To Our Health: Live Well

Living well begins with your health.  You could have all the money and riches in the world, you could be the most powerful person in the world, you could be madly in love with your soul mate, but without your health, none of these things matter. The last thing you should ever do is to take your health for granted.  And taking care of your health begins with a nutritious diet.

Live Well Cafe in Central Park offers a long list of fresh juice, smoothies and super smoothies along with fresh salads, quiches, muffins, soups, sandwiches and panini-crepes.  Live Well proves that healthy food can also be delicious.  As tempting and as easy as it is to indulge in greasy Chinese food and decadent desserts, you need to find a balance in your diet and treat your body to more natural meals, focusing more on fresh veggies and fresh fruit.

I tried the Berry Indulgence Super Smoothie (RMB 29 for large) – including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, apple, and pear and sampled my friend’s Fresh Start Smoothie (RMB 26 large) – oats, dates, banana & yogurt. While both tasted very fresh, but both lacked in flavor and the consistency was not creamy enough to be a smoothie – they should have added more yogurt instead of ice. We then tried the Avocado & Chicken Sandwich (RMB 38) – avocado, chicken breast and rocket salad in your choice of ciabatta, baguette or whole wheat bread. Honestly, it was exactly what you asked for – avocado and chicken with some rocket leaves in two loaves of bread. And while it was tasty and fresh, it was also a bit bland. I think I may try the avocado chicken salad (RMB 35) next.

A Peak Both Inside & Outside Live Well Cafe:

Review of Live Well Cafe: #110, Building 11, Central Park, 朝外大街6号新城国际11号楼110号商铺 , Tel: 6533-6505

Best Part:

• Their menu selection is ultra-healthy with an emphasis on their fresh juice & smoothies (RMB 22-29)
  
• Banana & carrot muffins for only RMB 10
• Vegetarian Quiche for RMB 18
• Avocados featured all over their menu – in salads, sandwiches and quiches.
• Nice outdoor seating and bright interior space
• Easy to order hand-written menus with photos – all a nice touch
• Delivery service available

Comments:

• While I have no doubt everything is very healthy here, it was all a bit bland and not as spectacular as I was anticipating.  Perhaps I set my expectations too high, but when I walked in, I felt there was so much promise that this would be my new favorite lunch spot. I will definitely return in the near future, but I will not re-order anything I tried today.  Luckily, they have a decent sized menu.
• Quite pricey for what you’re getting – RMB 38 for a small sandwich (granted avocados are very expensive).  I think I would still prefer Sequoia or Panino Teca‘s sandwiches over Live Well as they offer a larger quantity and great taste.
• No toilet in the near area.  A bit of a pain.

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 7
  

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

Beijing Hot Tips: Hot off the Press

I may have grown up in the US of A, but I after living in China for over 3 years, I have become such a sucker for discounts. Whether I’m bargaining at Yashow or scheduling a regimented plan to hit up as many possible restaurants as I can during CW’s Gourmet Month, I have come to accept that I am indeed a sucker for discounts.

It’s become an addiction in all of my purchasing habits.  I refuse to purchase without a discount or I find myself over-buying because I got a good discount and end up spending more than I ever intended to.

A perfect example: Yesterday was my mom’s last day in China before flying back home to Cali, so I booked us two facials at the most pampering spa in town – Kocoon, who happened to be celebrating their 1 year anniversary (Nov. 17-20) with some killer deals on facials, massages, pedicures and manicures, see here. After an hour and a half of soothing comfort with a facial treatment that made us spoiled rotten, my mom insists that I sign myself up for my next appointment, which is when we stumble upon Kocoon’s treatment series specials, and I end up with a massive package deal purchasing 11 facials for the price of 8 (which includes 2 free back relaxing massage treatments and 1 eye-puffiness treatment). As much as this is an awesome deal, in retrospect, we went a little overboard.

If you are not into some pampering love treatment, your stomach should be happy to hear that All-Star‘s got a new Winter Menu starting next week!  Print out this blog post on Beijinger and you’ll get 20% off the new menu items (special discount available from Monday, Nov. 23- Thurs, Nov. 26).  My personal new favorites on the new menu are All-Star’s Southwest Tortilla Soup, Steakhouse Burger, Blue Cheese & Bacon Burger, and California Cobb Salad to name a few.

For those with a sweet tooth, the new Sequoia Cafe next to Papa John’s at the Kerry Center is giving out free muffins until the end of November!  Sweetness!