Animal House: Holiday Benefit for Orphaned Animals

theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards: Hatsune Wins Best Japanese 7 Years Running

On Monday, March 21, Hatsune took home Best Japanese for the 7th year running at theBeijinger’s Reader Restaurant Awards!

Considering this was theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards, that’s pretty much a perfect record.

Congratulations to Alan Wong, owner of the Hatsune Empire, for holding it strong and staying on top of the game 7 years straight.  That’s gotta be the longest-running record in town!

Get excited because this year Hatsune will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in August 2011. If you thought Hatsune’s 9 year anniversary party and Chi Fan for Charity After Party was wild last year, you are in store for a treat this coming August.  Stay tuned for details….

Other big winners from the awards ceremony include:

• Maison Boulud – Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Best French, Wine List, Most Romantic Meal, Best Service
• Da Dong – Restaurant of the Year (Chinese), Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Beijing Duck, Best for Impressing Visitors
• Capital M – Best high-end brunch, Afternoon Tea, Outdoor Dining,
• Mosto – Best Business Lunch, Best Steak, & MODO got Best New Restaurant

For a complete list of all Beijinger Dining Awards Categories and Winners, click here.

Maison Boulud & Da Dong Collect “Restaurant of the Year”

Dali Courtyard / Capital M

Modo / Agua / Biteapitta

SALT / Gung Ho! Pizza

Michael & Joanna Crain for Culinary Event of the Year: Chi Fan for Charity 2010!

While many of this year’s winners are very deserving of their awards, I was disappointed to see a few of my favorite restaurants without any recognition – Bei (in the Opposite House), Black Sesame Kitchen, Karaiya Spice House, and Madame Zhu’s Kitchen to name a few.  And I am really fed up with repeat winners  - Annie’s winning Best Italian (come on people, it’s not best delivery service), Ganges for Best Indian (really not that great), and Element Fresh for Best American, Best Sandwiches, and Best Affordable Brunch? I only approve of their smoothies and salads and boycott the rest.

theBeijinger’s Restaurant Award Winners vs. LumDimSum’s Votes:

Afternoon Tea

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

American

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote: Chef Too

Beijing Duck

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote: Made in China

Brunch (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Fennel

Brunch (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote: Vineyard Cafe

Burger

• Beijinger Winner: Let’s Burger

• LumDimSum Vote: Let’s Burger

Business Lunch

• Beijinger Winner: Mosto

• LumDimSum Vote: Alameda

Cantonese (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Lei Garden

• LumDimSum Vote:  Zenses, Westin Beijing Chaoyang

Cantonese (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Jin Ding Xuan

• LumDimSum Vote: Heng Shan Hui 衡山汇

Culinary Event of the Year

• Beijinger Winner: Chi Fan for Charity (Nov 6, 2010)

• LumDimSum Vote: Chi Fan for Charity (Nov 6, 2010)

Décor

• Beijinger Winner: LAN

• LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

Dim Sum

• Beijinger Winner: Din Tai Fung

• LumDimSum Vote:  Heng Shan Hui 衡山汇

Family-Friendly Restaurant

• Beijinger Winner: Annie’s

• LumDimSum Vote:  The Orchard

For Impressing Visitors

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote:  Duck de Chine

For a Romantic Meal

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Capital M

French (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Maison Boulud

French (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Brasserie Flo

• LumDimSum Vote: Crepanini

Hot Pot

• Beijinger Winner: Haidiliao

• LumDimSum Vote:  Haidiliao

Hotel Brunch

• Beijinger Winner: Bubbalicious, Westin Beijing Chaoyang

• LumDimSum Vote:  Bubbly Sundays at Senses, Westin Beijing Financial Street

Indian/Pakistani

• Beijinger Winner: Ganges

• LumDimSum Vote:  Punjabi

Italian (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Sureño, The Opposite House

• LumDimSum Vote:  Sadler Ristorante

Italian (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Annie’s

• LumDimSum Vote:  LMPLUS (Central Park)

Japanese

• Beijinger Winner: Hatsune

• LumDimSum Vote:  Hatsune and Kagen Teppanyaki

Korean

• Beijinger Winner: Saveurs de Coree

• LumDimSum Vote:  Ai Jiang Shan

Kung Pao Chicken

• Beijinger Winner: Xiao Wang Fu

• LumDimSum Vote:  Black Sesame Kitchen

Late-Night Dining

• Beijinger Winner: Bellagio

• LumDimSum Vote:  Jin Ding Xuan or my local Ch’uar stand

Mexican/Tex-Mex

• Beijinger Winner: Saddle Cantina

• LumDimSum Vote: Casa Latina

Middle Eastern

• Beijinger Winner: Biteapitta

• LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

Outdoor Dining

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Dali Courtyard

Pizza

• Beijinger Winner: The Tree

• LumDimSum Vote: Gung Ho! Pizza

Russian

• Beijinger Winner:  Traktirr Pushkin

• LumDimSum Vote: Traktirr Pushkin

Sandwiches

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote:  Hercules

Service

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Fennel

Sichuan

• Beijinger Winner: South Beauty

• LumDimSum Vote: Madame Zhu’s Kitchen

Spanish

• Beijinger Winner: Agua

• LumDimSum Vote: Agua

Steak

• Beijinger Winner: Mosto

• LumDimSum Vote: The Cut Grill (Fairmont Hotel)

Thai

• Beijinger Winner: Purple Haze

• LumDimSum Vote:  Tuk Tuk

Vegetarian

• Beijinger Winner: Pure Lotus

• LumDimSum Vote:  Samadhi Teahouse

Vietnamese

• Beijinger Winner: Muse

• LumDimSum Vote:  Banh Mi Now!

Wine List

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote: Enoterra

Yunnan

• Beijinger Winner: Middle 8th Restaurant

• LumDimSum Vote: Aimo Town

New Restaurant (Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Little Yunnan

• LumDimSum Vote: Xu Xian Lou

New Restaurant (Non-Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Modo

• LumDimSum Vote: Modo

Restaurant of the Year (Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote: Karaiya Spice House

Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

85 Broads: ‘Keeping Current’ Progressive Dinner

The Beijing Chapter of 85 Broads is hosting a special Progressive Dinner at Black Sesame Kitchen this coming Tuesday, March 22 starting at 6:30PM.

85 Broads’ Progressive Dinners are ‘anchored’ by senior women who are leaders in their respective industries and have an interest in mentoring young talent.

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

This month’s progressive dinner will follow in the theme of Keeping Current with the Women of News –

“The business of news is a tricky one, one that requires finesse to structure the ever-unpredictable product of news. How does one balance journalists on the ground, backers in the boardroom, pressure of profitability, exploding online media, company bias, and journalistic integrity? There is much to learn from those who keep us ahead of the curve, the women who make sure their business is healthy so our business can keep current.”

Join 85 Broads for an inspiring and engaging dinner introducing guest speaker –

• Melinda Liu, one of Newsweek’s most experienced foreign correspondents.  She has spent months at a time in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11, reporting on the war against terror. Her report titled “Eyewitness Baghdad”, filed from the Palestine Hotel, was part of the magazine’s “Shock and Awe” issue which won a coveted National Magazine Award that year.

The Progressive Dinner will be hosted at Black Sesame Kitchen, a special meal prepared by two top Chinese chefs in an open kitchen with well-paired wine.

“You will delight in this gastronomic meandering through the history of Beijing in the beautiful intimacy of a HouHai renovated courtyard.”

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2010
• Time: 6:30- Registration, 7:30 – Dinner
• Location: Black Sesame Kitchen
• Address: 3号 Heizhima Hutong, Dongcheng,Beijing, China  中国北京市东城区黑芝麻胡同3号 Map‎
• Tel: +86 136 9147 4408
• Cost: RMB 200 85 Broads Members / RMB 285 Non-Members  (advance purchase at Kocoon Spa or CC Sweets) Door: RMB 250 Members/RMB 335 Non-Members
• RSVP: Email: Beijing85Broads@gmail.com or contact Joy Bloser 158 1159 0368 or Eleanor Connolly 158 1018 9440
• Website: 85Broads.com

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

A global network of 25,000 trailblazing women, the “founding members” of 85 Broads were women who worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street, the investment banking firm’s former NYC headquarters. Over the past decade, 85 Broads expanded its membership to include women who are alumnae and students of the world’s leading colleges, universities, and graduate schools worldwide. Our members are located in 82 countries around the world and work for thousands of for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.

85 Broads ‘Entrepreneurship’ Progressive Dinner

To all of Beijing’s ambitious, motivated, talented and career-driven women -

The Beijing Chapter of 85 Broads is ringing in 2011 with a special Progressive Dinner at Purple Haze Courtyard this coming Tuesday, January 25 starting at 6:30PM.

85 Broads’ Progressive Dinners are ‘anchored’ by senior women who are leaders in their respective industries and have an interest in mentoring young talent.

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

This month’s progressive dinner will follow in the theme of Entrepreneurship – “to be bold and transform creativity into a daily business, an excellent resolution for 2011!” Join 85 Broads for an inspiring and engaging dinner introducing three dynamic Beijing entrepreneurs:

• Gwo Ying Lee, Founder of i-Xi, a bespoke wedding resource and women’s network in China
• Jen Lin Liu, Founder and Owner of Black Sesame Kitchen, cooking school and restaurant in Beijing
• Katy Sinnott, CEO of Eric Paris Salons, luxury salons in China

Purple Haze Courtyard

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, January 25
  
• Time: 6:30PM Registration, 7:30PM Dinner
• Price: 185 RMB / person
• RSVP Required, limited to seating 30pax (before Friday, January 21)
  
• Contact:  e-mail Beijing85Broads@gmail.com, call Joy Bloser +158.1159.0368  / Katherine Don +158 1018 9440
  
• Location: Purple Haze Courtyard
• Address:  1 Dongsiliutiao (at Chaoyangmenbei Xiaojie) 北京市东城区东四六条1号   T: 6501-9345  (MAP / 地图)

85 Broads is an exclusive global women’s network inspiring, empowering, and connecting smart women worldwide.

A global network of 25,000 trailblazing women, the “founding members” of 85 Broads were women who worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street, the investment banking firm’s former NYC headquarters. Over the past decade, 85 Broads expanded its membership to include women who are alumnae and students of the world’s leading colleges, universities, and graduate schools worldwide. Our members are located in 82 countries around the world and work for thousands of for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.

Even Cupid Has a Price: Charity Dating Auction

Spice up your winter blues with a Charity Dating Auction, raising money for the non-profit organization Compassion for Migrant Children.

20 of Beijing’s eligible bachelors/bachelorettes are auctioning themselves off all in the name of doing good and raising money for the children. And the actual dinner dates themselves are all sponsored by Beijing’s very generous, popular restaurants including Red Capital Club, Capital M, Kagen, Black Sesame Kitchen, Modo and Terra to name a few.

Bids start at RMB 100 per person and the highest bidder wins the highest value date, which is ride in Madame Mao’s limo followed by a dinner for two and two bottles of wine at Red Capital Club (valued at approx. RMB 3,300).

Proceeds from the auction and a portion of the bar proceeds will go to Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC), a local organization that provides social and educational programs for the children of migrant workers. For more information, check out their website, www.cmc-china.org .

If you’re going to put a price on a date, you minus well give it to a worthwhile cause, which in itself is priceless.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, November 20
• Time: 8:30PM (Auction Starts at 9:30PM)
• Location: Hercules
• Address: 2nd Floor of Tongli Studio, Sanlitun

Buy Your Tickets Now: Chi Fan for Charity 2010

Bringing together local opinion leaders, celebrities and other charitable-minded individuals to raise money for worthwhile philanthropic causes, Chi Fan for Charity is one of the strongest charity events of the year.

Last year, Chi Fan for Charity raised over RMB 100,000 for The Dandelion School, a non-profit middle school for children of low-income migrant families.This year, Chi Fan for Charity will support three local charities:  The Dandelion School, Prevention Through Education (HIV/AIDS Awareness) and Rural Women’s Charity.

Beijing’s top restaurants are each donating a table for ten valued at RMB 500-1000 per seat.  People who want to enjoy an exceptional meal while contributing to a worthwhile cause can sign up for a seat at their restaurant of choice or preferred table host and “eat for charity”.

Each guest is treated to a special set dinner menu with a table host who is engaging and dedicated to making a difference here in China.  Table hosts this year include the talented actor and film director Chen DaMing, Hatsune Restaurant Group owner Alan Wong, CCTV host James Chau, Bespoke Beijing Founder Sarah Keenlyside and AAB Founder Tom Pattinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer H.S. Liu and his partner, Chinese art expert Karen Smith, and PTE Founder Gabe Suk just to name a few.

After dinner, guests will be invited to the Chi Fan for Charity After Party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village, entertaining revelers with all-you-can-drink cocktails from 10PM-1AM and DJ Patrick Yu spinning jams into the small hours.

For those who would like to contribute without committing to a dinner seat, you can purchase a ticket for the after-party online (RMB 150 for advanced tickets or RMB 200 at the door).

Chi Fan for Charity Basic Breakdown:

• Beijing’s top restaurants are again being invited to donate a three-course meal for tables of ten hosted by the capital’s leading opinion makers and celebrities.
• Seats for the evenings of entertaining conversation and fine cuisine are sold publicly from 500RMB to 1,000RMB+ depending on the restaurant, with all proceeds going directly to three local charities.
• Last year’s inaugural event raised over 100,000RMB for The Dandelion School, a non-profit middle school for children of low-income migrant families. Two additional charities will benefit this year: the Aids-awareness organisation PTE China and the Cultural Development Center for Rural Women, a practical skills training centre in Changping district.
• Confirmed participating restaurants this year include Capital M, Green T House Living, Maison Boulud, Chef Too, Hatsune, Grange, Karaiya Spice House, Modo, Oden, Black Sesame Kitchen, Nola, Sureno, Bei, Cru Steakhouse, Jaan, Carmen, Vasco’s, Red Capital Club, ROOMbeijing, Duck de Chine, Taverna, Scarlett, Courtyard, Toro Bar and Kagen Teppanyaki.
• After the charity dinner, guests are invited to the Chi Fan for Charity ‘after party’ at Hatsune Sanlitun Village, entertaining revelers with their legendary cocktails and DJ Patrick Yu into the small hours.
• Supporters and friends can purchase tickets for the ‘after party’ alone at 150RMB advanced ticket sales or 180RMB at the door (gets you all-you-can-drink from 10PM-1AM).
• Tickets for both the dinners and after party will be on sale beginning October 16^th at the Chi Fan for Charity website: www.chifanforcharity.org.

Beijinger Restaurant Awards: Hatsune Wins Best Japanese 6 Years in a Row!

At theBeijinger’s Restaurant Awards on Tuesday, March 16, Hatsune took home Best Japanese for the 6th year in a row, along with Outstanding for Best Decor.

Congratulations to Alan Wong, owner of the Hatsune Empire, for holding it strong and staying at the top of the game 6 years running.

That’s gotta be a record!!

Owner of the Hatsune Empire, Alan Wong goes up on stage with baby Mason Wong to pick up his award for Best Japanese! 6 years in a row baby!

Other big winners from the awards ceremony include:

• SALT – Winner for Best Chef & Runner up for Best Business Lunch, Best Steak, Best Service, Restaurant of the Year
• Mosto – Runner Up for Best Chef, Best Business Lunch, Best Wine List, Best for a Romantic Meal, Restaurant of the Year
• Haidilao – Winner for Best HotPot, and Runner up for Best Service, Chinese Restaurant of the Year
• Da Dong – Winner for Best Contemporary Chinese, Best Duck, Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Chinese Restaurant of the Year
• Maison Boulud - Winner for Best French, Best for a Romantic Meal, Best Wine List, Best Service,  Best Western Restaurant of the Year

Complete list of all Beijinger Dining Awards Categories and Winners, click here.

Collecting Hatsune's Award for Best Japanese

LumDimSummary of Beijinger Restaurant Awards:

Best Part:

• iF Juice was a sponsor!  The most thirst-quenching, delicious fresh juice available in Beijing! I’m kind of obsessed.
• Alan Wong brought up baby Mason to collect his award for Best Japanese (6 years in a row!)
• Cheese by Yellow Valley Cheese is delicious
• Cherry flavored Beer
• Foodie Crowd Galore…or just PR people representing restaurants

Comments:

• Hosts were painfully bad.  Dominic Johnson-Hill of Plastered 8 T-shirts could not pronounce any names if his life depended on it and Ai Wan actually said, and I quote, “Wow! This is extraordinary a woman won Best Chef! Normally chefs are men.  Now, tell me Ana, how old are you?” Someone should censor that woman.
• Joy Luck provided no food for the event and it was just a very random location for a restaurant awards ceremony.

While many of the winners are very deserving of their awards, I was a disappointed to see Annie’s won Best Italian (come on people, it’s not best delivery service), Ganges for Best Indian (they just happen to have the best locations and marketing), and Element Fresh for Best American, Best Sandwiches, and Best Non-Hotel Brunch? I only approve of their smoothies and boycott the rest.

Beijinger’s Restaurant Award Winners vs. LumDimSum’s Votes:

• Best Contemporary Chinese – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Bei (Opposite House)
• Best Duck -Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Made in China
• Best Sichuan – Beijinger Winner: South Beauty, LumDimSum Vote: Chuan Ban
• Best Dim Sum – Beijinger Winner: Jin Ding Xuan, LumDimSum Vote: Jin Ding Xuan (Tuanjiehu)
  
• Best Hot Pot – Beijinger Winner: Haidilao, LumDimSum Vote: Haidilao
• Best Kung Pao Chicken – Beijinger Winner: South Beauty, LumDimSum Vote: Black Sesame Kitchen
• Best Xinjiang – Beijinger Winner: Red Rose, LumDimSum Vote: Crescent Moon
• Best Yunan – Beijinger Winner: Middle 8th Restaurant, LumDimSum Vote: Middle 8th Restaurant
• Best French- Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud
• Best Indian / Pakistani – Beijinger Winner: Ganges, LumDimSum Vote: Punjabi
• Best Italian -Beijinger Winner: Annie’s, LumDimSum Vote: Sadler Ristorante & Metro
  
• Best Japanese – Beijinger Winner: Hatsune, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune & Kagen Teppanyaki
• Best Mediterranean – Beijinger Winner: Sureno, LumDimSum Vote: Sureno
• Best Mexican – Beijinger Winner: Saddle Cantina, LumDimSum Vote: Pete’s Tex Mex
• Best Middle Eastern – Beijinger Winner: 1001 Nights, LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta
• Best Thai – Beijinger Winner: Purple Haze, LumDimSum Vote: Aroy-D (by Fulicheng)
• Best Vietnamese – Beijinger Winner: Muse, LumDimSum Vote: Luga’s Pho-Pho
• Best American – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill
• Best Business Lunch – Beijinger Winner: Alameda, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune
• Family-Friendly Restaurant – Beijinger Winner: Annie’s, LumDimSum Vote: Orchard
• Impressing Visitors – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Duck de Chine
• Best Brunch (Non-Hotel) – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: Orchard
• Best Hotel Brunch – Beijinger Winner: Westin Financial Street & Westin Chaoyang, LumDimSum Vote: Westin Chaoyang
• Best Pizza – Beijinger Winner: The Tree, LumDimSum Vote: The Tree
• Best Sandwiches – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: Sequoia Cafe
  
• Best Steak – Beijinger Winner: Meat & Wine Co., LumDimSum Vote: Meat & Wine Co.
• Best Tapas – Beijinger Winner: Olas Tapas Cafe, LumDimSum Vote: Mosaico
• Wine List – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Enoteca
• Best Burger – Beijinger Winner: Let’s Burger, LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill
• Best For a Romantic Meal – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Capital M
• Best Chef – Beijinger Winner: Ana Esteves – SALT, LumDimSum Vote: Max Levy – Bei/Apothecary
• Best Décor – Beijinger Winner: LAN, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune & Capital M
• Best Service – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud
• Restaurant of the Year (Chinese) – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Made in China
• Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese) – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

Black Sesame Kitchen: The Not-So-Secret Hidden Gem

A lot of people have heard of Black Sesame Kitchen’s fun and interactive cooking classes or wine ‘n dine dinner parties, but not so many people know that once a month, Black Sesame Kitchen will host a special 10-course traditional Chinese meal + all-you-can-drink quality wine for RMB 150 per person. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Black Sesame Kitchen may not be listed among CityWeekend’s Gourmet Month Restaurants, but it may as well be, considering how incredibly awesome this steal of a bargain is!

Hosted by my very favorite event manager, Candice Lee aka C-dice, she really does wonders for this little hutong kitchen. Considering she knows EVERYONE in Beijing, there is always a fully-booked table with all the cool kids in town (foodies who know where it’s at).

This special deal only occurs once a month (typically the first Wednesday of every month), but the cooking classes are a ton of fun and Black Sesame Kitchen is the perfect destination to impress out-of-towners and host private dinner parties whether its a birthday, corporate event or wine tasting.

Black Sesame Kitchen Review: Off of Nanluoguxiang (turn when you see Log-in Bar), 黑芝麻胡同3号  Tel: 136-9147-4408

Best Part:

• You can indulge in an amazing 10-course meal PLUS all-you-can-drink QUALITY wine for only RMB 150 (special price available once a month)
• Best dessert EVER: Candied Apples Chilled in Vanilla Ice Cream
• Everything is cooked right in front of you, making for a really interactive dining experience – Chairman Wang is a culinary genius
• The wine selection is always superb in taste and quality
• The service is the best (C-dice is the perfect host, always on top of her game)
• A great option to host private dinner parties for a group of friends and the cooking classes are really great (*think birthday present for someone who loves cooking and good food).
• It’s a great place to bring friends or to meet new friends (always a great dining crowd of foodies who share the love for good food and wine)

Comments:

• Incredibly tricky to find if it’s your first time (but I promise you it’s worth the extra effort – just carefully follow the directions they send to you)
• You need to learn to pace yourself and prepare for heaps of food that seems to never stop coming (my first time, I made the terrible mistake of overloading on the first dishes and was stuffed by the 5th course – reminder: there are 10! And trust me, you’ll want to save room for their dessert)

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

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

Best for First

I’ve always been the type of person who likes to save the best for last.

Maybe it’s just me, but I always like knowing that the best is yet to come and when that moment arrives, I like to savor it and make it last as long as possible.

Back in April, I managed to gorge myself with about 20 gourmet month meals in 30 days.  And out of those 20 meals, the general consensus agreed the best value and our overall favorite meal was at Kagen.

Some of the other restaurants may have been newer, trendier, fancier, better customer service, etc., but when it came down to the food quality, quantity and overall dining experience, Kagen blew our expectations.

With the start of November, I was pumped for Gourmet Month all over again.

Initially, I wanted to try out a new restaurant: perhaps Olas Tapas Cafe as it is conveniently located in Sanlitun (my home away from home) but my foodies crew was all about Kagen again.  Normally I would want to save Kagen for last, but with 30 days and about 15 restaurants I’m set to dine at this time around, I’ve got room for Kagen at least twice this month (one BBQ set & one hot pot set).

For only 150RMB, the deal is ridiculous! (I honestly recommend that two girls can share one meal, it’s that much food!)  But if you are someone like me, with a healthy appetite, then you will leave stuffed…and your stomach expanded to its brink.

Here’s the breakdown:

Assorted Appetizer Platter – Seared Beef Carpaccio, Roasted Bacon and Asparagus Roll, Stir-fry gobo, Tobiko Salad, Calamari

Assorted BBQ Combo Course – Short Ribs, Rib Eye, Yakitori, Jumbo Butter Prawns

Or

Assorted Hot Pot Combo Course – Sliced Rib-eye, Fish & Shrimp Balls, Sliced Salmon, Sea Conch, and Assorted Mushrooms

Stone Rice Bowl with Vegetables

Miso Soup

Mousse and Ice Cream Dessert

**I recommend the BBQ combo if you had to choose one, but both are bomb. And most likely you will go with more than one person, so have someone else get the hot pot and share. 

And Oh my goodness, the ice cream dessert is heaven.  I would advise to go for the chocolate as it’s creamy and rich (the strawberry was more like a sorbet than ice cream).

With all of us foodies just sticking to the BBQ this time, we’ll be back at least once more for the Hot Pot and then again to keep our taste buds happy.

Next Stop:

Tuesday, Nov. 3rd: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill (to introduce a few foodies to the best burger in town)

Wednesday, Nov. 4th:  Gourmet Month Break – Black Sesame Kitchen’s Wine ‘n Dine Special (10 course meal & all-you-can-drink wine for only RMB 150)

Thursday, Nov. 5th: Olas Tapas Cafe - new restaurant I have yet to try.

For the rest of the month, here are my top 10 picks:

• Bei – Most amazing looking menu
• Mare’s - I want to check out the new location
• Hatsune – The Q Roll alone is worth going for
• SALT – I want to try both their lunch & dinner menu
• Oden – Perfect remedy to the bitter cold winter weather
• Enoteca – Great meal WITH a glass of wine
• Meat & Wine Co. – One of my favorites from last April’s Gourmet Month
• Za’atar – Very unique menu in comparison to the rest (but in Shunyi)
• Morel’s - One of Beijing’s oldest restaurants that I have yet to try
• Haiku – Menu is totally different from Hatsune and it’s just next door to my home

Comments:

• From my experiences last April, I try to avoid most hotel restaurants, which have all been very, very empty.  It’s creepy to be the only people dining in a restaurant.  Exception may be to try Tamarind, who’s menu is pretty impressive (not to mention extensive) and reviews have been well received.  Plus, I love good Indian food.
• Brasserie Flo offers a generous menu (I tried last April), but the decor was pretty tacky and the food wasn’t enough to bring me back a second time around.
• I automatically boycott any restaurant that charges RMB 250 for chicken as the main entree.  *Ahem* Astor Grill.  Weak Sauce.
• I’m disappointed Mosto upped their price from 150 to 250 and the selection is quite minimal compared to last time around. Isn’t the point of Gourmet Month to provide good value and impress first-timers to return? Bummer.

*Originally I had planned to create a calendar with designated Gourmet Month Menu days, but I can’t seem to plan more than 4 days ahead.  From reading this entry, you know my top targets, so just shoot me an e-mail if you want me to include you/notify you when I decide to go to the restaurant you want to try too.  As always, the more the merrier.   kristen@lumdimsum.com

If You Like It Hot

With Beijing’s sudden drop in temperature, what’s better than a spicy meal to warm your winter blues?

If you’re like me and you crave meals filled with flavor and spice, here’s a breakdown of some of my top picks for different styles of cuisine, known to make you sweat:

1. Best Sichuan – known for its liberal use of garlic, chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns which produces a “tingly-numbing (Ma La)” sensation, unique to Sichuan cuisine.

• Chuan Ban
• Yu Xin
• The Sichuan Restaurant in Solana by Tsingtao Brewery (forgot name)
• Black Sesame Kitchen
  

  Karaiya's Spicy Pepper Diced Rib Eye

2. Best Hunan – As spicy as Sichuan, but without the numbing sensation. Hunan’s spice is much more flavorful

• Karaiya Spice House

4. Best Hot Pot – An interactive, dining experience- you get to cook raw food in a boiling stew (opt for the spicy one)

• Hai Di Lao
• Hot Pot on Gui Jie
• Xiabu Xiabu – a reliable chain of hot pot restaurants

5. Best Yunan – Spices are not as dominant or as intense as Sichuan or Hunan, but many dishes are quite spicy and diverse.

• Middle 8th 中8楼 – nice decor and good food with low prices.  I’m quite addicted to their rice wine, and I love that it comes in a big bamboo container.   Always a good option for guests or a casual lunch with friends.

6. Best Indian – One of the most popular cuisines around the globe, known for its abundance use of spices and herbs, with signature curry dishes.

• Mughal’s (Indian/Pakistani)
• Ganges
• Punjabi
• Hazara (in Face Bar)

7. Best Thai – Known for being spicy and hot, the heat is also combined with flavors that are sour, sweet or bitter.  I particularly like the combination of coconut milk in Thai soups and curries.

• Aroy-D (Shuangjing/Fulicheng Area) – where I was first introduced to Thai cuisine
• Purple Haze
• Lantung Thai Bar & Bistro
• Very Siam