Beijing Boyce

The entrance at Maggies has been moved so you now enter on the far side of the lengthy bar. But that is a minor change compared to what appears to be coming. Much of the front deck is blocked off for construction - steel beams rise three meters and suggest a major addition is in the works. No worries for the hungry, though, as the hot dog cart has simply been moved to the side.

Speaking of which, on Sanlitun’s main north strip, Swing, which I understand is linked in some way or another to Maggies, has added a hotdog cart - it’s 25 kuai per cartlidge.

I would have given two thumbs up to Torres for last weekend’s Taste of the Nations, an event in Trader’s Hotel that featured some 150 of the distributor’s wines, but my hands were attached to a glass that brought unlimited refills. Instead, I’ll provide written praise.

I would guess well over 200 people attended and, at 188 kuai per person, received good value for their money. I sampled many of the Italian and Australian brands but, being more of a swallower than a spitter, decided not to try the full range. The crowd included some Torres competitors and regulars from Sequoia’s Friday night wine tasting group.

A few suggestions to those putting on major wine events:
- If a wine is done, why display the bottle? I wanted to try Grace Vineyard’s Chairman’s Reserve but it had run out when I arrived at 2:45 PM (the event ran until 6 PM). The same held for the Champagne. Why taunt me with the bottles when the bubbly is gone?
- Live bands are okay, but they tend to interrupt the conversations of wine lovers who are focused on the vino going in their mouths rather than the music going in their ears.

Anyway, enough whining about the wining. A good event this was and let’s hope the Taste of Nations becomes an annual one.