BJ FoODiES: ‘Teach’ Fiesta Charity Dinner at Casa Latina

Get ready foodies, BJ FoODiES July dinner will be more than just a charity dinner, it’s going to be a Fiesta!

Casa Latina is hands-down my top pick in Beijing for authentic Mexican. As Founder & Organizer Xixi Cheng says it best - “You won’t find no Taco bell Chihuahua’s here, this eatery is straight up mexicano & serves some lethal drinks to match.”

RMB 120 gets you a Fiesta dinner + Cuban ‘bucanero’ (Beer/Margarita/Soft Drink).

RSVP asap with the BJ FoODiES team: bjfoodies@gmail.com

“Be warned….consumption of tequila shots, pitchers of margaritas, sangria, cuban beer will be encouraged. VAMANOS DE FIESTA!!!”

RMB 120 includes Fiesta Dinner + Cuban Beverage

MEXICAN FIESTA!!!

“ENTRADAS”

Home made Guacamoles
Avocado sauce with lime & fresh cilantro

“PLATO PRINCIPALES”

Moros Y Crstianos
Mexican white rice stewed w/ Black Beans

Burrito Norteno
Flour tortilla stuffed w/ Ropa Vieja & Refried Beans

Entomatadas
Corn wrap filled w/ beef & tomato sauce & gratin cheese

Enmoladas
Corn wrap w/ chicken covered in dark Mole sauce

+ Glass of Cuban ‘BUCANERO’ Beer / Margarita / Softdrink

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, July 17, 2011
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: Casa Latina
• Address: Solana Bar Street, Bldg 8, Unit 3, 6 Chaoyang Park Road, 朝阳公园路6号, Solana蓝色港湾商业区8号楼3单元
• Cost: RMB 120 includes ‘Fiesta’ dinner menu + drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team – bjfoodies@gmail.com

July Charity Theme: ‘Teach’

Established in 2008, Teach For China (TFC) is inspired by the vision that one day, all Chinese children will have access to a quality education.  Teach For China takes a unique approach to eliminating educational inequity by enlisting the US and China’s most promising future leaders in the effort.  In partnership with the global network Teach For All (www.teachforall.org), Teach For China recruits, selects, trains, and supports outstanding US and Chinese graduates to work side-by-side to deliver an excellent education in high poverty, rural Chinese communities.

For more information: http://www.tfchina.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

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

Round 2: Casa Latina

After a glorious dining experience at Casa Latina in April’s CW Gourmet Month, I’ve been aching for a return to Beijing’s most authentic Mexican restaurant, Casa Latina.

The first time around, I was blown away by the Crema Poblana (RMB 48) and their Sopesitos (RMB 48).  The Sopesitos were definitely the highlight of my meal and the Crema Poblana soup was the perfect creamy texture and I loved the rich, spicy flavor.

And to think that I got an amazing 4-course set menu for only RMB 99, it was such a steal. I was very happy to find that they still offer a special summer 4-course set menu for RMB 99 (includes: Starter – Mexican Salad; Soup – Fideo Soup; Main Course – Burritos Nortenos; Dessert – Arroz con Leche).

Normally I would have been up for this set meal, but there have been a few items off the menu that I’ve been dying to try. To start, I ordered the Aztec Soup (RMB 68) – a rich combination of tomato and pepper chunks of cheese and avocado and topped with tortilla strips. While the Aztec Soup was smoky with a nice spicy kick to it, I prefer the creamy texture of the Crema Poblana.

I ordered the Enchiladas Verdes (RMB 85) which were a bit dry and could have used more sauce, but still a million times better than enchiladas anywhere else, which are normally just drenched in oil and fat. And it was so satisfying to devour something that really is as authentic as you get in Beijing.

I also sampled my friend’s Flautas de Papa, which reminded me of bigger Sopesitos, but stuffed with mashed potatoes.  It was definitely filling and satisfying, but as with the Enchiladas Verdes, should also be served with more sauce and their homemade guacamole would be a nice touch too…But maybe then I’m just asking for too much.  And while they were delicious, they did not look like the photo shown in the menu at all (which looked like enchiladas drenched in a green sauce). Here is a more accurate photo.

Casa Latina: Located across from Invito on Solana Bar Street (down the road from All-Star), 6 Chaoyang Park Road, 朝阳公园路6号, Solana蓝色港湾商业区8号楼3单元; Tel: 5905-6201; Daily Hours: 6PM-2AM

For LumDimSum’s First Review of Casa Latina, click here.

CW Reader’s Choice Awards vs. LumDimSum

Unlike theBeijinger and Time Out magazines, CityWeekend lumps both the Dining & Nightlife Award Categories into one evening rather than split it up into two events. And for the first time this year, CityWeekend changed it up and actually kept the vote count visible to the public and made sure that every voter had a validated CW User Name Account.

If you are interested in comparing results, check out theBeijinger Restaurant Awards Breakdown posted here.  Time Out’s Restaurant Awards Breakdown is posted here.

I unfortunately was not in Beijing to attend the CityWeekend’s awards ceremony at Brasserie Flo, but word on the street was that it was packed and the turn-out was impressive.

If you haven’t seen the results already, here is a LumDimSummary Breakdown of all the winners in both the Restaurant & Bar Awards Categories:

CityWeekend’s Awards for Best Dining Categories:

• Best New Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Tamarind

  • LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

• Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: SALT

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

• Chinese Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Zen5es

  • LumDimSum Vote: Karaiya Spice House

• Most Romantic:

  • CW Winner: Jaan

  • LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

• Best Value:

  • CW Winner: Kiosk

  • LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

• Chef of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Mario Cittadini

  • LumDimSum Vote: Max Levy – Bei/Apothecary

• Best Service:
  

  • CW Winner: Maison Boulud

  • LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud

• Best Mexican/Tex-Mex:

  • CW Winner: Casa Latina

  • LumDimSum Vote: Casa Latina

• Best Italian:
  

  • CW Winner: Prego

  • LumDimSum Vote: Metro

• Best Japanese:

  • CW Winner: Nishimura

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

• Best French:

  • CW Winner: Maison Boulud

  • LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud

• Best Thai:

  • CW Winner: Purple Haze

  • LumDimSum Vote: Aroy-D (by Fulicheng)

• Best American:

  • CW Winner: Chef Too

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Indian:

  • CW Winner: Mughal’s

  • LumDimSum Vote: Punjabi

• Best Middle-Eastern:

  • CW Winner: 1001 Nights

  • LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

• Best Beijing Duck:

  • CW Winner: Fat Duck

  • LumDimSum Vote: Made in China (Grand Hyatt)

• Best Hot Pot:

  • CW Winner: Ding Ding Xiang

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hai Di Lao

• Best Burger:

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Pizza:

  • CW Winner: The Tree

  • LumDimSum Vote: The Tree

• Best Dessert:

  • CW Winner: Din Tai Fung

  • LumDimSum Vote: Comptoirs de France

• Best Steakhouse:

  • CW Winner: Grange (Westin Chaoyang)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Meat & Wine Co. (but it’s closed now)    I will need to find a new favorite steakhouse…
    

• Best Wine Selection:

  • CW Winner: Enoteca

  • LumDimSum Vote: Palette Vino

• Best Buffet:

  • CW Winner: Seasonal Tastes

  • LumDimSum Vote: Westin Chaoyang

• Best Sunday Brunch:

  • CW Winner: Bubbalicious (Westin Chaoyang)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Orchard

• Best for Families:

  • CW Winner: Din Tai Fung, Seasonal Tastes (Tie)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Orchard

CityWeekend’s Awards for Best Bar/Club Categories:

• Club of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Mix

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Bar of the Year:
  

  • CW Winner: Apothecary

  • LumDimSum Vote: Apothecary

• Nightlife Newcomer of the Year:

  • CW Winner: White Rabbit

  • LumDimSum Vote: Fubar

• Best Local Band of the Year:

  • CW Winner: The Redbucks

  • LumDimSum Vote:  The Redbucks

• Beijing-Based DJ of the Year:

  • CW Winner: DJ Blackie

  • LumDimSum Vote:  DJ KEZA

• Best Alfresco Drinking:

  • CW Winner: XIU

  • LumDimSum Vote: Q Bar

• Best Live Music:

  • CW Winner: Mao Live House

  • LumDimSum Vote: Yugong Yishan

• Best Cocktails:

  • CW Winner: Mix-The Westin Beijing Chaoyang

  • LumDimSum Vote: Glen

• Best Place for Singles:

  • CW Winner: Mix

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Best for Dancing:

  • CW Winner: GT Banana

  • LumDimSum Vote: BLING

• Best Sports Bar:
  

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Hardest Bar to Find:

  • CW Winner: Fubar Peking

  • LumDimSum Vote: Club Obiwan

• Best Pub Grub:
  

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Fruit Plate:

  • CW Winner: Destination

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Best Promoter:

  • CW Winner: Street Hustle Promotions

  • LumDimSum Vote: Acupuncture

Mi Casa es Tu Casa: Casa Latina

Authentic Mexican food has FINALLY arrived to Beijing!! I have really missed good Mexican food since El Fogoncito closed in Wanda plaza (such a shame) but everything about Casa Latina is an absolute delight and the food is no exception.

CityWeekend made it easy with the ordering. Casa Latina’s CW Gourmet Month Set Menu (RMB 99) offered four courses which left us happy Humpty Dumpties stuffed to the brim. If there was a wall, we definitely would have had a great fall.

For the first course, we started off with tasty Sopesitos (normal price: RMB 48) – 3 crunchy mini-corn tarts topped with refried beans, shredded chicken, fresh lettuce a la Julienne, sour cream, cheese and served with spicy salsa verde that gave the perfect amount of kick. The combination of rich flavors and textures all complimented each other perfectly.  I highly recommend ordering this dish either as an appetizer or the perfect compliment to accompany your Latin cocktail (they have a long list to choose from).

Casa Latina's Superb Sopesitos

Crema Poblana Soup

Next, they served Crema Poblana soup (normal price: RMB 48). Never have I had such a thick, spicy cream-based soup! Made from roasted poblano peppers, the Crema Poblana is also served with mini squares of cheese and corn kernels.

The main course was Traditional Fajitas (normal price RMB 98) – a massive skillet filled with pinto beans on one side and the other half with strips of beef tenderloin on a mound of onions and peppers. The best part – it came with homemade real corn tortillas and freshly made guacamole! While the fajitas were big in portion with a lot of flavor, I thought it was a bit on the dry side. Next time, I’d definitely like to try one of their other main course dishes – Enchiladas Verdes, Pollo Con Mole, Ropa Vieja, Ensenada Taco Fish, the list goes on.

For dessert, the Capirotada was a bit rich for my taste with a condensed milk-like sauce poured over mini bread slices with cinnamon, raisins, peanuts and cheese (think Mexican French Toast). In the future, I would also prefer to replace this dessert and try their cream caramel or apple cake.

Capirotada Dessert

Review of Casa Latina: Located across from Invito on Solana Bar Street (down the road from All-Star), 6 Chaoyang Park Road, 朝阳公园路6号, Solana蓝色港湾商业区8号楼3单元; Tel: 5905-6201; Daily Hours: 6PM-2AM

Best Part:

• In just one month, they’ve already begun to establish themselves as the one and only authentic Mexican restaurant in Beijing.
• Everything from the decor, the food, the chef, the music is all as authentically Latin as can be.
• Sopesitos and Crema Poblana soup were the highlights of our meal.
• They have a great live Cuban band every day except for Mondays
• Owners/managers are both personable, professional and knowledgeable.

Comments:

• Newspaper style menu is cluttered with the first page listing salads, soups and main courses, 2nd page listing cocktails, appetizers and desserts, third page with pizzas, snacks, martinis, milk shakes and non-alcoholic cocktails, and left overs of their drink menu on the fourth page. Pizza is random to offer at a Mexican restaurant, but then I met one of the owners (from Italy), and the pizza addition came to make sense.
• RMB 99 for a four-course set menu was a great meal and incredible value (normal price would be RMB 218), but when I go back (which I definitely will), I would prefer to order a la carte and try one of their salads or their Aztec Soup – the house special with fresh tomato and dried pepper base with fresh cheese and avocado cubes, crispy corn strips and fresh cream. I would also love to try their Pollo con Mole (Chicken Leg dipped in dark sauce made of chilies and chocolate!) and finish off with a cream caramel dessert. The only thing I might order again would be the Sopesitos starter, which was perfect.
• We happened to come on a rainy Monday night, the only night of the week without the live Cuban band and having just rained, it also explains the lack of customers, but word is that it has been consistently full almost every night for the past 2 weeks. In any case, this just gives me an excuse to return for some more delicious Mexican food to enjoy with live music and a lively crowd.

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

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 6 (no live band on Mondays, and it was raining, so quite empty, but I heard it is normally packed and very lively)
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 8