Ho Ho Ho: Beijing’s Best Christmas Deals

When I first came to Beijing in 2006, Christmas decorations consisted of everything from Christmas trees and lights to Easter bunny decorations and Halloween masks. Like most things in this often confused country, the effort is there, but they don’t quite get it right.

…3 years later, Beijing is swimming in choices this holiday season!

Whether you’re in the mood for something cozy and comfortable or something extravagant and indulgent, here’s a breakdown list of top Christmas Eve/Christmas Day feasts:

Christmas Dinner Break Down: (in alphabetical order)

1. All-Star’s Christmas Buffet Dinner -

Enjoy All-Star’s executive chef’s 10 lb. Smoked Turkey & Honey Glazed Ham. Only RMB 218 per person (Kids under 12 years old are half price).

Available both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

RSVP: 5905-6999

2. Blue Frog -

A 3-course set Christmas menu including a special gift.  RMB 298 per person.

Available Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

RSVP with Santa: 6417 4030

3. Enoterra -

A 12-piece oyster platter +2 bottles of Champagne Gosset Brut for only RMB 998. Each bottle of Champagne Gosset Brut is RMB 498 each.

Available Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Years Eve (Dec. 31).

RSVP: 5208-6076; For More Info: www.enoteca.com.cn

4. Maison Boulud –

A 6-course set Christmas menu + glass of champagne. Indulge in a decadent meal – Celery Chestnut soup with Foie Gras, Slow Poached Egg Yolk, Roasted Lobster, Black Truffle Chicken, Wagyu Beef Rossini and dessert. RMB 688 + 15% service charge per person.

Available Christmas Eve & Christmas Day from 6PM-10PM.

RSVP: 6559 9200

5. SALT –

A 5-course set Christmas Eve menu including a complimentary cocktail on arrival. 5 course highlights include Foie Gras, Salmon Tartare, Scallops and Foie, mains (cod fish, tenderloin steak, or rack of lamb) and either chocolate souffle or chocolate soup dessert.  RMB 358 per person.

For Christmas Day, enjoy either 2 or 3-course brunch (12-4PM) or dinner (6-10PM). Each course has selection of 4-5 choices for appetizer, main and dessert.

Separate Set Menus Available Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

RSVP: 6437 8457; Contact: info@saltrestaurantbeijing.com

…And that’s a wrap!

*Don’t forget to save room for Santa’s Cookies!*

Gobble Gobble: Best Thanksgiving Deals in Town

Considering Beijing is such a internationally diverse city, I was surprised to see how many people get excited about American Thanksgiving! But I guess rather than being celebrated as a religious or historical holiday, Thanksgiving is more of an excuse to gather friends and family over an incredibly good feast.  And who doesn’t enjoy that??

With Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, Beijing’s restaurant scene is having a field day.  Everyone and their mom is having a special Thanksgiving buffet or special set menu.  While I prefer a traditionally home-cooked meal, many who are crammed and just too busy to spend hours slaving away in the kitchen will be happy to know that there is an abundance of amazing venues who would be more than happy to host your friends and loved ones over a massive turkey feast.

Thanksgiving Dinner Break Down: (in alphabetical order)

1. All-Star‘s Thanksgiving Turkey Buffet Dinner -

Enjoy a Succulent Turkey Feast with Home-Cooked Fixings. Only RMB 199 per person (Kids under 12 years old are half price)

RSVP: 5905-6999

2. Apothecary –

Known for their Fried Chicken Sundays, Chef Max Levy is switching from fried chicken to fried turkey this Thanksgiving!

Enjoy 7 dishes including crawfish & pumpkin soup, fried turkey, sweet potato fries for RMB 150. RSVP: 5208 6040

3.  Blue Frog -

A 3-course set menu including roasted squash and apple soup, Thanksgiving turkey and sides, and a bourbon pumpkin pie + soft drink and glass of wine.  RMB 200 per person (RMB 90 for kids).  RSVP: 6417 4030

4. Bread of Life Bakery –

Your savior for traditional holiday pies, cakes and breads including Carrot Cake 180, Pumpkin Roll Cake 180, Chocolate Cake 180, Pumpkin Pie 90, Pecan Pie 140, Apple Crumb Pie 100, Dinner Rolls & Breads, Cookies & Muffins & Cinnamon Rolls.

Minimum order RMB 200, they deliver to your door and deadline for delivery is min. 24 hours in advance. Call 13722622865

5. Maison Boulud –

5-course elegant Thanksgiving dinner for RMB 428 + 15% service charge. RSVP: 6559 9200

6. The Orchard –

Includes a roasted turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings with live jazz in the covered courtyard space. RMB 220 (includes tea or coffee). RSVP required: 64336270

7. SALT –

Enjoy a 5-course menu for RMB 298 per person.  Mains include turkey breast, beef tenderloin steak, pecan crusted salmon or wild mushroom risotto. RSVP: 6437-8457.

8. SWITCH!

3-course menu including oven-roasted grain-fed turkey and all the fixings for RMB 188 per person (kids under 8 eat for free).

If you are having Thanksgiving dinner in the comfort of home, you can also order a whole roasted turkey with all the fixings to feed the entire family for 850 RMB.

For reservations & orders, call Jenny at 136 9338 6984 or 5978 4918 or email bookings to jenny.zheng@culinarycapers.cn

…And that’s a wrap

Enjoy your Turkey Comas!

*Gobble Gobble*

Beijing’s High-End Restaurants Get Sneaky

I have recently witnessed some serious customer complaints regarding two of Beijing’s finest dining establishments: Maison Boulud and Capital M.

Both restaurants are not only famed in Beijing for serving quality cuisine and having exceptionally beautiful design, both establishments are regularly praised for having the highest standards of service and most capable waitstaff in town. Until recently, I have had nothing but good things to say about the food, atmosphere and service at both restaurant venues.

But as we all know, a strong reputation is not unshakable in this city’s dining scene that seems to run most comparatively to a roller coaster.

Last weekend, two big groups gathered for Sunday Brunch – one at Maison Boulud and one at Capital M and both groups left feeling both dissatisfied and cheated.

The brunch at Maison Boulud started out very promising.  As soon as people arrived, staff started serving champagne and the executive chef even came out to introduce himself and a special tasting brunch menu provided especially for our group. The appetizers were all very tasty, but the portions were small to share between so many people and the mains included a lot of omelette and pasta dishes, which was not exactly up to par with what I would expect Maison Boulud to showcase. But overall, the food was the least of our complaints.

The staff was clumsy, unfriendly, forgetful and not only did it take people an hour to get an orange juice, a cup of coffee, or pot of tea, the bill in the end was a massive mess.

Maison Boulud charged RMB 140 per glass of champagne – the same champagne that they readily brought out and refilled throughout brunch, so no one knew how much they each had consumed. And even those who weren’t drinking at brunch, still paid a hefty price for non-alcoholic drinks. Each orange juice was RMB 55 and a pot of tea came out to be RMB 400 (they charge per cup instead of per pot).

I understand that Maison Boulud is a high-end establishment, but in the case that drink prices add up to more than the price for the meal,  either the group was dying of thirst that day or more likely, they were overcharged. That’s fine if they want to charge RMB 140 per glass of champagne, but then they should not bring it out without anyone first ordering it and refilling without asking.  And if you charge RMB 400 for a pot of tea, then you should first explain the charge rather than leave it all a surprise in the end.

In the end, I threw down RMB 450 for the meal and two glasses of OJ and for those who chose to accept a glass of champagne or two threw down around RMB 900 per person.  It was a rough start to the day, leaving us all feeling quite dissatisfied with the entire brunch experience as a whole and definitely not something I would like to experience again.

On the same day, another group of ten dined at Capital M for their lovely weekend brunch, and in this group, no one was drinking any alcoholic drinks and was shocked to find a charge of RMB 800 just for water.

No one had asked for bottled water or refills, but Capital M’s staff continued to refill all glasses throughout the brunch and in the end, they charged a pretty penny leaving each person to throw down another RMB 80 just for water consumption alone.

Again, at the end of the day, it’s not about the bill, but rather the entire dining experience from start to finish and if the end leaves a sour taste in your mouth, you’re sure to remember that much more than the positive side of things.

So let this be a warning to you all:

Beware of unexpected drink charges the next time you are dining out. Unless the restaurant specifically tells you it’s complimentary, chances are anything you are served (even if it was never ordered to begin with) will most likely be tacked on to your bill.

Chi Fan for Charity Launch Party

With a little more than one week before the big date, Chi Fan for Charity is hosting a Media Launch Party at Touch Bar (Westin Chaoyang) this coming Thursday, October 28.

Come enjoy drinks (courtesy of the Westin) and meet the restaurateurs and celebrity hosts making it happen.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, October 28
• Time: 5:30PM-7:30PM
• Location: Touch Bar, Westin Chaoyang
• Address:  The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, 7 North Dongsanhuan Road, 金茂北京威斯汀大饭店, 东三环北路7号
• RSVP: tom@bespoke-beijing.com

Background on Chi Fan for Charity:

One of the strongest charity events of the year, Chi Fan for Charity has gathered 33 of the city’s top restaurants to simultaneously host a table of ten people for a minimum three course meal and wine. The restaurants are donating the food and drink for free, so your payment for the meal goes direct to three, genuinely great local charities (Prevention Through Education (HIV/AIDS Awareness), Dandelion School and Rural Women’s Charity, a practical skills training School for Migrant Women). This event is perfect for people who want to enjoy an exceptional meal while contributing to worthwhile causes by “eating for charity”.
Participating restaurants include everyone from Maison Boulud, Capital M, the entire Hatsune Restaurant Group (Hatsune, Kagen, Kagen Teppanyaki and Karaiya Spice House), Bei & Sureno in the Opposite House, Modo, Red Capital Club, The Courtyard, and many many more.  Tickets are available from the website but better hurry as many tables are already sold out and the rest are selling out fast.

Similar to the Hatsune 9 year party, there will be a Chi Fan for Charity After Party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village with free flow drinks from 10PM-1AM, DJ Patrick Yu will be spinning tunes and everyone from the various restaurants all coming together!  For those who don’t have the time or the budget to commit to dinner, the after party is a great way to come out to contribute to these worthwhile causes and show your support.  Tickets are RMB 150 in advance (pay here: www.chifanforcharity.org)  or RMB 200 at the door. However, guests who buy a ticket to a table will gain free entry to the afterparty at Hatsune.   And yes, there will be sumo suits.  :)

Book your seat at a table here: www.chifanforcharity.org.

A Cut Above the Rest: Fairmont’s The CUT Grill

Fairmont's Chic Champagne Bar

Between Jianwai SOHO and the LG Twin Towers lies the extravagantly plush Fairmont Hotel – the prominent rose colored building with natural light-filled interiors.

Currently in a phased opening stage, the hotel has 40% of their rooms available (80 out of 222 hotel rooms) and they have recently opened all of their divine dining concepts – Lunar 8 (an Asian fusion restaurant serving everything from Indian to Thai and Japanese sushi to Beijing duck), their swanky Champagne Bar, and their most recent opening – The CUT Grill, an upscale, glamorous steakhouse specializing in a wide selection of prime quality chilled imported beef and market fresh seafood.

As you can probably guess, the Champagne Bar features an extensive champagne list but I was most impressed by their creative cocktails.  My favorite – The Signature Chinese 5-Spice Fizz (RMB 68) – was a surprisingly refreshing and tangy cocktail combining Ginger-infused Cognac, clove, cinnamon, star anise & Sichuan peppercorn. With the star anise & Sichuan peppercorn, I guess I was expecting my tongue to turn numb rather than refreshed.  It was really delicious. Other noteworthy cocktails were the Pomegranate & Cucumber Mojito (RMB 68) – a fruity, minty Mojito served in an elegant tall glass and the Lemongrass Martini (RMB 68) – Lemongrass infused vodka with housemade lemongrass infused syrup.

The CUT Grill literally just opened a week ago and I must say, their steak just jumped to the top of my list for Best Steak in Beijing and their level of professional service is going to give Maison Boulud a run for their money.

Where do I begin?

Let’s Talk Food:

The theme of the night was truffles. A key ingredient in everything from the appetizers to the Morel Truffle Steak Jus to the truffle ice cream dessert, I loved every bit of it.  After the warm bread basket, we received a special treat from Chef Graham – shots of Cucumber & Gazpacho with Truffle Foam.

For appetizers, we started out with the Crab & Coconut Bisque (RMB 80) – a creamy soup with lemongrass, cilantro and red curry, giving it a spicy kick. The Mustard Seed Crusted Beef Carpaccio with potato-celeriac salad, shaved pecorino and Szechuan aïoli (RMB 115) was beautifully presented and the mixture of beef, potatoes and herbs was delectable. The Sweet & Sour Colossal Prawn Salad with Caramelized shallots, market greens, pomegranate seeds, lemon vinaigrette (RMB 135) was my top pick out of the appetizers as the giant prawns were so fresh and juicy and I admit that I particularly like the combination of fresh fruit together with fresh seafood. To top it all off, our appetizers were paired with a glass of Bourgogne Chardonnay from France.

After the appetizers came the main attraction of the meal – I ordered the Australian Stockyard Grain Fed 200 days 12 oz. Prime Rib Eye (RMB 598) and let me tell you, it was the Best. Steak. Ever. My mouth begins to water just at the thought of it and as incredibly tender and flavorful the steak was, I was like a kid in a candy store when they served me all three sauce selections (Morel Truffled Jus, Green Peppercorn Cafe au lait, Bearnaise) and a selection of imported Dijon mustards from France – Plain Dijon, Green Peppercorn, Mustard Grain Dijon, Targon Dijon (spicy like wasabi) and Honey Balsamic Dijon.

And even though the steak was beyond good on its own, our steak sides also exceeded my expectations, especially with the Celeriac Black Truffle Mash Potatoes & the Sautéed Forest Mushrooms. I must admit that as beautiful as my steak was when it arrived, by the end, each bite of steak was topped with an assortment of sauces, mushrooms & mashed potatoes. The collective flavors together was to die for and I’m not exaggerating when I say that I savored every single piece as if it were my last bite. My only disappointment was the Tsingtao® Battered Golden Fried Onion & Potato Crisps, which were flavored well, but not up to par with the rest of the meal.  A bit too thin and not as crunchy as they should be.

Other mains we ordered were the Tea Smoked Seared Yellow Tail (RMB 275) and Pumpkin & Fine Herb Ravioli (RMB 175) topped with Seasonal farmed vegetables, rocket pesto, and toasted macadamia beurre noisette.  I have a weakness for smoked fish and their yellowtail was smoked to perfection.  While the ravioli was a nice compliment to the fish and steak, the pumpkin ravioli was too sweet for my taste.  I much prefer savory fillings in my pasta dishes.

Last but not least, their desserts are exceptional. Not at all standard steakhouse desserts, The CUT offers a very unique and original dessert menu.  Top two picks: Iced Green Apple “Pu-Erh” Chinese Tea (RMB 58) – Freshly spun green apple sorbet with famous Chinese Pu-Erh tea anglaise and “The Cut” Apple Tart with Homemade White Truffle Ice Cream (RMB 58).  I’ve never tried any desserts like either of these – the Pu-Erh tea pudding and fresh green apple surrounded by a ring of maple syrup composed of vanilla & cilantro seeds and of course the white truffle ice cream was something I could definitely get used to having on a regular basis. While those desserts were absolutely perfect, I would not recommend ordering the Chocolate Nage, Lychee Granite (RMB 78) – Spiced chocolate soup with lychee ice and candied ginger julienne, serve with truffle almond mignardie.  It was a strange combination to mix Lychee sorbet in liquid chocolate and the chocolate was more of a chocolate foam than a soup.  I guess I was expecting sort sort of thick, rich chocolate soup. However, the minardies that accompanied the dessert (diced fresh fruit & an almond cookie) were adorable.

By the end of my meal, I had completely stuffed myself into a Happy Humpty Dumpty and was most impressed with their standards of service from the moment I walked in to when I left.  The wait staff were all personable and friendly while maintaining a respectful distance and I was dumbfounded by the thoroughness of their responses to any questions I had about a particular dish or ingredient.  Mad respect for the very professional Fairmont team for training THE most exceptional waitstaff I have encountered in China.

Review of Fairmont’s The CUT Grill: 8 Yong An Dong Li, Jian Guo Men Wai, 朝阳区建国门外大街永安东里 8 号, Tel: +8610 8507 3617; Opening Hours: From Tuesday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m (Dinner ONLY)

Best Part:

• The service was up to par with Maison Boulud, if not better.  Never have I encountered local waitstaff in Beijing who speak great English and have such a deep understanding of the menu’s items.  When asked to describe the dessert, the staff knew exactly every part of the dish from the raw ingredients to how it was prepared. Extremely impressive.
• The chef is incredibly talented with a wealth of experience. All the dishes were perfectly prepared with premium ingredients and original recipes. The creative use of Truffle throughout the menu is most notable.
• Restaurant Manager Faisal Majeeth is an expert sommelier and I would highly recommend asking him to pair wines with your meal.
• It’s pretty unbelievable that in the restaurant’s first week, they executed with flawless service & dishes.
• Highlights of the meal: the Sweet & Sour Colossal Prawn Salad, Steaks & “The Cut” Apple Tart with Homemade White Truffle Ice Cream

Comments:

• Although the decor of the venue is beautiful and lavish, I still felt like I was in a hotel. Hotels are great, but they can also be pretty generic.  I much prefer a steakhouse to have a darker ambiance with a more cozy, relaxed and original design.
• Prices are definitely in the fine dining category.  Food and service is top-notch, but expect to pay an arm & a leg for it. If you happen to have the extra cash lying around, then you won’t be disappointed.
• For a better selection of the menu and a great deal, I’d highly recommend the 3-Course Wine & Dinner Menu:

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

• Food: 9
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 10
• Overall Experience: 9
  

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

#1 Most Popular Restaurant Goes to…

LocalNoodles deduces Beijing’s top restaurants by finding out what were the hottest searches over the past twelve months.

Top 10 Searched Restaurants for 2009-2010

#1. Hatsune Congratulations to this Sushi standard for commanding top spot in our hearts, minds, and stomachs.

Readers SAID: “The best in Beijing” “great food, ambience and service” “favorites are the pimp my roll, 119 roll and motorola” “a sweet deal”

#2. Maison Boulud Beijing’s only Michelin star Chef has more than French food lovers seeking his restaurant.

Readers SAID: “Excelling in quality, service, location and understated elegance” “Best experience in China.” “Beijing has changed because of this restaurant.”

#3. The Saddle Cantina It’s no surprise that Beijing’s most talked about Mexican Restaurant landed the #3 spot.

Readers SAID: “best place to hang out in San Li Tun” “my go to bar for late evening” “most memorable evenings in Beijing”

#4. Element Fresh One of the most popular restaurants in Sanlitun, it hasn’t slowed since its opening two years ago.

Readers SAID: “Element Fresh has it all” “Their food is really good” “WOW!”

#5. Chuan Ban Visiting the “Chuan Ban” is much more than a rite of passage, it makes you more of a Beijinger.

Readers SAID: “Chuan ban still has what it takes” “nicest Sichuan food you’ll find anywhere” “food is really spicy”

#6. Duck de Chine – 1949 Duck de Chine and the compound it inhabits continue to be Beijing’s best kept secret. Perhaps that’s why everyone is searching for it.

Readers SAID: “1949 offers excellent Beijing Duck” “most expensive ducks in Beijing” “whole complex and experience is a pleasure”

#7. SALT One of Beijing’s defining restaurants stays in the minds of Beijinger’s by constantly revamping their menu.

Readers SAID: “SALT is an excellent restaurant with exemplary staff, service and cuisine” “Magnifique!” ” their praises are sung by many a Beijing Foodie”

#8. Ganges A Beijing standard, Ganges immediately comes to mind when thinking of Indian fare.

Readers SAID: “my new constant diner spot” “best Indian I’ve had in Beijing, and possibly ever” “Where do you go from here? India?”

#9. Luga’s With five different businesses, no other restaurateur owns so much of Sanlitun’s dining landscape.

Readers SAID: “Wow, people love this place” “quite packed late on the weekend” “Luga knows customer service”

#10. Din Tai Feng Rated as one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world, its the standard for Taiwanese food in Beijing.

Readers SAID: “an impressive place to bring visiting friends” “best dumplings in town HANDS DOWN” “I don’t know what took me so long to eat here”

Hatsune Wins Reader’s Choice @ Time Out’s 2010 Restaurant Awards

Unlike theBeijinger & CityWeekend‘s Restaurant Awards, Time Out’s Restaurant Award Winners are decided based on 6 different panelists, with the exception of one category: The Time Out Readers’ Choice Award.

The people have spoken and Hatsune takes home Readers’ Choice Award 2010!

Congratulations to Hatsune and a big thank you to all you Sushi Samurais who love Hatsune enough to take the time to vote!  You made your voices heard!

Other Time Out Restaurant Award Categories & the Winners:

• Best new restaurant 2010: Samadhi Teahouse
• Restaurant of the Year 2010: Maison Boulud à Pékin
• Best lunch deal 2010: Mosto
• Best wine experience 2010: Maison Boulud à Pékin
• Best international 2010: Maison Boulud à Pékin
• Best Asian 2010: Bei
• Best Chinese fine dining 2010: Tiandi
• Best regional Chinese 2010: Qin Tang Fu
• Chef of the year 2010: Max Levy
• Best interior design 2010: Duck de Chine
• Best service 2010: Maison Boulud à Pékin

Beijinger Restaurant Awards: Hatsune Wins Best Japanese 6 Years in a Row!

At theBeijinger’s Restaurant Awards on Tuesday, March 16, Hatsune took home Best Japanese for the 6th year in a row, along with Outstanding for Best Decor.

Congratulations to Alan Wong, owner of the Hatsune Empire, for holding it strong and staying at the top of the game 6 years running.

That’s gotta be a record!!

Owner of the Hatsune Empire, Alan Wong goes up on stage with baby Mason Wong to pick up his award for Best Japanese! 6 years in a row baby!

Other big winners from the awards ceremony include:

• SALT – Winner for Best Chef & Runner up for Best Business Lunch, Best Steak, Best Service, Restaurant of the Year
• Mosto – Runner Up for Best Chef, Best Business Lunch, Best Wine List, Best for a Romantic Meal, Restaurant of the Year
• Haidilao – Winner for Best HotPot, and Runner up for Best Service, Chinese Restaurant of the Year
• Da Dong – Winner for Best Contemporary Chinese, Best Duck, Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Chinese Restaurant of the Year
• Maison Boulud - Winner for Best French, Best for a Romantic Meal, Best Wine List, Best Service,  Best Western Restaurant of the Year

Complete list of all Beijinger Dining Awards Categories and Winners, click here.

Collecting Hatsune's Award for Best Japanese

LumDimSummary of Beijinger Restaurant Awards:

Best Part:

• iF Juice was a sponsor!  The most thirst-quenching, delicious fresh juice available in Beijing! I’m kind of obsessed.
• Alan Wong brought up baby Mason to collect his award for Best Japanese (6 years in a row!)
• Cheese by Yellow Valley Cheese is delicious
• Cherry flavored Beer
• Foodie Crowd Galore…or just PR people representing restaurants

Comments:

• Hosts were painfully bad.  Dominic Johnson-Hill of Plastered 8 T-shirts could not pronounce any names if his life depended on it and Ai Wan actually said, and I quote, “Wow! This is extraordinary a woman won Best Chef! Normally chefs are men.  Now, tell me Ana, how old are you?” Someone should censor that woman.
• Joy Luck provided no food for the event and it was just a very random location for a restaurant awards ceremony.

While many of the winners are very deserving of their awards, I was a disappointed to see Annie’s won Best Italian (come on people, it’s not best delivery service), Ganges for Best Indian (they just happen to have the best locations and marketing), and Element Fresh for Best American, Best Sandwiches, and Best Non-Hotel Brunch? I only approve of their smoothies and boycott the rest.

Beijinger’s Restaurant Award Winners vs. LumDimSum’s Votes:

• Best Contemporary Chinese – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Bei (Opposite House)
• Best Duck -Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Made in China
• Best Sichuan – Beijinger Winner: South Beauty, LumDimSum Vote: Chuan Ban
• Best Dim Sum – Beijinger Winner: Jin Ding Xuan, LumDimSum Vote: Jin Ding Xuan (Tuanjiehu)
  
• Best Hot Pot – Beijinger Winner: Haidilao, LumDimSum Vote: Haidilao
• Best Kung Pao Chicken – Beijinger Winner: South Beauty, LumDimSum Vote: Black Sesame Kitchen
• Best Xinjiang – Beijinger Winner: Red Rose, LumDimSum Vote: Crescent Moon
• Best Yunan – Beijinger Winner: Middle 8th Restaurant, LumDimSum Vote: Middle 8th Restaurant
• Best French- Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud
• Best Indian / Pakistani – Beijinger Winner: Ganges, LumDimSum Vote: Punjabi
• Best Italian -Beijinger Winner: Annie’s, LumDimSum Vote: Sadler Ristorante & Metro
  
• Best Japanese – Beijinger Winner: Hatsune, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune & Kagen Teppanyaki
• Best Mediterranean – Beijinger Winner: Sureno, LumDimSum Vote: Sureno
• Best Mexican – Beijinger Winner: Saddle Cantina, LumDimSum Vote: Pete’s Tex Mex
• Best Middle Eastern – Beijinger Winner: 1001 Nights, LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta
• Best Thai – Beijinger Winner: Purple Haze, LumDimSum Vote: Aroy-D (by Fulicheng)
• Best Vietnamese – Beijinger Winner: Muse, LumDimSum Vote: Luga’s Pho-Pho
• Best American – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill
• Best Business Lunch – Beijinger Winner: Alameda, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune
• Family-Friendly Restaurant – Beijinger Winner: Annie’s, LumDimSum Vote: Orchard
• Impressing Visitors – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Duck de Chine
• Best Brunch (Non-Hotel) – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: Orchard
• Best Hotel Brunch – Beijinger Winner: Westin Financial Street & Westin Chaoyang, LumDimSum Vote: Westin Chaoyang
• Best Pizza – Beijinger Winner: The Tree, LumDimSum Vote: The Tree
• Best Sandwiches – Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh, LumDimSum Vote: Sequoia Cafe
  
• Best Steak – Beijinger Winner: Meat & Wine Co., LumDimSum Vote: Meat & Wine Co.
• Best Tapas – Beijinger Winner: Olas Tapas Cafe, LumDimSum Vote: Mosaico
• Wine List – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Enoteca
• Best Burger – Beijinger Winner: Let’s Burger, LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill
• Best For a Romantic Meal – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Capital M
• Best Chef – Beijinger Winner: Ana Esteves – SALT, LumDimSum Vote: Max Levy – Bei/Apothecary
• Best Décor – Beijinger Winner: LAN, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune & Capital M
• Best Service – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud
• Restaurant of the Year (Chinese) – Beijinger Winner: Da Dong, LumDimSum Vote: Made in China
• Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese) – Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud, LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

From Birthdays & Goose to Chi Fan for Charity: Weekend Breakdown

It’s that time of the week again:  Here’s this Weekend’s Breakdown of Events:

Friday, November 6:

First Stop: Ella’s Birthday/Jamie’s Housewarming Dinner Party

Second Stop: Derrick Carter @ Punk

*Big Event of the Night: Grey Goose Hollywood Party @ Bling

Glitz. Glam. Goose. Exclusively @ BLING

Drink specials on all Goose all night.

Saturday, November 7:

Chi Fan for Charity

This incredible event featuring Beijing’s top 15 restaurants while supporting a worthwhile cause. From Hatsune and Karaiya to Maison Boulud, Green T. House Living, Scarlett, Agua, Capital M, Mosto, and Oden, each of the 15 popular restaurants will host tables, and each guest pays a set cover (from 500RMB to 1,000RMB) to join a table.

Proceeds support the Dandelion School, a non-profit school for the children of migrant families in Beijing.

Dinners start at 7pm, but you can also support the cause by purchasing a 100RMB ticket to the after-party at ChinaDoll or make a donation straight to the cause via the website.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chifanforcharity.org.

Next Stop: Jiayi Li’s (Bling’s owner) Birthday Bash @ BLING

**Going to be a GREAT WEEKEND!**

Happy Birthday in advance to Ella & Jiayi! 

The Beginning of a new Tongli?

It’s remarkable how completely different Sanlitun looks during the day compared to the bustling night scene. And I’m not talking about the Village, I’m talking about the street running perpendicular, Tongli Studio – with Aperitivo, Luga’s, my favorite DVD spot, and about 5 new restaurants that just recently popped up: Muse, a Japanese restaurant with sushi, teriyaki and noodles, Salud, and Juliette’s – a fine-dining French restaurant with chef from Jaan, Guillaume Gaillot.

I’ve observed Juliette’s from the outside and by walking by it multiple times, and you can tell this venue was much more refined than it’s neighboring hubs like Shooters and Luga’s, but I was taken aback to find it to be so fine-dining, as in Maison Boulud fine-dining.  A la carte menu’s appetizers average about 75RMB, main entrees about RMB 200 (the lobster dish is RMB 450) and desserts in the same price range as appetizers.  It will be interesting to see how Juliette’s develops and whether its affect on its neighbors will be stronger than its neighbor’s affect on Juliette’s business/clientele/image.  Juliette’s is definitely the first of its caliber on Tongli Studio .

After flipping through the menu, the set lunch was the obvious choice:

• 2 courses for RMB 78
• 3 courses + coffee RMB 98
• 2 courses with 1 glass of house wine RMB 108
• 3 courses + 1 glass of wine + coffee RMB 128

For the starter, I tried the ‘Vichyssoise Soup with Pesto’ dressing followed by the ‘Poached beef tenderloin with fried potato, natural jus’  while my friend who works for the Village Times, Annabel Greene, opted for the Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Salad and the ‘Grill Salmon Fish with Celeriac Puree and Beetroot Reduction.’

Best Part:

• Portions were generous, Taste was on-point
• I like the name
• Set Lunch Meal was a great deal
• It’s conveniently located

Comments:

• Furniture, seating, and venue layout seems more suited for a more casual bistro rather than a fine-dining restaurant
• Prices from ordering off the a la carte menu is 8x more expensive than its neighboring venues, wow the contrast is quite extreme. When I see these prices, I immediately compare it to the standards set by Maison Boulud.  While the food and portions were satisfying, the service, interior, and dining experience as a whole is just not up to par with the Big Boulud.