A Very Merry Kagen Christmas Charity Party for BICCO

Charity Christmas Dinner at Kagen (photography courtesy of Nora Tejada)

On Saturday, December 10, Kagen Japanese Restaurant hosted a Christmas Charity Dinner to benefit the Disabled Chinese Orphans of BICCO (Beijing International Committee of Chinese Orphans) and with about 130 generous patrons in attendance, we somehow managed to reach our goal of raising over RMB 200,000!  That is an insanely high number because that means each person donated on average RMB 1,500!

Originally, the deal was set that for each ticket sold, RMB 500 would be donated directly to BICCO (which was already really generous of Kagen Restaurant), but in the end, owner Alan Wong generously donated ALL ticket sales to BICCO, meaning that the entire ticket sales (RMB 600 each) went to the children of BICCO.

In addition to ticket sales, we also managed to sell a butt-load of raffle tickets (raising RMB 9,400) and many silent auction prizes went for higher than it’s actual value (raising RMB 31,757).

Combining ticket prices, raffle tickets and silent auction prizes together with many personal donations to our cause, we were able to exceed our goal of more than RMB 200,000 and now Amy Zima and her team of dedicated volunteers are looking to expand their rehabilitation program to at least two other orphanages in China!

A BIG thank you to all our generous sponsors:

• The Wine Republic (who helped supply the 100+wines to bring out the Christmas spirit of giving)

• Heineken Beer for sponsoring 200 bottles of Sol Beer (also helped bring out spirit of giving)

• Ryan Cardwell & Ivy Academy for their Generous sponsorship and partnership in hosting this event

• Acoustic musician David Mitchell for donating both his talent and time to our event

• Photographer Nora Tejada for helping us to capture this unforgettable event

• Beijing Kids for their Media Sponsorship

• Event Volunteers: Ingrid Van Nijverseel, Stephanie Giambruno, Katja Schick, Stephanie Butler, Dannan Hodge, Luce, Christina Lieffring, Romulo Martinez, Kelly Charles, Oumou Barry

• Alan Wong and his Kagen Restaurant (for donating the entire restaurant space and sponsoring the 10-dish meal for everyone that night!)

• Silent Auction Sponsors: 

• A Food Affaire
• Alona Pilates
• Antonia Sampson
• April’s Adornments
• Bodhi Spa
• Chef Too
• Counting Sheep
• Elisabeth Koch Millinery
• Frontiers Chinese School
• GungHo! Pizza
• Hummingbird Therapeutic Spa Retreat
• The Hutong
• Ivy Academy
• Le Spa
• Little Gold Book
• LMC Boutique Clothing
• Oumou Jewelry
• Papabubble Candy
• Punjabi Indian Restaurant
• Ritz Carlton
• Scarlett (Hotel G)
• SinoScuba
• Starfish Wine & Seafood Restaurant
• Two Guys and a Pie
• Wondermilk
• Yoga Yard

Snapshots of the BICCO Charity Dinner Silent Auction Tables:

(Photos courtesy of Nora Tejada)

Snapshots of Christmas Charity Fun at Kagen:

(Photos courtesy of Nora Tejada)

Thank you to everyone who generously donated and contributed to our Christmas Charity Event for BICCO. We are in awe of everyone’s generosity and effort towards such a wonderful and dedicated organization!  Excited for some big improvements in 2012!

Kagen Restaurant Details:

• Located below the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu
• B1/F, Bldg C, Heqiao Dasha, 8 Guanghua Donglu, Chaoyang District
• 朝阳区光华东路8号和乔大厦C座地下1层
• Tel: 6583-6830

This Saturday: Scarlett Turns Samba

This Saturday night, Scarlett hosts a Samba-theme party with 2-for-1 drink specials from 10PM-1AM on the following cocktails: Caiparinha, Mai Tai, Scarlett Samba and Whiskey Sour.

Don’t forget your dancing shoes.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, January 29
• Time: 10PM-1AM
• Location: Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant (Hotel G)
• Address: 1st floor of Hotel G, No. A7 Gongti Xilu, 工体西路甲7号
• Tel: 6552-2880
• www.hotel-g.com

HalloWIN All Weekend Long

So what are the Halloween hot spots to trick or treat this year?

Beijing’s got a pretty hefty line-up of events all weekend for whatever kind of mischief you plan to get yourself into whether you’re out to grub on some Halloween treats, win some big bucks or surround yourself with freaky fetishes, you’ve got your fair share of freaky parties and restaurants to choose from.

Halloween Warm-Up on Friday, October 29:

1.  Migrant Children’s Foundation: 

An evening of Halloween themed drinks, munchies and entertainment all in aid of the Migrant Children’s Foundation.

“There’ll be an array of dark delights for your entertainment including howlingly good happy hour drinks (until 10.30pm), freakishly tasty finger food, eccentric entertainment and a ghostly gallery of raffle prizes…and be sure to wear your freakiest Halloween costume as there’ll be a prize for the best dressed guest.“

2. Black & White with Something Bright:

Raffles Hotel Beijing gets rowdy with Open Bar from 10PM-12:30AM for RMB 150.

3. All-Star’s Spooky Halloween Menu:

4-Course Menu including everything from Creepy Appetizers (Trio Bruchetta), Witch’s Brew (Creamy Pumpkin Soup), Body Parts (Pork Chops) to Graveyard Pie (Spiced Pumpkin Pie).

Top 7 Haunting Hot Spots for Halloween 2010

Saturday, October 30:

7. Urbanite Dance Competition:

Hosted by 2XS, the event will showcase international dance performances and a Scholastic Team Competition with a ¥2000 RMB cash prize.

• Time: 7PM-10PM
• Location: Mako Live House (Shuangjing Bridge)
• RSVP: Jessica.T2XS@gmail.com

6. Divinaura Masquerage Party:

Hosted by Divinaura (Enoch, Shanti & Claire), this Masquerage Party will take place in Bed Bar with food, drinks, DJs and special prizes courtesy of Paper, Meili Autumn, Kocoon Spa and more!

Exclusive Ladies Party from 7:30-9PM with RMB 180 entrance (tapas, wine and lucky prizes included) and Gentlemen are allowed entrance for RMB 100 after 9PM (includes glass of wine).

“Veil it, paint it, or mask it; just come as anything else but yourself.”

• Time: Ladies – 7:30PM-onwards, Gents: 9PM-onwards
• Location: Bed Bar
• RSVP: http://crush3r.com/page/geyrcncbvu?i=gjzmaxxeza

5. Trick or Treat at TERRA:

With all night Happy Hour Drink Specials, 20RMB shots, tasting plates and DJ Suiki, Terra will be full of treats.

• Time: 7PM-onwards
• Location: TERRA

4. Scarlett goes GAGA for Halloween:

Free flow cocktails for all those dressed as Lady Gaga and set of 10 shooters for RMB 88!

• Time: 9PM-late
• Location: Scarlett (Hotel G) – A7 Gongti Xilu
• RSVP: Marc- 1520140320
  

3. Haunted House Party:

Yan Club transforms into a Haunted House for a “spooktacular” celebration.

• Time: 9PM-late
• Location: Yan Club (KunLun Hotel)
  

2. Yen Fetish 2010:

In an all white warehouse space in 798 Art District, the annual YEN Fetish is at it again. Featuring DJ Blackie, DJ Usami, Ou Yang & Yang Bing.  For those with freaky fetishes! First year in Beijing, I went to YEN Fetish and never saw so many head-to-toe leather suits (think gimp suit from Pulp Fiction). 

“From the sexy to the scary, freaks of all varieties get down and dirty at the 706 Factory with the Yen party crew, where “skin is in” and your lustful longings can come out to play.”

• Time: 10pm-5am
• Location: 706 Factory in 798 Art District  706大厂房(798艺术区内)
• Price: 150RMB (door, includes one drink); 80RMB (presale). Online tickets: http://clubzone.cn/
• Website: See www.o2culture.com for the full list and more details.

1.  BLING’s Cash Money Halloween Bash:

RMB 5,000 Cold, Hard CASH goes to the most innovative, creative costume. Bring your friends to increase your chances of winning!  Free Entrance before 11PM.

• Time: 9PM-late
• Location: Club BLING (Solana)
• RSVP: Hill – 13810858776

And if partying is not your thing?

At least indulge in some Spooky Lollipop Cupcakes.

Treat yourself to Lollipop Spiced Pumpkin Cupcake Treats decorated as Mummies, Pumpkins, Cobwebs and Tombstone cupcakes.  300RMB per dozen.

To order, e-mail: cupcakes@lollipopbakery.cn

HAPPY HALLOWIZZLE!!

LumDimSum Discovery: Scarlett Lunch

With an extensive selection of wine and tapas, great weeknight promotions (like all-you-can-eat tapas for RMB 88 on their ‘Bodega Fever’ Thursdays) and the best valued cheese & cold cuts platters in town (see here for previous article on Scarlett’s cheese selection), Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant is a pretty popping destination for dinner and post-dinner drinks.

While Scarlett’s busiest hours are after sunset, Scarlett also offers an awesome Set Lunch Menu (RMB 88 for 2 courses, RMB 98 for 3 courses). If you ever find yourself in the Gongti hood during daytime, the set lunch is not only a great meal, it’s also great value.  And another bonus – Scarlett recently opened their outdoor terrace for seating if you prefer dining outdoors.

They have a selection for four different appetizers, but I recommend ordering one of their salads to start.  I got to try both the Mixed Greens with Crispy Bacon & Poached Egg and the Endives & Blue Cheese salads to start:

The highlight of the menu were the entrees – I ordered both the Spare Ribs and Broccoli & Parmesan Risotto.  *Note: I asked for smaller portions so that I could try more of a variety.  The regular portion of the spare ribs is normally double the size of what is pictured here.

Their Chocolate Fondant (RMB 48)- a warm, gooey chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream was not an included dessert on the set lunch menu, but a must-have treat for all chocolate lovers.

Review of Scarlett at Hotel G: Hotel G, No. A7 Gongti Xilu, 工体西路甲7, Tel: 6552-2880

Best Part:

• Scarlett’s glorious cheese counter with the best valued cheese & cold cuts combo platters – RMB 128 for a large plate of 5 cheeses & 3 cold cuts
• High Quality European cuisine- everything from the ingredients, taste and presentation
• Trendy, stylish interior design within one of Beijing’s best boutique hotels, Hotel G
• Very professional and personable management and service

Comments:

• On Saturday, July 31st, Scarlett will host a ‘Wine & Cheese Buffet’ with free flow of selected wines and Scarlett’s famous cheese selection and cold cuts for only RMB 288! From 8pm to 10pm.
• Other great weeknight promotions:
  • Tuesdays:‘Mussels and Wine Flight’. 4 different flavors of mussels with 3 selected wines for only RMB98
  • “Cote de boeuf Wednesdays”. Enjoy prime single bone rib eye steak for two and 1 bottle of Burgundy wine for RMB 538
  • ‘Bodega Fever’ Thursdays : all you can eat tapas for only RMB 88! Plus glass of sangria at only RMB 38.
  • ‘Thank God it’s Friday’ all standard drinks for RMB 25. TGIF Coupons are on sale. Buy 5 coupons and get the 6th drink for free!
  • ‘Sunday Roasts’ for RMB 138, experience 3 special roasts along with semi buffet of salads, cheeses, cold cuts and desserts and free flow Bloody Marys! Freshly brewed coffee or a selection of tea included
  • ‘Half Price Sundays’ 50% off your total food bill!

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

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

Hotel Outlets: Another Beijing Paradox

Tamarind Indian Restaurant, Marriott Northeast

I had made an exception for Tamarind.

In my list of top destinations for CW Gourmet Month (the two best months of the year for dining in Beijing), I made Tamarind a priority even though it is a hotel restaurant.

I have nothing against hotels restaurants, I just think that for the most part, they don’t work in Beijing.

I’ll break it down for you:

With the exception of very few, hotels have one sole purpose – to provide a nice bed for incoming travelers. Now that the Beijing Olympics is history, we are left with how many ridiculously massive, not mention EMPTY hotels scattered throughout Beijing?  Regardless of the number, it’s too many.  And too many have tried to make up for their lack of occupancy with restaurants and bars targeting the masses…and still remain empty.

I know this concept works in places like Dubai, where the best venues are often in hotels, but Beijing is another animal.  With the exception of Weekend Champagne Brunches, Centro in the Kerry Center, Touch at the Westin Chaoyang and of course boutique hotels like The Opposite House & Hotel G, hotel F&B venues in Beijing are pretty weak.

Just Imagine an Irish Pub in this Hotel

Perfect example: Molly Malones in the Legendale Hotel.  It’s a newly opened, gigantic space with beautiful interior design in a ’5-star hotel’ and it just won’t work. Why? Because it’s an Irish Pub opening in a 19th Century Parisan Hotel serving Japanese sushi.  Confused much?

And from my experiences last Gourmet Month in April, I found that each and every time I dined in a hotel restaurant, it was very, very empty.  It’s just creepy to be the only customers in a restaurant.

And I feel bad because all hotels try really hard – lots of marketing, lots of advertisements, lots of promotions, and often times, they have an amazing product, and yet they still seem to fall short.  Something is missing.  That something is more of than not: People.

Having read so many good reviews about Tamarind (Marriott Northeast), I made it a point to go during Gourmet Month. I read that Tamarind’s Chef Kurly is from Mumbai (interview here), that he is Bollywood’s finest, and that this is Beijing’s best Indian restaurant.

For Gourmet Month, it was a fantastic deal: for only RMB 150 per person, you were served 9 dishes plus nan bread plus rice PLUS dessert. The food quality and quantity was great value, the open kitchen was impressive and service was attentive. But at the end of the day, it was very much a ‘hotel restaurant’ with hotel service and a hotel vibe for a typical, overall unsatisfying hotel experience.

Review of Tamarind: 2nd floor of Marriott Northeast, 26A Xiaoyun Lu,Sanyuanqiao 海航大厦万豪酒店, 霄云路甲26号, Tel: 5927-8888

Best Part:

Tamarind's Open Kitchen

• Fresh Quality & Generous Quantity of the dishes: I recommend their Mushroom Kurkure (Spring roll stuffed with finely chopped and sautéed mushroom, served with spicy tomato chutney) and Butter Chicken (Juliennes of Tandoori chicken, finished in creamy tomato gravy, flavored with dried fenugreek leaves)
• Massive Open Kitchen (pretty unique to an Indian restaurant)
• They have hired a chef from Mumbai and this is the first Marriott Indian restaurant outside of India
• They cater to vegetarians with half of their menu meat-free
• Prices are reasonable with a kebab bar special (all-you-can-eat kebabs for RMB 140, RMB 100 for vegetarian kebabs)

Comments:

• Even if the food was excellent, it was pretty empty on a Sunday night, which I guess is expected considering the Marriott Northeast is out in the boonies (North of Nuren Jie)
• I really think that if Tamarind was in Sanlitun and not in a hotel, it would do really well.

The service was attentive, but similar to most hotel service, its quite overdone and forced rather than comforting. Also, at the end of the meal, the restaurant manager Sudeep Menon was about to only give my friend his business card until I shot him a glare and even after that, he proceeded to only ask for my friend’s business card upon leaving. Not Cool.

A Tour of ‘The New Beijing’

It seems like a lifetime ago, but when I first moved to Beijing in 2006, I came as a student to study Mandarin at World Link Education.  Back in those days, everything was all play and stress-free – ah, the life as a student.  My crew’s regular hangout spot was Together Bar (which was recently demolished this summer and replaced with a park) and our regular party spots included none other than Babyface, Cargo, Bar Blu, Kai Bar, Suzie Wong’s and Vics (before the re-model).

Since then, so much has changed in Beijing pre and post the 2008 Olympics.

This October holiday, my best friend from World Link, Sophia Gericke came back to visit for 10 days – a visit that has been both refreshing and eye-opening.  It’s so easy to get caught up in all the small things and forget to see the big picture.  It’s hard to imagine that only a year ago, there was no Sanlitun Village, there was no Opposite House, no Bling, no Solana, no Legation Quarter, etc. etc.

With Sophia back in Beijing after a 3 years, I wanted her to experience the best of what I like to call, ‘The New Beijing’.

Having already lived in Beijing, Sophia had no interest in seeing any tourist attractions, so I was able to really give her a taste of Beijing’s new and improved dining and nightlife scene.

Here’s what the 10 day tour consisted of:

1. Sanlitun Village (Hatsune, Karaiya, Blue Frog for drinks, Panino Teca)
2. Opposite House (Alan’s Hotel Party in one of the suites, Mesh & Punk)
3. Solana (All-Star & Bling)
4. Legation Quarter Tour & dinner @ Capital M (Qianmen Pedestrian Street)
5. Park Hyatt’s Xiu
6. Olympic Green (complete with attending the Turandot Opera in Bird’s Nest)
7. 1949-The Hidden City: Club Décolleté, Club Glen, Sugar Cafe, Well Bar
8. Scarlett (Hotel G)
9. Glen Boutique Bar & Oden
10. d lounge
    

    Keep it Gangsta Party @ BLING

11. Vics (renovated)
12. Block 8‘s Ruby Khi (renovated)
13. Suzie Wong’s (unchanged)
14. Chocolate Club
15. Vineyard Cafe (best Sunday brunch)
16. Chef Too (Sunday brunch)
17. Regency Taipan (massage)
18. PurpleJade Country Club (spa)

Fashionista: Project Runway

What’s on the catwalk?  CityWeekend’s very own Fashionistas taking their turn to strut their stuff on the runway.

Hosted by the beautiful and talented Meili Autumn @ Scarlett Wine Bar + Restaurant in Hotel G, this was such a fun event! For the first time, all the fashionistas got the opportunity to get together, get dressed to the nines, and have a ball.

As one of the previously featured Fashionistas, it was such a privilege to be among Beijing’s Fashion Superstars and see first-hand each Fashionista’s unique style and ingenious creativity in putting together every last detail and touch of fashion flair and finesse. From Allie Weisberg‘s high-waisted skirt, mini crop top and layers of jewelry to Candy Lin wearing her very own Candy&Caviar Fall Fashion Line’s Madison Hooded Tuxedo Vest and LinLin‘s denim work-of-art gown, it’s not hard to see how each fashionista earned their title to be on that runway.

Congratulations to Mo & Linlin!  (Mr. & Ms. Beijing Fashionista!)

Some Hot Shots of Beijing’s Fashionistas:

**Thank you to Meili, everyone at CW, & Hotel G for putting together such a fun and successful event!  And Happy Early Birthday to Meili!!

My 15 Minutes of Fame Just Got Extended

Not everyone gets the rare opportunity to relive their 15 minutes of fame. Hence, the reason why it’s only 15 minutes.

But tonight I was called upon to come back into the limelight.

Let me rewind:

Back in December 2008, I was featured as one of City Weekend’s Fashionistas.  This was by far one of the coolest things I’ve been lucky enough to partake in.  Not only was I featured in a full double-page spread in the magazine, I got a full make-over courtesy of the beautiful and talented Meili Autumn, who has a gift of making you look and feel stunning.

You can check out the final product here (City Weekend, Issue December 4-17):

FASHIONISTA: Beauty and the Bling

Kristen Lum lights up any room she occupies with her electric personality and 1000-watt smile. I just can never feel down or bluesy around her. She makes me want to giggle like a sixth grader during a sex-ed talk. Another thing Kristen has got going for her is a super cute figure, which often sports the shortest, brightest dresses I’ve seen in Beijing: trés sexy. As the PR girl for hot spots like Bling, All Star and newbie to the scene Domus, Kristen has her plate full of venues she has to look stunning in on a nightly basis. How does she do it night after flawless night? “The trick is to have a ‘go-to dress,’ something you can slip on and look great in no matter what the occasion,” she confides in me. Kristen finds these little numbers at Zara, in the Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park or American Apparel. For mini dresses and high heels, her secret place is LingLing’s shop in Jiayi Vogue Square stall #712. As a born and bred Cali girl, Kristen loves the summertime look: “beach wear, bright colors, being tan, sundresses and flip-flops.” Since coming to Beijing, she has had to learn to adapt to the cold, and while you’ll still find her at Bling on the weekends wearing tiny skirts and dresses, she’ll compensate for the length with thigh-high boots. “China’s really given me an opportunity to express myself through fashion. I love knowing that I can go out and never feel over-dressed.” Kristen leaves me with some parting words: “Now that I work at Bling, I’m all about the bling.” With that bright smile, and glittering jewelery, I consider Kristen one of Beijing’s fashion diamonds.

MeiLi Autumn

Name: Kristen Lum

Nationality: Californian

Occupation: Marketing and Media Director for Alchemy

Fashionista by MeiLi Autumn For more style analysis or fashion insight, visit MeiLi’s website,

www.MeiLiAutumn.com

Photographer: Tao Zi Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn

About a year since I did the photoshoot for my Fashionista feature, I received an e-mail invitation tonight to participate in the upcoming FASHIONISTA Party, featuring a fashion show with all previous CW Fashionistas, for a chance to win the title Mr. or Ms. Beijing Fashionista and a VIP card to Hotel G for a night’s stay in this fabulous boutique hotel.

Save the date- Saturday, September 19, 2009 because I have a feeling that with all the Fashionistas together in one show, this event is bound to go down in the books…or at least go down in the next issue of CityWeekend.

See?  The fame is already getting to my head. And I can’t wait.

Come out and show your support and vote for your favorite fashionista.  Or just come out to Hotel G and take advantage of their 25rmb drinks and awesome tapas/cheese platters.

Soul Purpose

Two days ago, I had a surprisingly deep and meaningful conversation with Riviera founder and PR socialite, Benoit Thebaut. He was staying at Hotel G while I happened to also be organizing a ladies wine dinner in Scarlett.

Our conversation took an unexpected turn from small chit-chat to an immersed and evocative dialogue of our lives and having a greater purpose.  I came to learn a different side of Ben.  Someone who’s constantly in the limelight, organizing the infamous Shanghai & Beijing pool parties along with other top fashion, media events, I was pleasantly surprised to hear him discuss his burning pursuit to make a difference in the world, to uncover his life’s purpose.

And this got me thinking – beyond Hatsune, beyond Bling, beyond PR, what is my ultimate goal?  How will I make my mark on the world?

And today is when it hit me. Hard.

Today, I had an intense discussion about life, but this time, in terms of religion.

Let me paint you a picture of Michelle. Michelle is one of Alan’s 3 summer interns, working in Beijing for two months from UNC, to learn from Alan’s restaurant business.  She’s incredibly friendly, bubbly, beautiful, eloquent, easy to talk to, easy to befriend.  She’s someone I could meet for ten minutes and immediately feel like I can relate to her on so many levels in so many ways.

Before our business lecture, Michelle was describing her previous abroad program to North Africa where she was taught survival tips and explored remote villages and stayed with a host family.  Inquiring more into this program as it sounded like an incredible learning experience, she explained that it was a 3 month program provided to Christian college students interested in living abroad and learning about 2^nd and 3^rd world countries from first-hand experience.

And before I knew it, I found myself engrossed in the deepest discussion with her about her beliefs, her devotion to Christianity, and my non-existent beliefs…in pretty much everything.

I’d like to consider myself as a positive, happy person with strong morals and a strong sense of what is right and wrong.  I hold sound values and standards for myself that have been instilled in me for as long as I can remember.  And these principles are not unwavering, I have learned the value of context through experiences. But overall, the standards I hold for myself are solid and none of these standards reflect God.  I am who I am regardless of beliefs and religion, or in my case, lack of beliefs.  I try to be happy, positive and loving because I believe it’s infectious and it makes me happy to see others smile.

I am Atheist. There, I said it. I used to say I was agnostic because I thought it sounded less cynical.  I thought it was better to say that you don’t know what you believe in than to admit that you don’t believe in anything at all.  But as much as I like the idea of guardian angels, an all-mighty God looking over me, heaven & hell or reincarnation, or some sort of after-life, I don’t.  I don’t believe in miracles, I don’t believe in fate. I imagine these are all creations of very convincing individuals who gave people something to believe in for those needing to believe.

I believe in evolution. I believe in science. I believe that we have developed from molecules and will continue to evolve and change slowly over time. I believe in coincidences, I believe in chance. And after life?  I’m not sure. No one knows, even if they think they do.  I guess when I die, I’ll find out, but I highly doubt either a heaven or hell will await me.  Like everything else in life, you never know what to expect next.  You can wish, you can anticipate and you can guess all you want, but nothing ever turns out the way you want or expect it to for that matter.

Above all else, I believe in honesty, loyalty, and the goodness in people.

But as an atheist, Michelle also made me question my purpose in life.  Why am I here? What do I aspire to accomplish? Why do I think any of us here?

I’d like to think I could make a positive impact on the world, I don’t know what difference I would make, and to be honest, I think it would be rather ambitious of myself to think that I even could.

Maybe that’s the wrong attitude. Is it wrong that I don’t know?  Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in life’s daily, menial takes of e-mails, meetings, dinner dates, and parties, I forget to see the bigger picture.

Even now, I see myself pursuing my life and career in China for at least the next 5 years.  I hope to someday start my own business.  But beyond that?  It’s a pretty blank slate that I hope I’ll figure it out in due time.

Puzzled that I didn’t have a more lucid answer to such a direct question, I return the question back to her.

Her reply:

“I believe that I am here on Earth to glorify God and God can only be fully glorified in us when we are fully satisfied in God.

I believe that God is the most wonderful, gracious, holy thing in the world and I want my life to emulate him. I want to use my skills and passion to glorify this great thing that I believe in with all my heart.  When I do this, I find satisfation in the thing I glorify.

In the midst of suffering and grief and sorrow, I believe that you can find the glory for God and a greater hope.

I want to be more than what I am.  I want to be better, and I know it’s a sin to want to receive more recognition, but I am never satisfied if I try to glorify myself – it only leaves me thirsty for something more. But when I glorify God, who is ultimately beautiful and wonderful, I am satisfied as I believe he is the only one worthy of that glory that I give him.”

It’s fascinating to think that I can relate so closely to someone to discover that we differ so much in our core beliefs and life philosophy.  It does not change our relationship, but it definitely gives our relationship a new light to reflect upon.

And in terms of our existence, our sole purpose in life, are we so different?

For now, I am doing PR for Hatsune and other restaurants and clubs in town, while Michelle does PR for God.

A whole other scale.

As Michelle so eloquently phrased it:

“Hatsune is more than a restaurant, it’s more than a company and it’s more than Alan Wong, its an empire, it’s a philosophy, its wonderful …but it’s not ultimate. God is the only ultimate and the only one worthy of our praise, admiration, and glory.  And the glory displayed through our lives ultimately is all just a small reflection of him.”

After leaving Michelle and hearing her parting words, I have a new-found respect for her and her devotion to God.  I may not fully understand it or agree with it, but I admire her passion in her beliefs and her love for God.

And her words stuck with me.  For the rest of the day, I found myself thinking about the things she said and her beliefs that I found myself full of curiosity.  I had so many unanswered questions.

One thing I did not know before and could not understand was that Christians like Michelle believe that only those who truly believe and follow God with all their heart can be saved by God.  So those of us who are not religious (myself included) and those who believe in other religions have no hope of salvation?

I may not believe in afterlife, but if I did and if there was a heaven and hell, I’d like to think I’d pass with flying colors on Judgment Day.  It bothered me to think that according to her beliefs, none of the good that I could do would ever make any difference ultimately in my fate. As an Atheist, I could spend the rest of my life doing good, being righteous, spreading love and kindness, and I’d still be screwed come Judgment Day.

So I inquire with another devout Christian, my dear PR partner, David Kim, about his beliefs and his views of Christianity.

David’s belief in Christianity is one clear message:

“I believe in love.  Love conquers all.  Just Love.”

Similar to how Michelle described her love for God, David tried to explain the love he feels and shares with others.

“You need to understand this love.  To practice love the way I do, I needed to first understand it.  Through fucking up, in the darkest times, I saw light.

As a child, love to me was just an idea and at one point I even cursed love, I cursed my life, and I cursed God for letting bad things happen to me.  You only understand through comparison. You must first see the ugly before you discover beauty.   For me, it was through the hardest of times when I first saw a glimmer of light through all the ugliness and once I noticed it, I held onto that glimmer and through different experiences, it has led me to my religion.  With anything in life, if you never try it, you never know.  I believe in sharing love with humanity and celebrating life, and that is evidence of God’s love in me.

I am blessed and I never take it for granted.  Some may call it an acquired skill, but I see opportunities and blessings that often come in a disguise. I consider myself pretty devout to Christianity.  No one can shake me of my beliefs and it’s because of that, it makes me an open person and that allows me to love you, regardless of your background and religion.  My faith is a lens I never knew before, it’s a view I hold.  The world could crumble around me and I would still be at peace.”

His thoughts on fate and afterlife?

“I live today.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Yesterday is done.  A profound quote once said by King Solomon: ‘What I am today is not who I was yesterday.’

Because of the love I feel and experience, because I know where I am going (heaven), I can focus on today.  Because of that, I can feel happy that I made someone smile today.  And isn’t doing that good today, worth more than anything?

We are all human. We can’t do everything ourselves. We must rely on one another.”

His purpose in life?

“It’s not about spreading Christianity.  Word should be the last resort of evangelism.  My life should reflect my beliefs.”

And what about me? You talk about love, and because of this love you say you are secure in your ticket to salvation. What is the difference between the love you feel and my love? I may not have found love through hard times, but I believe the love I share is genuine and generous.  Is the love I feel and share different or less than your love because my love is without God?

“You already have God, whether you want him to be with you or not, he is already with you.  I don’t worry about you because you already are saved.”

Wednesday Night Drinking

1st Stop:  Sake Tasting at Morio

Perks from my job: Alan inviting me to tag along with him to a sweet Sake Tasting at Morio (Hotel G).  It’s quite perfect timing that the great Taka Yamamoto chose this particular time to host a Sake Tasting at Morio – while Alan and I are in the midst or sorting out all the details for Haiku’s Sake Tasting on August 12!

Alan and I are both a little puzzled upon arrival as we are seated at a 2-person table, expecting that we’d be sitting together with a group in an isolated section for the sake tasting. I guess it was not meant to be a group thing.

Taka was great to introduce some very fine and exclusive sakes for the tasting – we tried 5 different sakes, which were paired with the first 5 courses (7 in total).

Just to give you a taste of what we were served:

1^st course: 3 Appetizer Sampler included beef tenderloin in fresh spring roll, two kinds of beans puree, paired with sake marinated Hirame

2^nd course: Cyu-toro Maguro carpaccio + Oyster with sea urchin, caviar and quail egg – big WOW

3^rd course: Grilled Agu fish (kind of creepy to eat)

4^th course: Braised Veggie Dish

5^th course: Scallop & Sea Urchin Tempura

6^th: Rice in Soup

7^th: Watermelon Jelly with Vanilla Ice Cream ** ridiculous, perfect ending to the meal

As great as the meal was, it was good for us to attend another sake tasting to learn from them and tailor our’s to fit Haiku and our specific clientele.

If you are interested in attending, you can sign up by sending me an e-mail, see details below. Please keep in mind that seating is limited.

Become a Sake Samurai:

Exclusively at Haiku by Hatsune

Hosted by Alan Wong, the master Sushi Sake Samurai himself, Haiku by Hatsune presents its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party.  Learn the culture, origins and significance behind sake and the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water.  Together with a special set menu highlighting Haiku’s signature dishes, Alan will be introducing premium bottles of sake from his own personal collection.  Join us as we show you the path to become a Sake Samurai.

RMB 200 per person includes a special Haiku tasting menu along with four unique types of sake.

Limited Seating, RSVP Required: Contact Kristen Lum, 13240114868 or e-mail:  lum.kristen@gmail.com. Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 7:00pm

2nd Stop: Purple Haze Bistro

After a 7 course meal at Morio and more food at Dan’s local Hunan Spot by 7-11 at Shuangjing Qiao, we head to meet friend at Purple Haze (by Hooters on Gongti Bei Lu) and was reminded that this is a great spot!

Dan Rockin' his New Shades at Purple Haze

Every Wednesday, they have a live jazz band and their drinks are so cheap!

RMB 15 for a big mug of Beijing Draft Beer (my sources compare it to taste similar to Yanjing Beer)

RMB 35 per glass of house red or white wine

RMB 40 for their Shakes (Mango, Berries, Banana flavors)

Rm. 201, Building 3 China View, C2 Gongti Donglu, Gongti (South of The Den)
工体东路丙2号中国红街3号楼201室  The Den的南边

6501-9345

3rd Stop: Vics 威克斯

I don’t get Vics. Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.  I always come randomly (through invitation or spontaneously), but whenever I do, I’m dumbfounded.  And since I’ve been to Beijing, it has changed again and again.  But not just through renovations, it changes all the time, as does its clientele.  You definitely see some of the same faces who call Vics their home and are there on a daily basis, but I love to just walk around in Vics and soak in the scene.  As great as it is to come to Vics at 5am after Bling closes, it’s almost more entertaining to go to Vics sober on a Wednesday night.

While it was cool to make rounds and greet the usual suspects, it was quite sad that someone from Vics actually came up to me and said, “Hey! You work at Bling?  You can’t be here!”

“Why?”

“Because you work at Bling.”

‘So?”

“I’m going to tell on you.”

Seriously?  Seriously. Nice one Vics.

Best Part about Vics: It’s consistently full Wednesday–Saturday nights.

Comments:

Wait staff pours out your bottle as quickly as possible and if you leave the table for a split second, your glasses (and the rest of your bottle) will be gone.

They are Haters of Bling, which is sad, we should be friends.

Vics:Inside Workers’ Stadium north gate, Gongti (next to Mix)

工体北门内东侧

5293-0333

Say ‘CHEESE!’

I have made a brilliant new discovery!  I have just stumbled upon a haven for cheese addicts; I now know where to get my cheese fix – Scarlett in Hotel G.  Originally known as the super-pricey, trendy burger joint 25 Degrees, the space has improved ten-fold as Scarlett – a wine bar and restaurant with a line-up of kick-ass weekday promotions and the BEST Cheese Selection Deals in Beijing.

I came to meet some friends for Scarlett’s Bodega Fever Promotion – All-you-can-eat tapas for RMB 88 every Thursday.  The place was pumping, I was surprised to see it so packed on a Thursday and while their tapas were great, what sold me was their glorious display of cheese. Unreal.

Their cheese selection changes regularly, but they consistently have between 12-15 types of cheese to choose from on a daily basis.

Today, their list of cheeses include: (provided by Scarlett’s manager, Alex Bouvier)

Glorious Cheese Selection @ Scarlett (Hotel G)

• Brie
• Livarot
• Epoisses
• Camembert
• Tomme de la Chataigneraie
• Ossau Iraty
• Comte
• Beaufort
• Valencay
• Crottin de Chavignol
• Pyrenees Brebis
• Chevre Feuille
• Sainte-Maure de Tourraine
• Gaperon
• Bleu d’Auvergne
• Buchette de Manon
• Tomme de la Pebre d’ai e

If you love cheese as much as me, you’d understand how delighted I was to find all those beautiful wheels of goodness by the bar when you walk into Scarlett and then to see their menu to find:

Cheese Platter Selection:

Cheese Me Please

3 Cheese  RMB 78

5 Cheese  RMB 98

8 Cheese  RMB 168

And even better:

Combo Platter Selection

*Parma Ham & Brie Cheese   RMB 48

Large Plate with 5 Cheese Selection & 5 Cold Cuts  RMB 128

And if this isn’t enough to satisfy your cheese cravings, then hit up Scarlett’s Executive Lunch Special:

Cold Cut Meat Selection to go alongside all that good cheese

A buffet selection of salads, cold cuts, cheeses, and desserts on top of an entrée – (Scandanavian poached eggs with smoked salmon/ Pan fried rainbow trout with almonds and spinach/BBQ pork spare ribs with potato wedges/Grilled T-bone steak with green peppercorn sauce) and coffee/tea.  All for 98RMB Net

Need I say more?

Scarlett Info: Left side of entrace of Hotel G (down the alley way across from Bellagio, behind Destination) address:  Hotel G, No. A7 Gongti Xulu  Tel: 6552-2880

Scarlett @ Hotel G: Previously 25 Degrees, Scarlett has now taken over as a seductive a wine bar and restaurant with a line-up of kick-ass weekday promotions and the BEST Cheese Selection Deals in Beijing.

Best Part:

• Scarlett’s glorious cheese selection
• Strong Weekday Promotional Drink & Food deals that actually work
• Alex (Scarlett’s Manager) and Marc (Hotel G’s Marketing & Sales Manager) are both superstars – two of the coolest, most personable yet professional managers I’ve had the pleasure to meet
• Attractive interior design & clientele
• Chocolate Fondant & Crunchy Chocolate Mousse Desserts

Comments:

• This is the perfect place to start hosting wine dinners like the ones I used to host at Block 8’s Med & Domus. If you’re looking to organize a nice wine dinner for you and your friends, contact me: lum.kristen@gmail.com