Beijing Boyce

Response to issue 31 of my free e-newsletter (email beijingboyce@yahoo.com with “Eat, Drink and Be Merry” in the subject line to subscribe):

1
“Hi Beijing Boyce - Just so you know, as of about a month ago, Pipe was still very much overrun with lesbians on Saturday night.” - GG

BB: Thanks GG, and you’re right, it’s still girls uninterrupted on Saturday night, though the place has in general become more gender-inclusive. [Original article: Put Valentine's Day in Your Pipe and Smoke It]

2
“We have been enjoying reading your write ups about drinks / fun in Beijing. Perhaps you can give us a little credit when you write about wine by the glass next time as we do offer eight different kinds of wine by the glass, not yet 12 [which I suggested as a nice number of bottles a bar might regularly and randomly open] at reasonable prices. We might take up your request in the near future.” - L.I. (Cafe Europa)

BB: Point taken, L.I. - I don’t give enough kudos to Cafe Europa, probably because it’s in Jianwai Soho and thus not in my ‘hood. This spot has good wine, food, ambience and, as of last weekend, Sunday breakfast.

3
“Since I am unemployed and have WAY too much time on my hands I spend a lot of time reading little random news articles. This is how I know that contrary to popular belief, it is NOT the year of the golden pig [but instead the year of the fire pig]. You know they actually predict a baby boom in some parts of Asia as people rush to have children under what they think is a very lucky year! So sad lah…” - NP

BB: Good news NP, as many people prefer their pigs over fire (with a little BBQ sauce).

4
“Great read again - I had only wished I had the time off to go to the Scotch tasting [Enough Single Malt to Make You See Double] myself. Just one quick note on the Manhattan - with a proper Manhattan, you should not be given the choice of Bourbon or “whiskey”, you should be given the choice of what kind of rye or Canadian whisky you prefer. Sorry I’m just a stickler for such things, as you know.” - DM

BB: Thanks DM, and stickle away, preferably while enjoying a proper Manhattan, or just the rye straight up.

5
“In thinking of Dan Siebers’ tips on wine [Siebers' Suggestions], I agree wholeheartedly, never trust anyone who thinks they know something about wine. Not only is there too much to know, but I believe everyone’s experience of wine is different. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say you can trust books. I saw one book in America that was highly priced, nicely packaged, and said that there was no reason to decant wine or let it breathe, which is just plain in contradiction of the biochemical facts.

“I grew up in serious independent wine country, in Washington State, so I wouldn’t say, ‘I know wines.’ I would say I love wine, and perhaps you could say that wine is in my blood. I believe the only way to know anything about wines is to drink them, and drink lots of them. But hey, that’s not so bad, is it? By drinking a wide variety of wines without prejudice, you can develop your own personal yet discriminating tastes, which will be far better than just borrowing your opinions from some second-rate jackass on the street, or some first-rate jackass who has a book deal.

“Actually, extend that argument to all restaurant, film, book, music, art, club, bar, and even olive oil critics who think that the only way they can sound smart is by criticizing everything and only praising things that nobody cares about. The best thing about Beijing Boyce is that it is a review of bars and drinks, by someone who actually enjoys going to bars and having a drink! It’s a crazy idea, I know, but what the hey - it just might work. Viva la revolucion!

“Thank you guys for fighting the inane snob culture that ruins wine for what it was originally intended: eating, drinking, and being merry!

BB: Thanks AK - fellow fighters are most welcome to the cause!

(This mailbag first appeared in issue 31 of the Beijing Boyce e-newsletter, mailed on March 1, 2007.)