Cupcake Champions: Colibri’s 1 Year Anniversary Party

Colibri Cafe just turned 1 last Thursday, September 22 and when I heard about their cupcake eating competition, I immediately signed myself up!  Free cupcakes for 1 year?!?!  GAME ON!!  

Featuring some of their new flavors like Black Sesame, Jasmine, Lotus Root, and Red Bean, their cupcake competition served 8 different flavors of cupcakes.  With 12 people signed up, we were split up in two teams of six and had only 90 seconds to see how many cupcakes we could gorge.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Colibri’s Cupcake Eating Contest:

Confidently assuming I could consume at least 4-5 cupcakes within 90 seconds, I am embarrassed to admit I only ate 1.5 cupcakes.  BUT, the average person ate between 1-2 cupcakes, so I wasn’t TERRIBLE.

Lucky for Colibri, they had one champion who pulled through with a total of SIX cupcakes, which was out-of-this-world impressive.  Mad respect to the lone victor, Roy Hua, who is seriously my new hero and yes, I have already recruited him to compete in Nathan’s Famous China Hot Dog Eating Competition next year for a chance to win an expense-paid trip to New York City! (Click here for article)

Meet ROY HUA:  Colibri’s Cupcake Eating Champion

LumDimSum Snapshots of Colibri’s 1 Year Anniversary:

Colibri’s 1 Year Anniversary Cake

Colibri’s Contact Details: 

• Address: Opposite Armani Building in Sanlitun North Village, Level LG 51, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, 三里屯路11号三里屯Village北区地下层51.

• Tel:  6417-0808

Ermenegildo Zegna Celebrates 20 Years in China

SakeMANZO: New Restaurant Grand Opening Party

Already in soft-opening stages, the NEW SakeManzo (moved from its original location north or Solana Shopping Mall) has moved to the Tuanjiehu Neighborhood and they are hosting a grand opening party with (surprise surprise)…a massive Sake Party!

For this celebration, they will be featuring a sake competition where they will be showcasing over 40 different types of fine sake for all to taste and give points to.  After each sake has been voted on, they will determine the best sake of the year.  A sake brewer who they call “Toji” will also be attending the evenings festivities and will be available to discuss sake with all who are interested!

Sake aside, Manzo will also have a “tuna cutting show” and a buffet of Manzo’s dishes together with free flow beer and soft drinks.

Pre-sale tickets are only RMB 150 per person so don’t miss this chance and RSVP your spot now! Event Details and map below.

SakeMANZO Launch Party Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 23
• Time: Doors open at 6PM, party starts 19:00-23:00
• Location: NEW sakeMANZO
• Address: Tuanjiehu Beisitiao, Chaoyang district. (  same place as ”味之厨“ at the google map)
• Ticket Price: Pre-sale ticket  RMB150, (RMB100 for VIP card holders); At door: RMB200 (RMB150 for VIP card holders)
• RSVP: 13522633130 (Okuyama)

China’s Brightest Artists: The Creator’s Project 2011

Spanning three days and bringing together some of China’s brightest creative minds, alongside innovative artists and musicians from overseas, The Creator’s Project is back in Beijing from September 15-18 in the world famous 798 Art District partnering with UCCA gallery.

For 3 days straight, you can have your fill of music, film and art.

MUSIC: They will be hosting performances by Mount Kimbie, Supermarket, PK14, Glasser, Optimo and Zhang Shouwang of the famed Chinese indie rock band Carsick Cars.

FILM: They will also be premiering a selection of shorts by Ray Lei, a new film by Peng Lei, Runscape by Map Office, Spike Jonze and Arcade Fire’s Scenes from the Suburbs, and Logorama by H5.

ART:  All weekend, we’ll have a wide variety of interactive installations on display including new work from Aaajiao, Francis Lam (aka DbDbking) and Joao Vasco Paiva, Feng Mengbo’s brand new Bruce Lee VJ Project, Life on Mars Revisitedby David Bowie, Mick Rock and Barney Clay and Room With A View by UVA.

Click here for full rundown of performances, installations, film screenings and workshops and panels.

To RSVP for The Creator’s Project, please click here and sign  yourself up!

Here’s what went down at The Creator’s Project 2010.

The Creator’s Project Event Details:

• Date: September 15-18, 2011
• Time: Throughout each day
• Addresses:
  • For musical performances:
    • 798 Space: 4 Jiuxianqiao Road Chaoyang District, Beijing China
  • For exhibitions, panels and films:
    • UCCA: 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District Beijing, China 100015
• Website: http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/events/the-creators-project-beijing-2011

Let’s Powwow & Mashup: 爱北京，I Race!

My favorite smartphone application Let’s Powwow玩聚 is teaming up with mashup sport and social to create 爱北京, I Race! giving Beijingers a full day of racing around Beijing’s top gems, “checking in” at all locations, completing challenges and winning cool prizes throughout.

“Combining Let’s Powwow玩聚’s location based mobile application with mashup’s focus on social activities, the city-wide race will take teams of 4 throughout urban Beijing to uncover the hidden gems the city has to offer.”

LumDimSum is a proud sponsor of this event and I am excited to be organizing a few of the challenges at some of the destinations included in 爱北京，I Race!

See ‘爱北京，I Race’ Details here:

Sign up before September 12 for Early Bird Team Registration for only RMB 400 for a team of 4.  After the 12 of September, registration is RMB 550.  Deadline for all sign-ups is Wednesday, September 21.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, September 25
• Time: 11AM-5PM
• Location: All over Beijing and finishing at Bar Blu in Tongli Studios on 4th Floor
• Contact: Nick Aronoff (English), Jolly Wang (中文)
• Phone: 13522816992, 18618285517
• Email: nick@letspw.com, jolly@letspw.com
• Website: www.letspw.com/race

Rekindle the Flame: Lantern Club’s Re-Opening Weekend

“Rekindle the flame, and light the spark on a new era! ” – Acupuncture Records

The point of destination for electronic music dance fanatics, Lantern’s sudden close last September was devastating for many, and even worse was that its space was demolished to be remade into yet another KTV club in Beijing.

Lantern’s Closing Weekend Party in September 2010:

Just one year later, Lantern returns in an even more spacious basement in the Worker’s Stadium with a big Re-Opening Weekend.

“Lantern 2.0 will not only be the epicenter of electronic music and visual art in Beijing, but also hub for all creative cultures.” – Miao Wong, Acupuncture Records

Featuring a line up of Acupuncture Records main DJs together with a few of Beijing’s top DJs, everyone is encouraged to welcome back Lantern 2.0!

Lantern 2.0′s DJ Line-Up:

Weng Weng

ELVIS.T

OuYang

Eddie Lv

QQ

Eric Lee

ShenYue

Sean.C

Patrick Yu

M.Ross

VJ: Hibanana

Lantern Re-Opening Weekend Details:

• Date: Friday, August 26 & Saturday, August 27
• Time: 11PM-late
• FREE ENTRY
• Location: NEW Lantern Club
• Address:  100m north to Worker’s Stadium west gate, (in the basement behind Xuxianlou), 工体西门向北100米
• Tel: 13901348785
• Website: http://www.acupuncture-records.com/

Rah Rah for Ramen: Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion

This autumn season, Wang Jing is been hosting a Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion.  Started on the last weekend of July, this pavilion will run through November/December (kept hearing different end dates from different sources). Open daily from 11AM-10PM, everyone is treated to a mini fair featuring a variety of vendors selling Japanese specialties from snacks like tako yaki and okonomiyaki to several ramen vendors and of course a Japanese Asahi Beer stand!

We rummaged our way through on a rainy night and tried both tako yaki and of course giant bowls of Japanese ramen which left all of us in very satisfied food comas.

Similar to many Chinese food courts, the Japanese Ramen Pavilion requires all purchases be made through a card, which can be purchased at the front gate before you enter the wonderful world of Japanese ramen.

Japanese Ramen Pavilion Purchase Card

LumDimSum Snapshot Tour of the Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion:

Other Japanese Food & Beverage Stalls:

Japanese Okonomiyaki

Japanese Tako Yaki Balls

We couldn’t resist the urge to snack on some Japanese Tako Yaki (squid balls), but of course we saved our stomachs for the main attraction: Japanese Ramen!  I confidently say that it really won’t matter which ramen stand you choose to try as they should all be exceptional, but if you would like to follow in my footsteps, here’s where we ended up.

Standard bowl of Japanese Ramen was RMB 55, order of 5 gyoza potstickers was RMB 10 and did you know eating a boiled egg is supposed to prepare you palette for Japanese ramen? Bowl of boiled eggs were complimentary!  (see LDS Snapshots below)

Here’s where we picked to grub on Ramen:

As happy as I was to be a part of this Japanese Ramen Fair, knowing that a portion of all proceeds will go to the victims of Japan’s tsunami, but I must not get your hopes too high.

Although the ramen was superior to most Japanese ramen options in Beijing (with the exception of Invincible Ramen, click here for LDS Review and Details), it still does not compare to the ramen found on the streets of Tokyo where the broth is three times thicker, more rich in flavor and leaving you 2 kilos heavier.

In any case, this is as close as you’re going to get to satisfying your Japanese ramen cravings so grab a couple friends, head to Wang Jing and indulge in ramen heaven.

Japanese Ramen Noodle Pavilion 日本拉面街

Event Details:

• Date: Running from July 28, 2011 – Mid-December 2011
• Time: 11AM-10PM
• Location: 望京国際商業中心 (中英广场）
• Address:  北京朝陽区望京街9号
• Website: http://ribenlamian.com

LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 10 Year B-Day Shenanigans

OK People – here you finally have it (drum roll):  Hatsune’s 10 Year Birthday Bash Party Pictures!

Please forgive the delay (logistical difficulties in the apprehension from various photo takers) but now, just about a week later, you can once again re-live our monumental birthday celebration.

After a night of free flow sushi rolls, sake and dangerously delicious cocktails, memories are blurry across the board so I’ve listed a breakdown of the night’s shenanigans.

From the killer Japanese Taiko drummers to Hatsune’s First Wasabi Challenge to the insanely fun sumo action and all the outrageously brilliant Japanese costumes that turned up, here are snapshots throughout the night.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune 10 Year Sumo Fun:

Japanese Taiko Drummers:

Yummy Sushi & Sake For All:

Sushi Sake King, Alan Wong, Toasts to 10 Glorious Years:

Hatsune’s Wasabi Challenge with 12 Brave Contestants:

Just minutes later, one man prevails as the Wasabi Challenge Winner:

(Can you feel the wasabi pain?? Urgh, it hurts just to think about it!)

Hatsune’s Sushi Sake Addicts Caught In the Act:

And One of My Favorite Costumes of the Evening:

Mr. Tom Pattinson Presenting a Splitting Image of

Hiro Nakamura from the hit TV Series ‘Heroes’

And Last but Certainly Not Least -

HATSUNE SUMO FUN:

****THANK YOU****

to everyone who has been a part of the Hatsune Dream!!

For the full database of Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary party photos, click here for LumDimSum’s Facebook Page Group.

＊Note：China Viewers will need a VPN to access FB page

A Toast To You & A BIG Thank You from Hatsune

Hatsune King Alan Wong Toasts to 10 Years

After 10 years,  a full decade, we have not only stood the test of time, we are now better than ever and that all thanks to YOU – our devout sushi addicts who just can’t get enough of Hatsune.

A BIG Thank YOU to everyone who came out last night as it exceeded all our expectations. Unfortunately for me, the night flew by in a blur since I was running around like a crazy person dressed in a Japanese school girl outfit, but I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that for many of last night’s party attendees, their memory of last night may also be a bit blurry (but for reasons other than self-induced stress). In any case, we at Hatsune are truly touched by the amount of support and love you have all shown us and we want to thank you all for being a part of making our restaurant a Beijing legend.

And to my LumDimSum readers, I must apologize for the lack of posts the past few days, but those of you who came to witness the monumental 10 year anniversary of Hatsune can surely sympathize and understand how completely crazy busy (and now shattered) I’ve been the past 76 hours.

I don’t like to keep my LDS friends and fans waiting in suspense, so here are a few glimpses of Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party.

To commemorate 10 Years of Sushi, Sake and Good Times
(Thank You to Divina for their beautiful – and very delicious – giant birthday cakes!)

The Packed House of Hatsune

A Trip Down Memory Lane:

theBeijinger’s blog post for Hatsune’s 10 Year Party with old skool pictures from the very beginning, back in 2001.

Check out article here: A Decade in Sushi: Hatsune Turns Ten

Soon to come on LumDimSum:

Photos and Announcement of the Hatsune Sushi Roll Contest Winners and full-on photos of our wasabi challenge, sumo action, best dressed (you guys looked awesome!) and general debauchery throughout the night.  Stay tuned!

SUMO TIME: Hatsune’s 10 Year Party + Costume Ideas

I think it’s safe to say that everyone is fascinated by sumo wrestling.  Essentially, sumo fighters are massive, monster Japanese men tackling each other wearing giant diapers…which is pretty awesome if you ask me.

As much as I would love to get professional sumo wrestlers to perform their swift moves at Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party, I have to settle for the next best thing: ordering both blow-up and cushion sumo suits for us to battle/bounce off of one another!  Not quite as cool as the real deal, but should still be brilliant fun.

This Thursday, August 4, Hatsune will be hosting a monumental 10 year birthday party in its Sanlitun Village branch and we welcome all sushi friends and fans to join us!  We will be providing plenty of sushi, sake, cocktails and cake and throughout the night, DJ Patrick Yu will be in high-demand playing his much loved old skool tracks and Hatsune will be hosting plenty of fun activities including sumo wrestling and a deadly wasabi challenge for brave souls who dare to try for their chance to win a Hatsune voucher for RMB 1,000!  If you or any of your friends are interested in participating in Hatsune’s Wasabi Challenge, we will have a sign-up at the door.

Now, Hatsune has got the sushi, sake, DJ, sumo suits and wasabi covered so all we ask is that everyone gets in the spirit by dressing up – anything goes as long as it’s Japanese!

For creative inspiration, I have put together a visual list of costume ideas for you to consider:

The Obvious Costume Ideas (Traditional Japanese Kimono & Geisha Face):

If you’re feeling lazy, a last resort is to just throw on a robe and stick some chopsticks in your hair – easy peasey!

Another Easy Option- Just wear black and be a Ninja:

You could be a little more “modern” and dress up as a Japanese School Girl:

Step it up a notch and be one of Gwen’s Harajuku Girls:

Japanese Anime is pretty “out-there” too:

If you choose to do Japanese Anime, at least get the blue Elvis hair like this guy.

Kill Bill’s Crazy 88′s (a notch up from both standard ninja and Japanese School Girl because they are “crazy”):

Some Very Random Costume Ideas (still holding onto our Japanese theme – I found some pretty wacky stuff on the internet):

And one of my favorites: A Giant Pikachu!

The ultimate costume in my opinion:  A SUMO Wrestler aka you show up wearing nothing but a giant diaper:

To get you in the “Hatsune party mood”, here are some more inspirational sumo maneuvers I plan to master and display in full force this Thursday, August 4:

1.  SUMO Neck Chop:

2.  SUMO Leap Frog:

3. SUMO Double Cartwheel:

In case you happened to miss my very amateur try at poetry, here’s all you will need to know regarding Hatsune’s 10 Year Party summed up into a few stanzas:

On Thursday, the fourth of August,
Hatsune will be anything but modest.

As we get ready to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary,
We invite all our dear sushi friends, fans and even our adversaries
To join in a celebration of epic proportions
Where sushi, sake and cocktails will be generously apportioned.

All we ask is from you is to get in the spirit of dressing in Japanese theme
Anything goes as long as it’s extreme.
From samurai swords, kimono robes and geisha white faces
To Gwen’s Harajuku girls and anime hair, we can cover all the bases.

DJ Patrick Yu will be back on the attack,
Playing some killer old school tracks.
We will have sumo suits for all to battle and take revenge
And we dare you to sign up for our deadly wasabi challenge!

After 10 years of sake insanity and serious sushi gluttony,
We want to thank you for all the many precious memories!
Here’s to you, to 10 Sensational Years and for being a part of the dream!
With Love, The Hatsune Team

Save-the-Date: Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party

Mark Your Calendars & Save the Date:

On Thursday, August 4,

Hatsune will be celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary

and we would love nothing more than to celebrate it with all our sushi family, friends and fans!

*To get you all in the spirit, I devoted hours of my life into writing this poem,
which I hope you will at least find amusing.

Don’t forget to come dressed in our “anything goes as long as it’s Japanese” theme.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale NOW at Hatsune Sanlitun so get on it!

Hope to see all you sushi fanatics and party animals THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 at Hatsune Sanlitun!!

(If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to submit your sushi roll creations for Hatsune’s Sushi Roll Contest and try for your chance to win an RMB 1,000 voucher to dine at any Hatsune restaurant! Deadline is Sunday, July 24).

Your LDS Hook-Up to Riviera’s Raging Pool Party

“You bring your swimsuit and sunglasses, we bring the Binboa Vodka!” – The Riviera Team

A day of fun in the sun was barely interrupted by a 30-minute thunderstorm with pouring rain and no doubt the party kept on cranking until well-past sundown.

Back again this Saturday, July 2nd, Riviera’s pool parties guaranteed plenty of skimpy bikinis, champagne spraying, and shower dancing together with great house tunes throughout the day.

As a friend and fan of Riviera’s Annual Pool Parties, LumDimSum wants to hook YOU up with free entrance to this Saturday’s party from 1PM-sunset.

This offer comes on a first come, first dibs basis so if you want to get hooked up, just email – kristen@lumdimsum.com before noon on Friday, July 1.

Click here for the complete LumDimSum Snapshot Photo Gallery of last month’s Sizzling Hot Riviera Pool Party.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, July 2, 2011
  
• Time: 1:00PM – 8:00PM
• Price:  RMB 100 includes 1 Binboa Cocktail

• Location: IO Spa (150m south of East Gate Worker’s Stadium)   北京市朝阳区工人体育场东门铺路向南150米
  
• Reservations: contact@rivieraevents.com or call Max: 15901016737

The Joey Chestnut Entourage Conquers Beijing

Proudly sporting a “I Heart 北京“ t-shirt all over Beijing, Joey Chestnut is hands-down one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.

The man is a hero to many and there’s no wonder why.  He’s incredibly kind, gentle, warm, friendly, open-minded and the man can eat like you wouldn’t believe.  A master of his own body, Joey has skillfully trained himself to improve year after year and with the world record for hot dog eating under his belt, the man’s widely recognized as the best competitive eater in the world.

From his pick-up at the airport and getting up at sunrise to beat the crowds to the Great Wall at 6AM, meeting the kids at the Pingxifu center of Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC) and touring Hou Hai Lake, he was nothing but smiles and good vibes.  Not once did he complain about jet-lag or being tired or uncomfortably hot, which is beyond crazy considering we were running all over the city in 30+ degree weather!

Here are some LumDimSum Snapshots of Joey Chestnut in Beijing:

Anxiously Waiting at Capital 3 Terminal Airport for Joey Chestnut to Arrive:

Joey on The Great Wall of China with the Nathan’s Famous Frankster:

Joey at Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC)’s Pingxifu Center:

Touring the Hou Hai Hood via Rickshaws:

Drinks and Dinner at the Exclusive, Members-Only China Club:

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition China National Championship:

On Saturday, June 18th, China saw it’s very first national eating competition take place at the Nathan’s Famous 3rd store opening at Wanliu BHG Mall in Haidian District, Beijing.  See full LumDimSum Article: Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition for the China National Championship.

Joey steps in as one of the judges for the China National Hot Dog Eating Competition! Here he is coaching China’s #1 Star Chris Lam (who ate 16 dogs in 10 minutes)

Joey jammed down 39 hot dogs in his own 5 minute exhibition!

Joey Chestnut with China’s Top 3 Hot Dog Eating Champions!

Joey with the 6 Judges (L to R): Jim Dawson, Alan Wong, Gaby Alves, John Flarhety

Check out this Video to see Joey Chestnut in Action!

(courtesy of The Wallstreet Journal, check out Laurie Burkitt’s full article here.)

Hot Doggie Dogs: China’s 1st National Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Champion!

On Saturday, June 18th, China saw it’s very first national eating competition take place at the Nathan’s Famous 3rd store opening at Wanliu BHG Mall in Haidian District, Beijing.

12 contestants from all different backgrounds and walks of life around China all tried for their chance to win an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the king of all competitive eating contests, the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in Coney Island, New York on July 4th.

After 10 grueling minutes of non-stop face stuffing, three clear winners rose above the rest as China’s top dogs.

The winner of the contest, Chris Lam (from HK), took first place prize with a total consumption of 16 dogs followed by “Big Bear” Lv Ming Kui 吕明奎 at 13 dogs and Hebei-native Wang Ran Long 王冉龙 taking third place with 12.

Third Place: Wang Ranlong 王冉龙, 20 years old from Hebei Province

Runner Up (2nd Place Winner): Lv Ming Kui 吕明奎, 31 years old from Qingdao

China National Hot Dog Eating Champion:  Chris Lam, 32 years old from Hong Kong

While this is a good start for China, they are still a long ways to go until they can compete in the same league as 4-time world champ Joey Chestnut who holds the record for 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Both the President of Major League Eating, Mike Antolini and the world’s #1 hot dog eater Joey Chestnut both flew out to Beijing for this contest and stole the show.

With Mike’s hilarious and unforgettable commentary together with Joey’s jaw-dropping performance of 39 hot dogs in only FIVE minutes, he puts the Cookie Monster to shame ie, my ex-favorite eating champ.

Check out this Video Clip of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition & Joey Chestnut’s 5 Minute Eating Exhibition:

(courtesy of The Wallstreet Journal, check out Laurie Burkitt’s full article here.)

…and can you guess what everyone was craving for after watching this massive display of gluttony??

Nathan’s Famous 100% Premium Beef Hot Dogs!

The Champ is Here: Joey Chestnut Flies to Beijing!

The KING of hot dog eating, Joey Chestnut arrives to Beijing, China this afternoon and has announced that he is stoked to be coming out to China for the very first time as a celebrity Guest Judge for China’s very first Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in search of a China champion to fly to New York for the annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog competition on July 4th in Coney Island.  (Other local judges include Hatsune King Alan Wong, SALT & TERRA Queen Gaby Alves, Gungho Pizza King John O’Loghlen and Fitness Hero Jim Dawson representing the World Health Store.)

With trips planned for him to hike the Great Wall, hop on a rickshaw and ride along houhai to explore Beijing’s hidden hutongs, taste some local specialties including Beijing duck, visit the Olympic green and present a check for 1,000 hot dogs to Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC). Joey should be a local Beijinger by the time we’re done with them.

And the most exciting bit?  With the world-record set by him in 2009 at 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes, Joey has announced that in the 5 minute eating exhibition after the main contest at Wanliu, his goal is to devour 50 hot dogs in 5 minutes!!  Siiiicknesssss!!

Will be epic to watch the champ himself in action!

Nathan’s Official CHINA Hot Dog Eating Competition Event Details:

Date: Saturday, June 18

Time: 11AM-12:30PM

Location: Wanliu BHG Mall (last stop of line 10 – Bagou stop)

Address:  Bagou Lu #2

Free entrance, everyone is welcome!