Bye bye summer

Our Old China Hands Lunch 6 September 2024 had 27 participants to celebrate the end of summer. Still a lot of people busy.
The menu (see some in the pics):
– tomato stuffed with fish salad OR cooked ham roll stuffed with Russian potato salad OR fresh daily soup
– farmer’s pork sausage with onion sauce served with red cabbage and fried potatoes OR chicken cordon bleu served with daily vegetables and pan-fried potatoes OR pan-fried snapper Meunière served with daily vegetables and boiled potatoes
– daily dessert

As always all enjoyed the food and lively conversation!
The next lunch is on 4 October, yes in the “Golden Week”, so no excuse you need to work!

The chef has to check it

Renaat Morel regularly has to check the quality of the dishes, what a job!

But it also helps Susan to shoot her Douyin clips.

A customer returns

A Dutch lady, Maaike, was in Morel’s on 11 April 2000 while pregnant with her son. Her husband got a speed lesson from Renaat to make a nice steak, so he could spoil his wife.

On 20 September 2024 she came back to the restaurant with the son who said “I was here before!” (in his mother belly!). Another super-tall Dutch boy!

Summer is here

We were worried about a low turnout for the Old China Hands Lunch 5 July 2024 but we still had 31 participants, Many people start leaving Beijing for their holidays, next lunch 2 August might be a challenge, also being the hottest week normally…
Renaat was away but still kept an eye on us through the CCTV system… Susan made sure all went well.

The menu was great as usual. See some pics of the dishes. The choice:

• pancake stuffed with ham & mushroom in cheese sauce OR Monaco eggs salad OR Morel’s chef salad (ham, blue cheese, pan-fried chicken, beef on lettuce OR fresh daily soup
• veal sausage with curry sauce served with salad and Belgian frites OR sliced cold roast beef served with potatoes and mixed salad OR red snapper Provençale style served with daily vegetables and mashed potatoes
• fresh daily dessert

A great loss

One of our regular OCH has passed away. Peter Hogg was a real gentleman and loved by all. We often talked about the Aussie Bar he supported, later closed due to COVID. RIP my friend, we are so saddened by the loss.

See two pictures of Peter attending our OCH, June and September 2023.
Read more on this Facebook page. You can leave there your condolences.
Camilla Adele wrote:

“On Wednesday 26th June, Daddy died. We have few words to describe the last six months since his fall in Beijing although have so much gratitude and love for all who supported him and us through those dark days. Through it all he showed such tenacity. Since his return in April to the UK whilst he remained in hospital, he regained his twinkling smile, love of puddings, reuniting with friends & spending time with family, and most importantly in spite of everything he was content.
Daddy was easily spotted in a crowd due to his love of colourful clothes, flamboyant eyebrows, loud hearty laugh and ability to respond to any situation with a silly face. He was often the first on a dance floor, generous to a fault with a wry sarcastic sense of humour! With friends from around the world he was as international as he was a true English gentleman.
A supporter and confidant to us and so many others and in turn an amazing father, friend, colleague, manager, and mentor.  He is so very loved, and so very missed. We are so thankful for all the many adventures we had together. He is reunited with his parents and friends who have gone before and we hope he is up there dancing away.”