Feast Your Eyes: Newly Opened Haiku in Jinqiao, SH

Newly Opened Haiku in Jinqiao 金桥, Shanghai

Lucky Shanghai-ers, I rarely envy you but when I stepped in to the newly opened Haiku in Jinqiao 金桥, I was so green with envy I practically turned into the Hulk. 

Designed by Alan Wong, founder of the Hatsune Restaurant Group in Beijing, the space is stunning. It is unique in its own right, but with the high ceilings and perfect lighting illuminating a soft glow throughout the dining area, it bears the same trademark of Alan’s other restaurants, especially the Hatsune Sanlitun Branch which won “Best Decor” in this year’s Beijinger’s 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Hatsune Sanlitun Branch: CFFC 2011

Contrasting Hatsune Sanlitun’s underwater, aquatic themes evident throughout the restaurant from the oceanic ground flooring and the stream of fish swimming across the restaurant into a spiraling mass in the center of restaurant’s high-ceilings, Haiku in Jinqiao features a theme of a rocky mountain face with tiered seating and bouldering tables and my favorite part is the bright sushi bar’s “firefly” lights that are only visible if you sit at the sushi bar. I should also mention that the sushi bar seats are quite possibly the most comfortable (and extravagantly expensive) chairs I have seen provided at any sushi bar.

Haiku’s Sushi Bar with Hidden “Firefly” Lights

Haiku’s doors are just now open to walk-in customers and the restaurant is already buzzing with happy sushi fanatics, but the project is not quite complete.  While the Haiku, California-style Japanese fusion side of the restaurant is complete, there is still the Kagen Teppanyaki side that is finishing up its final touches before it is fully operational.  This Haiku branch in Jinqiao is split into two concepts, the only restaurant that will combine both Haiku and Kagen Teppanyaki restaurant concepts into one.

Located just across the way from Green Sports & Leisure Center, there is no in-your-face, back-lit sign or entrance to the restaurant but just a very simple sign with Haiku’s restaurant label that you will miss unless you look for it. The unobtrusive exterior makes your first-impression that much more exaggerated once you step inside.

Stepping into Haiku, Front Door Reception Table

Everything is brand-spanking new, dressed in stylish furniture, new staff uniforms and a new menu design.  I love the size and quality of this menu, but was a bit gutted to see that my “LumDimSum” roll didn’t make the cut for this new Haiku in Shanghai.

So far so good, everything looks to be running smoothly thus far!

Stay tuned for more details regarding the other project – Pulau Ketam, a modern crab house opening in Xintiandi!

LumDimSum Snapshots of the NEW! Haiku in Jinqiao:

NEW! Haiku in Jinqiao Contact Details:

• Address: 601 Lantian Lu, near Yunshan Lu  蓝天路601号, 近云山路

• Tel: 3882 0611

Haiku Jinqiao’s Official Opening Party:

To inaugurate the new Jinqiao location, Haiku will be inviting all to attend their grand opening party on Friday, May 18th.

In appropriate Hatsune fashion, the night will be fueled by free flow sake, signature cocktails, and never-ending signature sushi rolls.  DJ Saul D from Beijing will be flying out to play alongside DJ MK. And don’t not forget the dangerous “Wasabi Challenge” and a sumo wrestling competition!

It wouldn’t be a real party without some serious sumo action.

• Tickets: RMB 100 Online Reservation or RMB 150 at the door

• Email:  info@haikushanghai.com

Last 2 Days to Vote: CW Readers’ Choice Awards 2012

Last month saw theBeijinger’s 9th annual Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards results which took everyone by surprise with underdog Home Plate Bar-B-Que beating out industry big heads Maison Boulud, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) and Hatsune and totally sweeping the ceremony in every category possible from Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Restaurant Personality of the Year (Seth Grossman), Best New Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Best American, and Outstanding for Best Value for Money. Well done to a venue that deserves massive credit for serving the world’s best BBQ pulled-pork sandwich of all time.

*Voting is underway for theBeijinger’s 2012 Reader Bar & Club Awards until May 9th.

Following theBejinger’s Restaurant Awards was Time Out’s Food Awards 2012 just last week where high-end French legend Maison Boulud dominated in all overall categories – Reader’s Choice Restaurant (the only category foodies can vote on), Best International Fine Dining, Best Service, Chef of the Year (Brian Reimer) and Restaurant of the Year.  Other honorable mentions include Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) for Best New Restaurant, Runner up for Restaurant of the Year and Best International Fine Dining, Barolo at the Ritz-Carlton for Runner up for Chef of the Year for Gianluca Visani, Best Service and Best International Fine Dining, and Migas for Best Business Lunch and Best International Casual Dining. Click here for full list of 15 restaurant awards.

That leaves the last expat magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards – CityWeekend’s 10th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards featuring 28 dining categories and 11 nightlife categories.

“The F&B scene has changed immensely in 10 years and we’ve changed along with it. We’re the only game in town that has its own proprietary voting site which makes it easier for us to identify and weed out spammers. We don’t create a million categories so that everyone gets an award. We limit the number of categories so that a win really means something. Cast your vote below and make your voice heard.” – The CityWeekend Team

CityWeekend.com.cn’s Online Voting Ballot

With only a few days left (voting closes at midnight on April 30th), this year is already looking very competitive with Cityweekend reporting that there could potentially be “a lot of upsets in the making”.

Click here for article update on Reader Awards categories.

Here’s how CW’s Categories are looking thus far:

• Best Tex Mex/Mexican: Avocado Tree is in the lead

• Best Italian: Barolo and Cepe needs to watch out for La Pizza creeping up in the votes

• Best Beijing Duck: Da Dong and Duck de Chine are going head-to-head with just one vote separating the two

• Best American: Home Plate and Element Fresh are close ties

• Best Dessert: Divina and Comptoirs are inches apart from the rest of their competition

• Best Service: GungHo! is shining through the rest of the competition

• Best Wine: Toss up between Enoterra and Modo

• Best New Restaurant: Could it be Susu or Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)

• DJ of the Year: Could Eddie LV be stealing DJ Blackie’s title? 

• Best Nightlife Newcomer: Haze or Spark? 

• Who will take the title for Best Restaurant of the Year?  Being the only category without suggested options, everyone is fair game. Obviously you can see who I’ve entered into my ballot…

Strongly disagree with the way these categories are looking?

Here’s your chance to sway the votes in your favor – Spread the word and VOTE!  Just go to this link to CW’s 2012 Readers Choice Awards Ballot.

Happy Voting! 

 Finals Days of Voting for CW’s Readers’ Choice Awards!

Bite-the-Spring with Traditional Chinese Chun Bing 春饼

Chun Bing 春饼 is like a Chinese Burrito

When a local Chinese friend first asked invited me to eat Chun Bing 春饼 for dinner, I thought he was talking about Spring Rolls 春卷 and was thoroughly confused how that would be sufficient for an entire meal.

If you haven’t heard of Chun Bing 春饼before, it’s like a Chinese burrito where you wrap up various veggie and meat dishes into a flour pancake wrap (like a tortilla). Another example that resembles Chun Bing 春饼 is a Beijing Duck Wrap but with a slightly thicker pancake wrap and (obviously) different fillings.

To give you a bit of background on this simple, delicious pancake, the origins of Chun Bing started back in the Jin dynasty where Northern Chinese would eat this pancake on lichun 節氣 to celebrate the beginning of spring and the literal consumption of this dish was called “bite the spring.”

“Bite-the-spring implies that civilians are praying for a good harvest year through eating the fresh vegetables and meat at the beginning of spring.” - Wikipedia on Chun Bing 春餅

By coincidence, shortly after my first Chun Bing 春饼 experience, I read an article in theBeijinger by Marilyn Mai (click for article) who ventured out to the exact same Chun Bing 春饼 spot I was introduced to!

I know there are Chun Bing restaurants all over town, but the restaurant I keep going back to (the same one theBeijinger reviewed) is called Chun Bing Jingwei Cai 春饼京味菜 which is located directly across the street from Cafe de la Poste on Yonghegong Dajie 雍和宫大街.

Chun Bing Jingwei Cai 春饼京味菜: A Favorite Spot to Eat Chun Bing

At this popular eatery, you can choose to order a set of 10 plain flour pancake wraps for RMB 8, but I recommend to instead go for the mixed set of wraps made with spinach, carrot and purple rice (RMB 12).

Spinach & Purple Rice Infused Pancake Wraps

Set of 10 Plain Flour Pancakes (RMB

Once you’ve got your wraps, you can go to town on filling it with as much variety as you please. A great place for vegetarians, majority of the fillings include a wide range of veggie based dishes like carrots, spinach, green beans, potato, rice noodles, sprouts, tofu, and mushrooms.

Our top picks for Chun Bing fillings included a mix of some cold dishes like Spinach with Peanuts (RMB 10) with proper Chun Bing filling dishes like the Stir-fry Shredded Carrots and Pork 胡萝卜炒肉丝 (RMB 12), Mixed Vegetables Wearing a Hat 合菜戴帽 (RMB 16) and Stir-Fried Green Beans and Pork Shreds 肉炒扁豆丝 (RMB 18).

Chun Bing 春饼 Fillings:

Stir-fried Carrot & Pork Shreds 胡萝卜炒肉丝（RMB 12) /  Saucy Duck 酱爆鸭片 (RMB 28)

Rice Noodles with Sour Cabbage 酸菜粉丝 (RMB 12) / Mixed Vegetables Wearing a Hat 合菜戴帽  (RMB 16)

Stir-Fried Green Beans and Pork Shreds 肉炒扁豆丝 (RMB 18) / Stirfry Vegetables  (RMB 22)

Cold Dishes：Spinach and Peanuts (RMB 10) / Tofu Shreds, Cilantro, Peanuts 五香豆腐丝  (RMB 7)

Sample Chun Bing Combo Fillings:

Review of Chun Bing Jingwei Cai 春饼京味菜: Across from Cafe de la Poste, 153 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng District 东城区雍和宫大街153号, Tel: 6406 2183

Best Part:

• It’s a nice change of pace to wrap up your favorite Chinese dishes into a flour pancake rather than with the standard, run-of-the-mill white rice bowl. 
• It’s the next best thing to a real “Beijing duck” experience without the Beijing duck. 
• Great for vegetarians with plenty of veggie-based fillings
• A quick lunch/dinner option. As with many local Chinese eateries, you can be in and hour within 30 minutes of ordering. 
• Very reasonable prices with set of 10 flour wraps 8-12 RMB and most fillings between RMB 10-30
• They have a menu full of pictures, so you can order easy enough.

Comments:

• This is very much a local eatery, so expect your dishware to come wrapped in plastic, your neighboring tables to be loud and rowdy and most likely to also be lighting up cigarettes during your meal. 
• Don’t expect anyone to speak a word of English. 
• Hygiene is probably an issue as well, but the food is good and this is a great spot to grub on authentic Chun Bing 春饼
• Your hands are bound to get messy with your pancake falling apart after your first bite, so it’s nice that they have an available sink with soap for diners to wash up. 
• Service was standard for local Chinese eatery – remember to call out for waitress to order, to get the bill and anything else you might need. 
• Place is always really busy, but turn-over of tables is quick so you never will have long to wait to be seated should they be full. 

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

• Food: 6
• Atmosphere: 4
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 6

LDS Hook-Up: The Crunk Master Comes to Spark

Fun fact: American rapper and entertainer Lil Jon‘s real name is Jonathan Smith.

Who would guess that this guy pictured above wearing sunglasses with long dreads and a crown on his head while holding a bling’d out goblet in one hand and super thick gold chain reading “cRuNk AiN’t DeAd” has such a proper, run-of-the-mill name?

Fun fact #2: Lil Jon is coming to China for the first time and playing at Spark.

Thanks to the Street Hustle Promotions Team, they are the guys who are making this happen and lucky for you, they love LumDimSum and on behalf of Lil Jon, they are putting out a beacon to get Spark packed out with a ton of girls and they’ve asked me to put the word out.

Here is a short video of Lil Jon saying “你好” to Beijingers with clips of his live performances on Youku.com:

I love how Lil Jon is being promoted here -

“Exuberant, loud-mouthed, and regularly adorned with a bejeweled pimp chalice at hand, Lil Jon was the charismatic figurehead of the Dirty South crunk movement that arose from the Atlanta area around the turn of the century. Now a entrepreneur, actor, and still the greatest entertainer in the world, Lil Jon ends his China tour in Beijing.” - The Street Hustle Promotions Team

There is no doubt this entertainer is ambitious with his career as an disc jockey turned rapper, music producer, entrepreneur and even actor?  I’m not sure how convinced I am of his acting skills, but he’s got the personality that’s won him international fame as an entertainer and he knows it -

“My personality has taken me further then music could have taken me alone.”

- Lil Jon in his interview with theBeijinger’s Jonathan White

A few more great excerpts from theBeijinger.com‘s interview with Lil Jon -

theBeijinger: How Crunk are you on a scale of one to “too crunk”?

Lil Jon: The most crunk! How could you ask me a question like that? Who could be more crunk than the crunk master?

theBeijinger: Who’s the better Lil Jon – is it you or the fellow from Robin Hood? 

Lil Jon: Ha ha ha! The fellow from Robin Hood never made it to Beijing, so based on that I think I am the one and only Lil Jon.

For the full interview, click here.

LDS HOOK-UP

Thanks to Street Hustle Promotions, a lucky LDS reader will get the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Lil Jon live!

For your chance to win 2 FREE TICKETS to the Lil Jon Concert on Sunday, April 22, answer the following question in the comment section:

If you could take a shot with Lil Jon, what liquor would you ask him to pour you?  

To answer, click here and scroll down to comment section.  Be sure to leave your email address so I contact the winner directly!

Deadline is Wednesday, April 18 at 12PM Noon.

Pre-Sale Tickets are RMB 50 for ladies, RMB 200 for gents. At the door, it’s RMB 100 for ladies or RMB 300 for men.

Sorry guys, Lil Jon is clearly sexist and the obvious price difference in gender is blatantly ensuring there will be way more hot chicks than dudes on his dance floor so you’ll have to suck it up and pay more than double to get in, but that also means there will be that many more girls for you to check out.  No pain, no gain?

Official ticket booking websites: Piao.com.cn or sendmetickets.com or damai.cn

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, April 22, 2012

• Time: 10:00PM

• Location: Spark Nightclub

• Address: B108, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, 光华路9号世贸天阶B108

• Tickets: RMB 100 for ladies and RMB 300 for gents; Pre-sale: RMB 50 for ladies & RMB 100 for men

Buy Tickets: Piao.com.cn or sendmetickets.com or damai.cn

Save the Date: 

Grand Master Flash is coming to Beijing the week after Lil Jon on April 28 at Yugongyishan.

Early bird tickets (first 200) RMB 150, Pre-sale is RMB 200, Door is RMB 300. 

Go to sendmetickets.com to get your early bird tickets!

Hatsune Chef’s Dinner with Culinary Master Alan-san

Chef Alan-san fully focused in his kitchen

The man behind Hatsune’s legendary sushi rolls and really the entire menu of fresh salads, sashimi, seafood dishes, teppanyaki and California-style Japanese fare, Alan Wong, is getting out his slick set of super-sharp knives, rolling his sleeves up and getting his cook-on in the original kitchen where all the magic first took place – the Original Hatsune branch on Guanghua Lu.

This is an event that has been in the works for months and we are finally ready to announce this exciting upcoming dinner. Alan is opening this dinner up to the first 20 people who are quick enough to sign up for his very own Chef’s dinner on Wednesday, April 4.

Created from scratch and new inspirations, this dinner will feature 10 never-before-seen dishes from start to finish. Be among the very first to sample these new creations that could very well end up on the Hatsune menu. The menu is design to impress, with each dish unique to anything already on the Hatsune menu.

Pretty-ing up his famous California-style Japanese sushi rolls

This is a must-attend dinner for all Hatsune fanatics who have tried every roll on the menu twice and are aching for something new. The set dinner is RMB 380 per person and like I said earlier – we’re only giving out 20 seats MAX so hurry and book your seat! Reservations are essential so get on it..!

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012

• Time: 7:30PM-9:30PM

• Location: The Original Hatsune (Guanghua Lu Branch)

• Address: 2\F, Heqiao Building, Bldg C, A8 Guanghua Donglu, CBD/Guomao    

                       光华东路甲8号和乔大厦C座2层

• RSVP Required: Limited to 20 seats only. 

  Contact: kristen@lumdimsum.com or call 18610046093

I should note that Alan Wong just won the Outstanding award for theBeijinger’s Best Personality Award in this year’s 2012 Reader Restaurant Awards, so you’re guaranteed to have a blast at his very own Chef’s Dinner!

theBeijinger’s 9th Reader Restaurant Awards: Winners, Runner Ups & LDS Picks Announced!

Family Photo Op at theBeijinger’s 9th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards

On Monday, March 19, 2012, theBeijinger just celebrated its 9th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards Ceremony at the Hilton Beijing.

Taking place from 11:30AM-2PM, the restaurant awards got my week off to a great start with a nice break on my mid-day on Monday with more food, sweets and ice cream I could have hoped for.  I was most impressed with the chocolate covered strawberries, chewy cookies and desserts by Sweet Tooth. I’m just thankful I had the self-control to resist drinking from the free flowing beer, wines, cocktails sponsored by Grand Marnier, Chimay, Leffe and Hoegaarden.

Always a grand affair, this year seemed bigger than ever with a very large crowd of both F&B big-heads and die-hard foodies. And it makes sense considering the amount of restaurants that were nominated and the strong readership who submitted ballots (thanks to social media platforms like Weibo, theBeijinger was really successful in reaching a broader audience this year).

“During three weeks of voting, over 5,000 readers and consumers cast ballots in 50 different categories, for over 250 nominated restaurants.”

That’s right- 50 categories and 250 nominated restaurants!  I was wondering how they were planning to read through 50 different categories (would be a nightmare to list off so many winners for so many categories) so I was relieved to find that this year, they displayed 30 of the 50 categories in the winding hall into the main event space.

So right off the bat, we were given the winners for the majority of the awards. It was so unexpected to walk into these displays without expecting to see so many announced in advance. Running around to find the categories Hatsune was nominated in, I was beyond stoked to discover Hatsune won Best Japanese for the 8th year in a row and Hatsune also won Best Decor (Hatsune Sanlitun) and Outstanding for Best Business Lunch (Mosto won this one!).

Hatsune Wins Best Japanese Restaurant (8 year running!) Photo of Hatsune’s two restaurant managers

Other Big Winners from the 9th Annual Awards Ceremony Include:

• Maison Boulud – Winning 7 Awards in total –  Best French, Best Service (Non-Chinese), Best Wine List, Best for a Romantic Meal, Outstanding for Impressing Visitors, Outstanding Place for a Celebration and Outstanding for Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese)

• Da Dong – Restaurant of the Year (Chinese), Best for Impressing Visitors (Chinese) , Best Beijing Duck, Outstanding for Best Service (Chinese)

• Home Plate Bar-B-Que – Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Restaurant Personality of the Year (Seth Grossman), Best New Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Best American, Outstanding for Best Value for Money,

• Nanjing Impressions – Best New Restaurant (Chinese)

• Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) – Outstanding for Best New Restaurant (Non-Chinese), Restaurant Personality of the Year (Ignace Lecleir), Best for Impressing Visitors (Non-Chinese), Best Decor

• Capital M – Best for Impressing Visitors (Non-Chinese), Best Outdoor Dining, Outstanding for Best Romantic Meal, Best Decor

Biggest Disappointments:

• Annie’s gets nominated for Best Service?  Seriously people?  Have you even eaten in the restaurant or are you just getting delivery to your home?  If we’re talking about best delivery service, GungHo! pizza wins hands down

• Tairyo Teppanyaki wins Best Place for Celebration?! I get that their “all-you-can-drink-and-eat deal” may draw you in at first, but the food is such low quality and everything tastes the same! Really surprised by this one.

• Blue Frog for Best Burger – they hav e a great two-for-one deal on Mondays, but there is definitely better burgers in Beijing

• Punjabi Indian Restaurant was not even in the running for the Best Indian category, people need to migrate east of Sanlitun!

• Seems like majority of restaurants that won are all located in the Sanlitun area.  Wish some of the more hidden gems got more recognition (ie Ai Mo Town for Best Yunnan)

• Wish Obentos got recognition in some of the categories they were nominated in! They definitely have the best salads in town in my opinion (much better than Annie’s anyway!)

Overall, it’s very exciting to see a small, little authentic American BBQ spot take over the entire awards ceremony!  Beating out big players like Maison Boulud and Hatsune (for Restaurant of the Year) and Temple Restaurant Beijing (for Best New Restaurant), this underdog came out of nowhere and really stole the show!

Congratulations to Home Plate Bar-B-Que!

Home Plate Bar-B-Que Team Wins Big! 

Photo courtesy of theBeijinger

Here is List of the 50 Categories’ Winners & Runner-Ups:

BEST AMERICAN
Readers’ Choice 
Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Outstanding 
Blue Frog
Union Bar & Grille

LDS Vote: Home Plate Bar-B-Que

BEST BEIJING DUCK
Readers’ Choice 
Da Dong
Outstanding 
Duck de Chine
Quanjude

LDS Vote: Made in China (Grand Hyatt)

BEST BRUNCH (STANDALONE)
Readers’ Choice 
Vineyard Café
Outstanding 
Chef Too
Element Fresh

LDS Vote: The Orchard

BEST BURGER
Readers’ Choice 
Blue Frog
Outstanding 
Fatburger
Let’s Burger Plus

LDS Vote: Maison Boulud

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Readers’ Choice 
Mosto
Outstanding 
Alameda
Hatsune

LDS Vote: Hatsune

BEST CAFÉ
Readers’ Choice 
The Bookworm
Outstanding 
Comptoirs de France
Vineyard Café

LDS Vote: Cafe Zarah

BEST DÉCOR (CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Lan Club
Outstanding 
Duck De Chine (Jinbao Jie location)
Pure Lotus (Changhong Qiao location)

LDS Vote: Duck de Chine (Jinbao Jie)

BEST DÉCOR (NON-CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Hatsune (Sanlitun location)
Outstanding 
Capital M
Temple Restaurant Beijing

LDS Vote: Capital M

BEST DINNER ENTERTAINMENT
Readers’ Choice 
Haidilao
Outstanding 
1001 Nights
Chocolate

LDS Vote: Chocolate

BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT
Readers’ Choice 
Annie’s
Outstanding 
Element Fresh
Grandma’s Kitchen
The Orchard

LDS Vote: The Orchard

BEST FOR A ROMANTIC MEAL
Readers’ Choice 
Maison Boulud
Outstanding 
Capital M
Mosto

LDS Vote: Capital M

BEST FRENCH
Readers’ Choice 
Maison Boulud
Outstanding 
Brasserie Flo
Café de la Poste

LDS Vote: Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB)

BEST IMPRESSING VISITORS (CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Da Dong
Outstanding 
Duck de Chine
Haidilao

LDS Vote: Dali Courtyard

BEST IMPRESSING VISITORS (NON-CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Capital M
Outstanding 
Maison Boulud
Temple Restaurant Beijing

LDS Vote: Temple Restaurant Beijing 

BEST ITALIAN-AFFORDABLE
Readers’ Choice 
Annie’s
Outstanding 
Alio Olio
La Pizza

LDS Vote: Alla Osteria

BEST JAPANESE
Readers’ Choice 
Hatsune
Outstanding 
Matsuko
Tairyo Teppanyaki

LDS Vote: Hatsune

BEST KOREAN
Readers’ Choice 
Saveurs de Coree
Outstanding 
Ai Jiang Shan
Han Na Shan

LDS Vote: Saveurs de Coree

BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
Readers’ Choice 
Haidilao
Outstanding 
Bellagio
Jin Ding Xuan

LDS Vote: Jin Ding Xuan or my local ch’uar stand

BEST MIDDLE-EASTERN
Readers’ Choice 
Biteapitta
Outstanding 
1001 Nights
Rumi

LDS Vote: Biteapitta

BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Readers’ Choice 
Capital M
Outstanding 
Blue Frog
Dali Courtyard

LDS Vote: Dali Courtyard

BEST PIZZA
Readers’ Choice 
Kro’s Nest
Outstanding 
Gung Ho! Pizza
The Tree

LDS Vote: Gung Ho! Pizza

BEST PLACE FOR A CELEBRATION
Readers’ Choice 
Tairyo Teppanyaki
Outstanding 
Maison Boulud
SALT

LDS Vote: Hatsune

BEST PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESTAURANT
Readers’ Choice 
Chuan Ban (Sichuan Provincial Government Restaurant)
Outstanding 
Xinjiang Islam (Xinjiang Provincial Government Restaurant)
Yunteng Shifu (Yunnan Provincial Government Restaurant)

LDS Vote: Chuan Ban

BEST RUSSIAN
Readers’ Choice 
Traktirr Pushkin
Outstanding 
Chocolate
Elephant

LDS Vote: Chocolate (and all my Russian friends agree!)

BEST SALADS
Readers’ Choice 
Element Fresh
Outstanding 
Annie’s
Gung Ho! Pizza

LDS Vote: Obentos

BEST SPANISH
Readers’ Choice 
Agua
Outstanding 
Carmen
Migas

LDS Vote: Niajo

BEST THAI
Readers’ Choice 
Purple Haze
Outstanding 
Serve the People
Very Siam

LDS Vote: Lime Cafe (Central Park)

BEST VEGETARIAN
Readers’ Choice 
Pure Lotus
Outstanding 
Biteapitta
The Veggie Table

LDS Vote: Veggie Table

BEST XINJIANG
Readers’ Choice 
Crescent Moon
Outstanding 
BLCU Muslim Restaurant
Xinjiang Red Rose

LDS Vote: Crescent Moon

BEST YUNNAN
Readers’ Choice 
Middle 8th
Outstanding 
Dali Courtyard
In & Out

LDS Vote: Aimo Town

BEST DIM SUM
Readers’ Choice 
Jin Ding Xuan
Outstanding  
Crystal Jade
Lei Garden

LDS Vote: Heng Shan Hui 衡山汇

BEST DUMPLINGS
Readers’ Choice 
Bao Yuan Jiaozi
Outstanding 
Lao Beijing Jiaozi Guan
Xian Lao Man

LDS Vote: Xian Lao Man

BEST HOTEL BRUNCH
Readers’ Choice  
Bubbalicious, Seasonal Tastes, Westin Beijing Chaoyang
Outstanding 
Aroma, Ritz-Carlton Beijing
Bubbly Sundays, Senses, Westin Beijing Financial Street

LDS Vote: Yi House Brunch in 798

BEST INDIAN/PAKISTANI
Readers’ Choice 
Ganges
Outstanding  
Indian Kitchen
Taj Pavilion

LDS Vote: Punjabi 

BEST BREAD
Readers’ Choice 
Comptoirs de France
Outstanding  
Kempi Deli, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center
South German Bakery

LDS Vote: South German Bakery

BEST VIETNAMESE
Readers’ Choice 
Susu
Outstanding  
Le Little Saigon
Muse Parisian Vietnamese Brasserie

LDS Vote: Susu

BEST WINE LIST
Readers’ Choice 
Maison Boulud
Outstanding  
Aria, China World Hotel
Enoterra

LDS Vote: Aria, China World Hotel

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
Readers’ Choice 
Annie’s
Outstanding  
Home Plate Bar-B-Que
SALT

LDS Vote: Home Plate Bar-B-Que

BEST STEAK (STANDALONE)
Readers’ Choice 
Flamme International Grill
Outstanding
Chef Too
SALT

LDS Vote: Mosto

BEST STEAK (HOTEL)
Readers’ Choice 
CRU Steakhouse, JW Marriott Beijing
Outstanding  
Grange Grill, Westin Beijing Chaoyang
The Cut, Fairmont Beijing

LDS Vote: The Cut (Fairmont)

BEST SANDWICHES
Readers’ Choice 
Element Fresh
Outstanding  
Bocata
Comptoirs de France

LDS Vote: Home Plate’s Pulled Pork Sandwich

BEST ITALIAN – HIGH END
Readers’ Choice 
Sureno, Opposite House
Outstanding  
Cepe, Ritz-Carlton Financial Street
Tavola Italian Dining

LDS Vote: Barolo, Ritz Carlton

BEST MEXICAN/TEX-MEX
Readers’ Choice 
Luga’s Villa (tie)
Peter’s Tex-Mex (tie)
Outstanding  
The Saddle Cantina

LDS Vote: None, there is no good Mexican food in Beijing that I know of! But I heard Avocado Tree is good, but it’s in WDK.  I can’t wait for the Hutong Taco Bar to open up soon this summer (see here for details).

RESTAURANT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Readers’ Choice 
Seth Grossman, Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Outstanding  
Alan Wong, Hatsune/Kagen
Ignace Lecleir, Temple Restaurant Beijing

LDS Vote: I’m biased, but my vote goes to Alan Wong of the Hatsune Restaurant Group

BEST SERVICE (CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Haidilao
Outstanding  
Da Dong
Din Tai Fung

LDS Vote: Karaiya Spice House

BEST SERVICE (NON-CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Maison Boulud
Outstanding  
Annie’s
SALT

LDS Vote: Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB) – anywhere Ignace Lecleir is will be Beijing’s best serviced restaurant

NEW RESTAURANT (NON-CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Outstanding  
Susu
Temple Restaurant Beijing

LDS Vote: The Vine Leaf. Of the restaurants that were nominated, I’m a big fan of TRB, Home Plate, Susu and Obentos, but as they are all new restaurants, I think the only one that’s really ironed out its kinked and have the highest performance success is the Vine Leaf. Each and every dish on the menu is made with so much thought and care, Will Yorke has managed to defy the odds and show Beijingers that English food can be phenomenal! 

NEW RESTAURANT (CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Nanjing Impression
Outstanding  
Green Bites To Go Dumpling Bar
IFW, Park Hyatt Beijing

LDS Vote: New Duck de Chine in Jinbao Jie

BEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (CHINESE)
Readers’ Choice 
Da Dong
Outstanding 
Din Tai Fung
Duck de Chine

LDS Vote: Karaiya Spice House

BEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (NON-CHINESE)
Reader’s Choice 
Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Outstanding 
Hatsune
Maison Boulud

LDS Vote: Hatsune

Full List of Winners can be viewed on theBeijinger’s blog page here and here.

See analysis and comparison between theBeijinger’s Annual Reader Restaurant Awards vs. DianPing.com here.

Beijing’s Best F&B Personalities (from L to R):

Alan Wong (Hatsune), Seth Grossman (Home Plate Bar-B-Que), Ignace Lecleir (Temple Restaurant Beijing)

Photo courtesy of theBeijinger 

*You can check out more photos from the awards ceremony on theBeijinger’s Photo Gallery.

St. Paddy’s Day Parties: Go Get ‘Em Lucky Charms!

One of the most spontaneous, sloppy holidays of the year, St. Paddy’s Day will no doubt have the majority of all party-goers stumbling over themselves for another pint of Guinness and crawling to the next Irish pub.

The top spot to be this year would hands-down be the Irish Ball at the Renaissance Beijing Capital as Beijing’s Irish community will guarantee you a night that’s so good, you most definitely won’t remember it.  But if you didn’t get a ticket already, you’re out of luck as this event’s totally sold out.

Fear not, if you aren’t making your way to the Irish Ball, you can always hit up the usual list of suspects – Paddy O’Shea’s and are most likely going to be the most packed out as these two pubs are instinctively what first comes to mind when considering Beijing’s top Irish Pubs, but there will be a parade of parties across town with a range of drink deals from Danger Doyle’s RMB 30 for a Guinness beer deal (only on the condition that you’re wearing green), Bar Blu’s buy-one-get-one-free Guinness deals and Q Bar’s Green Cocktails.

Here are a few great sources to track down the perfect St. Paddy’s Day Party for you:

• theBeijinger’s Breakdown of St. Paddy’s Day Parties – Luck of the Irish: St. Patrick’s Day 2012 in Beijing

• CW’s Breakdown – The Big Badass List of Everything St. Patrick’s Day

• eChinacities.com – Shake Your Shamrock! St. Paddy’s Day Events in Beijing

• Agenda’s List – The Best St. Patrick’s Day Events in Beijing

Happy St. Paddy’s Partying!

Til March 13: Dish Out Votes On Restaurant Favorites

theBeijinger.com has just launched their 9th Reader Restaurant Awards and you can cast your vote now until March 13, 2012, so get it all out on the table and start giving props to all the restaurants in Beijing you love and frequent most. 

There’s over 250 worthy Beijing restaurants nominated in 50 categories on this year’s ballot, so let the voting begin!

theBeijinger’s Reader Restaurant Categories include:

• Best Burger

• Best Indian/Pakistani

• Best Mexican/Tex Mex

• Best Italian (Affordable & High-End)

• Best Russian

• Best American

• Best Spanish

• Best Thai

• Best Japanese

• Best Vietnamese

• Best Korean

• Best Dumplings

• Best Yunnan

• Best Xinjiang

• Best Provincial Government Restaurant

• Best Beijing Duck

• Best Dim Sum

• Restaurant Personality of the Year

• Best Decor (Chinese & Non-Chinese)

• Best Pizza

• Best Sandwiches

• Best Steak (Hotel & Standalone)

• Best for Impressing Visitors (Non-Chinese & Chinese)

• Best Place for a Celebration

• Best Late Night Dining

• Best Business Lunch

• Best Hotel Brunch

• Best Brunch (standalone)

• Best Family Friendly Restaurant

• Best Value for Money

• Best Cafe

• Best Bread

• Best Salads

• Best Vegetarian

• Best Wine List

• Best French

• Best Middle Eastern

• Best Dinner Entertainment

• Best for a Romantic Meal

• Best Outdoor Dining

• Best Service (Non-Chinese and Chinese)

• Best New Restaurant (Chinese and Non-Chinese)

• Restaurant of the Year (Chinese and Non-Chinese)

I was quite surprised to see the wide range of list of “Best New Non-Chinese Restaurants” (list of 12 restaurants!).  From a cute, delivery Japanese restaurant like Obentos to specialized restaurants like Home Plate Bar-b-que and The Vine Leaf, all the way to high-end hotel restaurants like S.TA.Y or Temple Restaurant Beijing, doesn’t really seem fair to put these restaurants together in one category.

List of ‘Best New Non-Chinese Restaurants’ to Choose From:

*Hatsune Restaurant Group was Nominated for:

• Restaurant Personality of the Year (Alan Wong of the Hatsune Restaurant Group)

• Best Decor (Hatsune Sanlitun)

• Best for Impressing Visitors (Kagen) 

• Best Japanese (Hatsune)

• Best Business Lunch (Hatsune) 

• Best Non-Chinese Restaurant of the Year (Hatsune) 

Click here to vote!

Jungle Bells: DJ Goldie and Syndicate at Yigongyishan

DJ Goldie is back in Beijing for the fourth time (that’s how much we love this guy) and he is back playing at Yugongyishan tonight Friday, December 23 at 10PM.

His previous set in 2008 was voted “Night of the Year” in theBeijinger’s Bar & Clubs awards where he “played an unbelievable 4-hour mix of unreleased tracks that tore Yugong Yishan to pieces.”

More than just a DJ, Goldie’s also an actor with a role in Guy Ritchie’s “Snatch” and the James Bond film “The World is Not Enough”.  This guy also happens to be a graffiti artist, drum ‘n’ bass icon, DJ and producer.

“Goldie is a total original, a multi-talented complex shape shifter, who’s sold more than 2.5 million records worldwide.”

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, December 23, 2011
• Time: 10PM
• Tickets: RMB 70 (pre-sale), RMB 100 (door)
• Ticket Locations: Cafe Zarah, NLGX Design and Yugongyishan
• Ticket Online: www.clubzone.cn
• Location: Yugongyishan
• Address:  3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng district, 东城区张自忠路3-2号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
• Website: Click here.

theBeijinger’s Charity Super Quiz 2011

Think you’ve got what it takes to beat out Beijing’s top whiz master? Think you’re the king of utterly useless, random trivia knowledge?  (JUST KIDDING, I revoke my comment about trivia knowledge being useless as I’m sure you can find great use with random facts.)

In any case, I know how seriously hard-core Beijingers get when it comes to pub quizzes – there’s a reason why every freakin’ pub in Beijing hosts their own pub quiz night. So now you can put your knowledge to the test and come out for the ultimate pub quiz of the year – theBeijinger’s Annual Charity Super Quiz, the holy grail of pub quizzes with “tougher questions than ever” and all proceeds going to Ping An Medical Foster Home.

Hosted at Chocolate Club this Sunday, December 11, doors open at 6PM and questions start at 7:30PM. Round up your dream whiz team (tables are limited to teams of 10) and tickets cost RMB 100 including a free drink. 

“Whether you enjoy quizzes, charity or Russian dancers, there’s something in this evening for everyone.” – theBeijinger Team

This year’s event will include the following QuizMasters:

• Karl from Paddy O’Shea’s

• Jim and Anthony from The Kro’s Nest

• Tom from the Black Sun

• Josh from Lush

• Pat from the Green Cap

• Liz at The Stumble Inn

• Graham of the Irish Volunteer

• Julian from Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q

• Alex from The Brick

• Jonny from The Bookworm

…Like I said before, this is the Holy Grail of Beijing Pub Quizzes!

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, December 11
• Time: 6PM
• Location: Chocolate Club
• Address: 19 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区日坛北路19号
• Tel: 8561 3988
• Website: Click here.

The Vineyard’s Weekend Lunch Deal & The Vine Leaf

Vineyard’s Roasted Peppers and Hummus with Side Salad & Drink (RMB 55)

The Vineyard is famous for their great value weekend brunches (Try their “Full English Breakfast”), but they also serve up a great weekday lunch deal. For prices ranging from RMB 45-65, you can enjoy some great mains + side salad or side of fries + drink. Highlights include giant pizzas deals (RMB 60-65), sandwich combos (RMB 55), and even Baked Potato (RMB 65), Quiche Lorraine (RMB 58), Omelette (RMB 55) and Muesli (RMB 45).

The Vineyard’s Weekday Lunch Deals: 

LumDimSum Snapshots of Vineyard’s Weekday Lunch Deals:

Premium Pizza (Roasted Chicken & Bacon) + Side Salad + Drink = RMB 65

French Ham & Gruyere Sandwich + Side Fries + Drink = RMB 55

Roasted Peppers and Hummus Sandwich + Side Salad + OJ = RMB 55

The Vineyard Cafe Contact Details:

• Address: In the Hutong Street just west of YongheGong temple, 31 Wudaoying Hutong, 五道营胡同31号
• Tel: 6402-7961
• Website: www.vineyardcafe.cn
• *Note: The Vineyard is not open on Mondays! 

…Stay Tuned for The Vine Leaf!

Great news for all Vineyard fans, owner Will Yorke will be opening up his new venture called The Vine Leaf on Jianchang Hutong, just around the corner from The Vineyard Cafe.

Featuring home-brewed beers and British favorites like “steak and ale pie, Cornish pasties, scotch eggs, watercress and stilton soup, fish and chips, a smoked-haddock fish pie and English breakfasts.” I’m not even sure what scotch eggs are and I’ve never had a smoked-haddock fish pie, but I can’t wait to try it. I’m most excited for Will personally cooking a giant leg of lamb for Sunday Roast.  

Click here for more info: theBeijinger’s First Look at The Vine Leaf.

DJ Saul and DJ Wordy Ring in 3 Years for Punk

Seems like it’s a weekend full of birthdays!

theBeijinger Magazine celebrates it’s 10 year birthday this Saturday at Sanlitun SOHO (see LDS article here).

And this Friday (tonight, October 14), Suzie Wong’s club is celebrating its 9 year anniversary and Punk will be it’s third year. Although Punk is the baby of the three veterans, this is one of Beijing’s top hotspots and it is the one I am most excited about.  Suzie’s may be swanky and focused on super duper VIP treatment, but Punk is raw, real and all about getting the dance floor on fire.

With Wordy and Saul behind the decks, it’s bound to be a night of full-on, fast-paced dance madness.

**Note: there has been some confusion with the date of this event and I would just like to set the record straight for the betterment of Beijingers: Punk’s 3 year anniversary is on FRIDAY, October 14 (not Saturday). 

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, October 14
• Time: 10PM-late
• Ticket: Free before 11PM, RMB 50 after 11PM
• Location: Punk (The Opposite House)
• Address: Building 1, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district  朝阳区三里屯路11号院1号楼
• Website: www.barpunk.com 

LDS Hook-Up: theBeijinger Celebrates a Decade in BJ

theBeijinger Magazine celebrates its 10th Birthday in this dynamic capital and naturally they are calling all Beijingers to join in celebration festivities which guarantees plenty of music, food and “more booze than anyone can possibly drink”.

“It’s going to be an absolute corker with some of the best of Beijing’s bands and performers offering us a unique take on the last decade.”  - theBeijinger Team

Celebrating all the best (and worst) trends, fads, styles and moments of the past decade from 2001-2011, guests are asked to relive the past decade by turning up in your favorite fashion moments.  From trucker hats to uggs, you know what I’m talking about.

Get the LumDimSum Hook-Up for free tickets to theBeijinger 10 Year Party! 

This offer comes on a first come, first dibs basis so if you want to get hooked up, just email – kristen@lumdimsum.com before noon on Thursday, October 13.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 15
• Time: 4PM-9PM
• Location: Center space of Sanlitun SOHO (walk down stairs to main area)
• Tickets: RMB 100
• Ticket Purchase: Email events@thebeijinger.com and getting them delivered directly to your door. You can also pay on the day (if tickets are still available).

Last Chance: CFFC’s Final Summer Charity Dinner

The final of three summer dinner series hosted by the Chi Fan for Charity team, they will be finishing off with an exceptional dinner planned for this Saturday, August 27 at The Hutong beginning at 6:30PM.

Multiple award winning Top Chef Jeffery Powell who also happens to be the mastermind behind Beijing’s much-beloved restaurants like The Orchard, Element Fresh and Flamme, will create a special menu of bocadillos for a crazy low price of RMB 100 per person.

Knowing that theBeijinger will be sponsoring the drinks and entertainment for this dinner, you are guaranteed to be in for a treat! To follow in suit with the food theme, I expect plenty of tequila and definitely some lively entertainment…possibly a mariachi band even?

Only RMB 100 per person, this is an awesome price for great food, drinks, entertainment, company and to make it even better, all event proceeds will benefit The Dandelion School and of course any additional funds can be donated to a featured charity at your own discretion.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, August 27
• Time: Starts at 6:30PM
• Price: RMB 100 per person
• Location: The Hutong
• Address: 1 Zhongxiang Hutong, Jiudaowan, Dongcheng district  东城区九道湾中巷胡同1号
• RSVP: erin@thehutong.com
• Website:  Click here to RSVP online

About The Dandelion School:

The recipients of both 2009 & 2010 Chi Fan for Charity proceeds, this is the first government approved middle school specifically for children from low-income migrant families in Beijing.

Battle of the Burgers: TheBeijinger’s Burger Cup

theBeijinger knows just how much we Beijingers all love burgers.

Now it’s find to find the King of Beijing’s burgers by pitting off various restaurants in Beijing from the famous Blue Frog, Lush in WuDaoKou, Fatburger, Let’s Burger, fast food joints like Burger King and Hollywood to fine dining restaurants like One East (Hilton) and Maison Boulud.

Sadly, I am ashamed to admit that there are even a few restaurants listed I have not yet tested out!  I will make a conscious effort to change this and try out Burgers & Beer in Shunyi, Lush and La Bamba in WuDaoKou and Lily’s American Diner in Shuangjing.

First Round Burger Match-Ups:

The Box Vs. Grandma’s Kitchen
1F Vs. La Bamba
Scarlett Vs. Hard Rock Cafe
The Den Vs. Luga’s Villa
Blue Frog Vs. One East
Paul’s Steak and Eggs Vs. Let’s Burger
Lush Vs’ Maison Boulud
Home Plate Bar-b-que Vs. Flamme
Peter’s Tex-Mex Vs. Village Cafe
Eudora Station Vs. Chef Too
Union Bar & Grille Vs. Burger King
Kiosk Vs. Rumi
Fatburger Vs. Hollywood
Paddy O’Shea’s Vs. Burgers & Beer
Lily’s Vs. Vineyard Cafe
Stumble Inn Vs. American Cafe

So there you have it Beijingers – now it’s up to you as a burger fan, make your voice heard by voting on theBeijinger’s website link here: The Beijinger Burger Cup: Voting to Decide Beijing’s Best Burger.

Voting closes on Thursday, August 11.