Modo’s One Year Anniversary Small Plate Feast

“The miracle is this: The more we share the more we have Leonard Nimoy!” – MODO

Last Thursday, September 29, Modo celebrated their one year anniversary with a “Small Plate Feast” featuring Chef Daniel Urdaneta’s signature dishes and a few menu additions (Japanese Mackerel, Seared Prawns and the Slow Braised Oxtail)!

With 12 different small plate main dishes and 4 desserts, our group of eight foodies managed to power through their entire menu in one go!  But with such delicious dishes, I don’t know how anyone could resist the temptation to taste everything they possibly could!

Modo One Year Anniversary Menu

While we were impressed with their new dishes (especially their oxtail and Japanese mackerel), the winner of the night definitely went to the Dill-crusted Codfish with Wild Rice, Mushroom Pilaf, Confit Fennel & Lemongrass Veloute. The codfish was incredibly tender and the mushroom pilaf was a brilliant number to pair with the codfish. We also were excited about their Goats Cheese & Feta Tortelli and their Wagyu Beef Meatball is always a crowd favorite.  The only dishes that weren’t devoured instantaneously were probably the two Smorrebrod dishes and their Goat Cheese Panna Cotta (which was barely touched).  As a chocolate lover, I couldn’t stop eating the Chocolate & Dulce de Leche Profiteroles, but their White Chocolate Mousse with Sorbet was the overall dessert favorite.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Modo’s Anniversary Menu (from start to finish!):

Summer Peach Salad with Smoked Bacon, Watercress and Mint / Foie Gras Terrine with Plum Chutney, Toasted Brioche & Rhubarb Compote

Smorrebrod: Smoked Salmon, Shaved Mushrooms, Caper Tartar, Fish Roe / Seared Prawns with Avocado, Red Pepper Coulis, Sweet Potato Chips, Citrus Caviar

Herbs Herring Smorrebrod with Creme Cheese Truffles & Radish on Rye Toast / Waguy Beef Meatball with Heirloom Tomato Sauce

Goats Cheese & Feta Tortelli, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Organic Butternut Squash Foam & Thyme oil / Spinach & Ricotta Malfati with Roasted Pears, Mushrooms & Shaved Pecorcino Cheese

Japanese Mackerel, Warm Potato, Confit Tomato and Lemon Air / Slow Braised Oxtail with Truffles Potatoes, Green Peas & Carrots

Dill-crusted Codfish with Truffles potatoes, Green Peas and Carrots / Beef Tenderloin Touredos, Roasted Pumpkin, Roquefort Butter & Wine Reduction

Surprise Gift of our favorite Cold Cuts!

Nutella Creme Brulee with Roasted Hazelnuts & Green Cardamom Cream / White Chocolate Mousse with Black Currant Sorbet & Tuile

Profiteroles Filled with Chocolate, Dulce de Leche & Candied Peanuts / Goats Cheese Panna Cotta with Pear Confit & Basil Foam

 Congratulations to Alex, Daniel, Christina and the entire Modo team on a beautiful birthday celebration feast and party! 

After such an incredible first year, Modo is well on its way to Beijing dining stardom!  By continuously maintaining a high standard of quality cuisine, service, wine and great value, it’s easy to see how Modo is winning the hearts of all Beijinger foodies alike. 

LDS Links to Previous Articles on MODO:

*Modo Monsters Devour New Menu

*LumDimSummary: Modo’s Charity Dinner for Japan

*More Reasons to Love Modo (Modo’s crazy cool wine dispensers have got wine geeks hooked)

*Do It the “Modo Way”

Modo’s Contact Details:

• Located between Karaiya Spice House and Tony Studio on 3rd Floor of Sanlitun Village: S10-31, 3/F, Bldg 8, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Rd
• 三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区8号楼S10-31
• Tel: 6415-7207

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

Modo Turns One: Small Plate Feast

Already such a popular dining destination in Beijing with several big awards for “Best New Restaurant” under its belt, it’s shocking that Modo is only reaching it’s 1 year birthday now!  So accomplished and established with a great reputation in only its first year! Hats off to the Modo/Mosto team for a great first year and I have no doubt they will only continue in this winning streak for many years to come.

On Thursday, September 29, Modo will be providing an all-you-can-eat feast of Chef Daniel Urdaneta’s signature small plates for only RMB 365 per person.  Drink specials will be available throughout the night.

Reservations are highly recommended as these seats are all getting booked out fast! Call 6415-7207 to book your space before it’s gone!

Modo 1 Year Birthday Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, September 29
• Time: 6PM-10PM
• Location: Modo
• Address:  Located between Karaiya Spice House and Tony Studio on 3rd Floor of Sanlitun Village: S10-31, 3/F, Bldg 8, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Rd 三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区8号楼S10-31
• RSVP: Call 6415-7207

Previous LDS Articles on MODO:

*Modo Monsters Devour New Menu

*LumDimSummary: Modo’s Charity Dinner for Japan

*More Reasons to Love Modo (Modo’s crazy cool wine dispensers have got wine geeks hooked)

*Do It the “Modo Way”

A Birthday Shared by Three Within My Family Tree

My cousin Shelby, our grandmother and I were all born on the 8th of September

Today is a special day.

It’s not only my 27th birthday, but it’s also my cousin Shelby’s 22nd birthday and our grandma’s 80th birthday.

Last week, I made a 8-day trip back home to California to celebrate our birthdays together with my family where we embarked on a few adventures – a day of sailing around San Francisco Bay and also a day trip through Napa Valley’s rustic and uniquely beautiful wineries.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Birthday Celebrations:

Sailing in San Francisco Bay

Day Trip through Napa’s Beautiful Wineries:

V. Sattui, Duckhorn, Beringer, Domain Chandon, Castello di Amorosa, Darioush & Viansa Winery

Triple Birthday Bash Family Reunion:

Migas’ First Year Anniversary Rooftop Party

“Sanlitun’s Best Rooftop Turns One Years Old!”

Celebrate with Migas this Friday, September 2nd as they host their first rooftop birthday party with special DJs and a guaranteed good time.  Party starts at 10PM.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 2, 2011
• Time: 10PM to late
• Location: Migas Rooftop
• Address: 6/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun North Road, 三里屯北街81号那里花园6层

Flavors of Japan: A Birthday Menu by Brian McKenna

Alan Wong has said that the best meal of his life was a 15 course dinner + 20 course dessert menu by Brian McKenna.  After a very successful Hatsroomie & ROOMsune event back in January 2011, I began to realize the amazing talent and creativity that Mr. McKenna is widely known in the kitchen for.

So to celebrate Alan’s birthday last week, we managed to scheme and successfully throw him a surprise birthday dinner at ROOMbeijing where Brian McKenna specially created a “BMK Japanese inspired menu dedicated entirely to Alan Wong”.

“6AM I was doing sushi…I might even ask Alan for a job after this!”

- Brian McKenna (BMK) on prepping for Alan’s Birthday Dinner

In the end, we managed to surprise him with both the arrival of his friends with distraction schemes and BMK’s special birthday dinner was beyond outstanding.

BMK’s Japanese Inspired Menu Dedicated to Alan Wong:

Appetizers: Chilled tomato tea in tubes, foie gras with carmelized rice, raw oyster with passionfruit foam and raw shrimp inside cooked shell

Tuna wrapped in avocado with wasabi ice cream & citrus dressing / Salmon sashimi with orange textures

Daikon Salad with Ginger Dressing / Foie gras with Avocado rice and sauce.

Searned tuna sushi / Bag Baked Cod fish with sake and shiitake mushrooms

Crispy Shrimp Wrapped in Basil / Grilled asparagus with wasabi hollandaise

Miso Marinated Beef with Sesame Green Beans

Grilled rib eye beef with sea urchin butter / Crispy bean curd with 8 mushrooms

Brian’s Signature “Breakfast” Dessert with Mango & Lemongrass Hard Boiled Eggs

Strawberry Shortcake with Balsamic Ice Cream (Mr. Wong’s Fav dessert with “BMK Twist”) / Black Forrest Cake 2011

ROOMbeijing’s Signature Fruit Tree with Dry Ice

Highlights of BMK’s Dinner were definitely the appetizers (raw shrimp in cooked shell was ridic), daikon salad with ginger dressing, foie gras with avocado rice and sauce and the miso marinated beef was to die for – among the most tender and juicy steaks I’ve had in awhile!

This dinner was truly a labor of love by BMK and with a table full of sushi fanatics, I have no doubt everyone was ecstatic as I with every dish of the dinner.

A Fun Time at Afunti Cabare

How to entertain a massive group of 40+ friends for a big joint birthday party?

Afunti Cabare!

Their slogan: “We Produce Entertainment!” says it all.

Starting at 8PM, it’s non-stop action from dance and music acts to interactive audience competitions, an acrobat woman who can spin gigantic containers (with people inside!), kung-fu fighters, belly dancers, a crazy snake lady (I ran away for this part) and much more than both your ears and eyes can handle!

Although it was all way too loud and a bit cheesy for my liking, Afunti is a great place to come with a massive group of people to enjoy decent Xinjiang food and silly shows that are entertaining at best and aside from the snake lady, totally harmless and all in good fun.

Happy Birthday to both Miss Katy & Mr. Yannick!

Review of Afunti 阿凡提嘉年华: Opposite old Foreign Ministry, 188 Chaonei Dajie, Jia 2 Houguaibang Hutong , 朝内大街188号后拐棒胡同甲2号. Tel: 6527-2288

Best Part:

• Full on dining entertainment (Relieves all pressure for hosts to entertain their guests)

• It may be silly, but it is definitely a unique experience – one of those “only in China” kind-of-places
• Perfect to come with a big group to share in fun and jester
• Liang Mian was fantastic and so were majority of the dishes
• It’s been around for over 10 years, which is a rare find in this fickle and unpredictable city we call Beijing!

Comments:

• Not the best Xinjiang food, but it was decent and portions were very generous!
• Service was overbearing at times, but they were quite quick and quick to accommodate our requests and needs
• Expect a lot of confused tourists and majority local Chinese
• Entertainment is all quite cheesy and the sound was unbearably loud.  Don’t expect to carry on with any sort of conversations at your table.  Not that kind of place.
• Location is tricky to find if you haven’t been to this area before – but they have sign visible from main Chaonei Street, Opposite Old Foreign Ministry building
• All-in-all:  It’s super cheesy, loud and in-your-face, but it’s all in good fun and sometimes you just have to roll with it and enjoy it for what it is – a place that “produces entertainment!”.

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

• Food: 5
• Atmosphere: 2 or 7 (you either hate it or you love it)
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 5

RIDIC Kickball Tourney 2011

This past Saturday, Candice Lee aka C-DICE celebrated her birthday in style by hosting her 4th Annual Kickball Tournament.

A birthday party unlike any other in Beijing (and the majority of the world), Candice’s annual kickball tournament rounds up over 150 friends for a full-on day of friendly competition and non-stop fun.

As Candice so eloquently put it – “what better way to celebrate my birthday than being outdoors in costumes, cocktails, getting silly, kicking, and balls?”

My day started with a pre-tourney pump-up session at 9AM with jello shots and a text from my team captain Philana Woo that read,

“Dear Team: May the bloodz bleed, camp friends cry, wontons fry, cholos chafe and john k’s no name team be a no show. See you on the field!”

RIDIC Teams Breakdown:

Team Camp Friends

Co-Captains: Candice Lee & Hardy Simes

Team SABOTAGE

Captains: Philana Woo, Honora Shea & Tom Kidd

Team Cobra Kai

Co-Captains: John Korkidis & Meili Autumn

Team CBD Bloodz

Co-Captains: Yan Zhang & Jonny Haagen

Team Wonton Hitters

Captain: Jun Trinh

Team Chaoyang Cholos

Co-Captains: Matthew Niederhauser & Chace VanderWolk

With two giant buses shutting players out to the fields at 10AM, the games started after a few rounds of stretching, warm-ups and announcement of C-dice’s house kick-ball rules.

Games officially kicked off around 11am with 6 teams and games set up as run round robin with each game lasting about 40 minutes.

To sum up:

6 rounds of 40 minute games =

7 hours of heckling, beer chugging, spillage, competitive streaks, sneaky SABOTAGE and absolute kickball debauchery

LumDimSum Snapshots of RIDIC Kickball 2011:

Happy Birthday C-DICE!!!!

theBeijinger Goes The Whole Nine Yards

In the spirit of turning 9, theBeijinger invites you to celebrate with them with a night at Migas with an all-you-can-drink special for only RMB 99!

Party will take place in Migas (Nali Patio) from 8:30PM-midnight.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, October 21
• Time: 8:30-midnight
• Location: Migas
• Address: 6/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun North Road, 三里屯北街81号那里花园6层
• RSVP: events@thebeijinger.com
  

Sundays on Top with Syndicate’s Dan Stephenson

Sunshine – check.

Music – check.

Drinks – check.

BBQ – check.

If that’s not enough reasons for you to come out, Syndicate’s Dan ‘the man’ Stephenson will be on the DJ decks with his “super eclectic music selection”! Expect live musical surprises from some old and new friends, and of course, the one and only, DJ Patrick Yu, will be playing some Sunday Soundtracks.

What more could you want on a lazy Sunday afternoon?

• Date: Sunday, August 29
  
• Time: 4PM-late
• Location: Kokomo
  

LumDimSummary: Hatsune’s 9 Year Birthday Bash

After a month of rallying and putting the word out calling anyone and everyone who loves Hatsune to come out and show their love and support for this beloved restaurant group, we were joined by over 450 friends and fans in celebrating our 9 year anniversary party.

Gathering over free-flow sake, cocktails, legendary sushi rolls, brilliant sumo wrestling entertainment and Japanese drumming shows along with old school tracks courtesy of DJ Patrick Yu, Hatsune’s 9 year party exceeded not only our max capacity but our expectations.

On behalf of Alan Wong and the entire Hatsune Team, I want to give a giant bear hug and sincerely thank everyone for their continued support and for making Hatsune a Beijing legend.  It was an overwhelming turn-out, thank you to everyone for making this party such a memorable event!

What’s next for Hatsune?

Get ready for an awesome new Hatsune menu coming soon featuring new salads, new steak and seafood dishes along with over a dozen new sushi rolls including the five winners of the Hatsune sushi contest (click here to view winners).

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hatsune’s 9 Year Anniversary Party:

Hatsune Sushi Winners Pose with their winning rolls:

Hatsune sushi winners pose with Alan (L to R: Lexie, Charles, Max, Lisa, Alan & Candy)

Japanese Drum Show:

Some Serious Sumo Wrestling Action:

Hatsune Friends & Family:

Countdown: 3 Days Until Hatsune’s 9 Year Celebration!

Hatsune Friends & Fans:

Don’t forget it’s Hatsune‘s 9 year anniversary party on Aug. 25 from 9PM-onwards.

The more the merrier, so please feel free to help me spread the word and invite all your friends to join the fun!!

If you can make it, please RSVP with me directly: kristen@lumdimsum.com.

Event details here:

Hatsune’s 9 Year Anniversary will be held on Wednesday, August 25 at Hatsune Sanlitun Village.

Party will take place at Hatsune Sanlitun Village and we will be celebrating with anyone and everyone who loves Hatsune.

A Ticket to enter a wonderful world of free flow sake, dangerously good cocktails and Hatsune’s legendary sushi rolls is RMB 150 at the door.

Expect nothing less of Epic.

    * Date: Wednesday, August 25
    * Time: From 9PM-1AM
    * Location: Hatsune Sanlitun Village
    * Tickets: RMB 150 per person
    * Reservations: kristen@lumdimsum.com

Indulge for a Cause: BJ Foodies 2 Year Bash @ ROOM

Calling all Foodies -

Celebrate with BJ FOODIES Group as they celebrate their 2 year birthday bash@ ROOMbeijing.

What can you expect?

“Award winning recipes by Michelin star Chef Brian McKenna & a stunning menu of molecular creations & playful dishes.”

Cost: 150rmb + potential 1 hour of open bar drinks

MENU

STARTERS:

1. 42 Ingredient Salad – Slowly Cooked Egg
2. Tuna Tartar – Marinated avocado / Crisp potatoes
3. Salad of Italian Ham – Arugula / asparagus / vanilla dressing

MAIN COURSE:

1. Whole Roasted Baby Chicken – Glazed whisky & indo spices
2. Backed Rack of Australian Lamb – Coated in Dukkah & saffron
3. Chilli Bean Noodles – BBQ Pork & Apple salad

HAPPY ENDINGS:

1. Ti-ROOM-isu
2. Milk Chocolate POP tart – Flavors of raspberry & herbs

+ 2 glasses of grape juice (wine)

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, August 22, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: ROOMbeijing
• Address:

中国北京市朝阳区建国门外大街2号

北京银泰中心三层301-302 邮编: 100022

301-302, 3/F, PARK LIFE Shopping Centre, Beijing Yintai Centre

No. 2 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

• Cost: RMB 150 includes 3 course menu & drinks
• RSVP: On BJ Foodies Facebook Group Page, click here.

About BJ Foodies Group:

Organizing monthly group meals at about RMB 100/head with food/drinks included, this group of dedicated foodies is all about “satiating their inner-foodie appetites for good quality food, conversation & fine wining/sake-ing/cocktailing/beering while indulging for a cause.”

BJ FOODIES PURPOSE:
1. Just to eat a nice meal & catch up with real people & friends outside the clubbing-disease we all suffer from called Vics/Mix.
2. Opportunity to contribute our little bits to society while doing something we love – EATING. The Charity aspect is a supplementary & added bonus BUT NOT the main purpose of the group

LumDimSummary: BLING II BLING

Beijing’s hottest hip-hop club, BLING, celebrated its two year anniversary party in style with bottles of Goose, an endless supply of champagne, car-washing dancing divas and Beijing’s craziest party animals.

A big thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us!

LumDimSum Photo Gallery of Bling’s 2 Year Birthday Bash:

BLING II BLING: 2 Year Anniversary Party Weekend

BLING II BLING: BLING’s Two-Year Birthday Weekend

On August 6 & 7, 2010 weekend, come out and celebrate as Bling turns TWO.

Beijing’s hottest hip-hop club, BLING, will be celebrating its two year anniversary party in style with bottles of Goose, an endless supply of champagne, dancing divas and mad skillz on the DJ decks with Bling’s ‘Double Trouble’ resident DJs – The Tiger Twins.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported Bling since our grand-opening right before the Olympics 2008 to all the crazy, wild parties we’ve thrown over the past two years, this is our chance to say thanks and here’s to you and to many more birthdays to come.  Cheers!

Exclusively @ Bling!

Event Details:

Date: Friday & Saturday, August 6 & 7

Time: 9pm-late

Reservations for table bookings are highly recommended: Hill: 138 1085 8776 & Fei Fei: 13911681599