LDS Hook-Up: Free tickets to theBeijinger’s Beer Festival

Picture yourself in the sun, surrounded by tents pumping out ice-cold beer, chefs grilling lunch on the barbecue, DJs spinning summer tunes … Does that sound like Beijing?”

If you like Beer, music and theBeijinger Magazine, LumDimSum has got the hook-up for you to get on over to enjoy theBeijinger’s Beer Festival this Saturday, July 23 at Villa Castanea, a European-style restaurant set in northwest Beijing, not far from Fragrant Hills and Summer Palace.

“There will be 34 beers there for the sampling, thanks to local producers and suppliers Great Leap Brewery, Heineken, Vandergeeten, DXceland Villa Castanea.” – theBeijinger

More than just a day of beer drinking, their beerfest will also be featuring some of the city’s finest musicians including “Patrick Yu, Usami, Nassdak and Bitesize Buddha will man the decks while Ajinai and the Randy Abel Stable take to the stage”.

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, July 21.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, 23 July 2011
• Time: Noon-8PM
• Location: Villa Castanea, Haidian District
• Website: http://www.thebeijinger.com/beerfestival2011

Happy America Day: Celebrating the Fourth of July

America’s Independence Day, the Fourth of July, should be a day of BBQ picnics in parks with hot dogs and burgers on the grill, water balloon fights and fireworks, but as this year falls on a Monday, most are stuck in an office for the better part of the day.

But rest assured, there’s still plenty going on and a variety of destination options available to show off your Americanism.

theBeijinger gives a nice run-down of pro-American venues (click here for article) including Saddle Cantina, Kro’s Nest, the Stumble Inn, Blue Frog, the Culture Yard’s Independence Day Cook-Out, and NOLA.

After witnessing the world’s top hot dog eater, Joey Chestnut engulf 39 hot dogs in 5 minutes at the Nathan’s Famous Wanliu Store opening and the China National Hot Dog Eating Championship a few weeks back, my gang of usual suspects we be celebrating this great national holiday by ordering in a couple dozen orders of Nathan’s Famous Chili Cheese dogs and watching Joey Chestnut live on ESPN in action at 11PM Beijing time (actual contest begins at noon New York time, so midnight in Beijing). If you have a VPN or other IP proxy, you can easily watch the contest online at this link here.

Joey Chestnut jammed down 39 hot dogs in his own 5 minute exhibition in Beijing!

To see full article of Nathan’s Famous China National Championship Hot Dog Eating Competition, click here.

To see more images and video footage of Joey Chestnut exploring Beijing, click here.

For all those with a sweet tooth, I recommend ordering some All-American Apple Pie from The Pie House (buy 2 for a 30% discount!) to celebrate!

**Happy Fourth of July!**

Tune In for The Royal Wedding Live in Beijing

Witness Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot this afternoon with coverage starting around 3PM and the grand procession beginning around 5PM Beijing time.

Unless you are one of the few invited to the big screening at the British Embassy’s garden party or to a fellow Brit’s private viewing party, you’ll want to find a spot to watch this momentous event somewhere with screens and guaranteed coverage!  

theBeijinger’s got a great breakdown of venues around town covering the Royal Wedding  here.

Top pick for public viewing goes to The Stumble Inn with “a three-course meal fit for a king (or prince)”. RMB 198 per person gets you a free Pimm’s cocktail or a cup of tea to wash down your three courses of potted shrimp, toad in the hole with “bubble and squeak” (that’s potato and vegetables mashed together) and sherry trifle.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, April 29, 2011
• Time: 5PM onwards
• Locations: The Stumble Inn
• Address: S3-31, 3/F, Sanlitun Village South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区3号楼3层S3-31
• Tel: 6417 7794

theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards: Hatsune Wins Best Japanese 7 Years Running

On Monday, March 21, Hatsune took home Best Japanese for the 7th year running at theBeijinger’s Reader Restaurant Awards!

Considering this was theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards, that’s pretty much a perfect record.

Congratulations to Alan Wong, owner of the Hatsune Empire, for holding it strong and staying on top of the game 7 years straight.  That’s gotta be the longest-running record in town!

Get excited because this year Hatsune will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in August 2011. If you thought Hatsune’s 9 year anniversary party and Chi Fan for Charity After Party was wild last year, you are in store for a treat this coming August.  Stay tuned for details….

Other big winners from the awards ceremony include:

• Maison Boulud – Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese), Best French, Wine List, Most Romantic Meal, Best Service
• Da Dong – Restaurant of the Year (Chinese), Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Beijing Duck, Best for Impressing Visitors
• Capital M – Best high-end brunch, Afternoon Tea, Outdoor Dining,
• Mosto – Best Business Lunch, Best Steak, & MODO got Best New Restaurant

For a complete list of all Beijinger Dining Awards Categories and Winners, click here.

Maison Boulud & Da Dong Collect “Restaurant of the Year”

Dali Courtyard / Capital M

Modo / Agua / Biteapitta

SALT / Gung Ho! Pizza

Michael & Joanna Crain for Culinary Event of the Year: Chi Fan for Charity 2010!

While many of this year’s winners are very deserving of their awards, I was disappointed to see a few of my favorite restaurants without any recognition – Bei (in the Opposite House), Black Sesame Kitchen, Karaiya Spice House, and Madame Zhu’s Kitchen to name a few.  And I am really fed up with repeat winners  - Annie’s winning Best Italian (come on people, it’s not best delivery service), Ganges for Best Indian (really not that great), and Element Fresh for Best American, Best Sandwiches, and Best Affordable Brunch? I only approve of their smoothies and salads and boycott the rest.

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

Afternoon Tea

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

American

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote: Chef Too

Beijing Duck

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote: Made in China

Brunch (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Fennel

Brunch (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote: Vineyard Cafe

Burger

• Beijinger Winner: Let’s Burger

• LumDimSum Vote: Let’s Burger

Business Lunch

• Beijinger Winner: Mosto

• LumDimSum Vote: Alameda

Cantonese (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Lei Garden

• LumDimSum Vote:  Zenses, Westin Beijing Chaoyang

Cantonese (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Jin Ding Xuan

• LumDimSum Vote: Heng Shan Hui 衡山汇

Culinary Event of the Year

• Beijinger Winner: Chi Fan for Charity (Nov 6, 2010)

• LumDimSum Vote: Chi Fan for Charity (Nov 6, 2010)

Décor

• Beijinger Winner: LAN

• LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

Dim Sum

• Beijinger Winner: Din Tai Fung

• LumDimSum Vote:  Heng Shan Hui 衡山汇

Family-Friendly Restaurant

• Beijinger Winner: Annie’s

• LumDimSum Vote:  The Orchard

For Impressing Visitors

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote:  Duck de Chine

For a Romantic Meal

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Capital M

French (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Maison Boulud

French (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Brasserie Flo

• LumDimSum Vote: Crepanini

Hot Pot

• Beijinger Winner: Haidiliao

• LumDimSum Vote:  Haidiliao

Hotel Brunch

• Beijinger Winner: Bubbalicious, Westin Beijing Chaoyang

• LumDimSum Vote:  Bubbly Sundays at Senses, Westin Beijing Financial Street

Indian/Pakistani

• Beijinger Winner: Ganges

• LumDimSum Vote:  Punjabi

Italian (High-End)

• Beijinger Winner: Sureño, The Opposite House

• LumDimSum Vote:  Sadler Ristorante

Italian (Affordable)

• Beijinger Winner: Annie’s

• LumDimSum Vote:  LMPLUS (Central Park)

Japanese

• Beijinger Winner: Hatsune

• LumDimSum Vote:  Hatsune and Kagen Teppanyaki

Korean

• Beijinger Winner: Saveurs de Coree

• LumDimSum Vote:  Ai Jiang Shan

Kung Pao Chicken

• Beijinger Winner: Xiao Wang Fu

• LumDimSum Vote:  Black Sesame Kitchen

Late-Night Dining

• Beijinger Winner: Bellagio

• LumDimSum Vote:  Jin Ding Xuan or my local Ch’uar stand

Mexican/Tex-Mex

• Beijinger Winner: Saddle Cantina

• LumDimSum Vote: Casa Latina

Middle Eastern

• Beijinger Winner: Biteapitta

• LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

Outdoor Dining

• Beijinger Winner: Capital M

• LumDimSum Vote: Dali Courtyard

Pizza

• Beijinger Winner: The Tree

• LumDimSum Vote: Gung Ho! Pizza

Russian

• Beijinger Winner:  Traktirr Pushkin

• LumDimSum Vote: Traktirr Pushkin

Sandwiches

• Beijinger Winner: Element Fresh

• LumDimSum Vote:  Hercules

Service

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote:  Fennel

Sichuan

• Beijinger Winner: South Beauty

• LumDimSum Vote: Madame Zhu’s Kitchen

Spanish

• Beijinger Winner: Agua

• LumDimSum Vote: Agua

Steak

• Beijinger Winner: Mosto

• LumDimSum Vote: The Cut Grill (Fairmont Hotel)

Thai

• Beijinger Winner: Purple Haze

• LumDimSum Vote:  Tuk Tuk

Vegetarian

• Beijinger Winner: Pure Lotus

• LumDimSum Vote:  Samadhi Teahouse

Vietnamese

• Beijinger Winner: Muse

• LumDimSum Vote:  Banh Mi Now!

Wine List

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote: Enoterra

Yunnan

• Beijinger Winner: Middle 8th Restaurant

• LumDimSum Vote: Aimo Town

New Restaurant (Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Little Yunnan

• LumDimSum Vote: Xu Xian Lou

New Restaurant (Non-Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Modo

• LumDimSum Vote: Modo

Restaurant of the Year (Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Da Dong

• LumDimSum Vote: Karaiya Spice House

Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese)

• Beijinger Winner: Maison Boulud

• LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

theBeijinger 2011 Reader Restaurant Awards: Vote Now!

Click photo for Beijinger’s 8th Annual Reader Restaurant Awards Survey

theBeijinger’s 8th Annual Restaurant Awards are now live until March 14, so vote up and give due credit to the restaurants you love and frequent.

With 44 categories and featuring over 253 nominated restaurants, Beijinger’s stepping it up a notch with “the biggest, fattest, most ambitious survey to date.”

Restaurant Award Categories are broken down into 3 Sections -

First Section Breaks Down Regional Chinese Restaurants:

Best Cantonese (affordable and high-end are broken down into 2 separate categories), Best Beijing Duck, Best Sichuan, Best Dim Sum, Best Hot Pot, Best Kung Pao Chicken, Best Yunan

Second Section Breaks Down All Non-Chinese Restaurants:

Best French (both affordable and high-end restaurants are divided into two separate categories), Best Indian/Pakistani, Best Russian, Best Italian (affordable & high-end), Best Japanese (Hatsune obviously), Best Spanish, Best Mexican/Tex-Mex, Best Middle Eastern, Best Thai, Best Vietnamese, Best American, Best Korean, Best Pizza, Best Sandwiches, Best Steak, Best Burger

Third Section focuses on Specific Categories:

Best Business Lunch, Best Afternoon Tea, Best Culinary Event of the Year (Hatsune’s 9 year Anniversary Party!), Best Family-Friendly, Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Late Night Dining, Best Brunch (both affordable & high-end), Best Vegetarian, Best Wine List, Best for a Romantic Meal, Best Chef, Best Decor, Best Service, Restaurant of the Year (Chinese & Non-Chinese).

*Hatsune was nominated for:

• Best Japanese
• Best Lunch
• Best Culinary Event of the Year (our 9th Anniversary Party)
• Best Decor (Sanlitun Branch)
• Restaurant of the Year!!

Click here to vote!

theBeijinger Ultimate Quiz

In the spirit of giving, theBeijinger is hosting a charity quiz night at Hard Rock Cafe on Sunday, December 5 from 6PM onwards (quiz starts at 7PM).

Congregating Beijing’s top quizmasters, this ultimate quiz is not-to-be-missed by all trivia wizards.

Each participant will be asked to contribute RMB 50 as an entry fee, which will be donated to Ping An Medical Foster Home, a charity that strives to help Chinese orphans born with disabilities or diseases which require surgery.  Click here for more information and see the amazing miracles they are giving to these children.

For this event specifically, Hard Rock will be slashing prices on both food and drinks, and there’ll be great prizes for the winners of each round.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, December 5
• Time: Doors Open 6PM, Quiz starts 7PM
• Location: Hard Rock Cafe
• Address: On the 3rd Ring Road south of LiangMaQiao, Landmark Towers, 8 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu. 东三环北路8号亮马河大厦西大堂
• Tel: 6590-6688 ext. 2571
  

theBeijinger Goes The Whole Nine Yards

In the spirit of turning 9, theBeijinger invites you to celebrate with them with a night at Migas with an all-you-can-drink special for only RMB 99!

Party will take place in Migas (Nali Patio) from 8:30PM-midnight.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, October 21
• Time: 8:30-midnight
• Location: Migas
• Address: 6/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun North Road, 三里屯北街81号那里花园6层
• RSVP: events@thebeijinger.com
  

theBeijinger.com: iPhone 3GS Giveaway Challenge

Now here’s some encouragement to take a few minutes out of your day and post some reviews on theBeijinger.com – a super easy way to win an iPhone 3GS or a pair of quality Chilean El Toqui wines.

Instructions to Participate in theBeijinger.com Reviewer Challenge:

• Click here for theBeijinger.com online directory
• Search for venues or organizations you’ve recently visited and have something of substance to write about
• Click the “Add a Review” link on the right-hand side of each venue listing
• The more you write, the more you increase your chances of winning.  Every 5 reviews get you 1 ticket, limit is 4 tickets in the draw to win(20 reviews).
• Deadline: Midday, Tuesday, July 20, 2010
• Full list of house rules here, but the regulations boil down to this: only reviews submitted from now to July 20 are eligible for the draw, you can review any venue or organization listed in our directory, and only serious reviews will be counted (refrain from writing jibberish, people).

Prize:

• iPhone 3GS

• Chilean El Toqui wines (Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, both 2007)

CW Reader’s Choice Awards vs. LumDimSum

Unlike theBeijinger and Time Out magazines, CityWeekend lumps both the Dining & Nightlife Award Categories into one evening rather than split it up into two events. And for the first time this year, CityWeekend changed it up and actually kept the vote count visible to the public and made sure that every voter had a validated CW User Name Account.

If you are interested in comparing results, check out theBeijinger Restaurant Awards Breakdown posted here.  Time Out’s Restaurant Awards Breakdown is posted here.

I unfortunately was not in Beijing to attend the CityWeekend’s awards ceremony at Brasserie Flo, but word on the street was that it was packed and the turn-out was impressive.

If you haven’t seen the results already, here is a LumDimSummary Breakdown of all the winners in both the Restaurant & Bar Awards Categories:

CityWeekend’s Awards for Best Dining Categories:

• Best New Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Tamarind

  • LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

• Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: SALT

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

• Chinese Restaurant of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Zen5es

  • LumDimSum Vote: Karaiya Spice House

• Most Romantic:

  • CW Winner: Jaan

  • LumDimSum Vote: Capital M

• Best Value:

  • CW Winner: Kiosk

  • LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

• Chef of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Mario Cittadini

  • LumDimSum Vote: Max Levy – Bei/Apothecary

• Best Service:
  

  • CW Winner: Maison Boulud

  • LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud

• Best Mexican/Tex-Mex:

  • CW Winner: Casa Latina

  • LumDimSum Vote: Casa Latina

• Best Italian:
  

  • CW Winner: Prego

  • LumDimSum Vote: Metro

• Best Japanese:

  • CW Winner: Nishimura

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hatsune

• Best French:

  • CW Winner: Maison Boulud

  • LumDimSum Vote: Maison Boulud

• Best Thai:

  • CW Winner: Purple Haze

  • LumDimSum Vote: Aroy-D (by Fulicheng)

• Best American:

  • CW Winner: Chef Too

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Indian:

  • CW Winner: Mughal’s

  • LumDimSum Vote: Punjabi

• Best Middle-Eastern:

  • CW Winner: 1001 Nights

  • LumDimSum Vote: Biteapitta

• Best Beijing Duck:

  • CW Winner: Fat Duck

  • LumDimSum Vote: Made in China (Grand Hyatt)

• Best Hot Pot:

  • CW Winner: Ding Ding Xiang

  • LumDimSum Vote: Hai Di Lao

• Best Burger:

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Pizza:

  • CW Winner: The Tree

  • LumDimSum Vote: The Tree

• Best Dessert:

  • CW Winner: Din Tai Fung

  • LumDimSum Vote: Comptoirs de France

• Best Steakhouse:

  • CW Winner: Grange (Westin Chaoyang)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Meat & Wine Co. (but it’s closed now)    I will need to find a new favorite steakhouse…
    

• Best Wine Selection:

  • CW Winner: Enoteca

  • LumDimSum Vote: Palette Vino

• Best Buffet:

  • CW Winner: Seasonal Tastes

  • LumDimSum Vote: Westin Chaoyang

• Best Sunday Brunch:

  • CW Winner: Bubbalicious (Westin Chaoyang)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Orchard

• Best for Families:

  • CW Winner: Din Tai Fung, Seasonal Tastes (Tie)

  • LumDimSum Vote: Orchard

CityWeekend’s Awards for Best Bar/Club Categories:

• Club of the Year:

  • CW Winner: Mix

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Bar of the Year:
  

  • CW Winner: Apothecary

  • LumDimSum Vote: Apothecary

• Nightlife Newcomer of the Year:

  • CW Winner: White Rabbit

  • LumDimSum Vote: Fubar

• Best Local Band of the Year:

  • CW Winner: The Redbucks

  • LumDimSum Vote:  The Redbucks

• Beijing-Based DJ of the Year:

  • CW Winner: DJ Blackie

  • LumDimSum Vote:  DJ KEZA

• Best Alfresco Drinking:

  • CW Winner: XIU

  • LumDimSum Vote: Q Bar

• Best Live Music:

  • CW Winner: Mao Live House

  • LumDimSum Vote: Yugong Yishan

• Best Cocktails:

  • CW Winner: Mix-The Westin Beijing Chaoyang

  • LumDimSum Vote: Glen

• Best Place for Singles:

  • CW Winner: Mix

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Best for Dancing:

  • CW Winner: GT Banana

  • LumDimSum Vote: BLING

• Best Sports Bar:
  

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Hardest Bar to Find:

  • CW Winner: Fubar Peking

  • LumDimSum Vote: Club Obiwan

• Best Pub Grub:
  

  • CW Winner: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

  • LumDimSum Vote: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill

• Best Fruit Plate:

  • CW Winner: Destination

  • LumDimSum Vote: Bling

• Best Promoter:

  • CW Winner: Street Hustle Promotions

  • LumDimSum Vote: Acupuncture

Time to Speak Up: theBeijinger 2010 Bar Awards

theBeijinger is switching things up in more ways than one.

Already beginning the initial phases of their magazine face-lift, theBeijinger most recently announced that voting for their 7th
Annual Reader Bar & Club Awards have commenced. This year, they have not only revised their nomination categories, voters can now choose their first, second and third favorite in ranking order (out of 8-13 choices) for every category.

theBeijinger 2010 Bar Awards Categories this year include:

• Best Cocktails
• Best Individual Cocktail
• Best Cheap Drinks
• Most Reliable Drinks
• Best Whiskey Bar
• Best Wine
• Best Beer
• Best Bartender
• Best Daily Happy Hour
• Best Ladies Night
• Best Regular Event
• Best Quiz Night
• Best Live Rock Venue
• Best Live Jazz Venue
• Most Beautiful People
• Friendliest Crowd
• Best Service
• Best Place to Find a Date
• Best Place to Bring a Date
• Sexiest Bar Staff
• Best Bar Food
• Best Late-Night Dining
• Best Hotel bar
• Best Student Hangout
• Best Nightclub
• Best Sportsbar
• Best Lounge
• Best Place for Dancing
• Best Business Networking
• Best Hidden Gem
• Best After-Hours Club
• Best Party of the Year
• Best New Bar/Club
• Bar/Club of the Year

Bars/Clubs with most category nominations include:

• Fu Bar
• Punk @ Opposite House
• d lounge
• Xiu @ Park Hyatt
• Apothecary
• Lush
• Centro @ Kerry Centre
• Q Bar

Vote now for your top picks here.

*Voting Ends May 6 & Bar/Club Awards Party Set for May 13 @ Mako Live House

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

Beijinger Foodies Vote Up!

theBeijinger’s Annual Restaurant Awards are coming up, so vote up and give due credit to the restaurants you love and frequent.

Restaurant Award Categories are broken down into 3 Sections -

First Section Breaks Down Regional Chinese Restaurants:

Best Contemporary Chinese, Best Beijing Duck, Best Sichuan, Best DimSum, Best HotPot, Best KungPao Chicken, Best Xinjiang, Best Yunan,

Second Section Breaks Down All Non-Chinese Restaurants:

Best French, Best Indian/Pakistani, Best Italian, Best Japanese (Hatsune obviously), Best Mediterranean, Best Mexican, Best Middle Eastern, Best Thai, Best Vietnamese, and Best American

Third Section focuses on Specific Categories:

Best Business Lunch, Best Family-Friendly, Best for Impressing Visitors, Best Brunch (Non-Hotel & Hotel), Best Pizza, Best Sandwiches, Best Steak, Best Tapas, Best Wine List, Best Burger, Best for a Romantic Meal, Best Chef, Best Decor, Best Service, Restaurant of the Year (Chinese & Non-Chinese).

*Hatsune was nominated for Best Japanese, Best Decor and Restaurant of the Year!!

To vote, Click on the Restaurant Award Survey here.

3 More Days to ‘Eat for Haiti’

As Posted on theBeijinger:

For All You Foodies:

Join us at Punjabi Indian Restaurant at Lucky Street on Wednesday, February 3rd for a last hurrah to the ‘Eat for Haiti’ Initiative and some BOMB Indian grub.

We have booked out the second floor of the restaurant, so there is plenty of room and as always, the more the merrier!

**Complete List of participating restaurants:

Get to Know the In’s & Out’s of Beijing

***’Insider’s Guide 2010 to Beijing’ Launch Party***

Come celebrate with the writers, editors, contributors and photographers
at the launch party @ The Bookworm -

When: Thurs, Dec 3rd
Where: The Bookworm
Time: 7:30pm

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!