AnyShopStyle.cn: Chinese New Year Shopping Treat

In the spirit of celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year, AnyShopStyle.cn is giving away RMB 200 to shop online with purchases of their featured designers’ collections.  Just type in the code “wSdaxN” and you get RMB 200 discount on any purchase!

 From Non-Season’s winter accessories to Wear-and-Tear’s “Knit Fever” collection, Luvon by Luliu’s capsule coat collection and candy&caviar’s Autumn/Winter collection, there’s a ton of great buys and with the promotion only running from January 20-31st, you better hurry while supplies last!

Shop Non-Season’s Winter Accessories on AnyShopStyle.cn

 Shop Xander Zhou on AnyShopStyle.cn

A Very Merry LumDimSum Christmas

California is about 16 hours behind Beijing, so please forgive the belated post, but after a peek into my very merry Christmas, I hope that perhaps you’ll understand why I’ve been distracted.

LumDimSum Snapshots of My Christmas Day:

My LumDimSum Family

Christmas Gifts All Around – candy&caviar for Everyone!

LDS Christmas Feast:

I hope all of you had a memorable day surrounded by people you love, good food and if you were nice this year, I hope Santa brought you what you wished for!

Merry Christmas!

LumDimSum Discovery: Punjabi’s Ginger Garlic Soup

Punjabi’s Manchu Shorba – Ginger Garlic Manchow Soup (RMB 28)

WARNING my fellow Beijingers: This Thursday, Beijing’s weather forecast predicts temperatures to drop to -11 degrees Celsius.

That is scary cold, but with enough layers/puffer jackets together with enough hours of sleep and an appropriate diet, you should be able to prepare your body for the dramatic drop in temperature.

What’s a proper diet for cold weather?  Probably lay off the ice cream and other cold treats and stick to foods that will warm you up like hot pot and soups.

I recently discovered Punjabi’s Manchu Shorba, ie Ginger Garlic Manchow Soup (RMB 28) last week when I went to meet owner Gireesh Chowdhury with his recent order of candy&caviar’s webstore exclusives.  I was exhausted from lack of sleep, stress and all the things that come from a busy work week and it was clearly written all over my face because as soon as I walked into his restaurant, Gireesh ordered this soup for me straight away and I’ve got to hand it to him as it immediately warmed me up inside out and that night, I slept like a baby.

Thanks to this amazing Garlic Ginger Soup, I was able to get through the rest of the week and make sure everything was in order for my BICCO and Kagen Christmas Charity dinner last Saturday night (which was a HUGE success! – stay tuned for event pics and summary)

Packed with heavy doses of garlic, ginger, and vegetables, this chunky soup is packed with germ-fighting ingredients to boost your immunity system and get you through Beijing’s cold winter months.

“Of all the soups on my menu, this is the one that’s best for winter. It’s got ginger, garlic, veggies, black pepper and a dash of mint – a perfect cure for winter blues.” – Gireesh Chowdhury, owner of Punjabi Restaurant

Finally, medicine that actually tastes good! Well, it’s not technically medicine and as it’s not actually something doctors will prescribe to their patients with colds, but maybe they should!  Anyway, it really did work for me so I figured it would be beneficial to share this dish with my LDS readers and hopefully it will cure your winter blues too!

If you happen to be a vampire/someone who can’t handle garlic, then my second choice on Punjabi’s soup menu is their Tamatar Ka Shorba, ie Tomato Soup (RMB 28). It’s different from your typical rich and creamy American-style tomato soup because it’s a lot lighter with less cream.

“Punjabi’s tomato soup has no cornflour, no additives, just pure, fresh tomatoes with a dash of white pepper and cream.” – Gireesh on his tomato soup

Punjabi’s Tamatar Ka Shorba, ie Tomato Soup (RMB 28)

Next time you are dining in Punjabi, you must also try my all-time favorite Indian dish – Punjabi’s Baingan Bharta Dish, made from mashed chargrilled whole eggplant with fresh tomatoes and zero oil.

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just search tagged “LumDimSum Discovery” articles for more recommendations.

Punjabi Indian Restaurant Contact Details:

• Address: Located on Lucky Street, opposite 21st Century Hotel, 朝阳公园路C-8号二层

• Tel: 5867-0221/23

• Email:  punjabibj@gmail.com

• Website: www.punjabichina.com

candy&caviar: New Webstore Exclusives Online

Trick or Treat you ask?

candy&caviar is treating ALL LDS Readers to BUY-ONE-GET-ONE-FREE COUPON to the launch of their new webstore exclusives!

Coupon Code: C&CLOVESLDS

Coupon valid until end of November 2011.

I swear this is NOT a trick.  Just see for yourself – CLICK HERE TO VIEW CANDY&CAVIAR’S NEW WEBSTORE EXCLUSIVES. (*Note: coupon only applies to new webstore exclusives and make sure to click “APPLY CODE” at the end of your order.)

Introducing candy&caviar’s new webstore exclusives at their online store.

Click here to watch video on Vimeo (if you are watching from outside of China).

Check out candy&caviar’s new men’s pieces here:

Some of LDS’s Top Picks:

The Robbie Beanie (Grey) and Kennedy Flannel Shirt (Grey/Purple)

Turner Shirt (Blue/Grey)

Kennedy Flannel Shirt (Blue/Red):

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905 Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

candy&caviar is Pure Genius

“…For Best Results Dry Clean or Just Savor the Sweet Smell of Your Sweat and Never Wash this Piece of Art.”

“100% Cashmere. Do Not Wash the Sweetness Away”

candy&caviar essentially is a brilliant piece of art – every article, every collection, every season.

I really couldn’t say it better myself.

Entirely unique, this fashion label is exploding with personality and I’ve got to admit that their recent turn from dark and serious to sarcastic, outlandish humor is a nice change of pace.

Currently revamping and updating their web store, soon candy&caviar’s fanatics can soon put an end to their wait and finally buy, touch, wear, display “the real deal”. Stay tuned for website exclusives and coupon codes.

Well done, candy&caviar.  You are like a dream come true.

Fashion Frenzy: AnyWearStyle.com has Launched!

“We’re dedicated to bringing you the hottest local fashion and design from China with an international perspective. Global fashion insiders from Paris, Milan, London and New York are also waiting to share with you the very latest news and trends.”

A new China-centric fashion website AnyWearStyle.com has just launched and it’s focus is “cutting-edge, emerging designers alongside up-to-the-minute insights into the burgeoning mainland market”.

If you are a fashion designer, boutique owner or just a fashion fanatic, you’ll want to subscribe to AnyWearStyle.com for the inside-scoop!

Follow their news on Weibo @AnyWearStyle and Twitter @AnyWearStyle.

ANYWEARSTYLE Trend Report: New York Fashion Week

AnyWearStyle.com is also launching its online boutique AnyShopStyle.com exclusively at Time Out Beijing’s fashion pop-up shop (part of Beijing Design Week) where they will be sharing a retro industrial space with the city’s best names in shopping and style.

To kick off proceedings, it has brought the latest collection from London-based surrealist designer Yang Du.

As well as ogling Yang’s zany designs, you will also have the opportunity to order a large selection of other designers’ clothes including one of my all-time favorite fashion labels - candy&caviar from the online store, AnyShopStyle.com.

Introducing candy&caviar’s SS12 Collection

TA-DAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

candy&caviar’s Spring/Summer 2012 Collection aka The Holy Grail of Fabulous Fashion has been completed!!

(and LumDimSum is very proud to have exclusive previewing rights!)

Inspired by The American Classic, candy&caviar combines American retro and street chic for Spring 2012 to produce a collection that is impeccably tailored and down-right fantabulous (it’s so friggin’ awesome, I have no choice but to create my own vocabulary to describe this spectacular collection).

LDS Top Picks of candy&caviar’s SS 2012 Collection:

Bruce: Black Hooded Windbreaker with Jackson: Grey Linen Shorts

Trey: Grey Cotton Knit with Bradford: Ivory Tweed Blazer and Palmer: Ivory Tweed Cuffed Shorts

Andreas: Blue Checkered Button-Down with Joshua: Black Buttoned Knit

…if you think this is impressive, just wait til you get to see the entire collection!

Rumor on the Street:

candy&caviar is working on putting together a sweet little celebration in their showroom mid-July featuring a exclusively-made summer pieces not available for purchase elsewhere.

Stay tuned for details soon to come!!

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905 Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

Make Me Beautiful: candy&caviar Women’s FW 2011

Using beautiful merino wool and 100% wool fabrics together with form-flattering cuts, candy&caviar’s FW Women’s collection is stunning to say the least.

A mixture of high culture and street style, here are a handful of my top picks from this collection -

Dawson Sweater Top / Veronika Dress / Hayden Grey Hoodie

Paige Skirt / Hayden Black Hoodie Dress / Paulina Dress

See candy&caviar’s full FW 2011 Women’s Collection here.

candy&caviar’s FW Women’s 2011 Ad Campaign:

*Click here to watch video on Vimeo (if you are outside of China)

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905

Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

One Pretty Badass Collection: candy&caviar FW 2011

LumDimSum gets you an exclusive sneak peak of candy&caviar’s newest FW 2011 Women’s collection.

Sharp and tasteful, candy&caviar’s FW 2011 Collection is an absolute explosion of creative fabric combinations and meticulous design details.

Cut from the same high-quality fabrics, both the newest women’s and men’s candy&caviar collections share a common feature of bold, striking pieces from their signature hooded outerwear jackets and blazers to fitted sweaters and pants for one overall badass collection.

Full complete FW 2011 Men’s, check out link here.  Stand-outs include 100% wool double-layer peacoat, 100% merino wool hoodies and a recreation of candy&caviar’s signature hooded blazer.

candy&caviar’s women’s collection is due to be released later this week and expect nothing less of awesomeness.

LumDimSummary: IWD Cocktail Benefit 2011

This past Friday night, March 8, 2011 saw another hugely successul International Women’s Day Benefit by Jo Ling Kent and a band of incredibly passionate and inspirational women who have devoted much of their time and energy into this project in a joint effort to gather Beijing’s foremost community and business leaders to raise both awareness and funds for China Education Initiative (CEI), an innovative non-profit organization raising awareness about education inequality in China and support the empowerment of young women in academics.

There were a number of goods and packages sponsored for their silent auction (beautiful bags by D-SATA, jewelry by Belita, dinner packages from restaurants like Kagen, Nola, etc.), spa and beauty packages, hats by Elizabeth Koch, a jacket by candy&caviar, Plastered T-shirts, cooking classes and other fun activity packages by Bespoke Beijing, Red Box China and Beijing Hikers to name a few.

In addition to these items, there were also 11 generous mentors who sponsored both their time, wisdom and guidance over a Mentorship Lunch including industry leaders like Elizabeth Haenle – Former Social Secretary and Residence Manager to the Vice President of the United States, Victor Koo – CEO of Youku.com, Barbara Demick – LA Times Beijing Bureau Chief and Author of Nothing to Envy, Scott Kronick – President of Ogilvy North Asia, and Alan Wong – Owner and Restauranteur of the Hatsune Group.

Overall, it was a beautiful cocktail benefit with a turn out of over 300 people, one of the best silent auction selections I’ve come across (I think I placed bids on over 10 items!), an impressive list of industry professionals and leaders in the Beijing community as mentors and an inspiring speech by Wu Qing – Member of the People’s Congress & Teacher at Rural Women Training School.

With donations still coming in, IWD Benefit should have a final count of total donations by the end of this week (will keep you posted).  For now, they have already surpassed their fundraising record from last year (RMB 100,000) which means fully funding at least 2 female CEI teaching fellows (one American and one Chinese).  Photos and videos will also be posted on their website later today.

LumDimSum Snapshots of IWD 2011′s Silent Auction:

LumDimSum Snapshots of International Women’s Day 2011:

…and my favorite photo of the night?

The Love of My Life: Mr. Mason Wong

candy&caviar: Men’s FW 2011 at MRKET LV

Sharp and tasteful, candy&caviar’s FW Men’s 2011 Collection is an absolute explosion of creative fabric combinations and meticulous design details.

Stand-outs include 100% wool double-layer peacoat, 100% merino wool hoodies and a recreation of candy&caviar’s signature hooded blazer.

Featured designer at MRKET Las Vegas at the Sands Expo (The Venetian), candy&caviar exhibited this newest collection just this past week:

Check Out candy&caviar’s Men’s FW 2011 Behind-the-Scenes:

*Click here to watch video on Vimeo (if you are outside of China)

Stay tuned for the Women’s FW 2011 Collection soon to come…

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905

Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

candy&caviar’s Debut Fashion Show in Shanghai

In front of an audience of over 400 guests, candy&caviar’s Spring 2011 Fashion Show Debut at M1NT (Shanghai) showcased their most recent collection of dark, edgy, striking pieces that highlight her label’s close attention to detail and choice of smooth fabrics and form-fitting cuts.

candy&caviar’s women’s line featured a range of both short and long dresses, rompers and skirts along with their signature hooded vests, blazers and zippper cardigans.

The men’s line ranged from sleeveless botton-downs and hooded vests to long-sleeve dress shirts and hooded blazers paired with the Elliot bow-tie.

Inspired by the beauty of black & white movies, candy&caviar’s Spring ’11 collection exudes a new air of dark sophistication and bold confidence.

Hosted at M1NT (Shanghai) with DJ Saul D on the decks with a smashing after-party, this fashion show marked candy&caviar’s debut in Shanghai.

Fashion Show Runway Pics of candy&caviar’s Women’s Line:

Simona Grey Dress/Valentina Silk Long Dress/Renee Black Romper

Ava Silk Double Layer Dress/Elsa Open-Back Taupe Dress/Daniella Grey Silk Romper

Fashion Show Runway Pics of candy&caviar’s Men’s Line:

Behind-the-Scenes Snapshots:

Fashion Show After-Party Snapshots:

candy&caviar Showroom Address:

北京市朝阳区建国路 89号华贸商务楼4号楼1905室

China Central Place, Building 4, Suite 1905

Beijing, China

www.candyandcaviar.com

Check out the Official candy&caviar Spring 2010 video below:

Hatsune Contest Winners Announced!

Out of the 15 entries I received, Alan and I decided there were too many good creations to choose from so we selected our top 5 favorite.

Officially introduced at Hatsune’s EPIC 9 Year Anniversary Party last night, let me announce the winning sushi rolls from Hatsune’s sushi roll contest.

A BIG thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their genius creations, and for anyone who has always wanted to make their dream roll a reality, feel free to submit me more suggestions as we will continue to add to Hatsune’s ever-growing list of delicious sushi rolls. (contact me directly: kristen@lumdimsum.com).  Winning roll creations will be rewarded with a complimentary dinner for two including your new creation, RMB 1,000 Hatsune gift card and a lifetime of bragging rights.

Without further ado, let me present these incredible new additions to Hatsune’s new menu (in no particular order as each of these creations are all winners!):

1.  Flory Hand Roll by Charles Chan

Shiso mint leaf, scorched salmon and raw quail egg with black tobiko

Flory Hand Roll is made for an adventurous palate

2. Megatron Roll by Lisa Qin

Tempura jalapeno, spicy tuna, masago topped with avocado, chopped spicy unagi and shichimi chili powder

Megatron guarantees to knock your senses out with some serious spice!

3.   candy&caviar Roll by Candy Lin

A creation by candy&caviar fashion label: deep fried sweet potato, crab salad, avocado and cucumber topped with yellowtail, wasabi mayo and caviar

candy&caviar roll is the perfect balance of playful purity and dark sophistication

4. Maximus Prime Roll by Maxime Pourrat

Prime Rib Steak Tartare and avocado rolled with sweet amaebi shrimp sashimi

Upgraded Deluxe Version: Kobe beef steak tartare and avocado rolled with live lobster sashimi

Maximus Prime is the ultimate roll that will take you to the max!

5. Lollipop Handroll Trio by Lexie Morris

#1: Filled with sweet coconut rice and slices of mango and papaya, garnished with twists of lime and grated coconut

#2: Filled with black sesame ice cream, garnished with toasted black sesame seeds and sliced kiwi

#3: 2 blended mini vanilla cupcakes with lollipop garnish

Hatsune Winners from L to R: Lexie, Charles, Max, Candy & Lisa

candy&caviar Spring 2011 Fashion Show: M1NT (SH)

candy&caviar Spring 2011 Fashion Show

Wednesday, September 1

M1NT, Shanghai

Showcasing candy&caviar’s new Spring 2011 Collection with a proper debut on the runway, this event will be featuring a different side to candy&caviar.  Inspired by the beauty of black & white movies, this new collection exudes a new air of dark sophistication and bold confidence.

In contrast to candy&caviar’s previous F/W 2010 Collection (click here for fashion show review) featuring bright colors and a lot of silk fabrics for a vibrant, glamorous touch, this new collection goes back to the basics of black and grey with hints of khaki and white combined with details of edgy style and boldness.

Hosted by candy&caviar & M1NT (Shanghai), the candy&caviar Spring 2011 Fashion Show begins at 9PM.

To RSVP and reserve your seat, please contact: pr@candyandcaviar.com

• Location: M1NT in Shanghai
• Date: Wednesday, September 1
• Time: 9PM
• Attire: Cocktail
• RSVP: pr@candyandcaviar.com

Check out candy&caviar’s Behind-the-Scenes Photoshoot for this Spring 2011 Collection:

candy&caviar Spring 2011 from candy&caviar on Vimeo.

*Note: video can only be viewed with VPN.

candy&caviar’s Spring 2011 Sneak Peak

candy&caviar’s Spring/Summer 2011 Collection can be described as dark, edgy, bold and mysterious.

Inspired by the beauty of black & white movies, this new collection is quite different from their previous collections.

In contrast to candy&caviar’s previous F/W 2010 Collection (click here for fashion show review) featuring bright colors and a lot of silk fabrics for a vibrant, glamorous touch, this new collection goes back to the basics of black and grey with hints of khaki and white.

Exuding a new air of dark sophistication and bold confidence, here is just a taste of candy&caviar’s S/S 2011 Collection.

Stay tuned for more to come!