LumDimSum 1-on-1: The Charitable Amy Zima

This coming Saturday is BICCO’s Christmas Charity Dinner at Kagen Japanese Restaurant and the woman responsible for connecting all the dots and bringing everyone together in a big effort to raise RMB 200,000 in one night is the lovely and talented Amy Zima.

She’s passionate, she’s dedicated and she’s asking fellow Beijingers to come together for a lovely 10-course meal and raise a champagne glass and toast to the wonderful work of BICCO and help raise funds for their rehabilitation program in their Shunyi Service Center.

Full Name:   Amy Lane Zima

Age:   37 I think…stopped counting awhile ago.

Nationality: American

Occupation: Trailing-Spouse, Mom, Volunteer Development Director, Beijing International Committee for Chinese Orphans (BICCO), Kids Yoga Instructor, Social Marketing Consultant, and quite frankly, I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.

Company Name:  See above

Years in Beijing: off and on for the last 3 years.

LumDimSum Goes 1-on-1 with the Amazing Amy

LDS:  Tell me about this event’s beneficiary, BICCO, the type of work they do and how people can get involved.

The Beijing International Committee for Chinese Orphans (BICCO) is a group of volunteers working towards bettering the lives of the Chinese orphans and children with disabilities in China. It was registered in Hong Kong as a non-profit organization in 2003. Our members are mostly expats living in Beijing, but everyone is welcome.

BICCO provides an opportunity for individual volunteers or groups of volunteers to work with orphanages and other facilities. We network with various professionals and volunteer communities to try to find ways for the expat community as well as local Chinese to get involved in improving the lives of orphans and children with disabilities.

LDS: How did this Christmas Charity Dinner come about and who are the organizers of this event?

Over the course of the last year several volunteers at BICCO have been working to build a rehabilitation program for disabled children living at the Shunyi Service Center. Many of the children remain in their beds everyday unless BICCO volunteers visit this facility. They suffer
from Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and various other handicaps that limit their ability to walk, move, speak or care for themselves.

We knew just being there, holding and playing with the children was important, but we wanted to try to bring in professionals who could help open a door and create a future for these kids. If we could find a way to help a few of them gain independence and confidence, we knew we could make a big difference in their lives.

That’s why this year we partnered with OVCI – an Italian non-profit that works to train local Chinese therapist and serve the disabled community in China. We pay their professional therapists 50rmb an hour for physical, occupation, speech or psycho-educational therapy. Once we built this relationship, we thought, if we could just raise enough money, we could secure the children with weekly – if not daily therapy throughout the year. That’s when the idea of a charity dinner came up.

From there the pieces started to come together. Ryan Cardwell, the director at Ivy Academy – where my children go to school – said Ivy wanted to help. Another parent at the school, Alan Wong, offered up his restaurant, Kagen, as the venue. It just started to fall into place without much effort – so we knew it was suppose to be.

LDS: How much are you expecting to raise in this event and where will the funds be donated towards?

The rehabilitation program at the Shunyi Service Center serves approximately 20 disabled children. If we can raise 76,800 rmb we can provide two full days of therapy for the children. That’s our initial goal. But, it is a simple equation. At 50 rmb an hour, the more money we raise, the more therapy we can pay for. BICCO also has relationships with other orphanages and facilities – further away from Beijing – where the need is even greater. If we raised enough money, we could even help those kids. Our dream: 200,000 rmb.

LDS: What sets your Christmas Charity dinner apart from all the annual holiday balls happening in Beijing in the next few weeks?

The food! I really think both Hatsune and Kagen are two of the best restaurants in Beijing. We are offering an amazing sampling of their best dishes. It isn’t going to be the standard hotel fare.

Plus, I really think our event is about celebrating Christmas with friends and colleagues. Really appreciating what you have and the opportunity to help those who really need it. I hope our event really captures the spirit of Christmas.

LDS: What are some of your top items that will be up for grabs on the auction block?

Alan has been incredibly generous and in addition to offering up Kagen and an amazing menu of Hatsune and Kagen’s signature dishes and cocktails he is also offering an exclusive 10 person private Chef’s dinner along with 12 bottles of wine from The Wine Republic. The value is over RMB 13,000. I’ve already told my husband he has to bid on this one!

For parents sticking around this summer, Ivy Academy is offering up a space in their summer camp worth over RMB 10,000 as well as unlimited after-school programs for 3 kids in 2012.

We also have an amazing spa package from Hummingbird Spa Retreat, yoga packages from Yoga Yard, a two-night stay at The Westin, catered dinner for 10 at your home from A Food Affaire, tons of jewelry from local artists, etc.

LDS: Any secret strategies to bringing out the most generous side of people?

Thanks to our wine sponsors, (including the very generous Wine Republic), I’m hoping it will be easy to get people to bid on our auction items!

LDS: What are you personally most excited about for this event?

For it to be over! I’m joking. But it has been a labor of love.

I am really looking forward to enjoying an amazing meal, great wine and a lot of fun with some of Beijing’s best.

David Mitchell, a really amazing jazz guitarist is generously donating his time for the cocktail hour and a group of musicians from Ivy Academy are going to really make the atmosphere fun after dinner. I personally can’t wait!

LDS: Is this a one-off event or are you planning to make this an annual event and continued in the years to come?

We aren’t sure. If the support is there and people want to see it happen again, it will. I believe everything happens for a reason and I think this event will unlock the future for a lot of kids. I
hope we can make it something that continues. If Kagen and Ivy Academy are game. So are we!

How can you say no to that?  Come and support Amy and her dedicated committee of volunteers by signing up for a seat at BICCO’s Christmas Charity Dinner this Saturday, December 10 at Kagen Japanese Restaurant.  

Tickets are now on sale for RMB 600, of which RMB 500 of the ticket will be donated directly BICCO.  If you’re not already sold on the great cause or the chance to snag some great silent auction prizes, at least go for the fantabulous food and booze!

See below for pre-sale ticket pick-up details. 

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011
• Time: 6:30PM Cocktail Reception, 7:30PM Dinner
• Location: Kagen Japanese Hot Pot & BBQ Restaurant
• Address:  Located below the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu
  • B1/F, Bldg C, Heqiao Dasha, 8 Guanghua Donglu, Chaoyang District
  • 朝阳区光华东路8号和乔大厦C座地下1层
• Tickets: RMB 600 (pre-sale), RMB 800 (at the door)
• Tickets are available for sale at Kagen Restaurant, Hatsune Sanlitun restaurant and Ivy School in East Lake Villas (Suite C-101 No. 35, Dongzhimenwai) Call: 8451 1381
• For more information: Call 135 2034 1984

Hatsune King Alan Wong Uses ThinkPad X1 to DO

Hatsune King Alan Wong is the featured star of Lenovo’s new ad for their new, thin and powerful ThinkPad X1.

“One of the most successful entrepreneurs in the cut-throat Beijing F&B market, Alan Wong is the successful founder and CEO of Hatsune Group, with over 500 employees across nine branches.  

Observe how the ThinkPad X1 ergonomic keyboard, minimalist design, and rapid boot SSD make work and play an experience.  

See how the ThinkPad X1 allows Alan to design new restaurants, the RapidCharge battery – recharging 80% in less than 30 min keeps him going no matter how far he travels; and the Fingerprint reader keeps his business information secure.”

- Cory Grenier, Lenovo China

A cool video that showcases Alan Wong in action at his restaurants, working on new upcoming projects and racing on his bike, this is just something cool I wanted to share!

Check out the full video on Youku.com here:

You can also watch the video on Tudou.com here.

Hatsune’s OysterFest featuring World Champion Shucker

“Armed with more than 10 years of practice and custom-made knives, Patrick McMurray (aka ShuckerPaddy) is one of the fastest oyster shuckers in the world.”

With a shucking career of over 2.2 million oysters and a Guinness World Record of Shucking 38 oysters in One Minute, Patrick McMurray will be the star of Hatsune’s upcoming OysterFest on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 from 7-10PM at the Original Hatsune Guanghua Lu.

Shucking Pro Patrick McMurray will be explaining to guests the secrets to his winning shucking techniques. You will have a chance to see this man in shucking action and witness a Battle of the Shuckers in an Oyster Shuck-Off between Patrick McMurray and Hatsune King, Alan Wong.

And YES! If you’ve ever dreamt of shucking your own oysters, you can shuck with the best too!

Excerpts from theBeijinger’s Interview with Patrick McMurray:

Some people consider you a huge shucker. Do you like that title? What would you rather be thought of as?
Yes, it is kind of funny that some folks know of me before I meet them. Any title is great. Being a world champion or Guinness Record Holder is very fun and a great honor. It seems to be a good thing to be known for, as it gets you in the door! I would not want to change it at all. 

November is our Guinness World Records issue. What other records would your skills predispose you for?
Scraping gum off tables, lock picking, beer bottle opening …

Is there a world record you’ve ever attempted besides this one?
I tried holding my breath, but I passed out.

Read Full Interview here: Shucking Brilliant: Record-Breaking Oyster Man Patrick McMurray

See Patrick in Action:

How to Shuck An Oyster (YouTube Video)

Come and enjoy a feast of All-You-Can-Eat-Fresh-Oysters flown in from Fanny Bay Pacific, (Canada), Pacific Gigas (New Zealand), Gillardeau (West Coast France), Stella Bay (Canada), Gigas, and Port Douglas (South Australia).

FINALLY, a chance to gorge yourself with this decadent shellfish (and Hatsune sushi rolls)!

Kusshi Oysters

Event will begin at 7PM and will be featuring a feast of free-flow fresh oysters and additional Hatsune sushi rolls, appetizers + drinks for RMB 300 per person.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2011
• Time: 7PM-10PM
• Location: Original Hatsune (Guanghua Lu Branch)
• Address: 2\F, Heqiao Building, Bldg C, A8 Guanghua Donglu, 光华东路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层
• Price: RMB 300 includes all-you-can-eat oysters, Hatsune sushi + drinks
• RSVP: kristen@lumdimsum.com

Shook!: Chi Fan For Charity Expands to Shanghai

A dining event that’s won Culinary Event of the Year in Beijing in 2010, Chi Fan for Charity has expanded to Shanghai this year with the help of organizing sponsor Austen Morris and I was not going to miss out on a such a great excuse to make a weekend getaway to Shanghai!

Already sponsoring 4 tables of 10 at Hatsune, Kagen, Kagen Teppanyaki and Karaiya Spice House, Alan Wong is also the official sponsor of Chi Fan for Charity’s After-Party (at Hatsune Sanlitun for the 2nd year in a row).  As a big fan and supporter of Chi Fan for Charity, we wanted to show Shanghai some love too!

While Beijing’s beneficiaries this year include Bethel Foundation and New Hope Foundation, Shanghai’s beneficiaries this year include Heart to Heart, Compassion for Migrant Children and Chi Heng Foundation.  (See here for list of charities and all the wonderful work they do.)

With 26 glorious restaurants to choose from, we decided to host a table of 10 at Shook! Restaurant.  Chef Kevin Cape and GM Julien Laracine were both exceptional hosts to our private 5-course dinner at their prized chef’s table just in front of Shook’s beautiful open kitchen.

“An open-kitchen conveys the feel of ‘dining without borders’ – intimate, nothing hidden, open to all – a concept which transcends the menu. With whispers of Chinese, Japanese, South-East Asian and modern Western, yet flexible enough to transport you anywhere your heart and palate desire.”

See here LDS Snapshots of Shook’s Hallway of Wine and Open Kitchen:

After a few glasses of champagne at the bar, we sat down at Shook!’s private chef’s table where we were treated to a beautiful 5-course meal, a fusion of Chinese, South-east Asian and Western cuisine.  The venue is absolutely stunning and the service was exceptional. The food?  See for yourself all the goodies we were treated to…

LumDimSum Snapshots of Shook’s Dishes:

Amuse Bouche (Chinese-style soup) / Prawn Appetizers with walnuts (Chinese style)

Shared Appetizers: Perfectly Roasted Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

1st Course: Confit of Salmon/ Refreshing Orange Sorbet with Mango Ravioli

Main Course: Slow-Cooked Grain Fed Beef / Macaroon Dessert

Shook!’s Tiramisu and Creme Brulee

GM Julien then let us make our own crepes table-side!  Chef Anna took over and the result was delightful…

 Shook! Crepes:  BEFORE & AFTER

Thank you to the team at Shook! for a wonderful dining experience and big thanks to Kelly Olver and Katie Littlefield (Austen Morris) for arranging such a successful first Chi Fan for Charity Event in Shanghai!

It’s not too late for you to be a part of the Chi Fan for Charity event in Beijing, TONIGHT: Saturday, November 5! See details here.

Check for last remaining seats at CFFC Sponsoring Restaurants here.

In case you can’t make it to dinner and you still don’t want to miss out on this great event, there are still a few tickets left for the Chi Fan for Charity After-Party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village.  Click here to buy your ticket!

With 400-500 people dining at Beijing’s best establishments, everyone will come together for a brilliant celebration at Hatsune.

The Chi Fan for Charity After Party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village will be featuring free flow drinks by our generous sponsors (Wine Republic, Tiger Beer, El Charro Tequila and Hatsune’s signature cocktails), DJ Patrick Yu spinning tunes, and awesome silent auction and raffle prizes. 

For those who don’t have the time or the budget to commit to dinner, the after party is a great way to come out to contribute to two very worthwhile causes and show your support.  This year’s beneficiaries include Bethel Foundation and New Hope Foundation.

Kagen & Summergate Wine Dinner: Wine Geeks Unite!

My Birthday Beluga Dinner: Champagne & Beluga Caviar

candy&CAVIAR roll oozing with Beluga Caviar

Beluga Caviar, the KING of all caviar and by far the most expensive, was once a just a luxury in life I thought I’d never experience.

And then my birthday happened and I was told to meet at Hatsune at eighteen hundred hours for a dinner of champagne and caviar.

Turns out that one of the winners of this year’s Hatsune Sushi Roll Contest, the creator of the White Russian Roll, just got back from a trip home to Russia and after the announcement of this year’s contest winners, he wanted to be the first to try his roll in in true form with imported Beluga Caviar from Russia and we were all invited to partake in this momentous occasion!  (It was really only a lucky coincidence that this happened to be my Birthday weekend, hence the ‘champagne and caviar birthday dinner’ invitation).

He gave his container of Beluga caviar to sushi king Alan Wong who instructed his sushi samurai masters behind the sushi bar to generously load it onto the new White Russian roll!

Voilà!  The WHITE RUSSIAN Roll at its finest: Fresh crab meat, deep-fried gobo, avocado and oshinko pickled cucumber topped with torched white tuna and black Beluga caviar.

White Russian Roll topped with a mountain of Beluga Caviar

To enjoy more of a variety, he also offered to graciously shared his caviar with our dear friend and creator of the candy&caviar Roll.

candy&CAVIAR roll oozing with Beluga Caviar

And after the sushi rolls were finished, this is how much Beluga we had left over just to eat by the spoonful…which, in my opinion, should really be the only way to truly indulge in Beluga.

With an insanely massive quantity of this prestigous luxury item with present market prices ranging from USD$7,000-10,000 per 1 kg, it’s crazy to think that we just stuffed our faces with such a rare extravagance.  It’s not every day such a rare opportunity comes along – I couldn’t help but insist on extending this dinner to be included in my week of birthday celebration festivities.

FYI: The White Russian Roll will soon be available to order on Hatsune’s “Secret Menu” (but with black tobiko caviar rather than Beluga)…stay tuned on LDS for more updates soon to come on the availability of the winning creations of the Hatsune Sushi Roll Contest!

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!

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).

We Like to Zoom Zoom: Me and My Biker Gang

Ducati, Kawasaki, Benelli, Suzuki…I was once ignorant to the power and significance these names hold for many.  But then again, my initial thoughts of a bike gang were once of a group of men having a mid-life crisis with “biker” mustaches and skulls engraved into their helmets and leather jackets riding big, chunky Harley-Davidson bikes.

This biker gang is definitely not what I had in mind.

JUST KIDDING Mom & Dad, this photo is just pretend! (but admittedly, I would be 100 times cooler if I was a real biker chick!

Lucky for me, Alan Wong let me tag along and ride on the back of his 2-seater BMW bike for one of the most exhilarating adventures of my life.

With 11 of us total, we met up at 7AM and together, we sped outside of Beijing’s smog and zoom-zoomed into some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.  Surrounded by green mountains and bright blue skies with perfectly winded roads with “decreasing radius” (biker lingo), we were in biker heaven.

Zoom-Zooming Out of Beijing

Passing by some giant dinosaurs on the way, we’ve now dubbed this trip “Jurassic Park”

Screaming “Wow” over and over as we sped past sparkling lakes, tall, green mountains and cliffs wasn’t doing the scenery justice, so we all stopped for a short break to really breathe in the smog-free air and soak in the beauty of our surroundings.

Can you believe this exists only an hour or so outside of Beijing?!

The way back was just as stunning and we even passed by a section of The Great Wall!

Needless to say, this ride was more than just a quick-fix for these speed-junkies.  Hooked on the adrenaline rush of racing 200+ km/hr, I now understand the lure into the world of motor-racing, but the surrounding scenery of these trips also gives these riders an escape from the horrendously traffic-jammed, smog-filled city of Beijing.  It’s wonderful to know you can access such spectacular sights so close to the city we call home.

LumDimSummary: Sake Samurai Dinner Party

Over the weekend, Hatsune hosted a “Sake Samurai” Dinner Party featuring an 8-dish tasting menu and 4 different types of sake.

With Alan Wong aka Sake Samurai Master himself introducing each sake, diners were introduced to the world of Japanese sake learning the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water along with how to smell and taste the subtle differences in the flavors of each.

While the first three sakes served are available in the Hatsune restaurants, Alan brought along the final sake from his personal collection (meaning the best of the best) – the Kubota Manjyu Junmai Daiginjo from Japan!

Hatsune’s 8-Dish Tasting Menu

Edamame

Calamari

Hiyayakko Tofu

Sakekawa Salad

Sushi Trio

Little Red Roll

Squid & Shiso Tempura w/ Vegetable Tempura

Teppanyaki Fried Rice

Sake Summary:

1. Morita Nigori Sake- Milky in color and consistency, this nigori sake is still pretty smooth, and slightly sweet. Rolling around the mouth you can taste the grittiness from the unfiltered rice particles.

2. Komeshizuku Junmai- This sake has a strong flavor on the palate, and is considered by Alan to be “a banana and pear fruit bomb”.  Extremely refreshing. Each rice grain is polished down to 60% of the original size, which almost qualifies it as a Junmai Ginjo.

3. Shotoku “Bamboo leaf” Genshu Junmai Ginjo- Ginjo is the stamp of quality, as the expensive sake rice is milled down to less than 60% of the original, leaving only the starchy center. The result is a smooth but also complex sake, with the same fruitiness as the junmai. This was much heavier on the palate as well, with a slight caramel flavor on initial tasting.

4. Kubota Manjyu Junmai Daiginjo- The final sake Alan brought back from Japan. This sake is milled down to about 35% of the original rice grain, and produces the smoothest, most complex flavor. All the the complexity of the junmai ginjo remains, but this sake is noticeably smoother than the previous one.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune’s Sake Samurais:

**Save the Date:

For more Hatsune fun, mark your calendars for Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary Party!

For those who weren’t here to attend our 9 Year Anniversary, here’s what you missed out on - LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 9 Year Birthday Bash

Date is set for Thursday, 4 August 2011!! Details to come soon…get excited!!

LumDimSummary: BJ FOoDiEs Hatsune Charity Dinner

This past Sunday night, BJ FOoDiEs hosted their monthly “Indulge for a Cause” foodies event at the classic Beijing favorite – California-Japanese sushi King Hatsune restaurant to support the Library Project charity organization.

Hatsune served a steal of a deal 8-dish menu featuring many of their menu’s “Hidden Gems” for only RMB 100 per person.

This month’s BJ FOoDIES had a great turn-out of over 90+ foodies who collectively raised a total of ￥7,615 RMB, which was then matched by Alan Wong, owner of the Hatsune restaurant group to raise a grand total of RMB 15,230 for the Library Project.

About The Library Project:

The charity to receive this months proceeds will go to THE LIBRARY PROJECT – The NGO’s mission is to donate books & build libraries to under financed schools & orphanages in the developing world. The Library project believes that education is the key motivator to breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the developing world & to establish permanent change.

For more information: http://www.library-project.org/

Hatsune Locations:

• The Original Hatsune (Guanghua Lu Branch):
• 2/F, Heqiao Bldg C, 8A Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
• 朝阳区光华路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层
• Tel: 6581-3939
• 
  
• Hatsune Sanlitun Village Branch:
• 3rd Floor of Sanlitun Village (next to Element Fresh & across from Karaiya Spice House)

• Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
• 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区8号楼S8-30
• Tel: 6415-3939

**To Join the BJ FOoDIES Mailing List,  email bjfoodies@gmail.com

**Hatsune will be hosting a Sake Tasting Dinner Party on Saturday, July 2.  To Join the Hatsune Events Mailing List, email kristen@lumdimsum.com.

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!

CW 2011 Awards: Hatsune Wins Pretty New Plaques

At Cityweekend’s 2011 Restaurant & Bar Awards, I got up on stage twice to accept awards on behalf of Hatsune for “Best Japanese Restaurant” and Honorable Mention for “Restaurant of the Year”!!

I was shining with pride as people congratulated me left and right, but I’ve got to admit…as much as I would really love to accept these flattering compliments and praise, I really can’t take credit!!

About to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary this August (stay tuned for details!), Hatsune has been around long before my time and has made a lasting reputation as Beijing’s top California-style Japanese restaurant because of one person only – my homie and brother from another mother and father- Alan Wong.

So why wasn’t he there to accept the awards himself last night?  Because he was doing exactly what he loves most – He was in the Hatsune Sanlitun branch running around taking orders, making recommendations, serving his customers and giving them the “Hatsune experience” we all keep coming back for!

So here’s to Alan Wong and to all of his staff who work their bums off every day to stay on top of their game!!  They are the ones who really deserve all the recognition and glory for winning these amazing awards!!

Congratulations to Hatsune!!

…And a side note:

CONGRATS to DJ Saul who won CityWeekend’s 2011 Editor’s Pick for “Beijing-Based DJ of the Year”!

Monkey faces!!!

DJ Saul in action at INTRO Music Festival 2011:

Click here for direct link to Youku.

In Search for China’s National Hot Dog Eating Champion

If Japan’s very own Takeru Kobayashi can munch down 65 hot dogs in 10 minutes and the world-record holding champion Joey Chestnut (USA) can devour 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes, I think everyone is dying to see how many hot dogs China’s national champion can throw back.

After the impressive scale of medals China achieved at Beijing’s 2008 Olympics, I have no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before China finds it’s “Yao Ming” of hot dog eating!

Aspiring competitive eaters have until end of May 2011 to submit their entries for The Official Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in Beijing, CHINA on 18 June 2011 at Wanliu BHG Mall for their chance to win round-trip tickets and an expense-paid trip to New York to compete in the internationally broadcasted Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in Coney Island, New York.

The competition is open to any aspiring competitive eaters who are Chinese national citizens over the age of 18 years old who have previously traveled internationally (ideally have traveled to the US) and who have a valid passport. Applicants will need to submit a basic application form to be eligible to compete (click here for details to register online).

The closing date for entries is 31 May 2011 so if you or anyone you know is looking for the opportunity of a lifetime to become a national hero of China, then please SPREAD THE WORD!!

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition in China Highlights:

12 Finalists will be selected to compete for the title of China’s National Champion

Panel of judges will include world champion Joey Chestnut who will be flying out to Beijing for the first time!

Other celebrity judges include Alan Wong, restauranteur and owner of the Hatsune Restaurant Group and Brian McKenna of ROOMbeijing.

Top 2-3 winners will be invited for an expense-paid trip to Coney Island, NY for their chance to to win USD$10,000 in international competition in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition on 4 July 2011.

The event is broadcast around the globe, covered live by ESPN and hundreds of both local and international news networks and print media.

For live and up-to-the-date news, follow us on Weibo: http://weibo.com/nathansfamouschina

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, June 18, 2011
• Time: 11AM-Noon
• Location: BHG WanLiu Mall
• FREE event
• Website: http://www.nathanschina.com.cn/en/component/content/story/35.html?ItemID=2

About Nathan’s Famous China

With a reputation built on quality for over 95 years, Nathan’s Famous started out as America’s very first restaurant chain and has grown from a single restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn in 1916 into an international corporation that has come to be recognized and trusted as having the tastiest, highest quality hot dogs in the world, making Nathan’s a delicious tradition and an icon of New York.

Spearheaded by Marcus Foods & Beverage Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd, a regional master franchisee of Nathan’s Famous brand in China, they have successfully opened the first Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Le Mall in Haidian District in August 2010 and in December 2010, Nathan’s Famous opened Beijing’s first permanent western quick service restaurant concession in MasterCard Center (formerly Wukesong Stadium). With new stores opening soon in Wanliu BHG Mall, Dongzhimen Raffles City, Nathan’s is prepared to follow through with over 80-100 Nathan’s Famous stores in China over the next 10 years.

For more information, visit www.nathanschina.com.cn