Spice Up Your Day: Karaiya’s Fiery Set Lunches

Posted: February 8th, 2015 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene | Tags: Chinese food, Hatsune Restaurant Group, Hunan cuisine, Hunan peppers, Karaiya, Karaiya Spice House, Sanlitun Taikoo Li, Sanlitun Village, set lunch menu, Spicy, weekday set lunch | 5 Comments »

Karaiya Set Lunch: Sliced Marinated Pork over Savory Dried Vegetables (RMB 78)

Add Some Spicy Flair to Your Weekday with Karaiya’s New Set Lunch Menu

While there are plenty of superb lunch deals in the Sanlitun area, it’s not very often that you come across a thoughtful set lunch menu at a Chinese restaurant.

From my experience, most Chinese restaurants either offer some sort of buffet spread or it’s ordered a la carte as you would at dinner. And I’m talking about the restaurants with a whole range of dishes on offer, not your neighborhood hole-in-the-wall 拉面 noodle or 盖饭 shop. And with so many of the Western restaurants all around town offering great value 2 to 3 course set lunch menus, Indian restaurants offering massive lunch buffet spreads, it makes me wonder why more Chinese restaurants don’t offer the same bang for your buck at lunch to keep up with their neighboring competitors.

Always one step ahead of the rest, Karaiya Spice House has launched a set of 9 different weekday set lunches designed for those of us who don’t want to waste too much brain power thinking about what you want to order for lunch (you’re only half-way done with your work day!) and if you prefer your lunches to be speedier than you average dinner experience.

Continue Reading » Spice Up Your Day: Karaiya’s Fiery Set Lunches

MODO Urban Deli: Wholesome, Easy European Eating

Posted: June 24th, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: A Day In My Life, Foodies & Dining Scene, Hot Tips | Tags: Alex Molina, Christina Aman Riglet, Daniel Urdaneta, Elin Wedi, Modo Urban Deli, Mosto, Rickshaw Roasters, Sanlitun Village, Taikoo Li Sanlitun, Tea Pigs, Traitor Zhou's Kaifeng Nonkosher Delicatessen, Tranquil Tuesdays | 13 Comments »

The NEW Modo Urban Deli

Introducing the NEW Modo Urban Deli

After two and a half months (a slightly extended construction period), Modo has been revamped into the new Modo Urban Deli to accommodate Sanlitun Village’s (recently re-named “Taikoo Li Sanlitun 三里屯太古里”) new regulation to eliminate all mezzanine levels. What at first may have seemed to all just a cumbersome new constraint has brought the birth of an exciting new dining concept by the impressive and always innovative Mosto/MODO team.

Fusing together a restaurant and deli concept, the new Modo Urban Deli is catered to “Urbanistas – time constrained & style-seeking active people” living in Beijing who seek wholesome food in an easy, approachable manner. I’m a big fan of their restaurant-deli philosophy –

“MODO Urban Deli is more than a deli-restaurant for us; it’s a way of life.” – Award winning Chef Daniel Urdaneta & General Manager/Creative Director Alex Molina of the Mosto/MODO Urban Deli Group

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LumDimSummary: SURGE Beijing April 30-May 2, 2013

Posted: April 30th, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Art, Upcoming Events | Tags: Affordable Art China, Art, Art Fair, Contemporary Art, Sanlitun Village, SURGE Beijing, The Orange, Tom Pattinson | 4 Comments »

SURGE Art Fair Beijing 2013

SURGE Art Fair 2013

Last night, SURGE Beijing hosted an invite-only preview launch party for VIP guests, serious art buyers and media to have the privileged opportunity to get first bids in before the masses swarm in and rip through all the art works on display at the SURGE Art Fair 2013 running this May holiday, Tuesday, April 30- Thursday, May 2nd in Sanlitun Village’s Orange Space (blow the big screen by the fountains).

Though it was a private event, it was a huge turn-out with many familiar faces mingling and slowly making their way through the maze of artworks, but I was more interested by those art fanatics who were anxiously maneuvering themselves through the crowds to hone in on their desired purchase(s). Maybe I’m just being nosy, but I love seeing which artworks are selected by their purchasers. Sometimes it makes perfect sense, but I like it most when it takes me by surprise. It adds another dimension to the person that you thought you knew. I make a point to play a game with my friends each year where we go around (either together or in secret) and we each pick out a couple of our favorite pieces (taking the price into consideration). Once we’ve all made mental note of our picks, we try to guess which pieces of art each person selected. If guessed correctly by someone else, then you must go and purchase that artwork.

This year, it was difficult to narrow down just one favorite so I picked two (though I really wish I could afford a couple of others as well!). No one has guessed correctly thus far, so if you would like to play along with me, feel free to email me (kristen@lumdimsum.com) which art piece you think I picked for myself, then I will purchase that piece of work. To keep it fair, you can only guess one artwork (don’t go and take a picture of the 800 pieces of art on display and send them all to my inbox please). But to increase your chances of winning, I will count both pieces I have in my mind (not just one).

Continue Reading » LumDimSummary: SURGE Beijing April 30-May 2, 2013

LDS 1-on-1: Mr. SURGE, Contemporary Art Fair 2013

Posted: April 26th, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Art, LDS Interviews, Upcoming Events | Tags: Sanlitun Village, SURGE Beijing, The Orange, Tom Pattinson | 1 Comment »

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Art Lovers Rejoice! Surge Beijing 2013 is Back at The Orange in Sanlitun Village

Renamed and rebranded as SURGE Beijing (before known as Affordable Art Beijing or AAB), this highly anticipated Contemporary Chinese Art Fair is just around the corner from April 30-May 2 at The Orange, Village South in Sanlitun.

The 3-day fair over May holiday (you have no excuse of “I can’t, I have to work” this time!) marks the 8th Affordable Art China (AAC) Beijing fair, which will showcase the most in-demand, popular SURGE artists alongside multiple up-and-coming, fresh talent in Chinese contemporary art.

The SURGE team has intensively labored for months, scouring through submitted artworks and actively scouting out new talent from places that range from artist villages to prestigious art schools (Central Academy of Fine Arts and Tsinghua’s Academy of Art and Design).

Continue Reading » LDS 1-on-1: Mr. SURGE, Contemporary Art Fair 2013

Taqueria & Tequileria Cantina Agave Opens in Sanlitun

Posted: March 20th, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene, Hot Tips | Tags: Cantina Agave, CityWeekend, Kelley Lee, Mexican food, Modo, Modo Urban Deli, Raffe Ibrahamian, Sanlitun Village, Swire Properties, tequila, Tequila Flights, Va Va Voom | 3 Comments »

Soft Opening of Cantina Agave in Sanlitun Village

Shanghai Import Cantina Agave Replaces VaVaVoom in Sanlitun Village

Yet another Shanghai import has made its way to into Beijing’s Sanlitun hood, Cantina Agave is a legend in the Shanghai dining scene known as “Shanghai’s favorite Taqueria & Tequileria” with its tasty margaritas, tequila flights and house specialty cocktails matched by an equally impressive range of California-style Mexican food.

“We use only top quality ingredients including imported chilies, cheese and garden fresh produce. Age old recipes make your experience with us as authentic as Mexico. With over 100 different types of tequila, regular food specials, daily wine boards, and monthly events, we want to satisfy your cravings for authentic Mexican food and certifiably amazing tequila.” – Cantina Agave

Owners Kelley Lee and Raffe Ibrahamian just opened their doors last week and a few of us came in on Saturday night to admire the view over a couple of margaritas and shared dessert. I gotta say, the restaurant design is stunning.

Continue Reading » Taqueria & Tequileria Cantina Agave Opens in Sanlitun

Karaiya Spice House: Glorious New Seafood Hot Pot

Posted: December 18th, 2012 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene, Hot Tips | Tags: Alan Wong, Hatsune Restaurant Group, Hunan food, Karaiya Spice House, LDS Hot Tip, New Menu Item, Sanlitun Village, Seafood Hot Pot, Spicy | 3 Comments »

Karaiya’s New Seafood Hot Pot Platter

Another genius creation by Alan Wong, founder of the Hatsune Restaurant Group is Karaiya Spice House’s new Seafood Hot Pot.

Designed to be shared between 2-4 people, this hot pot feast comes with a giant clay pot of free-range chicken soup, a generous serving of 7 different types of seafood, a bouquet of fresh vegetables and a specialty dipping sauce for all the seafood and vegetables post-dunking and cooking in chicken soup.

LDS Tip: I recommend first serving up bowls of this tasty soup prior to dunking anything in.

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Middle 8th 中八楼: A Classic Choice for Yunnan in SLT

Posted: December 10th, 2012 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene | Tags: Ai Mo Town, Dali Courtyard, In & Out, Middle 8, Middle 8th Restaurant, Sanlitun, Sanlitun Village, Southern Barbarian, Yun Er Town, Yunnan Cuisine, 中八楼, 南蛮子 | 4 Comments »

Middle 8 Yunnan Classic: My favorite bucket of rice in Beijing!

Middle 8th 中八楼 is one of the first restaurants in Beijing that introduced me to the wonderful world of Yunnan cuisine.

In recent years, Beijing’s Yunnan restaurant scene has really taken off with popular Yunnan hot spots like Aimo Town, Dali Courtyard, In & Out, Yun Er Town and the new Lost Heaven in Ch’ien Men 23 and Southern Barbarian 南蛮子 on Baochao Hutong, making the competition for delicious Yunnan increasingly stiff in this foodie capital.

And while I prefer some of the above restaurant picks to satisfy my Yunnan cravings in the Gulou area, Middle 8th is still my go-to in the Sanlitun hood.

Continue Reading » Middle 8th 中八楼: A Classic Choice for Yunnan in SLT

Modo Goes Digital & LDS’ Choice Tenderloin Steak

Posted: September 18th, 2012 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Foodies & Dining Scene | Tags: Lumdimsum Discovery, Modo, Sanlitun Village | No Comments »

High Tech Ordering at Modo

I admit it’s been awhile since my last visit to Modo and so much has changed since!

Not only do they have an entirely new menu with some fantastic newly added dishes, they have a whole new high-tech ordering system!

Modo isn’t exactly stocked with iPads, but their digital menu leaves the same effect on its user – it’s damn snazzy and I’m not gunna lie – it makes you feel empowered.

Continue Reading » Modo Goes Digital & LDS’ Choice Tenderloin Steak

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