Beijing restaurants

Bloomberg Caution in Sanlitun

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

A hidden pub bistro

Through a Wechat group I learned about Bloomberg Caution in Sanlitun and I went to check it out.
It is a bit hidden but it is actually easy to find if you know it is through the East gate of Zhaolong Hotel.
The place is a bit unusual and pretty large. It has a large outside terrace, two separate inside seating areas; on the other side of the alley there is a large covered bar area and a kind of ball room area, all actually in the back of Zhaolong Hotel.

It is open for dinner only and it seems most customers tend to come in the late evening. Also a favored place of one of the major motorbike groups.

Many connections with friends

Talking with the friendly owner Jason, a Beijinger with fluent English, I learned he is close friend of Kent and his sons. Several paintings of Kent are displayed. Kent’s sons also are regulars, as well as Dieter, one other of our Old China Hands. Small world!
See: Old China Hands 7 May lunch https://www.beijing1980.com/2021/05/16/old-china-hands-7-may-lunch/
Several of the friends had parties there, for birthdays of playing music. Jason showed the picture of Kent making one of his tasty dishes.

Food and drinks

Extensive menu, many different dishes. I tried the beef salad and fried tongue. Being on an alcohol-free week I could not try the beers. Other friends find their beer prices a bit high

Le Petit Prince in Chinese

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Revisiting Maxim’s

On 22 September 2021 we were invited to the official launch of Le Petit Prince in Chinese (“The Little Prince”), a new Chinese translation. I also had the chance to visit again Maxim’s de Paris. So many memories…

The Chinese book is beautifully done, the bag is also very cute.
See the original extract compared with the Chinese version (Chapter one).

I was asked to go on stage to tell my own story with the book. Indeed, I was something like 9 or 10 years, in a boarding school in Enghien (Collège Saint Augustin) where I took part in a performance based on the book. It was a shadow play. While I obviously lost the details (60 years ago!) the small theater performance always stayed in my mind.
We met old friends during the event and a new Russian contact who was connected to the stay of our aunt Sun Weishi in Moscow, with Chairman Mao. Small world!

Le Petit Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

See: https://bookmarks.reviews/a-childrens-fable-for-adultsantoine-de-saint-exuperys-the-little-prince/
A Children’s Fable for Adults: Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince
“All grown-ups were once children…but only few of them remember it”
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret:
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.The full French version can be downloaded here:
http://www.cmls.polytechnique.fr/perso/tringali/documents/st_exupery_le_petit_prince.pdf

The mystery of his plane crash

I now read the final story of what happened to the author. His plane had disappeared in 1944 and for decades nobody knew what happened. Read the story:
Plane Wreck Of the Author Of ‘Prince’ Is Discovered – By Agence France-Presse
7 April 2004
A French underwater salvage team has discovered the remains of the plane of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of ”The Little Prince,” six decades after his disappearance, government researchers said Wednesday.
The pieces of the Lockheed Lightning P38 aircraft, which vanished July 31, 1944 during a wartime reconnaissance mission, were found off the coast of the Mediterranean city of Marseille, the Culture Ministry’s Department of Subaquatic and Submarine Archaeological Research said.

The full story: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/07/world/plane-wreck-of-the-author-of-prince-is-discovered.html

Maxim’s de Paris

I enjoyed many evenings there since its opening in 1983. I also knew the Chinese lady who worked with Pierre Cardin, she sadly passed away years ago.
See a bit of the story here:
“Beijing Maxim’s: a miniature of China’s reform and opening-up. Restaurant evolving from a ‘crazy move’ into affordable dining.
Global Times Published: 28 October 2018/
See: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1124799.shtml

The place is now less famous, I hadn’t been there for years. Happy to see they kept the interior in excellent condition. Opened in 1983 as a joint-venture between Cardin and Beijing’s restaurant administration, the dark wood flourishes and Tiffany-style stained glass windows have not changed in over 30 years; nor has the tiny stage set into the back wall.
No idea how the food is there now, the previous French chef left.

Wood Garden House in Beijing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

A colorful new venue

Wood Garden House in Beijing or as it says “Wood Forest Garden Restaurant” is in Sanlitun, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu east of Hotel InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun.
Not much about it on Google but it is on Dianping and mentioned by Thebeijinger:

“A spacious eatery with two floors and a theme that borders on jungle-like, serving Spanish and Latin-style food. There’s also a large stage that hosts alternating performances of DJs and live music.
The menu is full of Instagram-worthy photos of salads, power bowls, soups, and entrées including the herbal salad with hot spring egg, chestnut pumpkin and creamy mushroom soups, pasta with shrimp and asparagus, chicken quesadilla, tacos, a Spanish seafood paella, and more.”

Location is of the former Salsa Caribe

Located behind the Pacific Century Plaza at Changhong Qiao east of Sanlitun, this was Beijing’s best place to go for Latin music lovers and salsa aficionados, featuring a large dance floor, high-tech DJ booth, and house Latin band – a raucous blend of sweat, sin and extremely tight pants. Sadly gone.

The place is now attracting many young Chinese to make tons of selfies. Food is reasonable.  Decoration is indeed colorful and “different”.

Chez Soi Bistro in Beijing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Been there more than once!

I had several visits to Chez Soi Bistro in Beijing, see also earlier post: “Discovered Chez Soi“. That was in August 2020. Since then the bistro has tried its best to improve the food, organize events and have more staff.

See some pictures from my visits on 2 July, and in May on 12th, 16th, 17th, 24th and 29th.
On 29 May Chez Soi celebrated its anniversary with a free buffet and drinks. It was a pleasant evening.

New menu

I tried the couscous, it’s tasty but not the real stuff. The have specials every day, they organize a number of activities and also have life music every Wednesday. Caroline is trying her best!
Sometimes the dishes take a “creative” turn away from the official recipe (e.g. the Niçoise Salad) but it is all enjoyable. Some of the pizzas are tasty. The Basque Chicken got also better.

Old China Hands 2 July lunch

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Always well attended!

Our Old China Hands 2 July lunch again drew a full house with 37 attendants!
Renaat Morel and myself made a frame of the previous celebration, one frame above the fish tank in the restaurant and one frame in my office.

This time no special performance, we all simply enjoyed each other’s company, and the food.
Later in the day the restaurant gave me this BIG “hongbao” for my support to the restaurant. Hm I am rich?

Next lunch

Next round planned for Friday 6 August, right in the middle of Beijing sauna week. Hopefully not flood week. The disastrous floods in many regions were really horrible but also showed so much solidarity.
Hopefully Beijing will be spared, I still remember the deadly floods here years ago.