s where the fun begins.

Curious to try Slow Boat Brewery’s craft beers?  Get hooked up at their next craft beer night at Grinders!

LDS HOOK-UP

Thanks to Chandler Jurinka, one of the two founders of Slow Boat Brewery, a few lucky LDS readers will get the chance to win FREE craft beer at their upcoming Slow Boat Brewery event at Grinders.

For your chance to win FREE CRAFT BEER at Slow Boat Brewery’s next event, answer the following question in the comment section:

From among the 5 craft beers currently being brewed by Slow Boat Brewery, which would you pick and why?

To answer, click here and scroll down to comment section.  Be sure to leave your email address so I contact the winner directly!

Deadline is Friday, February 10 at 12PM Noon.

In other news, Slow Boat Beer is now on tap at SUSU Vietnamese restaurant.  SUSU is where the first Slow Boat Brewery event took place and their concept of quality fresh ingredients and attention to detail perfectly compliments Slow Boat Brewery.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, February 17
• Time: Starts at 7PM
• Location: Grinders
• Address: Near The Brick in Shuangjing, Unit 3-02, Bldg 2, Tianzhi Jiaozi, 31 Guangqu Lu (northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao), 朝阳区双井桥东北角广渠路31号院天之骄子2号楼底商3-02; Tel: 8775-1847

The Veggie Table: Beijing’s Vegan Center

The Veggie Table has been at the top of my restaurant hit list for some time now, but you’d be surprised how difficult it is to convince meat eaters to try a vegetarian restaurant!  Considering The Veggie Table is purely vegan and about as organic as you can get in Beijing, you can imagine why it took me so long to find a fellow foodie to finally dine with me at a vegan restaurant!

While some may be turned off by words like “vegan” and “organic”, I am very much curious to find out more and always eager to turn towards a more health-conscious diet. And just the name “Veggie Table” is friggin’ adorable. I love their logo and the restaurant itself is very casual and cute with a strong hippie vibe.  So I’m being very honest when I say that before even setting foot in Veggie Table, I had high hopes for this restaurant to really live up to its claim as “Your vegan center in Beijing”.

Veggie Table’s Bar and Dessert Counter by the Entrance

Some of you may have seen my previous post of Veggie Table, where I left sorely disappointed and very much frustrated with their lack of customer service and how poorly they handled the situation, but in spite of this negative first impression, I also left with a piece of fresh, out-of-the-oven carrot cake that was so good, it relinquished all prior frustrations as forgiven.

So that leaves me to my next dining experience at Veggie Table, where I treated my vegetarian friend for his birthday dinner here. Just after Chinese New Year, the place was buzzing and vibes were really good.  The dining space has a high ceiling, comfy couches and lounge chairs to add to the laid back vibes. While we happily picked a table by the window, we immediately noticed that everything (especially the window sill) was covered in a layer of dust, our table was unstable and rocking back and forth throughout the dinner and although it’s a great space, it has not been well-kept since it opened just last year. That being said, it’s nothing a thorough clean couldn’t quickly fix.

Veggie Table’s Interior Dining Space

Since we came just after the Chinese New Year holiday, their menu only offered a limited selection since their owner/chef Laura Fanelli was not back from holiday. So unfortunately, I didn’t get to test out a friend’s recommendation to try their “stink out” burger, but we did work our way through the majority of their menu!  We started off by ordering a bottle of red – a beautiful Italian wine, 2003 Giovanni Rosso from Barolo at RMB 888, which is surprisingly high considering the high-end Italian restaurant Barolo in the Ritz Carlton sells this same bottle of wine for under RMB 800. I have a soft spot for hot alcoholic drinks, so I ordered a hot mulled wine (RMB 30) and was very much disappointed to find it both bitter and harsh. Every time I took a sip, it stung the back of my throat and I pretty much gave up half-way through the cup.

2003 Giovanni Rosso from Barolo (RMB 888)

Of all the dishes we ordered, the Hummus Spread (RMB 28 for small/RMB 38 for large) was good, but very mediocre and certainly not “the best in Beijing” as their menu claims.  I vote Biteapitta’s hummus to be much better than this one.  The chunky meat-free chili made from organic beans (RMB 25) was full of flavor and a perfect winter appetizer.  The Beet Salad with walnuts and prunes (RMB 22) was one of the highlights of our meal, in addition to the Shiitake Mushroom Burger (RMB 62) served with potato wedges and delicious, light coleslaw. Both the Dal Bhat, Indian lentil curry (RMB 65) and Vegetable Curry (RMB 60) were both very disappointing.  The lentils were bland and the vegetable curry had a strange sour taste and we couldn’t make out if it was supposed to be more like an Indian or Thai curry, but nothing we were familiar with.  Then again, I guess vegan food is in a genre of its own so it may be difficult or unfair to compare it to anything else.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dishes at The Veggie Table: 

Ajvar Dip with Eggplant and Onions with Pitta bread (RMB 28) / Small Hummus Spread (RMB 28)

Chunky Meat-Free Chili Soup (RMB 25) / Beet Salad (RMB 22)

Dal Bhat, Indian Lentil Curry (RMB 65) / Vegetable Curry with Organic Brown Rice (RMB 60)

Shiitake Mushroom Burger with Potato Wedges and Coleslaw (RMB 62) / Sun-dried Tomato Organic Pasta (RMB 60)

Many of the dishes we ordered turned out to be quite a hit or miss. And unfortunately the same applies to their desserts.  After already being in love with their carrot cake (RMB 30), I was eager to try the rest of their dessert menu.  The edges of the Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake (RMB 30) was a little bit dry, but the inside was still very moist and it was a very rich and delicious cake considering there is no butter, egg or dairy at all!

On the other hand, the Chocolate Fondant (RMB 35) took 40 minutes to come out after we ordered it and it was still completely liquid, so we sent it back to heat up a bit longer.  When it came back with better consistency – warm cake with a melted middle, the taste was still totally off.  Instead of it tasting like chocolate, it really just tasted like wheat bread dough.  I can’t tell you how strange it was to eat chocolate cake that tastes more like wheat bread. This was officially the first time I ever left a dessert unfinished. Not sure if it was just a flop because I can’t imagine that this would have turned out so strange if they’ve already totally nailed both carrot cake and a rich, chocolate bundt cake.

Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake (RMB 30) / Chocolate Fondant (RMB 35)

Click here for previous LDS Article on Veggie Table’s amazing Carrot Cake:

Vegan Carrot Cake (RMB 30)

It’s SUSHI Time: Learn to Make & Eat Your Own Sushi

It’s about that time of year again….it’s SUSHI Time!!

Many of you are probably sushi addicts like me and for us, it’s always sushi time, BUT it’s not every day that you can 1. make your OWN sushi and 2. learn how to make sushi from Alan Wong, the sushi samurai master of the Hatsune Restaurant Group.

Here’s your chance to learn the secrets behind the legendary Hatsune sushi rolls, eat your own creations and you even get to take home essential equipment to start making your own sushi at home!

Hatsune’s next sushi making class will be taking place on Wednesday, February 22nd at the Original Hatsune restaurant in Guanghua Lu.

More About the Event:

Hosted by Alan Wong, the master Sushi Samurai himself, Hatsune presents to you a Sushi Making Dinner Party. This course examines the fundamentals of sushi making and discover some of Hatsune’s secret recipes and get tips on how to make sushi at home. You’ll learn all about the different types of sushi, fish, rice and vegetable ingredients, and then it’s your turn to try it for yourself, preparing THREE different types of sushi rolls, with the expert advice and help from master Sushi Samurai Alan-san. Join us as we show you the path to become a Sushi Samurai.

RMB 300 per person includes the sushi making class, ingredients, dinner and the essential equipment to start making sushi at home!

Limited Seating, RSVP Required: Contact Kristen Lum by Monday, February 20th, e-mail: kristen@lumdimsum.com

Check out More Pics from Previous Hatsune Sushi Making Classes:

• LumDimSummary: Hatsune Sushi School with Alan Wong
• Sushi Samurai Class with Alan Wong

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
• Time: 7-10PM
• Price: RMB 300 per person includes class, materials and dinner
• Location: The Original Hatsune (Guanghua Lu Branch)
• Address: 2\F, Heqiao Building, Bldg C, A8 Guanghua Donglu, CBD/Guomao    光华东路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层
• RSVP: Contact Kristen Lum by Monday, February 20th e-mail: kristen@lumdimsum.com

The Vine Leaf: Traditional British Fare at its Best in Beijing

A very unassuming little house on a little hutong alley, The Vine Leaf is the saving grace of traditional British fare in Beijing. No longer can people poke fun at the British for having bad food because The Vine Leaf will prove you wrong.

As an American, I guess my opinion doesn’t count for much when it comes to really knowing British comfort food or “Pub Grub” like fish & chips, steak and ale pies, Sunday roast, pasties, etc. Although I may not have grown up on it, I’ve had my fair share of Sunday roasts and meat pies in my day and in any case, it’s not only me who loves The Vine Leaf!

Every British person I know in Beijing is testifying to (and raving about) both the authenticity and excellency of The Vine Leaf’s recipes in executing these traditional British staples to perfection.

A one page menu, the offerings are straightforward and concise. A few apps, a few soups, a few pies and puddings, here is a select range of British classics that are simple, hearty and wholesome for a down-to-earth meal that will leave you satisfied and stuffed.

Keep an eye out for their chalkboard menu of daily offerings that are “off-the-menu specials” like their cheese fondue when we were there and also some daily ales and brews available by the bar or while you’re dining for a true “a pie and a pint” experience. For anyone who may prefer the Vineyard’s standard European fare, the Vine Leaf also offers The Vineyard’s entire menu spread of salads, burgers, pizzas, etc. as well.

So here you have it – from Fish & Chips, Scotch Egg, Cottage Pie, Steak & Ale Pot Pie and Apple Crumble, The Vine Leaf is serving British food at its very best:

LumDimSum Snapshots of The Vine Leaf’s Traditional British Classics:

Scotch Egg (RMB 46) served with a side salad and homemade Piccalilli Pickle

Off-the-Menu Special: Cheese Fondue Sharing Pot with platters of bread chunks, cured meat & steamed vegetables

Fish & Chips (RMB 72) / Cottage Pie (RMB 70)

Chicken & Mushroom Pie Pie (RMB 74) / Steak and Ale Pot Pie (RMB 74)

The Vine Leaf’s Apple Crumble Dessert with Custard (RMB 36)

Their Scotch Egg (RMB 46) appetizer was the one dish everyone wanted to order and the perfected cooked egg inside the layer of sausage meat and bread crumbs is something worth noting as not an easy task to master (as I was repeated told by my fellow British foodies). That being said, it was delicious and a great start to our meal.

The giant sharing pot of cheese fondue was big enough for us to share in a group of 10, passing from one end of the table to the other. We all should agree in unison that melted cheese makes everything better especially no-brainer dips like bread and cured ham, but who knew steamed veggies like broccoli, carrots and asparagus would be so good dipped in melted cheese?

Almost everyone at the table went for one of the meat pies for their main course.  I ordered the Cottage Pie (RMB 70)- the original Shepherd’s Pie with handcut beef slow cooked in beef stock and topped with mashed potatoes and a side of peas, baby carrots and bread.  I was happy with my cottage pie but after tasting a bit of everyone else’s, I’ve got to say my favorite was the Steak and Ale Pot Pie (RMB 74) with thick beef chunks, bacon and vegetables slow cooked in ale in a proper pie crust. I think the thing I was missing was a proper pie crust on my cottage pie and even the Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pie (RMB 74), which only had the pie crust on the top layer of a ceramic pot.

The Fish & Chips (RMB 72) is a generous portion and while the fish was tender and the batter was crispy, the only criticism was that the mushy peas was more like puréed peas instead of mashed peas.

In addition to the birthday cake we brought to share, we also ordered three Apple Crumble desserts (RMB 36) to be shared around the table.  Served with a side of custard, the apple crumble came fresh out of the over and it is phenomenal. Definitely another highlight to our delicious meal.

Generally, it’s a rare occasion for British people to “rave” about much, and let’s be honest, if they are excited about something, you’d hardly be able to tell most of the time! So that says a lot about The Vine Leaf already, they’ve really done something right (if not everything right) to have such a perfect score among all my British foodies in Beijing who are praising The Vine Leaf in unison, saying “finally someone’s done it right”.

LumDimSum Snapshots of The Vine Leaf:

Review of The Vine Leaf: 9 Jianchang Hutong, 箭厂胡同9号; Tel: 6407-6308

Best Part:

• The first to serve authentic, proper traditional British Classics from Fish & Chips, Scotch Egg, Steak and Ale Pie, etc.
• Owner Will Yorke has done his research and really done an excellent job with executing these British classics properly.  Instead of serving Shepherd’s Pie, he’s opted for the original Cottage Pie, with handcut beef instead of mutton. 
• Everything is simple, hearty and wholesome. 
• I highly recommend the Steak and Ale Pie (RMB 74). 
• The restaurant atmosphere is cozy and cute, you’re made to feel like you’re eating a home-cooked meal in a cottage home. Really unique and very down-to-earth.  
• This normally doesn’t make it into the “best” category, but I’ve got to say – I was dreading their bathroom knowing how most hutong bathrooms can be, but even in the dead cold of winter, their bathroom was spacious, warm and clean. By far the best hutong bathroom I’ve come across! 

Comments:

• The Vine Leaf menu is only one page, but they also offer the entire Vineyard menu for anyone looking for more selection. 
• Owner Will was kind enough to take our order and make sure everything came out promptly, but the staff was also attentive and friendly. 
• Prices are not cheap, but I think very reasonable considering the amount of attention and detail that has gone into each dish. 
• It’s down and in some little hutong alley, so be sure to check a map for it’s location if you are not familiar venturing into the hutongs.

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

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

LumDimSum Snapshots of Dining at The Vine Leaf:

Lady Sarah Ready to Blow Out her Birthday Candles.  

Now, excuse me, while I go and finish watching the 2-hour Christmas Special of Downton Abbey!

Din Tai Fung’s 鼎泰丰 Delicious, Decadent Dumplings

With branches all over the world and listed as one of “Top 10 Restaurants in the World by the New York Times”, Din Tai Fung is an ever-popular Taiwanese chain where I happily enjoyed a full spread of delicious 小笼包 dumplings on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Made famous from their signature pork dumplings, they have an extensive menu that should not be ignored and some new menu items that should be your top picks.

Check out the full-on Din Tai Fung spread I devoured like a dragon to ring in the new year.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Din Tai Fung’s Delicious Dishes:

Braised Beancurd with Black Mushrooms (RMB 20) / Tossed Beancurd with Seaweed and Bean Sprouts (RMB 18)

Huai’s Style Mushrooms (RMB 35) / Steamed Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Pork (RMB 30) 

Din Tai Fung’s Delicious Dumplings:

“Every Din Tai Fung steamed specialty dumpling is skillfully hand-made, each displaying at least 18 delicate folds. All of our dumplings are steamed by a powerful automatic steaming machine, allowing for the perfect tenderness of our steamed dumpling.”

 Din Tai Fung’s Signature Steamed Pork Dumplings (RMB 23 for 5 or RMB 45 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Black Truffle & Pork Dumplings (RMB 88 for 5 or RMB 176 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Goose Liver & Pork Dumplings (RMB 68 for 5 or RMB 136 for 10)

NEW! Steamed Specialty Shanghai Hairy Crab Roe Meat & Pork Dumplings (RMB 39 for 5 or RMB 78 for 10)

Steamed Specialty Mini Pork Dumplings Served with Soup (RMB 33 for 10 or RMB 65 for 20)

Steamed Shrimp & Pork Shaomai (RMB 33 for 5 or RMB 65 for 10)

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings (RMB 23 for 5 or RMB 46 for 10)

Sauteed Water Lily (RMB 30) / Noodle with Sesame Sauce (RMB 25)

Steamed Red Bean Paste Bun & Sesame Paste Buns (RMB 15 per order of two)

You really can’t go wrong with any of their cold appetizer dishes as I’ve tried almost all of them, but my all-time favorites are their tofu appetizers.  The Braised Beancurd with Black Mushrooms (RMB 20) may not look appetizing in the least bit (a bit like little brown sponges), but they are full of savory and sweet flavor and really unique in consistency and taste.

Of all their signature steamed dumplings, I love the Mini Pork Dumplings Served with Soup (RMB 33/65 for half/full order) as these mini ones are just as tasty as their big brothers, but more bite-sized so you minimize your risk of a burnt tongue. The clear soup is also a nice compliment.

And if you’re willing to splurge just a bit, I encourage you to try their new Black Truffle and Pork Dumplings (RMB 88/176 for half/full order). If only all dumplings could have a pinch of black truffle!  As soon as this batch comes to your table, the smell of Black Truffle engulfs you and the taste is phenomenal!  If only I had a better photo of the inside of the Black Truffle & Pork Dumplings, but that would not even do the taste justice.  The Goose Liver Dumplings were OK, but if I had to pick a second favorite, it would be the Shanghai Hairy Crab Roe Meat & Pork Dumplings, which really taste of crab meat if that’s your cup of tea.

A surprise favorite dish is their Noodles in Sesame Sauce (RMB 25), which is basically a non-spicy Dan Dan Noodle dish 担担面.  It’s really tasty and perfect to share if you come in a small group of foodies. And whether you like green veggies or not, you should definitely try an order or two of their greens – either their Sauteed Water Lilly dish (RMB 30) or their Sauteed Bean Shoots (RMB 48) are both really healthy and it’s not often you come across greens in a Chinese restaurant not drenched in oil.

Review of Din Tai Fung: 24 Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District 朝阳区新源西里中街24号; Tel: 6462 4502

Best Part:

• Their delicious, decadent dumplings! From their signature specialty pork dumplings to their new Black Truffle and Goose Liver filled dumplings, these are among the best dumplings you will find in Beijing and quite possibly “in the world” (according to The New York Times)
• Din Tai Fung’s dumplings are the highlight, but don’t ignore their amazing appetizers, soothing soups and their green veggie dishes are also among my favorite dishes on their menu
• They have plenty of options for vegetarians including vegetarian dumplings, plenty of green veggie appetizers and dishes and desserts! 
• Restaurant is clean, atmosphere is bustling and service is decent.

Comments:

• Regardless of which branch you head to in the world, you will always encounter a line.  Most don’t take reservations, so be prepared to send someone there early to take a number in line.
  
• Their staff does not generally speak English, but you can get by easily with their easy-to-order big picture menu.
• Restaurants are often in a mall or if they are stand-alone, then decor is very simple and straightforward. Basic table seating layout and it’s comfortable enough, but nothing impressive and certainly not flashy.  People come for the consistently good quality food, not the decor or service. 
• Service is rushed and dishes come out quick enough, but even a friendly smile might be asking too much. 
• They have three locations in Beijing: this one which is off of Xindong Lu, one on the 6th floor of Shin Kong Place (87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区建国路87号华贸中心新光天地6层, tel: 6533 1536), and one in Haidian District (7/F, Dangdai Shangcheng, 40 Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian District 海淀区中关村大街40号当代商城7层, tel: 6269 6726) 

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

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 5
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 6

Grinders’ Great Ginormous Sandwiches

Sandwiches are one of the greatest food creations of all time. Such a simple idea – two slices of bread with fillings, and yet the possibilities are endless. Everything from the ingredients you select to the type of bread, to whether you make it hot or cold, to the sauces you either spread on or place on the side for a dip, yada yada, you get the idea.

But in spite of the fact that sandwich possibilities are infinite, that does not ensure that all sandwiches are good.  It may be simple, but certainly not easy.  A good sandwich, a really good sandwich is still not easy to come by in Beijing.  Often it’s because the ingredients used are not fresh enough or quality is not up to par, or it’s not hot enough.  But that is certainly not the case with Grinders, who’s really shown the rest of Beijing how proper sandwiches are meant to be made.

A Western bar/restaurant in Shuangjing, Grinders is home to some of the most giant, delicious sandwiches I’ve tasted in Beijing. While they are very much a sports bar as much as they are a restaurant, I came for the food. Surprise Surprise 

But as you can see from these photos, many people hanging out were either just watching whatever game was playing on their TV screens or hanging out and drinking Grinder’s fine selection of imported beers. For the many foreigners based south of Guomao, Grinders has got to be a haven for them and is clearly a choice destination for the local community to hang out and return on a regular basis.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Grinders: 

Run by owners Canadian Trevor Metz and American Chad Lager, also owner of Fubar and previously The Rickshaw (closed in 2010), Grinders is all about doing the basics right.  From salads, burgers, and sandwiches, each item was created with care and thought. For all you Canadians out there, they are also one of the few places in Beijing to have poutine on their menu! Here’s a quick snapshot of a piece of their menu so you can get an idea of their sandwich selection and with prices at only RMB 50-60, their value is incredible.

It took me awhile to pick my sandwich of choice, but I went with the Slow Roast Pork Sandwich (RMB 55) with mushrooms, onions, peppers, melted Mozzarella cheese and their homemade BBQ sauce. As you can see from this photo below, this sandwich is more like two sandwiches and certainly big enough for two to share.  If I didn’t have such a monster of an appetite, I maybe would have suggested to share with my foodie friend and just eat one of the two giant halves on my plate, but I managed to eat my way through both and then felt like I was going to fall over.  But I certainly could not have kept going if the sandwich was not that tasty.  I couldn’t stop it was so good! The Mozzarella cheese melted over the top of the slow roast pork and veggies was delicious. But mental note for myself: *next time I will just eat half as half would have been entirely sufficient to satisfy my appetite.  As usual, I went a little overboard.

Grinders’ Slow Roast Pork Sandwich (RMB 55)

My friend ordered the Spicy Sanchez Sandwich (RMB 55) with slow roasted beef, sharp Cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and their “secret Sanchez sauce”. A regular customer at Grinders, the Spicy Sanchez is his favorite go-to sandwich on the Grinders’ menu.

Grinders’ Spicy Sanchez Sandwich (RMB 55)

As you can see from these photos, the sandwiches at Grinders’ are ginormous, but not all their portions are equally as large.  It’s not like I’m complaining about not being satisfied, but their “complimentary sides of potato salad and garden salad” are tiny little spoonfuls and just disproportionately small next to their heaping sandwich portions.  Of course I’d prefer a bigger sandwich and smaller sides than the other way around, but just seemed a bit extreme. In any case, it’s not a big deal, but just an observation I had and hopefully next time their Garden Salad will be more than bitesize.

We didn’t come to drink, but after glancing over their drink list, we decided to order two of their cocktails, which were also pretty giant in size. I recommend trying their various specially-infused cocktails, but they also have a wide selection of imported beers and an equally long wine list to match with some bottles going for as low as RMB 200.

Review of Grinders’ Bar & Restaurant: Near The Brick in Shuangjing, Unit 3-02, Bldg 2, Tianzhi Jiaozi, 31 Guangqu Lu (northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao),
朝阳区双井桥东北角广渠路31号院天之骄子2号楼底商3-02; Tel: 8775-1847

Best Part:

• Grinders’ giant sandwiches big enough for two to share are great value at RMB 50-60 per order
• The specially-infused cocktails are equally as large and very tasty.  Try their Moscow Mule
• They have a long imported beer and wine list
• Chilled out atmosphere is generally bustling with foreigners happy to eat hearty Western food and enjoy a few drinks
• Sports fans will be happy to know that this is a good alternative to Beijing’s other sports bars 
• They’re open 7 days a week! (correction from previous statement of Grinders being closed on Mondays)

Comments:

• I didn’t order it, but saw that Grinders’ is one of the few venues in Beijing that has poutine!  Will have to try this next time around. 
• Big eaters will love Grinders’ giant portions, but if you’re not one with a big appetite, I recommend sharing one order with a friend or take the second half home because I swear finishing the entire two halves was enough food to last me two days. 
• The side of potato salad and Garden Salad that comes with your sandwich order was disproportionately small.  Like two bites small.  Not complaining, just not consistent with their other portions. 
• Service was OK, but they weren’t so good at handling questions or recommending dishes or drinks. 
• Washrooms were a bit messy and not looked after well. 
• The menu says loud and clear “Sandwiches take 20 minutes, all our Grinders’ are homemade and baked fresh”. Be prepared to sometimes wait longer than 20 minutes, but here’s just an excuse to start off with one of their delicious, specially infused cocktails or have a beer while you wait for your sandwich to arrive. It’ll be worth the wait and, in any case, you should thank them for allowing you extra time to build up your appetite for your monster sandwich to arrive in front of you.

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

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

LumDimSum Discovery: Susu’s Post Road Flip

Susu’s Post Road Flip (RMB 50)

IKI’s a Keeper: IKI Korean Barbeque Restaurant

Those living in the Shuangjing area all pretty much keeping this place under wraps.  Whenever I’ve spoken of IKI Barbeque to others, generally most haven’t heard of it…unless they live in the Shuangjing area. In spite of its remote location on the little street north of the Bank of China and 7-11 intersection, this little Korean BBQ joint was mega-packed out when I tried to get in.  They don’t take reservations unfortunately so we had to wait about 40 minutes for a table to open up (since we chose not to dine sitting on stools around their bar).

A well-kept secret among the neighborhood residents, I can see why they’d want to keep it for themselves! The prices are completely reasonable, they are not at all overpriced in spite of the beautiful contemporary design of the space that gives it that “expensive restaurant” expectation.  From the entrance, the restaurant follows a narrow layout with a long drink bar on the left and dining tables on the right that expands up into an open second floor. We didn’t order any drinks, but I hear their cocktails are legit and definitely worth trying.

Their menu is very straightforward.  Not too much to where its overwhelming, but enough to be spoiled for choice. Even as a party of two, I couldn’t help but order a little bit of everything to sample and taste my way through their menu.

We started off with four different cold appetizers from their signature kimchi (RMB 15) to tender tofu egg with cucumber and seaweed (RMB 25).  While the appetizers were generous in portions, the green soybeans were way too salty, I didn’t really care that much for their signature kimchi and their fresh octopus salad was a miss.  That was the dish I was most excited about and most disappointed by.  I had imagined the fresh octopus salad I’d had at Tori Tei Japanese Yakitori, but this was too saucy and the flavors didn’t mix well.  The only appetizer we finished was the tender egg tofu dish, which was light and tasty and the portion size was huge.

Meal highlights were definitely the LA Style Marinated Short Ribs (RMB 62), which were recommended by their waitstaff to us.  They said it was their most popular menu item and even though we weren’t sure what “LA style” meant, we gave it a go and it was awesome.  Super tender and the marinade for the short ribs makes it perfect just on its own. We also loved their Spicy Korean Dobogi (RMB 35) which was a nice addition to the little Korean BBQ wraps I was making in our fresh lettuce beds.

We had tried ordering their pork belly and a number of other recommended dishes, but IKI was actually sold out of a few items on their menu.  In any case, their waitstaff was helpful in recommending other dishes to order. Their “IKI classic homemade sausages” (RMB 42) sounded good and once again, out of the 3 or 4 choices, our waitress recommended the “Taiwanese style” option and although it was OK, it paled in comparison to the marinated short ribs.

LumDimSum Snapshots of IKI Barbeque’s Dishes:

 Green soybeans seasoned with salt and black pepper (RMB 15) / IKI’s signature spicy kimchi (RMB 15)

 Fresh octopus slices mixed with Korean spicy sauce, sesame garlic and jalapeño (RMB 32) / Tender tofu egg served with sliced Korean kimchi, cucumber and seaweed dressed with sesame oil (RMB 25)

Korean spicy dobogi stir fried with onion fish cake (RMB 35) / IKI’s classic homemade sausage (Taiwanese style) RMB 42 

 LA Style Marinated Short Ribs (RMB 62) / BBQ Eggplant (RMB 18)

 Mini Japanese rice ball stuffed with Korean spicy kimchi and tuna coated with seaweed (RMB 35) / IKI Chocolate Ice Cream sprinkled with Fresh Cocoa (RMB 20)

Not all of IKI’s dishes were hits, but overall the restaurant was very well-received and I would definitely want to go back again.  If I lived in the Shuangjing area, I would definitely be going on a regular basis. That being said, I would definitely recommend for all Korean BBQ fanatics to make the trek down to Shuangjing and check out IKI.  You might take a bit of time to locate it and you might have to wait for a table, but once you sit down, you’ll be happy you made the effort.

Other LDS Recommendations for Korean Cuisines:

• LumDimSum Discovery: Maan’s Bulgogi Burger 
• LumDimSummary: BJ FOoDiEs “Harmony” Charity Dinner at Ssam
• Killer Korean BBQ: Ai Jiang Shan

Review of IKI Korean Barbeque Restaurant: From 7-11 and Bank of China intersection, go north and IKI is beside Bang Bang Pizza. 102, Bldg 24, Shuanghuayuan Nanli Sanqu,
双花园南里三区24号楼102号; Tel: 152-1042-5223

Best Part:

• The LA style marinated short ribs are ridiculously good
• The contemporary Korean restaurant design is simplistic and elegant.
• Prices are very reasonable and their menu is not at all overpriced as many Korean BBQ restaurants tend to be
• They give each table their own grill and staff can either BBQ for you or you can DIY

Comments:

• If I’ve had a few separate people come to me raving about how good IKI BBQ is and how I have to review it on LumDimSum, it automatically gets prioritized to the top of my restaurant hit list. IKI certainly did not disappoint and I would definitely recommend it to others, but the food was not all perfect.  It helps that the prices are very affordable, but out of all the dishes we ordered, many were hit-or-miss. 
• Service was very friendly and knowledgeable with their menu and able to make dish recommendations, but they were a bit absent and we had to raise our hands to get their attention multiple times even though they were never far.
• The place doesn’t take reservations and we had to wait a bit for a table, but they were friendly about it and had a professional hostess manage all waiting customers.

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

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

Thumbs UP! for IKI Barbeque

85 Broads Progressive Dinner at In & Out Yunnan

This event has been CANCELLED.

Anyone who purchased a ticket already should be reimbursed. Apologizes for any inconvenience caused!

Hosted by 85 Broads, their first dinner of 2012 will be hosted at In & Out Yunnan Restaurant with special guest speaker Dong Fen 董芬, Operations Manager and Consulting Programs Manager — a passionate supporter of Hua Dan.

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

Dong Fen’s, story embodies Hua Dan’s successes; she was the first workshop participant in China and has stayed with Hua Dan ever since. She comes from Qu Jing, Yunnan province, and graduated from the famous Rural Women Knowing All school in 2004, having received training as a waitress, and has worked both as a waitress and as a beautician. She has been a passionate supporter of Hua Dan since we started in 2004 and brings much enthusiasm and professionalism to our work here. She is responsible for overseeing project delivery and is the project manager for Hua Dan’s social enterprise initiatives. She has won three awards of seed funds for developing Hua Dan’s social enterprise initiatives from the British Council and One Foundation, Youcheng and Narada Foundation. 

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 dinner will take place on Tuesday, January 10 starting at 6:30PM with dinner served at 7:30PM. As there is limited seating, please RSVP and purchase your seat by Monday, January 9th. Purchasing tickets online at Paypal and also sendmetickets.com is made convenient.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2011
• Time: 6:30- Registration, 7:30 – Dinner
• Location: In & Out Yunnan Restaurant
• Address: Sanlitun North Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing No. 1 朝阳区三里屯北小街1号
• Tel:+86 138 0104 2177
• Cost: RMB 200 85 Broads Members / RMB 250 Non-Members  Pay online at Paypal or Purchase Tickets at send me tickets.
• 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.

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

Get Your Sights On Temple Hotel

Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) is one of the most talked-about new venues in Beijing and their new hotel as a part of the same compound as the restaurant and bar is sure to be top-notch.

The Temple is now open for weekend brunch both Saturdays and Sundays from 11AM-3PM.  Check them out, but best to make a reservation in advance.

LDS Review of Temple Restaurant Beijing: click here.

Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) 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

  

Ring in 2012: Best Breakdown for Beijingers!

Celebrate the close of another year and ring in 2012 with a bang…as it may be our LAST (dun dun DUN!)  just kidding - fingers crossed the world will not end this year.

I’ve posted a Christmas list last week (click here), but here’s an updated list for the upcoming New Year Weekend.

For foodies, many of Beijing’s top restaurants are hosting special NYE dinners and New Year Day brunches while night owls can party to their heart’s content at practically all night clubs around the city.

In order of my preference (and timing of the night), here goes the breakdown down to 2012:

NYE Dinner Options:

1. Agua’s Spanish NYE Menus

Agua’s arranged for special Spanish set dinner menus for the days surrounding New Year’s at RMB 528 per person.  You can indulge in Agua’s signature suckling pig or some of their other house specialities this holiday season.

RSVP: 5208-6188

2. An M New Years

Roaring fireplaces and a spectacular view, Capital M has prepared everything you could want for a warm, intimate holiday occasion. Check out their happenings for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day below.

RSVP:  reservations@capital-m-beijing.com    (86-10) 6702 2727

M’s Holiday Menus Here:

New Years Eve at Capital M

988 RMB per person (pre-booked/pre-paid tickets only)

Begin your New Year’s Eve celebration with Champagne cocktails and canapés around the bar with our Brass Band performing Jazz, followed by a delectable seven-course menu. As the clock strikes 12, savour the unforgettable experience of a Champagne toast on the terrace overlooking Tian’anmen.  Includes Champagne cocktails and canapés and a Taittinger Champagne toast on the terrace at midnight.

 New Year’s Brunch- 11:30am-5:00pm

288 RMB per person 

Ring in the New Year with Capital M’s delicious New Year’s brunch: it’s a fabulous start to the year!

7. Terra’s South-American NYE Menu

In line with SALT, TERRA will also be hosting holiday dinner for the days surrounding New Years.

“At Terra we go beyond the standard traditional fare and spice up the holidays with a delicious South-American styled Menu…with the inclusion of… mouth-watering South American Roast Suckling Pig.” – Jennifer Eden, PR Director for both TERRA and SALT

RSVP: 6591 9148

 Check out full menus at their website here and see below for summary of each -

New Year’s Eve – Party Menu – Saturday December 31, 6pm-late

Ring in the new year with excellent contemporary cuisine, serious sparkling and great tunes in Terra’s modern, hip surrounds. 4 courses and free flow ensures a night full of fun, laughter and luck. 4 courses 358 rmb. 4 courses + free flow bubbly or beer 578 rmb.

New Year’s Day – Revive, Recover and Celebrate! Sunday January 1, 2012, 11am-11pm.
It’s time for resolutions, recovery and more fun. Kick back in style and enjoy Chef Paulo De Souza’s delicious New Year’s Day menu and a bit more bubbly – why not?
2 courses 218 rmb. 3 courses 258 rmb. 2 courses + free flow 428 rmb. 3 courses + free flow 468 rmb.

LDS Top Picks for NYE Nightclub Options:

1. Alfa’s NYE Party 

“Beijing’s Biggest Gay Night”, Alfa’s serving 2-for-1 on drinks and free CD of Alfa’s top music hits for all attendees while supplies last. FREE admission

More info here.

2. Aria’s Classy, Jazzy NYE Countdown 

Croon to jazz by Valeria Proano and her trio of talented jazz musicians. Free admission.

More info here.

3. Haze’s NYE Celebration

Party at Haze with one of Beijing’s Top DJ Line-Ups: DJ Patrick Yu, Donald Summer, Yang Bing, Zhi Qi, Pancake Lee and Max Feelgood. RMB 100 admission.

More info here.

4. Genesis 2012 Countdown at Lantern

The Acupuncture group will be launching yet another massive techo-bash to ring in the new year. Expect a line-up of Acupuncture’s legendary DJ gang at Lantern Club.  RMB 100 (pre-sale) or RMB 150 (door).

“Gorge on an aural banquet with futuristic techno grooves from Beijing’s best DJs and thaw away those winter chills as the surreal visual installations conjure the crowd into near sensory overload. Ride with us through time and space and count down to a great 2012! Party like it’s the end of the world!” – Miao Wong, Acupuncture Group Voice

More info here.

5. NYE 2012 at Migas’ NEW BAR

Featuring their newly opened bar with a lot of Funky music and hip DJ’s including Bite-Size Buddha, Metro Tokyo and Bottin Italia.  RMB 120 (presale) or RMB 150 at door includes 1 glass of Mumm champagne.

More info here.

6. NEW! Nova NYE Party in 798′s D-Park  

Dance in the New Year with UK DJ and Producer Dance Legend Darren Emerson and a great DJ line-up of both local and international talents.  RMB 120 (presale) or RMB 200 (door).

More info here.

7. Party at Punk with Kid Fresh

3x DMC World Champion Kid Fresh is back at Punk to ring in the New Year. Last year was a bash, see pictures below for proof! FREE before 11PM, otherwise it’s RMB 50 admission.

More info here.

 Pics from Kid Fresh’s last performance at Punk. More pics on his website here.

8.  Show Off at Xiu Bar this NYE

Champagne bottles flying off the shelves is exactly what you should expect at their NYE celebration. Admission is RMB 400 which includes 1 glass of Moet champagne.

More info here.

9. YEN Countdown to 2012

Widely known as one of the most popular NYE parties every year in Beijing, YEN is sure to be a hit for those looking to party in a crowded warehouse with thousands of other nightowls.  DJ line up includes Yangbing, Ouyang, Slide, Donmy Liu and Mia(from Shanghai).

More info here.

…and that’s a wrap!

Just remember: Despite the rumors of 2012, you don’t actually want to make this your last new years so remember to be safe and have a blast this NYE!