Enoterra Grand Opening Party

Enoteca…I mean Enoterra (note the name change) – celebrates its move from The Place to the 4th floor of Nali Patio with a Grand Opening Party this Saturday, October 9 from 7PM onwards featuring live music, tapas and drink specials.

Not sure what’s with the new name change, but it’s got pretty much the same logo and you can still expect the place’s wine cellar to be stocked high with an extensive selection of affordable wines and a nice range of nibbles to compliment your choice of drink.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 9
• Time: 7:00PM – late
• Location: Enoterra is on the 4th floor of Nali Patio (just above Mosto)
• Address: D405, Nali Huayuan, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, 三里屯北路81号那里花园D405
• No RSVP required

Enoteca: Summer Terrace Party

Ladies & Brunchers -  Enjoy FREE Mimosas this Saturday, June 3rd to celebrate Enoteca’s first Mimosa Party!

Event Details Below:

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

Celebrate Enoteca’s 3rd Vintage!

Happy Birthday Enoteca!

Join their 3rd Vintage Celebration with some Vintage Wine, Tapas & Live Jams.

À Votre Santé!

A Whole New World of Dining @ World City

Just north of The Place, the new complex World City is quickly filling up with delightful, new restaurants and cafes – marking it’s place in Beijing’s ever-evolving and growing dining scene.

It’s relatively a new apartment complex equipped with its own gym, cinema, and business center, but they’ve also got a few shops – The Source (shop selling T-shirts to sneakers) along with new additions to the dining scene.

So far, their restaurant record is strong, going 2 for 2! Both places I’ve been introduced to – San Francisco eatz! & Mosaico have been most impressive and have left me craving for more.

Owned by Professor Bruce Quan, a professor at Peking University Law School, San Francisco eatz! was originally started to assist Chinese university students with financial assistance, real world and western cross cultural skills training in addition to their normal studies while at the university. That little bit of background aside, this is a great spot for a quick bite.  Located on the main floor of SOHO Shangdu, SF eatz! is mainly a catering company serving embassies, businesses, etc. but they also have a few places to sit with a counter top and 2 small tables.  I recommend their sandwiches (Napa Valley Style Smoked Turkey Breast, California Style Roast Beef, etc.), Chicken Quesadilla, Soups in Sourdough Bread Bowls, and pasta salad.  They also serve Asian Fusion Dishes, pasta, burgers and hot dogs (but these I do not recommend).

Review of San Francisco eatz!:   1/F, SOHO Shangdu West Bldg., Dong Daqiao Lu, CBD/Guomao, SOHO尚都西座一层;   Tel: 136-0111-8803

Best Part:

• Simple, California-style dishes with fresh ingredients and fair prices.
• Great option for catering (from small dinner parties to 1,000 pax events)
• They have sourdough bread bowls!  (but clam chowder was not as thick has I had hoped and it was a bit small)
• Very friendly service – both the owner and his wife are super nice and a portion of the restaurants profits go to worthy community based projects chosen by the university students themselves.

Comments:

• They are only open for lunch (not after 4 or 5PM)
• As they are mainly a catering business, they do not have much seating available and are often out of certain menu items.
• Burgers are not that good and food quality/taste is not that consistent.
• Nothing is particularly extraordinary, but I love the concept and if I’m in the area, I love to stop by to grab food on the go.
• Relatively new start-up, I hope that they begin expanding soon!

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 3
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 6

Mosaico is a new Spanish restaurant serving delicious tapas and a nice wine list.  I checked out their 4-course set lunch menu, which included a soup, salad, main course and dessert.  The atmosphere is lovely, service was very professional (Spanish manager), and quality was great.

Review of Mosaico: World City, No. 10 Dongdaqiao Road, CBD/Guomao  东大桥路10号 世贸天阶北边; Tel: 8590-7855, 139-1150-7006, 138-1172-3840

Best Part:

• Authentic Spanish restaurant that serves Jamon Iberico from Spain and a great tapas selection
• Quality, fresh ingredients, extensive food and wine menu
• Beautiful decor and professional service

Comments:

• I had a nice experience, but I would still prefer Niajo Spanish Restaurant in Nali Patio (best Paella EVER)
• A bit pricey (so I recommend set lunch special)
• Still relatively new and beautifully designed, but atmosphere is lacking as it’s been pretty empty every time I’ve been there or passed by

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 7

In the World City area, I poked my head around and I also found YueHe Vietnamese Restaurant, a small Korean restaurant speacializing in Korean stone rice bowls, a Costa Coffee Cafe with a Polar Party Ice Cream section serving ice cream combos, milk shakes, hot dogs and popcorn…there’s something for everyone!  *Ahem*

Seriously though, I’d stick with Mosaico, SF eatz!, or pop next door to The Place and feel good at CJW, Trends’ Lounge or Enoteca for quality food for great value.

Enoteca: Your ‘Best Enemy’

Last night, while I dined at Enoteca for its killer Gourmet Month Special, I discovered why some call Enoteca their ‘Best Enemy’.

As luck would have it, we just happened to dine at Enoteca while they were hosting a wine tasting of beautiful red, white and rose Argentenian wines – Ampakama.

After sampling almost 10 different bottles of red and white wines, my taste buds confirm my appreciation for Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Very impressive.

Favorite Quote of the Night: “Enoteca’s wine deals are dangerous.  I come here after work for a glass of wine and figure that with two glasses, I might as well get a bottle. (bottles start at rmb99) I invite friends to share the bottle of wine, which quickly turns into 3 bottles. I love this place, but it really is my Best Enemy.”

Gourmet Month Menu Special: For only 99RMB, they offer 4 courses plus a generous glass of wine.

Gourmet Month menu highlights: Pumpkin Soup, Snow Crab Turnip Carpaccio, Poached Veal and all three desserts: Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Mousse, and Cinnamon Crème Brûlée

Enoteca Review: M102 Northern Tower, The Place, 9A Guanghua Lu, CBD/Guomao 光华路9A世贸天阶北街F1-M102 Tel: 6587-1578

Best Part:

• The food is up to par with their wine, which says a lot
• They have a great Sunday Brunch
• Their wine specials are dangerously tempting
• They are always hosting wine tastings and Manager Thomas is great with wine recommendations and suggestions
• Great desserts: love their cinnamon crème brûlée and chocolate mousse 
  
• They feature live music (Blues band on Wednesdays, Jazz band on Thursdays)

Comments:

• I wish their food menu was more extensive
• Gourmet Month Menu is a great value – 4 courses PLUS a glass of wine for only RMB 99 (but note that the four courses are more like tapas than course meals)

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

Wine Bar Enoteca Serves Up a Sweet Weekend Brunch

Turns Out – Enoteca (Located in The Place Shopping Mall), known for their fine wine selection, just served up another reason to extend your weekend stay – they just started a sweet weekend brunch! Shanghai’s ever-popular wine bar is now also a great Sunday Brunch destination. Who knew?

*Enoteca just launched a new menu 2 days ago and I’m a big fan of their brunch:

I highly recommend:

Enoteca’s Brunch (available Sat-Sun until 4pm) RMB 120, includes:

• Salmon Tartar
• Quiche (today it was mushroom)
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Brie + Emmental Cheese paired with Parma Ham + Cooked Ham
• Egg ‘a la coque’ with caviar
• Bread
• Butter Croissant
• Jam
• Fresh Yogurt
• Fresh OJ/Grape Juice

Enoteca's Brunch

For those who prefer a more typical American brunch, try their American Plate for RMB 98

• Eggs Benedict (choose from ham or salmon)
• Pesto Sauteed Mushrooms
• Pork Sausages
• Grilled Bacon
• Hash Brown
• Baked Tomato
• House Salad
• Fresh OJ/Grape Juice

For those who prefer a lighter brunch option, I recommend their

3 Tomatoes Salad for RMB 45 (all salads are RMB 45):

• Sundried, Roasted + Fresh Tomatoes, Feta Cheese and Olives