Remember Punk: Closing Party Saturday, May 19

Time to say Farewell to Punk

For the past year, Punk Club (located in the underground basement of The Opposite House) has been the club I most often frequent, the home of my favorite dance parties and my favorite resident DJ, dear friend and fellow foodie extraordinaire,  DJ Saul D.

After 4 strong years, Punk is saying farewell in style, throwing a final hurrah this Saturday, May 19 for a delirious dance party by resident DJ Saul D who will no doubt be spinning the dance floor into a zombie disco dance frenzy.

“It’s sad, but true. PUNK is closing. Stop by to say hi and goodbye. I will miss playing for you guys but all good things must come to and end. See you Saturday night.” – DJ Saul D

Let’s dance to all the good times we’ve had at Punk 

A classy, chic club with a whole lot of edge and personality, Punk is known as “a sanctuary of cool” and “where luxury goes underground”. It’s heartbreaking to see such a stand-out bar/club like Punk leave Beijing’s nightlife scene, but word on the street is that the space will be renovated into “something yummy”.

With Sureño and Bei just next door, it will be interesting to see what The Opposite House will decide to bring in as Punk’s replacement.

Punk will be replaced by “something yummy”

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012

• Time: 10PM-late

• Location: Punk

• Address: B1 floor of The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Road, 三里屯11号

Hail to Halal: Khatoon Iranian Restaurant

After my sweet, sweet discovery of delicious little Dareen’s Coffee (click for LDS review), my fellow Egyptian foodie friend and I have been inspired to discover Middle Eastern restaurants beyond the Biteapitta bubble of ignorant bliss we’d been living in and see what else Beijing has to offer!

Although the experience wasn’t entirely perfect at Dareen’s Coffee (mainly because of the stale and cold pita bread), we were delighted to stumble upon this new find and learn that the hummus, babaganoush and falafel is better here than anywhere else we’ve tried!  Since this recent discovery, I’ve been putting out the word to ask fellow foodies for restaurant tips on their favorite Middle Eastern finds and that’s when a little birdie told me about Khatoon Iranian Restaurant.

Pulling up to Khatoon on our bikes was a nice first impression. A rather large establishment, Khatoon is two stories with a wide entrance made of glass. I love the thick, green vines that wrap up the walls of the building.

Exterior Shot of Khatoon Iranian Restaurant

Stepping inside, a diner’s worst suspicions were realized. We were the only two diners in the entire restaurant.  It is always unnerving to be the only two people in an empty restaurant, and unfortunately for Khatoon, this awkward feeling of an empty void was magnified even more in this big space.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Khatoon Iranian Restaurant: 

First Floor Long Bar is Odd for a Restaurant that doesn’t serve or allow Alcohol

Second Floor Dining Room

Rooftop Deck Overlooking Sanlitun

I generally take this as a bad sign when there is not one other diner in the entire restaurant, but I heard Khatoon’s lamb shank is crazy good, so I was going to give them the benefit of the doubt and stay hopeful.

We were hungry after our sweaty session of Heyrobics, so we ordered more than enough to fill two stomachs.  Three appetizers, a side of fresh pita and two mains was just about right.

We started off with their Shirazi Salad (RMB 22), a diced cucumber, tomato and onions which was both refreshing and tasty, but served in a much smaller porcelain bowl than we were led to believe in their very zoomed-in picture on their menu. That being said, I am probably guilty of the same crime as the photo below makes the dish appear bigger than it really was (so best to refer to the second photo down).

Salad Shirazi (RMB 22)

The Halim Bademjan or Eggplant Dip (RMB 32) was our favorite dish of the night and although it does look just as it appears in the menu, you don’t realize how shallow the plate is so it’s actually quite a thin layer. Needless to say, this dish was demolished in a matter of minutes and as much as we enjoyed every bite of it, I gotta say that the dish really tastes more like it’s made from beans rather than eggplant.  What made matters worse is the confusion that erupted when we asked the waitress to confirm that it was indeed eggplant after she has hesitantly answered our inquiries the first time as she wasn’t sure herself.  Luckily, we had our trusted friend Google by our side, who confirmed that Halim Bademjan is indeed an eggplant dish.

Halim Bademjan or Eggplant Dip (RMB 32)

On to Khatoon’s mains: we went for the recommended lamb shank (RMB 68) and Beef Lamb Koobideh (RMB 42), an Iranian minced meat kabab. Unlike our appetizers, the portions of our mains were much bigger. The lamb meat came on a giant bone practically engulfed in a mountain of Broad Bean and Dill Rice. I can’t say that the lamb shank lived up to my expectations, but it was good and I definitely was left satisfied after finishing off both mains. The Fresh Yoghurt and Spinach Dip (RMB 25) was perfect to complement both meat dishes.

Beef Lamb Koobideh (RMB 42)

Lamb Shank with Broad Bean & Dill Rice (RMB 68)

Fresh Yoghurt & Spinach Dip (RMB 25)

Since we were the only two diners in the restaurant, I can understand why the waitresses in the restaurant might feel bored, but they should have been less obvious about it.  I figure the owner of Khatoon was downstairs so both waitresses preferred to play on their cell phones next to our table instead.

Caught in the Act: Waitresses Looking Bored & Playing on Phones

Review of Khatoon: Waijiao Apartment, 1 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District  朝阳区新东路1号外交公寓亮马河南岸; Tel: 8532 1071; Open Daily 11AM-11PM

Best Part:

• Khatoon is a Muslim-inspired restaurant with a Halal menu.

• The restaurant is spacious and the vines crawling up the restaurant walls outside is lovely.

• The rooftop dining space would be a nice option on a clear, cool summer night.

• You can order delivery from them on Jinshisong. You can also check out their full menu on their website here.

• Try their Halim Bademjan Eggplant Dish (RMB 32) to dip your fresh pita bread, it’s delicious!

Comments:

• It’s unnerving to be the only diners sitting in a big, empty restaurant. Maybe it was just a quiet night, but considering it’s location (north of Sanlitun across from Yuyang Hotel on the south bank of Liangma River), I can see that Khatoon can only rely on customers who go out of their way to dine at Khatoon (rather than walk-by traffic)

• It’s inexcusable for waitresses to be sitting down and texting on their cell phones for long periods of time in front of customers. It’s one thing to be bored and another to be flaunting their lack of work ethic in front of the people they should be trying their best to impress.

• One side of the room was surrounded in floor to ceiling mirrors.  Done correctly, mirrors can give the optical illusion of added space and depth in a small space, but here in Khatoon just made the space feel more empty and it’s weird to be looking at your reflection while eating. The classical piano music playing in the background throughout our meal was also a bit out of place dining in a Persian restaurant.

• The dishes were satisfactory. Everything was fine, but nothing was exceptional or really stood out as better than Rumi. I think everything tasted rather bland and they should turn the flavors up a notch.  Perhaps more parsley would help? While Dareen Coffee made me question my loyalty to Biteapitta, I can’t say there is anything about Khatoon that pulls me away from Rumi.

• It’s odd to have the first floor taken up entirely by a bar in a restaurant that does not serve any alcohol and does not even allow you to bring in your own drinks. Another bonus for Rumi to allow guests to BYOB.

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

• Food: 6

• Atmosphere: 3

• Service: 4

• Overall Experience: 5

Skylight for Goldfish Between First and Second Floor of Khatoon

Never Say No to Noodles: 1949′s Noodle Bar

When the weather is rainy and I’m feeling blue, a steaming hot bowl of freshly pulled noodles will, more often than not, do the trick and turn that frown right-side up!

Considering we’re in China, we are all spoiled for choice when it comes to having awesome noodles to slurp on never further than an arm’s length away.  Whether it’s your local, hole-in-the-wall noodle stand right in your local hutong (click here for one of my all-time favorite local noodle joints) or you’re balling out on some fancy-pantsy noodles, it’s totally your call.

During my first years in Beijing, I was all about grubbing in super grimy, street-side spots that were consistently packed out with local Chinese taxi drivers. From that initial streak of adventurous dining, I’ve since upgraded to venues I trust to serve food that is both clean and use only high-quality ingredients. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”, so why wouldn’t you only consume the best? Must I remind you of the days when they discovered jiaozi containing cardboard mixed into the meat?

The Noodle Bar in 1949-The Hidden City still stands as one of my favorite places to get my noodle fix. Walk straight back through the main courtyard of 1949 and you will meet double doors that you will need to literally pry apart (they are quite heavy-duty).  Step inside the unassuming doors and you will see a total of 12 seats lined around an open kitchen with kung-fu chefs hand-pulling wheat noodles in front of you.

The Noodle Bar concept is super simple and straightforward – a concise menu with boxes you check off to order your appetizer and noodle dishes. Obviously, this little cave is big on giant, steaming bowls of beef noodle soup (with beef brisket, beef tendon, or beef tripe) or mixed wild mushrooms (a thoughtful vegetarian option), fresh, seasonal veggie dishes (choi sum, kale or lettuce), and a selection of 9 cold appetizer dishes.

An easy, breezy ordering system, you no longer run the risk of getting the wrong order or miscommunication with the waitstaff.

I recommend ordering the set menu for RMB 42 (bowl of beef brisket, tendon and tripe noodles with a small appetizer and Oolong Tea). Boom. Done.

But I’m also a sucker for tendon, so that’s what I order every time, without fail. Check out these super thick noodles soaked in fragrant broth and thick chunks of tendon. Your table setting also comes with a handy set of condiments you can conveniently help yourself to.

Try their range of tasty appetizers. Keep in mind that all are served cold and all are rather pungent. The spinach and enoki mushrooms dish was a little too drenched in overwhelming horseradish/mustard dressing and similarly the bamboo shoots was also too spicy and oily for my liking, but you can’t go wrong with the fresh vegetables and marinated egg & tofu dish.

Spinach & Enoki Mushrooms with Mustard (RMB 10)/ Bamboo Shoots in Chili Oil (RMB 18)

Marinated Egg & Tofu (RMB / Seasonal Kale (RMB 20)

With only 12 seats in total, this is a great spot for a quick, casual lunch with a friend or two (not more considering the limited seats).  It’s small and cozy rather than intimate and romantic. It’s not pretentious or aiming to be anything more than simply what it is: A Noodle Bar.

Review of Noodle Bar: At 1949- The Hidden City. Courtyard 4, Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Sanlitun. Opposite Pacific Century Place South gate. Tel: 6501-1949

Best Part:

• Delicious giant, steaming bowls of beef noodle soup 
• Cozy setting, casual atmosphere – easy come, easy go
• Kung-fu noodle-pulling chefs that pound, beat and pull thick noodles right in front of your eyes
• With an open kitchen, you can see how everything is spick and span. Most likely the opposite to every other local noodle joint you come across.  
• Straightforward, bilingual menu and ordering is made even easier with check boxes to tick off

Comments:

• There are only 12 seats that wrap around the kitchen, so don’t expect to come in a group larger than 2 or 3 and still sit together.
• Definitely not conducive for big groups, but perfect for you to come on your own and not feel awkward about it (definitely a rare opportunity when it comes to eating out at a restaurant).
• Similarly, this is also not the appropriate place to sit and chat and hang out for hours.  Much more of an “eat and leave quickly” style of dining.
• I recommend this place to anyone who loves to indulge in oodles of noodles at a reasonable price considering the quality you’re getting!
• Seats may fill up quickly, but rest assured that wait won’t be long!

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7

Cuffed by Cupid: Charity Pub Crawl through Sanlitun

The idea is simple: Pay RMB 100 and you can pat yourself on the back for doing your good deed for the day by contributing to Migrant Children’s Foundation, a worthy charity organization in need of additional funds and you are set for a guaranteed great night.

Organized by fellow Beijinger Phoebe Mroczek, she took something as simple as a pub crawl and made it into an easy way to raise a decent amount of money towards a local Chinese charity organization she believes in while also putting together a fun event for her friends and anyone else keen to tag along.  The last pub crawl in December was cleverly titled the “12 Pubs of Christmas Charity Pub Crawl” and this month, she’s cuffing all participants to cupid (perfect timing with Valentine’s Day just around the corner) in this next charity pub crawl.

Rally up friends and potential love interests and be sure to dress up in red, pink or white. Once everyone turns up, you are pretty much ‘cuffed’ into a 9 bar pub crawl commitment that will take you through Sanlitun’s best drinking holes. Run-down goes something like this (subject to change at Phoebe’s discretion) -

Paddy O Shea’s (Starting Point)

James Joyce

The Den

Drive Thru

Luga’s

1st Floor

2nd Floor

3 Rock

With a total of 9 bars on board, you are guided on a pub crawl through Sanlitun, taking shots at each bar and tempted by superb drink specials to ensure that by the time you’re done, you’ve hopefully got cupid on your side.

Event Details: 

• Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012
• Time: 4PM
• Location: Starting Point at Paddy’s, then you’ll be heading all over Sanlitun ‘hood
• Contact: crawlsforacausebeijing@gmail.com or call 15011002459

Migrant Children’s Foundation Background:

The Migrant Children’s Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of disadvantaged children in Beijing through volunteering. Our volunteers undertake one month support placements at under-resourced schools in Beijing, but the focus isn’t only on teaching – it’s about sharing experiences, giving time, learning new skills and experiencing life in one of the oldest, most fascinating and fastest-changing countries on earth. This is what makes MCF unique.

For more information, click here.

Welcome Winter with Obentos’ Winter Specials

In addition to a few new maki sushi rolls, udon vegetable/beef noodle soup and Japanese vegetable/beef curry rice options, Obentos 本之味 Japanese restaurant in Central Park is also introducing a few winter specials I am very excited to try.

Order me a Pumpkin Tofu Salad with Soy Ginger Dressing (RMB 48) together with a hot ginger lemon tea (RMB 24) and I’ll be ready to brave the winter cold.

Good news for those who would prefer their food delivered to their door: Obentos has expanded their delivery menu to the greater Sanlitun area and beyond.

Obentos New Delivery Zone:

Click Link for Previous LDS Review of Obentos:

Bento Pushers: Obentos Japanese is in Business!

Obentos Contact Details:

• Address: Just west of The Place Cafe in Central Park, Unit 106-107, Bldg 9, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街新城国际9号楼106-107室

• Tel: 6597 0085, 6597 0223

Get On the Bus: Halloween Party Hop

Get in the spirit with Clubzone & Let’s Powwow’s Halloween Party Bus this Friday, October 28.

Party begins at 8:30PM at Kokomo before moving on to Twilo at 9:30, 798 for the legendary Yen Fetish Halloween Party and eventually back to Sanlitun in the wee hours of the night. Hitting up all the hottest Halloween parties around town (literally), you get hooked up with transportation and free entrance tickets to all venues and the best part? No waiting in any lines!

RMB 300 for transport and entrance to 4 parties including YEN Halloween Party.  RMB 220 for transport and entrance to 3 parties (no YEN)

Here’s how to hop on before all the seats are sold out (click here).

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, October 28
• Time: 8:30PM
• Location: From Kokomo to 798 and back to SLT
• Price: RMB 220 for bus transport and entrance to 3 parties or RMB 300 for total package of bus transport and 4 parties (including YEN Halloween Fetish Party)
• Website: click here.

“If You Can Dodge Traffic, You Can Dodge a Ball!”

“Alright Kate, time to put your mouth where our balls are.” – Peter LaFleur

Such an awesome movie.  Dodgeball rocks.

If you haven’t seen it, go and buy the DVD and get inspired to get out to mashup and join their dodgeball league!!

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, Dodge

The 2011 Coed Dodgeball League Starts September 19!

“Have a friend whose mouth never closes (the 7-11 flag football award winner)? Get him to sign up f or dodgeball too and close that trap.

After the match, buy him a drink to ease the pain from the whooping he just received by your balls.”

It’s a great way to meet friends as everyone signs up as an individual and gets “mashed up” into different teams.

The best part is that now you can come try out dodgeball first for FREE!

On Monday, Sept. 5th, 7:00-10:00pm, mashup will hold pick-up games at The British School of Beijing in Sanlitun. You must RSVP if you want to come to the pick-ups to info@mashupasia.com due to the school’s security. League games are held at Dongsi Olympic Community Sports Culture Center.

• Location: Dongsi Olympic Community Sports Culture Center near Chaoyangmen Station on Line 2. 东四奥林匹克社区体育文化中心
• Address is: No. 14 Chaoyangmen North Alley, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.  朝阳门内北小街14号
• Dates/Times: 8:30pm – 10:30pm, Mondays, September 19 - November 14, 2011.
• WEBSITE:  Get the dodgeball information here!

Let’s Smushi: Snooping Royal Smushi House 皇家慕喜

The Royal Smushi House, house of Nordic food and design first caught my eye a few weeks back and one day, I decided to park my bike outside and have a look around.  I came on a weeknight around 8PM and was in a mood for something light or something sweet. I heard the bakery inside Smushi was pretty good as they specialize in Danish Smørrebrød sandwiches.  Unfortunately, their bakery and cafe closes by 7PM, so I was out of luck this time around.

Outside of their bakery, they also feature a little Monocle Shop and an area dedicated to Georg Jensen.

…and there’s more!  Up a spiral staircase, they have a grand piano and a long hallway with an equally long bar with deep colors and a large formal dining room with leather couches and dim lighting.  A few tables dining, I had a sneak peak at their menu offerings of contemporary Danish dishes which looked quite impressive.  Unfortunately, I was not in the mood for a fancy, sit-down dinner…perhaps another time!  The decor is stunning to say the least:

Just newly opened, Royal Smushi House has it all with a restaurant, a bakery, a cafe, a bar, a Monocle Shop and Georg Jensen dedicated shop. Expect big plans for it’s opening in the coming weeks and I definitely plan to return for their Danish Smørrebrød and Smushi lunch!

In a recent press release from Royal Smushi, they describe an experience in their venue as so:

“We are open all day offering guests a unique experience of food, design and shopping. You will have a chance not only to taste the fantastic wine, the Scandinavian flavor of Smushi and to appreciate the latest released masterpieces of the exclusive Danish design and luxury brand Georg Jensen, the newly opened Monocle Shop, from the global affairs, business, culture and design magazine.”

Royal Smushi House 皇家慕喜 Contact Details:

• Address: No.12 South-West corner of the Dongzhimenwai Ave. and Sanlitun Rd. crossing.
• 地址：三里屯北街 (东直门外大街12号与三里屯路交叉路口西南角)
• Tel: 010-64169 66
• Website: www.royalsmushihouse.cn.com

Casa Pagoda Presents Belita’s Summer 2011 Collection

This Saturday, July 16 2011, Casa Pagoda will be featuring Belita Jewelry’s 2011 Summer collection.

Enjoy a day of shopping, wine and hor d’oeuvres in Belita’s jewelry store just north of Sanlitun Village (below Eric Paris Hair Salon) from 12PM-8PM.

Check out LumDimSum’s Review of Belita’s Grand Opening Party here.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 16 July 2011
• Time: 12-8PM
• Location: Belita Jewelry Store
• Address:  Just below Eric Paris Hair Salon just north of Sanlitun Village - 北京市朝阳区三里屯北街南43号楼（巴黎爱丽克美发沙龙一层）
• Tel: 157 1112 8542
• RSVP: contact@belitajewelry.com

About Belita Jewelry:

Belita Jewelry by Liza M., a stylish, high quality collection comprised of attainable luxury pieces.  Belita Jewelry is handmade, artisan jewelry, crafted from sterling silver, plated in gold, platinum, and rhodium finished with an assortment of semi-precious gemstones and pearls from around the world. Belita Jewelry offers a full range of chic and elegant pieces.

See their website for more information: www.Belitajewelry.com

LumDimSummary: BJ FOoDIES ‘ONLUS’ Charity Dinner

This past Sunday night, BJ FOoDIES hosted their monthly “Indulge for a Cause” foodies event at the classic Beijing favorite – Alameda contemporary Brazilian restaurant to support ONLUS charity organization.

Serving up a Brazilian feastage, guests enjoyed a slam-dunk 3-course menu with a glass of wine/beer/juice for only RMB 100 per person.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Alameda’s BJ FOoDIES Dinner:

Choice of Starters:

Roasted Beef Salad with Dry Tomatoes and Toasted Bread with Herbs Served with Balsamic Reduction / Pacotinni Stuffed with Ratatouille and Goat Cheese with Green leaves and Tamarind Sauce

Main Course Selection:

Duck Leg Comfit served with Polenta Cream with Shiitake and Red Wine Sauce / Baked Tamboril with Green Beans Foam served with Asparagus and Pumpkin Risotto / Grilled Picanha Steak served with Baked Tomato, Onions and Eggplant served with Sweet Garlic & Crisp Rosemary

Dessert Selection:

Milk Pudding / Fruit Plate with Zabaglione / Cocoa Creme Brulee

Highlights of the dinner at Alameda were the Beef Salad and Alameda’s rich and creamy milk pudding is to die for.

Overall, I was thrilled to re-visit a Sanlitun old-timer like Alameda and enjoy such a lovely meal with fellow foodies while also supporting a worthwhile cause.  Doesn’t get much better than that.

This month’s BJ FOoDIES had a great turn-out with the restaurant totally booked out and in the end, they raised a total of ￥6,185 RMB + US$100 for the ONLUS Charity Organization.

About the ‘ONLUS’ Charity Organization:

The charity to receive this months proceeds will go to ONLUS ASSOCIAZIONE MONSERRATE – TheNGO’s mission is to address provide economically disadvantaged families of handicapped children affected by cerebral palsy with financial resources necessary to ensure adequate rehabilitation of children & give parents the opportunity to participate in a specialized training course to learn how to help your child at home.

For more information: http://www.monserrate.org

LumDimSum Snapshots of BJ FOoDIES Dinner at Alameda:

Alameda Restaurant Details:

• Address: Close to Jazz-Ya (across the street from Nali Patio) Sanlitun Beijie, 三里屯北街
• Tel: 6417-8084

**To Join BJ FOoDIES Mailing List,  email bjfoodies@gmail.com

BJ FOoDIES: ‘ONLUS’ Charity Dinner at Alameda

Always putting together a steal meal deal for fellow foodies in the Beijing ‘hood, BJ FOoDIES is celebrating the coming of Spring with a special 3-course menu from a classic Beijing favorite – Alameda.

Known for their killer lunch deals, Alameda is ready to show foodie addicts why this old-timer is still a Sanlitun favorite.

Be sure to RSVP as seating is limited to 60 pax – e-mail BJ FOoDIES team: bjfoodies@gmail.com

BJ FOoDIES –  BRAZILIAN FEASTAGE at ALAMEDA:

RMB 100 includes 3-course dinner menu + Wine Glass / Asian Beer / Soft Drink

1. STARTER (pick one)

Salmon Gravlax

w/ Cress Leaves, Yogurt & Mustard Dressing, Crisp Noodles

Pacotinni Stuffed w/ Ratatouille

w/ Goat Cheese, Green Leaves, Tamarind Sauce

Roasted Beef Salad

w/ Dry Tomatoes, Toasted Bread, Herbs, Balsamic Reduction

2. MAIN COURSE (pick one)

Grilled Picanha Steak

w/ Baked Tomato, Onions & Egg plant, Sweet Garlic, Crisp Rosemary

Baked Tamboril

w/ Green Beans Foam, Asparagus, Pumpkin Risotto

Duck Legs Confit

w/ Polenta Creamy, Shitake, Red Wine Sauce

Mezzaluna Stuffed w/ Riccota

w/ Roasted pine nuts, Mascarpone Creamy Sauce

3. DESSERT (pick one)

Cocoa Brule Creamy

Plated Fruits w/ Zabaglione

Milk Pudding

“Indulge for a Cause”

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, April 10, 2010
• Time: 7:30-10:30
• Location: Alameda
• Address: Sanlitun Beijie, 三里屯北街
• Cost: RMB 100 includes dinner menu + drink
• RSVP: E-mail BJ Foodies Team - bjfoodies@gmail.com

April Charity Theme: ‘ONLUS’

The charity to receive this months proceeds will go to ONLUS ASSOCIAZIONE MONSERRATE – The NGO’s mission is to address provide economically disadvantaged families of handicapped children affected by cerebral palsy with financial resources necessary to ensure adequate rehabilitation of children & give parents the opportunity to participate in a specialized training course to learn how to help your child at home.

For more information: http://www.monserrate.org

About BJ Foodies Group:

Organizing monthly group meals at about RMB 100/head with food/drinks included, this group of dedicated foodies is all about “satiating their inner-foodie appetites for good quality food, conversation & fine wining/sake-ing/cocktailing/beering while indulging for a cause.”

BJ FOODIES PURPOSE:
1. Just to eat a nice meal & catch up with real people & friends outside the clubbing-disease we all suffer from called Vics/Mix.
2. Opportunity to contribute our little bits to society while doing something we love – EATING. The Charity aspect is a supplementary & added bonus BUT NOT the main purpose of the group

Hooking Up Deals on Let’s Powwow

If you have an iPhone or Android, you must download Let’s Powwow today.  My favorite phone application, it’s like a combination of WhatsApp, foursquare and city listings combined.

Not only is this application incredibly useful with finding venues, getting addresses in Chinese and English to show your cab driver, reading quick honest reviews and recommendations, it’s also an easy way to stay in touch with friends.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an hour to kill in Sanlitun (before or after a meeting) and turned on Powwow to see who’s in the neighborhood to pop over for a quick hello!  Instead of texting around to see where everyone is or what everyone is up to, you can just check in and see who’s around you and what’s going on!

Already selected by Apple as one of the top 25 free applications on iTunes, Let’s Powwow is well on its way to the Application Hall of Fame – a the list of hottest applications available.

Most recently, Let’s Powwow has launched “deals” around town. Exclusively created for members of Let’s Powwow, you are entitled to some pretty awesome special deals at some of the best restaurants, bars, cafes, spas and gyms around town!

Top 3 Favorite Deals on Let’s Powwow:

1. Flamme:

Buy-one-get-one-free on any sandwich, burger or salad from Monday-Friday, 11AM-5PM (valid until April 30)

- This is an amazing lunch deal. Used this deal last week and the two of us chowed down on two massive sandwiches with a total bill of RMB 58. Crazy good deal.

Leo’s Steak Sandwich RMB 58

Grilled petit house steak with oven dried tomatoes, arugula and creamy mustard sauce on ciabatta bread served with crinkle cut fries

Flame Dip Sandwich RMB 58

Thinly sliced rotisserie prime rib of beef with fontina cheese and grilled onions on ciabatta roll with dipping sauce, horseradish cream, fries and side salad

2.  Hummingbird Therapeutic Retreat:

Enjoy an extended 1 hour massage service for a purchase of any 1 hour massage.

Offer available Monday-Friday from 10am-5pm, valid until April 30, 2011

3. Hatsune’s Double Threat Duo Special:

Experience 2 Rockin’ New Menu Items at Hatsune:  RMB 100 gets you 1 Japanese Burrito + 1 of Hatsune’s New Sushi Roll Creations (total valued normally at up to RMB 188)

Choice of: AMA Roll, candy&caviar Roll, LumDimSum Roll, Megatron Roll, Lady Bug Roll, Rossini Roll, South Beach Roll, Q Roll, Malaka Roll, G Roll, Monaco Roll, Shichimi Roll

Valid Mondays – Thursdays until April 28, 2011.

Japanese Burrito

+ 1 New Hatsune Sushi Roll = RMB 100

(see some sample sushi rolls below)

candy&caviar Roll / Megatron Roll

LumDimSum Roll / Rossini Roll

South Beach Roll / Q Roll

G Roll

Other Let’s Powwow Deals Available:

• Alameda: One glass of house wine per dinner set menu ordered. Valid March 16-June 15 during dinner time
• Terra: Bring 4 friends to Weekend Brunch and you get your brunch for free (save up to RMB 458). Sat & Sun, 11am-4pm to March 30
• Ole: Order any kind of paella and get a FREE bottle of Spanish wine (red or white). Valid until April 30
• Mosto: 30% off any bottle of wine for dinner on Mondays. Valid until April 1
• Modo: 30% off any bottle of wine for dinner on Tuesdays. Valid until April 1
• Frost Nails: For any purchase of hand or food treatment, get a free mani or pedi at Frost Nails. Valid until April 1
• Mo Lounge: 2-for-1 standard cocktails. Valid until April 1
• 1st Floor: Every Monday, enjoy half price on all dishes, Valid until March 31
• 2nd Floor: 2-for-1 Martinis every Wednesday, until March 31
• Oyo House: 25% off brunch for 2 people or 1 for free for group of 4, Valid until March 31

Let’s Powwow Background:

Powwow Limited is a Mobile Internet company providing a location-based service that is founded upon personal user needs and set preferences to provide relevant information about places, people and events around the individual that pertains to that person’s particular likes and interests. “Let’s Powwow” is the platform that will deliver this information by matching the user’s identified “likes” with our vast database of venues, social networks and events. The more frequently an individual uses Let’s Powwow, the more specific and unique the information s/he receives will become. In essence, we view each user as having their own thumbprint in the form of a personalized database that we can cross reference with ours to provide exacting information they want and require.

Let’s Powwow can be downloaded from the iTunes App store or Android Market. You can also register and log in to the website - www.letspw.com.

Self-Indulge with iSpa

The year of the rabbit is a year celebrating tranquility, good taste, refinement and self-indulgence…and what better way to self-indulge than with a full pampering session?

I was recently introduced to iSpa and after over 2 hours of a full body massage and facial, I left feeling so spoiled, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.  But then again, it’s the start of a new lunar year, so escape the warzone of fireworks outside your window and treat yourself to a few hours of bliss.

iSpa is one of the most stunning spas I have seen in Beijing.  From the moment you walk in, you enter a world of serene tranquility.  A paradise themed with Thai decor, the shelves are stocked with the highest quality products, essential oils and herbal remedies. Spa services include body massages, scrubs, wraps, aromatherapy baths, facials, etc.

LumDimSum Snapshots of iSpa in China Central Place:

I think this quote appropriately sums up a nice introduction to iSpa:

“I think of life as a path of discovery,” says I Spa co-founder, Ms. Sirirat Fungkhajon, “The frantic pace of life in a large city leaves us with no time to reflect deeply upon our lives, and leaves us with little time to care for ourselves and those we love. I Spa more than just a haven where our guests can regain balance of the body, mind, and soul. It is also a place where you can rediscover and renew yourself so that you radiate with elegance. We chose the name “I Spa” to convey this idea of personalized treatment and service. This spa is yours.”

Be sure to check on their seasonal promotions and special packages.  I was lucky to try their “winter bliss” special package – 75 min. body massage with a 60 min. Jurlique facial.

With branches all over Beijing (Sanlitun, Gulou, UpperEast, China Central Place and the airport), find one near you and let the pampering begin!

Review of iSpa: Next to CRU Steakhouse on the second floor of JW Marriott hotel, 83 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区华贸中心建国路83号北京JW万豪酒店2层, Tel: 5908 8380

• Best Part:

• Stunning ambiance inspired by Thai themes
• High-quality products and wide range of services from standard massages to body wraps, facials, etc.
• Nice selection of essential oils and herbal remedies
• English speaking staff
• Great promotional deals- keep your eyes peeled for a pampering Valentine’s Day package inclusive of a chocolate wrap and chocolate scrub – yum!
• They treat you to a foot bath and tea at the start of your session and end with a complimentary treat and tea in the end

Comments:

• Extremely soothing and relaxing massage, but was not very impressed by the facial (have had better in Beijing)
• One of the pricier spas in Beijing, so I would not rate this spa as good value but definitely one of the most stunning and professional spas.
• They have several branches in Beijing  - Sanlitun, capital airport, Gulou, Gehua Tower, and Uppereast Side)

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

• Therapeutic Treatment: 7
• Atmosphere: 9
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 8

Stretch into the Rabbit Year at PUNK

While many will be out Wednesday night lighting up Beijing’s sky into a fire works war zone, PUNK (Opposite House) gives Beijingers an outlet to hop/dance their way into the Rabbit Year with the legendary Stretch Armstrong alongside PUNK’s resident DJ Saul D.

“A love for both house music and New York’s hip hop mix shows has led him to start a ‘mash-up’…the beginning of a genre that rules clubs worldwide today.”

Just to name-drop a few music tycoons, Stretch has worked with the likes of Kanye West, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, Tittsworth, and Steve Aoki and the Dim Mak collective.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, February 2
• Time: 11PM-late
• Door Charge: RMB 50
• Location: PUNK (Opposite House) 

Stretch Armstrong Rings in the Rabbit Year @ PUNK with DJ Saul D

Hercules’ Three S’s: Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

Located in the space of the old White Rabbit, Hercules is a venue specializing in gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches pastas, all-day breakfast and desserts.

I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and loungy the venue space is.  The decor is simple with wood benches and tables, higher bar tables and lounge beds by a window overlooking Sanlitun’s backstreets.

It is interesting to find a venue with such a casual menu serving on soups, salads and sandwiches to have the atmosphere more suitable for an evening lounge rather than a lunch, diner or cafe as the menu suggests.

Hercules Menu:

Over the past two weeks, I’ve dined at Hercules for dinner twice and have had a very different experience each time.  The first time was on a slow Saturday night so the manager took the time to come over, give us his recommendations and we very much enjoyed everything we ordered!

Eager to try more, we went back a second time the following Friday night, which was quite busy compared to the first night (maybe a total of 30 guests vs. 10 the first night) and had quite the opposite experience compared to the week before.  The service was terrible, they were forgetful and mixed up the majority of our order (brought us the wrong salad and the wrong sandwich) and we were super disappointed with our meal and overall dining experience.

They were clearly more busy the second night, but that goes to show a lack of consistency in both their menu and service.  Definitely a hit-or-miss place.

In any case, if you go to Hercules, I highly recommend trying some sort of combo of their 3 S’s.

Their soups – both the borscht and cream of mushroom were delicious (both RMB 18), their Orange Red Cabbage Salad (RMB 22) is probably my favorite thing on their menu and I am a fan of both their Pastrami and Ox Tongue Sandwiches (both sandwiches recommended by Hercules’ manager).

Do NOT order their Eggplant Parmesan – it’s dry, tasteless and was majorly disappointing and their banana bread was also quite a let-down.

Hercules’ 3 S’s:

Borscht Soup RMB 18/Cream of Mushroom RMB 18

Orange Red Cabbage Salad RMB 32

Pastrami on Wheat Bread RMB 38/Ox Tongue with Sauteed Onions, Mushrooms on French Roll RMB 38

Eggplant Parmesan on Rye Bread RMB 32/ Grilled Cheese on White Bread RMB 22

Banana Bread RMB 22/Kiwi Sutra RMB 50

Review of Hercules: Old White Rabbit space, 2/F, Tongli StudioSanlitun Back Street, 朝阳区三里屯同里2楼, Tel: 6415 0299

Best Part:

• 3 S’s: Soothing soups, Refreshing Salads and Delicious, hearty sandwiches – I recommend the Pastrami and Ox Tongue
• Orange Red Cabbage Salad is my favorite item on their menu thus far

• Slick wood decor and lounge area facing Sanlitun’s back streets
• Nice weekday promotions – All-you-can-eat Pasta Mondays, Buy-One-Get-One-Free Sandwiches on Tuesdays
• Lunch set menu for RMB 58, happy hour from 4-8 every day (2-for-1 drinks)
• Free, fast wifi and get unlimited refills of coffee for RMB 20 (Everyday from 2-5PM)

Comments:

• Both their menu and service has been a hit or miss.  Be sure to ask manager for recommendations if you are unsure of what to order.
• By the same people who created The Apartment, run Muse Vietnamese restaurant below and owned White Rabbit.
• A great spot for a quick lunch or relaxing coffee in the afternoon.

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

• Food: 6
• Atmosphere: 8
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 6

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hercules: