Stay Tuned for a Brand New Kagen

Kagen's New Robatayaki & Yakitori Open Fire Grill

After a few months of renovations, Kagen has been transformed and upgraded from a Japanese Hot Pot and BBQ to include an entirely new Yakitori and Robatayaki section of the restaurant, featuring an open-fire grill and fresh ingredients displayed on an ice bar.

After a few test runs and a tasting dinner, things are really coming together!

Sneak Peak of the NEW Kagen soon to come…stay tuned!

*Save the date: BJ Foodies’ “FOSTER” Dinner @ Kagen on Sunday, November 14

Be among the very first to check out this all new food concept while supporting a worthwhile cause.

Details coming soon…

Buy Your Tickets Now: Chi Fan for Charity 2010

Bringing together local opinion leaders, celebrities and other charitable-minded individuals to raise money for worthwhile philanthropic causes, Chi Fan for Charity is one of the strongest charity events of the year.

Last year, Chi Fan for Charity raised over RMB 100,000 for The Dandelion School, a non-profit middle school for children of low-income migrant families.This year, Chi Fan for Charity will support three local charities:  The Dandelion School, Prevention Through Education (HIV/AIDS Awareness) and Rural Women’s Charity.

Beijing’s top restaurants are each donating a table for ten valued at RMB 500-1000 per seat.  People who want to enjoy an exceptional meal while contributing to a worthwhile cause can sign up for a seat at their restaurant of choice or preferred table host and “eat for charity”.

Each guest is treated to a special set dinner menu with a table host who is engaging and dedicated to making a difference here in China.  Table hosts this year include the talented actor and film director Chen DaMing, Hatsune Restaurant Group owner Alan Wong, CCTV host James Chau, Bespoke Beijing Founder Sarah Keenlyside and AAB Founder Tom Pattinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer H.S. Liu and his partner, Chinese art expert Karen Smith, and PTE Founder Gabe Suk just to name a few.

After dinner, guests will be invited to the Chi Fan for Charity After Party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village, entertaining revelers with all-you-can-drink cocktails from 10PM-1AM and DJ Patrick Yu spinning jams into the small hours.

For those who would like to contribute without committing to a dinner seat, you can purchase a ticket for the after-party online (RMB 150 for advanced tickets or RMB 200 at the door).

Chi Fan for Charity Basic Breakdown:

• Beijing’s top restaurants are again being invited to donate a three-course meal for tables of ten hosted by the capital’s leading opinion makers and celebrities.
• Seats for the evenings of entertaining conversation and fine cuisine are sold publicly from 500RMB to 1,000RMB+ depending on the restaurant, with all proceeds going directly to three local charities.
• Last year’s inaugural event raised over 100,000RMB for The Dandelion School, a non-profit middle school for children of low-income migrant families. Two additional charities will benefit this year: the Aids-awareness organisation PTE China and the Cultural Development Center for Rural Women, a practical skills training centre in Changping district.
• Confirmed participating restaurants this year include Capital M, Green T House Living, Maison Boulud, Chef Too, Hatsune, Grange, Karaiya Spice House, Modo, Oden, Black Sesame Kitchen, Nola, Sureno, Bei, Cru Steakhouse, Jaan, Carmen, Vasco’s, Red Capital Club, ROOMbeijing, Duck de Chine, Taverna, Scarlett, Courtyard, Toro Bar and Kagen Teppanyaki.
• After the charity dinner, guests are invited to the Chi Fan for Charity ‘after party’ at Hatsune Sanlitun Village, entertaining revelers with their legendary cocktails and DJ Patrick Yu into the small hours.
• Supporters and friends can purchase tickets for the ‘after party’ alone at 150RMB advanced ticket sales or 180RMB at the door (gets you all-you-can-drink from 10PM-1AM).
• Tickets for both the dinners and after party will be on sale beginning October 16^th at the Chi Fan for Charity website: www.chifanforcharity.org.

LumDimSum: CityWeekend’s Gourmet Guru

Interview: Kristen Lum Tells Us Why She LOVES Gourmet Month

Beijing, RISE UP for HAITI

‘HAITI RISE’ RELIEF CAMPAIGN

Funds raised during the RISE UP Campaign will go directly to the following NGOs, to support their relief and development work in Haiti: Partners in Health – PIH has been providing medical services on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. www.standwithhaiti.org
Global Potential - Empowering Youth. Engaging Communities. Inspiring Change. www.global-potential.org

3. Eat for Haiti
Dates: Sunday, January 24 – Wednesday, February 3

**Complete List of participating restaurants:

End of Campaign Party @ Hatsune in Sanlitun Village.

9:30pm-1:00am

Entrance Fee is RMB 100 (includes one drink), donated directly to the HAITI RISE Fund.
50% of all additional proceeds will be donated directly to the HAITI RISE Fund.

for more info on campaign contact – haitirise@jumpfoundation.org
for more info on events contact – kristen@lumdimsum.com

Warm Up the Weekend with Hot Pot

It’s mid-November and it’s already snowed heaps. Blame global warming, blame China for shooting too many chemicals into the clouds, blame whoever, but we need to cope with this year’s early drop in temperature.

I find comfort in Hot Pot, which seems to be the theme for this weekend:

You gotta play your cards right on this Friday, the 13th!

• Hot Pot & BBQ dinner at Kagen
• Bachelorette Party @ the new ladies’ champagne bar: Club Décolleté
• Dance crazy @ BLING.

Saturday, November 14:

• BLING: **DJ KEZA returns to BLING for a kick-ass performance, ‘Keza’s Golden Night’ this Saturday night!!!!  (I get giddy just thinking about it!)
• Vic’s Ying Yang Twins show – known for their “Whisper Song”.  For those who want to shake it (like a salt shaker).
• Hot Pot & Happy Niu Year Snowboard Movie Premiere hosted by Mellowparks @ Punk.

**NOTE:  The Human Beatbox and former member of the Roots, RAH ZEL will be performing exclusively @ BLING on Saturday, November 20. If you don’t know RAH ZEL, just watch his mind-blowing live performance of “If Your Mother Only Knew” on YouTube.

For those who missed my raving review of Kagen’s incredible Gourmet Month special, you can read up here.  As always, the more the merrier, so feel free to join the group for some quality Japanese hot pot and BBQ goodness. If not, then kick off the winter snowboard season right and join the party at Punk for big beats and big tricks. Movie premier starts at 11:30pm and tons of sick raffle prizes up for grabs throughout the night.

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