Vin Vie: An Incredible Inconspicuous Fusion Izakaya

You Know You’ve Found Something Special When You Step Inside Vin Vie

I was just recently introduced to Vin Vie 萬火and it blew me away. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a new find. And it isn’t even new. It’s been around for at least a couple of years, but its inconspicuous location tucked behind a narrow, dark alley in Maizidian (not far from Baoyuan Dumplings) near Chaoyang Park West Gate ensures that only the most adamant and determined foodies will be rewarded with the knowledge that such a special gem exists in Beijing.

I’ve heard Vin Vie’s name thrown about here and there, I’ve heard people sing its praises, but with such a long list of restaurants on my “To Taste List”, it just unfortunately got pulled down the pecking order until it was almost forgotten about. That was, until fellow foodie Tim Hill, of Middle Kingdom Fitness put Vin Vie back on my radar by including it as one of his top three favorite restaurants in Beijing.  With someone who’s been there before, I was on a mission to see what the fuss was all about.

…and it was a mission to find! When I say that it’s tucked away and hidden, I’m really not exaggerating.  I definitely recommend memorizing the map below to make sure you don’t waste hours wandering around lost in Maizidian. When you’re looking down the little hutong it’s on, all that indicates its existence is a little red light box at its entrance door.

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Kagen + The Wine Republic: Mount Langi Wine Dinner

Introducing beautiful Australian Wines by Mount Langi Ghiran

Off-Menu Chef’s Dinner with Alan-san at Kagen

Off-the-Menu Chef’s Dinner for serious Hatsune Addicts

It’s not every day that you will catch Hatsune Restaurant Owner Alan Wong slaving away in the kitchen (he has his team of sushi samurais to take on most of the grunt work), but when he is in the kitchen, everyone knows something special is in the making.

Always inventing and recreating new (and often one-off) dishes, it would be a shame to let these beautiful creations slip away unnoticed so I’ve taken it upon myself to organize small dinners for our die-hard Hatsune sushi addicts to present an exclusive dinner of “Off Menu Creations”.

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Become a Sake Samurai: Sake Tasting Dinner at Kagen

Kagen Gives You Insight into the World of Sake

When you go to your favorite Japanese restaurant (ahem, Hatsune/Kagen/Kagen Teppanyaki), can you work your way through the list of sake bottles as you might a wine list?

Do you prefer hot or cold sake? Do you know which is better and why? 

Let’s be perfectly honest – beyond the experience of getting trashed on sake bombs in college (a shot of sake dunked in a tall glass of beer = a dangerous combination), how much do you really know about Japanese sake?  

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Tori Tei 鸟亭 Japanese: Home of Yummy Yakitori

Tori Tei’s Busy Yakitori Station

Every time I’ve gone to Tori Tei 鸟亭 Japanese Yakitori restaurant, I’ve just gone to their branch across Gongti East. But their original branch is tucked inside Xinyuanli that’s so hidden, I’m not sure I would ever have found it without someone guiding the way. And considering how difficult to find its location is, I’m surprised that Tori Tei is no secret among the foodies of Beijing. Pretty much everyone I know has been to either one or both of their locations and now that I know how to get to the original branch, I gotta say that I much prefer it just because it’s that much more off-the-beaten-path. The extra effort makes your arrival feel that much more rewarding.

While I’ve heard foodies vehemently argue which Tori Tei branch is better than the other, you will find that both serve up authentic yakitori BBQ in a traditional Japanese environment for very reasonable prices.  In short, both get the job done when it comes to yummy yakitori.

Coming in from the freezing cold weather outside, it’s very inviting to walk in to a cozy, lively and petite dining space where the air infused with grilled meat fumes (in a mouth-watering as opposed to a “too smokey my eyes hurt” way).

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Chi Fan for Charity 2012: Reserve Your Seats Now

Already in its fourth year, Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC) is set for Saturday, November 10 in Beijing and the following Saturday, November 17in Shanghai, tickets are officially now on sale with seats quickly selling out!

An event praised for bringing together local opinion leaders, celebrities and other charitable-minded individuals to raise money for worthwhile philanthropic causes at Beijing’s top restaurants, CFFC is an inspiring event that involves such a strong community of individuals that really rallies their friends and associates to make this one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.

If you are unfamiliar with CFFC, the concept is easy enough to digest:

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Time Zone 8 Sushi & Yakitori BBQ Bar in 798 District

Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar in 798 Art District

After this weekend’s Affordable Art Beijing Art Fair in 798 Art District, I have no doubt a lot more of Beijing’s art buyers, art geeks and interested window shoppers browsing the walls of AAB all finally got their chance to try the new Time Zone 8 Sushi Bar.

Even after the AAB invite-only launch party was near finished on Friday night, there were still fellow art friends among the last diners at close to 10PM still getting their fill of Timezone 8′s rendition of Hatsune sushi rolls.

The last time I visited this space, it was still in soft opening, but now the restaurant looks fully operational with all the tables properly set and sushi rolls flowing out to hungry customers. I only wished I had come during peak dining hours to capture photos of a more lively atmosphere.

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Savvy SWITCH! Grill at New Dongsishitiao Location

After the move from 798 Art District, the new SWITCH! Grill had their opening party a couple weeks back to celebrate both their new location and also Chef Billy Kawaja‘s birthday. The place was packed for their grand opening party and tasty canapes pouring out of their kitchen kept me staying much longer than I had originally planned to.

This Canadian catering and special events team (the creators of both Culinary Capers and SWITCH! Grill) ceases to amaze me with their creative culinary talents and professional service.  Click to see LDS’s review of their Grand Opening Party – SWITCH! Grill Switches Back On in New Location

One of the participating restaurants in my Little Gold Book, I was happy to learn that the coupon for “Buy 1-Get 1 FREE Mains” at the original SWITCH! in 798 would also apply to the new, savvy and stylish SWITCH! Grill in Regent Land Apartment (across from Swissotel at southeast corner of Dongsishitiao). *If you don’t already have a Little Gold Book, get on it!  It’s only RMB 240 for the whole book of coupons from Beijing’s top restaurants including 50% off Hatsune, Kagen and Karaiya Spice House, it will last you all of 2012 and 30% of proceeds will benefit local community charities. What’s not to love about all that? This book is worth every last fen.

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