Beijing Boyce

We get e-mail: more messages than you can count on several fingers on one hand. Here are four that made me furrow my brow and dedicate some thought.

Email: Is this [newsletter] a commercial endeavor? - FS

BB: Yes. And now that I just dreamed for one second that I could make money from my amateur observations of Beijing’s food and beverage scene, let me be honest. No. This is a financially nonviable endeavor. Its simple aim is to provide views and news about Beijing’s food and beverage scene, mostly in the Central Business District, with occasional tales about good and bad taxi drivers, housing, shopping, public spitting, and who knows what else. But if someone out there DOES want to pay me for this, feel free to indulge yourself.

Email: Your articles are really long. - LS

That was my gut reaction, too, but then I decided that too much food and drink writing out there is short, smart-alecky and aloof. Plus, I’m not beholden to sponsors or the need to fit into x number of column inches, as is the print media.

Email: Who else is getting this newsletter? - PS

Most readers are people I know, and people they know, who love not only food and drink, but also have quite a bit of disposable income to pursue that passion. They range from diplomats to homemakers to English teachers to entrepreneurs. The mailing list includes many people who own or work in bars, restaurants and wine companies.

Email: I would appreciate less prose and more recommendations of wines. - CD

This sounds as though it came from the “dog ate my homework” school, but I lost my Hilton wine tasting notes on a bus headed for the Great Wall. (No doubt, the driver is reading my drivel at the red lights.) I’ll try to include more specifics on wines, whiskies, tequilas and other beverages in the future.

Email: Why don’t you turn this into a blog? - Too many people to list

People have suggested I do this or add pictures to the newsletter. For now, I’m keeping it a simple, text-based newsletter, but if the readership keeps growing, I’ll go online.

(From Beijing Boyce II, first emailed on October 20, 2005)