BJ FOoDIES: ‘HARMONY’ Charity Dinner at SSAM

Always switching it up with different charity organizations and an eclectic range of hot new restaurants around town, BJ FOoDIES is back this March with a super supper for fellow foodies in Beijing- joining forces with new contemporary Korean restaurant SSAM, a food concept that is best described as “Molecular Korean”.

BJ FOoDIES: ‘Harmony’ Charity Dinner at SSAM

RMB 120 includes 7 dish menu + Fruit flavored Sochu / Asian Beer / Soft Drink

SSAM SUPER SUPPER:

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, March 20, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: SSAM
• Address: B1-238 Tower 2, Sanlitun SOHO, 三里屯SOHO 2号楼 B1-238
• Cost: RMB 120 includes dinner menu + drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team - bjfoodies@gmail.com

MARCH Charity Theme: ‘HARMONY’

The charity to receive this months proceeds will go to CHILDREN OF MADAIFU – The NGO’s mission is to address the needs of orphans, abandoned children & street children in deprived areas of China by giving an allowance to foster families to provide for their fundamental needs and education The aim of the program is to give hope and dignity back to these children. The association also supports projects aimed at helping the children – directly or indirectly -, on a material, financial, educational or medical level. It also assists the schools and teachers.

For more information: www.madaifu.org

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

BJ FOoDIES: ‘Heart’ Charity Dinner at Kro’s Nest

With heart-shaped pizzas and a spotlight on community outreach group Heart to Heart Shanghai, BJ FOoDIES’ ‘Heart’ Charity Dinner is a wonderful warm-up to Valentine’s Day this year.  Hosted at the new Kro’s Nest, enjoy a “Feast of Luv” 4-course set dinner with a drink included for only RMB 100 per head.  Now that’s real love.

BJ FOoDIES “Heart” Charity Meal

Cost: ￥100/head includes dinner + milkshake, coke float or cocktail drink

KRO’S NEST’s ‘Feast of Luv’ Menu:

POTATOES & SUCH:
1. Onion Rings
2. Chili Spice Kurly Fries

+ glass of milkshake, coke float, alcoholic tipple

Cost: RMB 100 includes Dinner Menu + Drink

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, February 13, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: Kro’s Nest
• Address: 35 Xiaoyun Lu | 霄云路35
• Cost: RMB 100 includes dinner menu + drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team - bjfoodies@gmail.com

February Charity Theme: ‘Heart to Heart’

Heart to Heart Shanghai provides support and financial assistance to needy Chinese children who require heart surgery to repair their congenital heart defects.

LumDimSum Discovery: Sassy Scrubs Body

Sassy Scrubs Body first caught my eye at my last visit to Kocoon Spa Lounge, but when I received a Mint Chocolate Sassy Scrubs gift from my dear friend Kelly Olver, I became one of their biggest fans.  A week later at BJ FOoDIES ‘Shelter’ Charity Dinner, I had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant woman behind Sassy Scrubs Body – Ms. Cathleen Chang, after which I placed an order for 6 body scrubs as pampering gifts for family and friends!

Using all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, these hand-made sugar scrubs come in 12 yummy flavors like Lemon Coconut Cream Pie, Spice Banana Bread, Red Velvet Cake, Lychee Mojito, Blueberry Smoothie and Apple Cinnamon Latte.

Full list of Sassy Scrubs Body Flavors:

Not only do these scrubs smell absolutely delicious, the natural sugars dissolve into your skin, leaving you feeling silky smooth!  Especially in Beijing’s horrendously dry winters, these scrubs are the perfect remedy for dry skin - a natural way to gently exfoliate your skin, clear excess oil and dead skin cells, and save your precious skin from the dry weather!

To order Sassy Scrubs Body, contact Cathleen directly:  cathleenchang@gmail.com

LumDimSummary: BJ FOodies ‘Shelter’ Dinner

Last night, BJ Foodies hosted their monthly “Indulge for a Cause” foodies event at Mare restaurant to support The Starfish Project charity organization.

With an incredibly generous menu by Mare, guests enjoyed 7 tapas dishes, 3 main courses to share and 4 desserts and a glass of beer, wine or sangria all for only RMB 120 per person.

LumDimSum Snapshots of BJ FOoDIES Mare Dinner:

SAUTEED FOREST MUSHROOMS/ STIR-FRIED CHORIZO WITH POTATOES

AUSTRALIAN GRILLED BABY LAMB CHOPS/ DEEP-FRIED POTATOES W/ SPICY BRAVA SAUCE

SIZZLING GARLIC PRAWNS AIOLI/ ANDALUSIA-STYLE CALAMARI & BABY SQUID

ROASTED SPRING CHICKEN/ MIXED SEAFOOD GRILL

GRILLED ENTRECOTE STEAK W/ TRUFFLE SAUCE/ TIRAMISU W/ FLAKES OF CRISPY CHOCOLATE

HOMEMADE LEMON SORBET W/ CAVA/ MASCARPONE CHEESE CAKECHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE W/ ICE CREAM

Highlights of the dinner at Mare were the Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, Deep-fried Potatoes, Roasted Spring Chicken and Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert.

With a great turn-out of over 85 guests (some were even turned away because there were no more seats left!), BJ Foodies raised a total of ￥3,325.20 RMB for Starfish Project.

“Our goal at Starfish is to empower exploited women…and see every woman valued.”

About Starfish Project

Restoring Hope to Exploited Women in Asia

BJ FOoDIES: ‘Shelter’ Charity Meal @ MARE

One of my favorite regular dining events, BJ FOoDIES is kicking off 2011 with a ‘Shelter’ Charity Meal at Mare Spanish restaurant featuring a very generous multiple-course meal with a selection of their very best tapas for all to taste!

BJ FOoDIES “Shelter” Charity Meal

Cost: ￥120/head includes dinner + glass of wine, sangria or beer

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, January 16, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: MARE
• Address: E-tower, Chaoyang District, CBD 朝阳区光华路9号数码大厦一层
• Cost: RMB 120 includes dinner menu + drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team - bjfoodies@gmail.com

January Charity Theme: ‘Shelter’

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

BJ Foodies: ‘Autism’ Charity Meal @ TERRA

The last event of 2010, BJ Foodies‘ “Autism” Dinner will be treating foodies to feast on South American dishes at TERRA, a contemporary cevicheria by the same owners of SALT.

BJ Foodies “Autism” Charity Meal

Cost: ￥100/head + Alcohol tipple’

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, December 12, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: TERRA
• Address: 1 Sanlitun Nanlu, 三里屯南路1号
• Cost: RMB 100 includes 5-course menu + Drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team - bjfoodies@gmail.com

December Charity Theme: ‘Autism’

LumDimSummary: BJ Foodies @ Kagen

Last night, BJ Foodies hosted their monthly “Indulge for a Cause” foodies event at the newly renovated Kagen to support Care for Children charity organization.

With chefs grilling on an open fire in the new Yakitori and Robatayaki section of Kagen, all guests were served an 8-course menu + 1 hot sake box for only RMB 100.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Kagen’s New Robatayaki & Yakitori Section:

The wonderful company of fellow foodies aside, the best part of it all was coming together to raise a total of ￥6,015 RMB + HK$210 for Care for Children Charity Organization.

LumDimSum Snapshots of BJ Foodies @ Kagen:

Care for Children Background:

Care for Children exists to relieve hardship, distress and sickness in abandoned and orphaned children in China by the introduction of strategic initiatives in child care practice, at the request of, and in cooperation with, the Chinese national and local authorities.

Since it’s start in 1998, Care of Children has directly trained staff from over 200 orphanages, estimating that there are now over 200,000 children in families! They have a vision to see 1 million children in families.

Using a successfully replicated training program for social workers and orphanage staff across the country, Care for Children has effectively created a solution for a long-term benefit to give orphaned children a family of their own.

To Know More: www.careforchildren.com

BJ Foodies: “Foster” Charity Meal @ Kagen

The Hatsune Group is teaming up with BJ Foodies to organize a special “FOSTER” Charity Meal at their newly renovated restaurant Kagen to support Care for Children charity organization.

Part of the beloved Hatsune restaurant chain, Kagen has been transformed and upgraded from a Japanese Hot Pot and BBQ to include an entirely new Yakitori and Robatayaki section, featuring a chef grilling on an open fire and fresh ingredients displayed on an ice bar.

Serving an 8-course dinner + Hot Sake Box for only RMB 100 per person, it really doesn’t get much better than that.

Be among one of the first to check out this all new food concept while supporting a worthwhile cause.

*Please note that seating is limited, so RSVP with me directly if you want to reserve a seat!  kristen@lumdimsum.com

BJ Foodies “Foster” Charity Meal

Stay Tuned for a Brand New Kagen

Kagen's New Robatayaki & Yakitori Open Fire Grill

After a few months of renovations, Kagen has been transformed and upgraded from a Japanese Hot Pot and BBQ to include an entirely new Yakitori and Robatayaki section of the restaurant, featuring an open-fire grill and fresh ingredients displayed on an ice bar.

After a few test runs and a tasting dinner, things are really coming together!

Sneak Peak of the NEW Kagen soon to come…stay tuned!

*Save the date: BJ Foodies’ “FOSTER” Dinner @ Kagen on Sunday, November 14

Be among the very first to check out this all new food concept while supporting a worthwhile cause.

Details coming soon…

BJ Foodies: Meat Feast

BJ Foodies is calling all ravenous carnivores for their next monthly charity dinner at the Butcher’s Steakhouse.

What you can expect?

“Some of the butcher’s finest cuts & aged quality protein”

Menu:

1. Roasted Beef Sirloin with Garlic
2. Whole Roasted aged porkloin
3. Orange maple glazed ham
4. Broccoli salad w/ Bacon & sunflower seed
5. Homemade Baguette Bread
6. Greens & Garden Buffet Salad Bar + Glass of wine / beer

Cost: ￥100/head + alchie

For those meat lovers who don’t mess around, this event will also mark the first ‘Butchers Bastard’ Burger Eating Competition.  For anyone who feels up to this challenge, they will donate the value of the burger to the selected cause of the month.

BJ Foodies’ October Choice Cause:  VOICE

The charity to receive this month’s proceeds is ALPHA. A charity dedicated to promoting global awareness of the war crimes & victims of WWII in Asia as well as its significance to human rights education & racial harmony.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, October 10, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: Butcher’s Steakhouse
  
• Address: 8 Dongzhimen Wai Dajie, 东直门外大街8号
• Cost: RMB 100 includes glass of wine/beer
• 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: BJ Foodies @ SWITCH!

Last Sunday, BJ Foodies hosted their monthly “Indulge for a Cause” foodies event at SWITCH!, the restaurant project in 798 Art District by Chef Billy Kawaja & his catering team at Culinary Capers.

With the dining space completely open to a massive open kitchen featuring four live food stations and practically unlimited drinks, this was an amazing foodie experience.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Live Food Stations:

Arugula Salad with pears, cranberries, walnuts and Parmesan /Mac & Cheese Truffles

Duck Confit Sandwich / Grilled Prawn Tacon

Donuts in a Bag / Strawberry Pepper Martini

LumDimSum Snapshots: Open Kitchen Dining Experience @ SWITCH!:

Highlights of the dinner at SWITCH! were the Prawn Tacons, Arugula Salad and Strawberry Pepper Martini.

As an added bonus, BJ Foodies raised a total of ￥2423.50 RMB for CHINA CARE.

Shout out to Ms. Alice Chen for introducing CHINA CARE and helping to spread the word.

*We will soon be organizing trips for active volunteers at their orphanage in Shuangjing, so please contact me directly (kristen@lumdimsum.com) if you are interested in volunteer opportunities.

Alice Chen (L) with CHINA CARE representatives

SEP Charity Theme: ‘CARE’

BJ Foodies: ‘CARE’ Charity Meal @ SWITCH!

Join BJ Foodies as part of the very first group of addicts to try out the new restaurant project, SWITCH! by Chef Billy Kawaja & his team at Culinary Capers.  Known for catering major events (British Columbia Pavilion at the 2008 Olympics and 5 star dinners on the Great Wall), Culinary Capers will be going all out with live food stations, an open kitchen and giving foodies the chance to interact with the recipes & perhaps even stepping behind to make something yourself!

This month’s BJ Foodies Charity Meal proceeds will be donated to CHINA CARE, an organization dedicated to saving the lives of medically fragile orphaned children in China.

ARUGULA SALAD

Sliced Pears, Fennel, Parmesan sheets, Fresh Cranberries, Candied Walnuts

w/ Toasted Anise Vinaigrette

STATION 2:

MAC & CHEESE TRUFFLES

w/ Marinara Sauce

STATION 3:

DIPPING DUCK

Duck Confit, Caramelized onions, Aged Goat Cheese

w/ Vienna Baguette

STATION 4:

GRILLED PRAWN TACON

Pineapple carrot coleslaw, Cilantro Lime Crema, Hand Guacamole

w/ secret Salsa

STATION 5:

DONUTS IN A BAG

Tossed in Cinnamon Sugars, Mascarpone cream, Apple Sauce, Berry Compote

+ 1 cocktail or grape juice (wine)

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: SWITCH!
• Address: 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu #8503
  酒仙桥路4号798 艺术区北京8503

• Cost: RMB 120 includes 1 cocktail or glass of wine
• RSVP: On BJ Foodies Facebook Group Page, click here.

SEP Charity Theme: ‘CARE’

LumDimSummary: Indulged for a Cause @ ROOM

Beijing Foodies 2 Year Birthday Bash was my very first time dining at ROOMbeijing and needless to say, I was absolutely blown away!

When I signed up for this event, I was stoked to see such a good valued meal – a 3-course menu + 2 glasses of wine for only RMB 150 per person. With 3 dishes listed under starters, mains and 2 desserts, I was expecting everyone to pick and choose their selections out of the set menu but then every single item on the menu came out family-style so we got to try everything!

For starters, we were served a 42-ingredient salad, tuna tartar with avocado and Italian ham with arugula salad.  While I was most intrigued to try the 42-ingredient salad, the tuna tartar won me over with the giant chunks of avocado and marinade for the tuna.

For mains, the rack of lamb and BBQ pork noodles were both tasty, but the star dish of the night was by far the Whole Roasted Baby Chicken.  Slow-cooked and soaked in whiskey for 24 hours, the chicken was incredibly tender and juicy and I was also a big fan of the sticky rice.

Ending on a sweet note, the ti-ROOM-isu was a giant block of goodness and the Milk Chocolate Mousse Bars were attached to a pile of POP Rocks!  Been ages since I’ve had pop rocks crackling in my mouth; it was such an unexpected treat!

LumDimSum Snapshots of the 8-dish Meal by ROOM:

OVERALL:

Serving 8 amazing dishes all family style, I applaud ROOM for offering this incredibly generous menu selection, for their very professional and efficient service for a packed house of 152 hungry diners, and hats off to owner Brian McKenna for doubling the total funds raised (RMB 12,759.70 + $50CND) with proceeds all donated to the featured charity group of this event: Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC).

This dinner was such a treat, I’d like to give a shout out and say thank you to Xixi Cheng & the BJ Foodies Group for organizing such a spectacular dinner event!

Review of ROOMbeijing: 301-302, 3/F, PARK LIFE, Beijing Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomenwai Street, 建国门外大街2号, 银泰中心3层 , Tel: 8517-2033

Best Part:

• Chef Brian McKenna’s innovative food creations and playful dishes. This is definitely a place for major foodies who appreciate creativity.
• You can count on quality ingredients and beautiful presentation.
• Very professional waitstaff and service was surprisingly efficient for a relatively new restaurant.
• Table set-up is as innovative as their cuisine – they have submerged lazy susan’s!  Each setting also has a unique utensil holder that fits everything from your chopsticks, fork, knife and spoon to your dessert utensils when you flip it over!  Love little details like that.  Very creative.
• The bathrooms are AWESOME.  My favorite part was the illusion mirrors ie. the “skinny” lengthening mirror.

Comments:

• This BJ Foodies 2 Year Birthday Bash was my first dining experience at ROOM, so my impressions of the food, decor and service may be unique to the average dining experience.  And while the 8 dish set menu + 2 glasses of wine was a steal at RMB 150, I have no idea what that price would have been normally.  But overall, in terms of food, ROOM delivered beyond expectations, the staff was very professional and everyone seemed to have a great night!
• While I liked the sofas and was a BIG fan of the table set-up (lazy susan & utensil holder), I was not a fan of the colorful chairs, the colorful walls and the giant, vibrant posters that look like movie advertisements.  I felt like I was sitting in a kindergarten classroom.

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

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 9
• Overall Experience: 8

LumDimSum Snapshots of this BJ Foodies event:

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