Beijing Boyce

La Baie des Anges used word play to co-opt Halloween for a specific group, the oenophiles, and create Hallowine. Now, The Boat is doing the same with its gay-friendly bash, HalloQueens. I see the trend and expect a flood of niche Halloween party invitations this afternoon…

• HalloBean: For vegetarians and fans of Rowan Atkinson
• Haloween: For video game nuts
• Halloweenie: For those who await the return of Maggie’s and its hot dogs
• Halloweave: For arts and crafts types
• HalloUyghur: For the Western China crowd

I could go on, but… oh, what the Heckoween, I will…

• Hallowheat: For bakers
• Fallowsween: For fans of the Atlantic Monthly writer
• Galloween: For Californian wine sippers
• GallowsTeen: For death-row youth (woah, where did that one come from!?)
• HalloGreen: Because Dick Cheney went to so much work on this costume
• Halloweed: For those who like to smoke
• Hallowheeze: For those who smoke too much
• Show Me Your Pumpkin: OK, now I really will stop….

But seriously, have we ever seen this many Halloween parties in Beijing before? In addition to HalloQueens at The Boat, other recent invites are for parties at Bed and TUN. See also party listings here and here.

2nd Floor
A genuine staff, a non-pretentious, airy, and earthy décor, reasonably priced drinks, and decent nibbles, including curry puffs (6-8 kuai each; vegetable, chicken, or beef). This place - below Le Petit Gourmand and accessible from the north end of Tongli Studio - seems busier every time I go. I tried the drinks special last night: Lychee Sangria (RMB20). With Dita, rum, pineapple juice, and wine, it is refreshing and - given its layers of red and yellow - colorful. I found the counterpart, Peach Sangria, a bit too syrupy for my taste.

Boutique Wine Cellar
Serves OK German Riesling at RMB20 (150 ML) or RMB30 (250 ML) per glass. (The house red is Hardy’s Shiraz.) My friend describes this two-tiered place with its laid-back tunes, plush furniture, and carpets as “early eighties.” Frankly, I kept expecting to hear, “Beauty and the Beast.” Boutique is in the former Mingle space and downstairs from Luga’s Villa. Cozy enough for a stop, but needs to work on the by-the-glass choices, given Nanjie offers just as many options (two).

Purple Haze
Three visits in two weeks to this Gongti North location that offers Thai food, 15-kuai pints, and shelves loaded with books. There’s nothing like putting on the beer goggles and trying to tackle a tome about how autistic people can translate the language of animals. (Great, maybe I can finally find out what my ex-neighbor’s dog had to tell the world at 5 AM every morning.)

Kro’s Nest
Sticking with the “We Hate Tuesdays” deal: A free keg or two of beer from 6 PM and then RMB5 pints until 10 PM. Given three people can split a pizza, this event is value for money.

Paddy O’Shea’s
The quiz night is back, every Wednesday at 8:30 PM, and apparently Thursday nights feature ska and reggae from 9 PM with two-for-one drinks upstairs.

TUN
Is it Browns Meets Poachers, is it Nanjie for Grown-ups, or is it… A Beijing Original. I’m starting to lean toward the latter given the mix of historical touches, lofty ceilings, and hundreds of egg cartons on the walls (think of how many omelets were made for your benefit, just so that the band’s sound would be absorbed). Oh yeah, and cheap drinks. Anyway, this seems a perfect time to segue into my Name that TUN contest…

Look for Palette Vino to open a new wine bar next month and expand a Beijing presence that includes a bar and restaurant in Shunyi and a retail space in Pekotan in Central Park. Located near Dongsishitao, the new place includes a wine bar, a kitchen, and a lounge area fringing a treed courtyard. Owner John Gai, who also runs distributor Palette Wines, said the rooftop will be renovated and opened next year.

The opening is slated for 4 PM on November 8 and will include tapas, South African wines, and an exhibition by artist Ye Xue (RMB100 at the door; call 6585-3099 for more information).

Here are a few photos I took on Monday on what might be the world’s worst phone camera. From left: the bar, the rooftop, and the courtyard.

The wall awaits...

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UPDATE: Please note there are TWO prizes. One for people who want to be a DJ and one for people who want to win the four bottles of gin and vodka.

Ever dream of being a DJ… and playing Duran Duran… on the Great Wall… while sipping Tasmanian vodka?

Then this contest is for you.

I am teaming up with TUN, Acupuncture Records, and Strait to give one reader the chance to spin 80 minutes of 80s music while his or her friends enjoy a “party zone” stocked with booze.

Intimidated by DJ equipment? Not sure how all that mixing and stuff is done?

No problem: Ahead of your November 22 set, Acupuncture will give you a DJ crash course and prepare you for your big night atop the “Great Wall” booth at TUN.

Want your friends to see your show?

No problem: TUN will provide a lounge area for 12 people, and Strait will stock it with four bottles - vodka, dry gin, pepperberry vodka, and a Strait Twenty blended gin.

To enter the draw, leave a comment and list three eighties songs you like and why.

If being a DJ is not your thing, you can still enter the draw for the second prize - four bottles of Strait Twenty blended gins and vodka. Simply add “Strait Up” - yeah, that’s a Paula Abdul reference - at the bottom of your comment.

The nitty-gritty:

• The deadline for entries is Friday, November 7, 5:30 PM. I’ll find a respected member of the community to pull one name and will announce the winner on Monday, November 10.
• The winner needs to be available to DJ on November 22, from 11PM and for a DJ lesson that same week, and willing to create a set of danceable music: no eighty-minute mixes of Mr. Roboto, please.
• We bear no responsibility for participants who list Martika’s “Toy Soldiers“, Starship’s “We Built This City“, or Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” and spontaneously combust (this assumes God answers my prayer).

Halloween is this Friday and the scariest thing might be the number of parties being advertised. Well, that and the “Show Me Your Pumpkin” promotion by 25 Degrees (Thankfully, the Oktoberfest slogan wasn’t “Show Me Your Sausage”).

Here’s the deal: The person who shows up with the biggest pumpkin gets dinner for two and an overnight stay at G Hotel. (Is that the yonder revving of tractors in Hebei province I hear?) There will also be “scary shots” at RMB100 per half-dozen and “6 mini Devil’s Burgers” at RMB66.

Anyway, I previously posted about some parties, including those by Acupuncture Records (”Spooked”), I-Ultra Lounge (”The Cellar of the Devil”), I-Space (”Death Prom”), Star Live (”Yen Fetish”), China Doll in 3.3 (”Myth of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea”), Club China Doll (”Glow in the Dark party”) and, the obligatory anti-Halloween Party, La Baie des Anges (”Hallowine”).

An update on China Doll at 3.3: The invite states that ten people will “win a role in a feature film ‘Sophie’s Revenge’, staring major international film star Zhang Ziyi in November.” It’s RMB50 to get into that one and gets you a “witches brew” cocktail. Also:

Bling: A whopping RMB5000 cash prize for the best costume.

Kokomo: A Halloween Caribbean carnival a.k.a. “The scary sexy version of Halloween!”

Obiwan: Beijing Calling, “surprise tricks and treats for everyone”, and a screening of 1978 classic Halloween at 8 PM.

The Pomegranate: A party with, apparently, a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The Rickshaw: A free pitcher of “The Zombie” for anyone presenting a ticket from one of the other parties (Yen Fetish, etc).

The Boat, Cargo, Mix, Klubb Rouge, Song, Loong - it seems like almost everyone is getting into the spirit. See the events pages at City Weekend and The Beijinger (it would be helpful if both added a function to search by specific day).

How to choose? Frankly, your best bet might be to hit Bling, win the RMB5,000, use the money to buy a Xiali-sized pumpkin, take it to 25 Degrees and win that contest, and then hit China Doll and end up in a movie. Or, you could just stay home and scare yourself senseless by reading about the world economy.

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See also:
Peking party puzzle: HalloWine, HalloQueens, or HalloWheeze?
Monkey business: The Fuwa Chainsaw Massacre, and other Halloween parties

3 comments

I tagged along to a Watson’s wine lunch in Aria yesterday that featured three bottles from Clairault, in the Margaret River area of southwestern Australia, and three dishes by the winery’s chef Tim Taylor.

I found the Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 fresh and delicious, with tropical fruits, citrus, grass, and a slight creaminess - one person said “ice cream” - on the nose. I tasted fleshy grapefruit along with a citric zing and smooth minerality. A nicely balance wine that paired well with the cured salmon, even with the horseradish, and retails at RMB162.

For its part, the Cabernet Merlot 2004 came out swinging for the same price: big and intense berries with a violet bite and - as it opened up - black pepper. This one offers personality - you might love it or hate. The last wine, Clairault Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, also offers ample fruit, but is a bit more restrained, more than twice the price, and seems like a wine that will be even better in a few years.

These wines are available at Aria or from Watson (contact Lily Li at lilyli@asw.com.hk). If you want to try Taylor’s food, he is at Aria all week, with the highlight a five-course wine dinner on October 30 at 7 PM (RMB1088; contact Danny Kane at danny.kane@shangri-la.com).

A quick look at some of this week’s upcoming wine tastings. For the long-term view, including a slew of Beaujolais Nouveau parties by French Wine Paradox, check this events page.

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Thursday, October 30, 7-8.30 PM, Bento & Berries Shop (Kerry Centre Hotel), free
Sparkling wine, Champagne & Beaujolais tasting, by Top Cellar; RSVP at www.topcellar.com.cn, marketing@topcellar.com.cn, or 13691-079-531.

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Thursday, October 30, 6:30 PM, Legendale, RMB688+15%
Trimbach wine dinner, with wine winery owner Hubert Trimbach; by ASC Fine Wines; RSVP with Helen Lu at eventsbj@asc-wines.com / 6587-3803.

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Thursday, October 30, 7 PM, Aria (China World Hotel), RMB1088
Five-course wine dinner with chef Tim Taylor of Margaret River’s Clairault Winery, by Watson’s Wines; RSVP with Danny Kane at 6505-2266, x36 or danny.kane@shangri-la.com.

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Thursday, October 30, 7 PM, French Cultural Institute, RMB80
Tour of Eight French Wine Regions, with English-Mandarin seminar and tasting of 8 wines from Bordeaux, Beaujolias, Burgundy and elsewhere; by Wine Store; RSVP with Alexandre Cros at 13439-484-079 / alexandre@bylweb.com.

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Saturday, November 1, 5-6 PM, Pinotage, RMB60
Weekly tasting; by WineLink; RSVP with Chris at 13611-207-396 or chrisb@winelink.com.cn.

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Note: See the long-term schedule. If you intend to attend any of the above events, it is best to confirm the details with the venue ahead of time. To get an event listed, send the details to beijingboyce@yahoo.com.

Quiz time!

I was invited to a Grand Marnier event, heard it would include an interactive cocktail making session, and brought my drinks recipe book so I could ask the bartender to mix an Alfonso Special, which - ta dah! - includes the featured liqueur.

Question: How did said bartender respond when - after a half-dozen attendees finished making cocktails and he asked if anyone else wanted something - I showed him said recipe.

a) He smiled and said, “Wow, an Alfonso Special. That is a classic drink with a wealth of history, just like Grand Marnier, as I spent half an hour explaining earlier to everyone.”

b) He winked and said, “Of course, any cocktail that includes Grand Marnier is a cocktail we care about. Let’s try it.”

c) He grinned and said, “Of course, I can make it, but how about I teach you to do it, so you can enjoy them at home and buy and drink even more Grand Marnier.”

d) He frowned at the book, shook his head no, and said “that is a very old thing,” then turned away.*

No suspense: the answer is (d). And it has inspired me to also turn away from old things, like Grand Marnier (company founded in - gasp! - 1827) and drink nothing but two-year-old Scotch and four-week-old Beijing draft. (Kidding)

Anyway, the event, held in Klubb Rouge, celebrated the launch of this year’s “LEB” - “Limited Edition Bottle.” In this case, the bottle wears what looks like a red fur coat or, as the literature says, a “cosy.” From the press materials:

Cosy… as comfortable as a red fur stole with its soft, felt-like cloak that envelops the bottle without completely concealing the amber coloured liqueur within. Cosy… like the plush thickness of its soft covering. Without the solemnity of its ribbon, the bottle’s unmistakably unique shape is shown off, turning it into a veritable object of desire… Beneath the velvety feel of the fabric lies the smooth coolness of the glass bottle, a foretaste of the pleasures to come.

We tried the “Cosy“, a drink that involves coating the rim of a cocktail glass with pink sugar and filling it with Grand Marnier, Champagne, and orange juice. Frankly, I much preferred the cocktail we sipped during the presentation: Grand Marnier, tonic water, lime, and lots of ice. Speaking of which, three things to know about this liqueur:

- It is made by blending Cognac and the peels of Caribbean oranges that are picked when green and dried in the sun.

- It checks in at a whopping 40 percent alcohol.

- Its bottle is reminiscent of a Cognac copper pot (with a fur coat in this case)

Oh, and it tastes perfectly fine in an Alfonso Special. Trust me on this one.

This cocktail is apparently safe for drinking.

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* To be fair, this might have just have been an excuse, since he had much cuter people than me to deal with at the event. Then again, maybe he didn’t know how to make the drink. Who knows.

Dead Guy Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Kona Big Wave – you might have seen these beers popping up in bars in Beijing. I talked to Brendan Koeniger, marketing director for American Craft Beer Partners, which distributes a dozen or so of these stateside brews, about the reason for entering the market now, the challenges of getting bars to carry U.S. beer, his favorite brands, and more.

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We have bars with dozens of different Belgian beers, but none with a similarly big selection of German, American, or other beers. How did the market end up this way?

I believe this is because Belgium has one of the oldest and richest brewing traditions. American craft beer is relatively new on the beer scene, with most of the 1500 American craft breweries cropping up within the last 20 years. Even though these breweries are less mature, they follow the tradition of American craft brewing by taking a mature, old-world style and adding their own artistic touch, creating a unique but refined brew.

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What made you decide that now is the time to bring American microbrews to China and particularly Beijing?

Honestly, we were tired of drinking watered-down beer. As beer lovers, we longed for beer with more flavor and finally decided to take things into our own hands. Beijing is a great attraction because it is a truly beer drinker’s city. We have found that the residents of Beijing not only have a taste for good beer, but they drink a lot of it!

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What’s the hardest part of convincing bars in Beijing to carry your beers?

Convincing bar owners who hail from outside of the U.S. and who have never seen or tasted true American craft beers to give them a try. No matter where they are from, as soon as bar owners try a Brooklyn Lager or Rogue Dead Guy Ale, they have found the quality and complexity immediately apparent.

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Why should I drink an American craft beer instead of a Belgian, German, or other one?

American craft beers are brewed with the same strict brewing standard dictating the sole use of malted barley, hops, yeast and water. However, they are not held to traditional European styles, thus allowing for a wide variety of twists and embellishments.

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Brooklyn Lager impressed me the first time I tried it at The Rickshaw. What are your favorite beers from the portfolio?

Craft beers typically have twice the amount of malted barley and five times the amount of hops as the typical commercial beers we see in China, so they offer stronger and more flavorful beer and ales. My favorite beers are the Brooklyn East India Pale Ale and North Coast’s Red Seal Ale. These beers really exemplify that superior taste. From the time your nose senses the bouquet of the brew, to the first mouth feel, to the finishing taste - the entire experience of drinking these beers is truly special.

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The beers: Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale , Brooklyn Brown Ale, Brooklyn Local 1, North Coast Red Seal Ale , North Coast Acme CA Pale Ale , Old No 38, Rogue American Amber Ale , Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Kona Longboard Lager, Kona Big Wave Golden Ale, Gordon Biersch Marzen, and Gordon Biersch Pilsner.

The venues: Aman Resort Hotel, American Café, Aria , Beer Mania, Kro’s Nest, Carrefoure, Chef Too, Club Sandwich, The Den, Element Fresh, Goose and Duck, Little Italy, Mexican Kitchen, Tube Station, OT Lounge, Paddy O’Shea’s, Rickshaw, Tim’s Roadhouse, Tim’s Texas BBQ, TUN, and Union Bar and Grill (list provided by Brendan Koeninger).

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Is this one perfect for Halloween, or what?

The Real Deal Contest drew more than 25 suggestions as to where the city’s drinkers and eaters can get the best for their buck during these trying times. Unfortunately, only one person can take home the Wolf Blass wine, the Riedel glass, the Yunnan corkscrew, the Blu Lobster apron, the glory, and other assorted sundries (see full list). To this end, I asked John Gai of Palatte Wines and Palette Vino to pick the winner. And that winner is: aardvark_3.

Thanks to everyone who left suggestions. I plan to announce another contest tomorrow. In the meantime, here is the full list of “real deals”:

Kro’s Nest: “We Hate Tuesdays”, with two free kegs of Tsingtao at 6PM, followed by RMB5 pints until 10 PM - Boyce

Tun: Ladies drink for free on Friday nights – beijingdaze

The Saddle: Fajitarita Monday, with fajitas at RMB35rmb and Margaritas at RMB30 – beijingdaze

Carrefour: Wine fair, with hundreds of wine samples for free and 20 percent off retail – beijingdaze

Pyro’s: Happy hour, 10 PM-midnight, RMB25 pitchers of beer, RMB15 mixed drinks, and RMB50 six-shooter tequila deals - Stuart

La Bamba: Happy hour with RMB5 draft - Stuart

Paddy O’Shea’s: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 9 PM, bottled beers and house spirits, two-for-one upstairs – GP

The Den: From 5-10 PM, half-price pizza and beer – Judge Panda

Domus: From 5-8 PM, complimentary antipasti spread – Judge Panda

Pekotan: Lunch box - pick jumbo prawns for all three servings, RMB28 - Daniel LaRusso

Asamuka: All-you-can-eat lunch, with sashimi, steak, sushi, etc, RMB150 (includes one drink) - Daniel LaRusso

Club Sandwich: Pepperoni pizza (RMB25) and iced coffee (RMB10) or Qingdao (RMB10) – Blake

IKEA: One hot dog, one ice cream cone, one coke for RMB10, or three hot dogs and one ice cream cone for RMB10 – Chad

The Saddle: FajitaRita Mondays, with Margaritas and Fajitas at half-price – Melissa

China View: Teppanyaki place (3F), all you can eat and drink for RMB150 – aardvark

Club China Doll: Ladies drink free on ladies night, with RMB1000 prize split between best dancer, sexiest girl – Boyce

Tun: Thursday night, live music, no cover, two beers for RMB15 - Boyce

Aria: Happy hour, two-for-one drinks and free snacks – Boyce

Matsuko: RMB78 lunch, with all you can eat, including sushi, desserts, and beer – Chad

Hash House Harriers: RMB20 for beer before, during, after the run; RMB60 gets the beer and a meal (hash.cn) - Arthoof

The Rickshaw: 6th of each month, all-day ‘Hair of the Dog’ party with half-price drinks (same deal at Cinco de Drinko at Saddle Cantina, 5th of each month) - Blake
Blue Frog: 25 Tuesdays, all standard drinks for RMB25 - Blake

OT Lounge: During November, Brooklyn Lager at RMB20 per bottle - Blake

The Boat: Thursday “Alt Dance Party”, two drinks free between 9 and 11pm, no cover - Blake

The Aubergine (Shangdu Soho): RMB36 lunch includes soup, Danish Roast Pork with potato wedges, “something that looks like clover, and rich, fat sauce” - Mazolinc

Mesh Bar: Thursdays, two-for-one cocktails, 7-11 PM - Weeble

The Rickshaw: Taco Tuesday, during happy hour; RMB40 for three tacos, 1 pitcher of Margaritas for RMB60 - aadrvark_3

Xiao Mai Bu: RMB2 beers - aardvark_3

Note: You never know when a deal will end, so it is always best to check before you go.

A few weeks ago, I popped into Jenny Lou’s gourmet shop near Chaoyang Park and counted around 100 different sparkling wines. One hundred! Choice in Beijing, in terms of shops, tastings, and restaurant, bar, and hotel wine lists, is incredibly diverse when compared to a few years back.

Case in point: this 1998 City Weekend story about a tasting of four local and four imported wines.

Author Anne Stevenson-Yang noted the difficulty of finding imported wine, particularly at a reasonable price, and posited: “So when you’re thinking of uncorking a red to go with dinner, you may not say it out loud, but a secret voice inside asks, “The Chinese stuff can’t be that bad, can it?“

An eight-member panel, including “two experts on wine, two utter ignoramuses, with the rest someplace found in the middle,” provided the answer:

The panel unanimously declared the Chinese wines “disgusting” (62 RMB, Dragon Seal), “like cough syrup” (42 RMB, Great Wall), “a little off” (55 RMB) and “overpriced” (27 RMB, Dynasty). The highest marks went to, sigh, the Wente Chardonnay (210 RMB) and the Concannon Cabernet Sauvignon (218 RMB), both Californian wines. The French Gallerie Cabernet Sauvignon and Gallerie Chardonnay Languedoc got low ratings all around but still ranked above the Chinese wines. Of the Chinese, the humble Great Wall red got the most face, being called “pleasant” but “without any follow-through.”

Here the scores as found in the article, “Bargain-Basement Connoisseur: Sorry, but the cheap wine is really and truly awful.”

• 8.1 - Concannon Cabernet Sauvignon (California) 1995
• 7.5 - Wente Chardonnay (California)
• 6.1 - Gallerie Cabernet Sauvignon (Languedoc) 1995
• 5.3 Gallerie Chardonnay (Languedoc)
• 5.0 - Great Wall red
• 4.3 - Tsingtao Huadong Chardonnay 1995
• 3.3 - Dynasty
• 1.1 - Dragon Seal Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

As for the Chinese wines, here are some tasting notes for the wine that ranked highest…

and lowest.

Note: Triple hat-tip to Elvis Lives for digging up this article.

Phoebe Wong, former manager of Red Capital Residence and RBL, is founder of Sense Beijing, a travel and event consultancy. These are her top five watering holes:

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To be honest, it was difficult to come up with a top five, just because it’s difficult to find consistency with respect to the quality of drinks and service. My picks tend to be about atmosphere and vibe, and in Beijing, that tends to change pretty quickly. But of recent days, here are my top watering holes, which I would introduce to any visitor or newcomer to Beijing.

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Song
I’ve always had a great time going to Song, and this would have been my top pick last winter. This is where I was introduced to Manuka Honey 42 Below Vodka, which is great on its own with lime juice and soda water, or in a few of the Song cocktails. I typically like the music here and the nostalgic Canto movies they show on the wall, but the best part of this place is running into half the town on a Friday night.

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Q Bar
Just the experience of going up to Q-bar is so much fun. I always get a kick out of going in the elevator all decked up with my girlfriends and having a Chinese guy from Inner Mongolia coming in with his paper hotel slippers and pajamas. Peach Party is my favourite drink here, and they usually make them strong. Another bar where everybody knows your name, as this is a regular place for many of my friends. But at the same time, it’s also easy to be inconspicuous, as it’s so dark. I can easily hide off in the far corner, or in the summer on the patio.

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Mesh
Walking into the Opposite House reminds me of walking into the W Hotel in Sydney or somewhere I’d been in San Francisco, and I really like that vibe. This lobby bar resonates that international feel. I’ve had a great Mojito here, and they have a few other interesting (mostly girly) cocktails, so for happy hour on Thursday, this is my choice.

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1949: The Hidden City
This complex is a great hangout, ironically one of my favourites BEFORE their actual bar 1/5 Lounge opened. I like Sugar Bar in the day, and 1/5 Taverna has always served up good food and drinks, although Duck de Chine apparently has a more extensive wine list. I only discovered 1/5 Lounge last month, but I liked the outside patio, and on Thursday nights, they were playing 80s music!

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Face Bar
I really like that old China feel, but in a non-tacky and non-grungy way. Probably the classiest place one could find a pool table. As I recall, they have many house cocktails, and a pretty extensive wine list.

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Honourable mentions:

• Blue Frog: I love their do-it-yourself Bloody Mary kit
• Aria: For consistently made drinks, happy hour, and a comfortable, well-lit place to chat.
• Yin Bar: For the view from the deck on a clear summer day at dusk!
• 2nd Floor: For reasonably priced drinks. I’ve had a couple of great girls’ nights out here, hanging out with Jian, the owner/bartender. They also serve samosa!

Just kidding…

The former Room 101 is slated to re-open in early November with the name - and it appears my suggestion of Lady Bar did not resound with the owners - Ginkgo*. The place is isolated in Andingmen, so the name makes some sense given this Wikipedia entry:

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba; in Chinese 銀杏, pinyin romanization, yín xìng), frequently misspelled as “Gingko”, and also known as the Maidenhair Tree after Adiantum, is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives. The ginkgo is classified in its own division…

By the way, won’t a name that is “frequently misspelled” cause search engine issues? Just wondering…

The entry adds that the Ginkgo tree is among the best known examples of a living fossil, that is, relatively unchanged over several hundred million years. I guess we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see how closely the Gingko bar resembles its ancestor, Room 101, but if you want a piece of the latter, the bench seats are for sale at RMB100 each.

Finally, remember the contest to rename Room 101? No winner. The owners came up with this name.

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* Can we nickname the upper floor The Tree House (assuming that groovy curved staircase remains)?

Last Friday ranks among those days that start with a wine tasting at 11 AM, when our taste buds are supposedly at their best, and end the next morning at 3 AM, when my wallet is definitely at its worst. Thank Buddha the list of such days is short. The itinerary, for no particular reason, in reverse order…

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Q Bar I met my buddy O-Zone four years ago in First Cafe, where two of Q Bar’s three owners - George and Echo - then worked. Thus, it is often the finishing point for our nights out. This time around it meant my first drink there since the price increases just before the Olympics: RMB60 for a martini straddles, if not crosses, the value line. O-Zone ordered a Gin Tonic, I has a Planter’s Punch, and the third co-owner, Ralph, gave us a try of his new dish - sausages and fries. Nice for Oktoberfest… -

Ichikura With the bar about half full - that would be six of the dozen or so seats - we got comfortably numb. I asked the bartender for an Alfonso Special. Never heard of it. I wrote down the recipe. He scrutinized it, then headed to the far end of the bar and alternated between scratching his head in thought and mixing the drink. The result: pretty tasty. As usual, he turned on the “beam to heaven” - the coaster-size light that shines up from beneath the bar’s transparent top and on which he places the cocktail glass for the pour. -

Aperitivo We snagged the last table on the deck and watched the crowd pass - pedestrian traffic continues to be heavy at night since the police started to bar vehicles from this street. By the way, while Aperitivo is known for wine, my buddy The Fish swears by the Margarita. -

Tun O-Zone and I decided to meet here. Free drinks for ladies from 9 PM to midnight - I wonder how other bars feel about that deal!? - brings in a good crowd though the music seemed a bit heavy for this sort of event. Anyway, I’m sticking with Tun as my “sleeper” pick. -

Sequoia Café The return of these Friday night wine tastings drew many regulars and quite a few newcomers. The theme: the Margaret River area in southwestern Australia. I wasn’t too keen on any of the five selections, but perhaps my taste buds were exhausted by two earlier tastings. In any case, it is good to have Fridays with Frank back, since I know of no other wine events that create this sense of community. -

Frantoi Celliti Drei Kronen 1308 I met fellow beverage researchers AU and GA to drink wine at 1949: The Hidden City and we decided to chase it down with food. We walked to Frantoi Celliti, the massive new and sparsely patronized Italian joint near Tun, and found it darkened at 5:15. Someone spotted our faces pressed against the glass, popped the door, and said 5:30 is the official opening, with 6:30 or 7 PM better for dinner. Hmmm…

We decided to eat at Drei Kronen 1308 instead. The deal: AU and GA would go first and I would catch up after heading home to drop off my laptop and pick up three “free beer” coupons I received at a Klubb Rouge event (same owner). Everything went to plan: I arrived, they already had mugs of beer and plates of sausages, and I gave the coupons to the waitress.

The bill seemed a bit heavy when it arrived. We soon discovered why: it was carrying the weight of those three beers. The explanation: we did not present the coupons upon arrival.

Did anyone mention that when I handed over the coupons? No. Does any such rule appear on the coupons? No. Does it make sense to create coupons to encourage people to come and then create a bad impression by not honoring them? No. After our firm suggestion that they reconsider the policy, a scrum of wait staff and management ensued and we found our bill reduced.

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1/5 Taverna About 70 wineries from the Golden State were on hand as the California Wine Institute organized a mid-afternoon tasting at 1949: The Hidden City. This one saw a mixed crowd of distributors, journalists, restaurateurs, and consumers spend two hours trying to visit all of those tables. Talk about California dreaming (the details).

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Green T. House I headed to this arty and austere downtown restaurant around 10 AM for a Wine Australia event. Before we sampled 13 wines from Down Under, including top-end selections from Penfolds and Henschke, we had a lesson about… tea. The reason? To link China and Australia by arguing the much-loved beverages of the two nations share everything from physical properties to traditions for enjoyment. In terms of marketing, call it sophistication meets warmth and fuzziness, and deserving of its own post. Coming Monday…

I tried about 40 samples at last night’s Carrefour wine fair, which - given the freebies and discounts - saw both shoppers and shopping carts fully loaded. (Note: See bring your own glass for suggestions on how to make this event better.)

Making a strong showing: brands that feature animals on their labels or the words “ridge“, “crossing“, “leap“, and “jump” in their names. It is only a matter of time before some marketing pioneer takes things up a notch or two and creates “Ridge’s Crossing”, “Crossing’s Ridge”, or even “Ridge-Crossing’s Leap-Jump” with a label that stars the cuter contents of Noah’s Ark.

Anyway, I drink about one bottle per month at home, and have about 100 in stock, so I limited my purchases to three bottles:

1. Chamarre Jurancon 2003 (French Wine Paradox, RMB143 after discount)

My first thought about this sweet wine from the south of France: tropical funk-fest. Some aficionados seemed annoyed by its strong color, which might be deemed “urine sample yellow” “golden apple juice”. The nose is big: tropical fruit (including pineapples), flowers, honey, and, as noted by fellow taster NC, gingerbread and orange blossoms. The mouth is, too: pronounced lychee, and tropical fruits, honey, and more. It’s the only wine in Beijing I know made with Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng grapes.

2. Paul Mas Nicole Vineyard Syrah-Viognier 2007 (French Wine Paradox, RMB132 after discount)

Also hailing from the South of France, this wine has concentrated black fruits as well as violets, spices, and a hint of earthiness. It is round and rich, with ample blackcurrant, a kind of milkiness (I guess “soft” or “velvet” is a more common description), and some black pepper at the finish. I tried it three times, which is usually a good sign.

3. Another bottle of the Paul Mas

A few wines in the value category: The South African Nederburg sparkling had peach and toast smells, and a body I found a bit fizzy at first and sour in the end, but nevertheless acceptable given a price of (I think) RMB85 (ASC Fine Wines). This seemed to be a like it or loathe it wine, so if you are looking for budget bubbles, I suggest giving it a try. You might end up in the former category.

I also found the Chamarre Chardonnay Sauvignon 2005 intriguing, with aromas of grass (the kind you mow) and apple up front and hints of honey, nectar, and white flowers. It had refreshing fruitiness and minerality, even if it was a little light. Anyway, this is one I will try again, give it rings in at RMB85.

Good times at the Carrefour wine fair last night: 1) hundreds of wines to sample; 2) discounts on all bottles; and 3) both Chinese and expatriates gathering en masse for the challenge of sipping vino and steering fully loaded shopping carts. I tried 40 wines, bought three, and will have more details shortly as well as suggestions on how this event could be even better.

Two stops after the fair:

Eudora Station, which earns a “keep trying” for its French fries (not crisp; they define the word average) and chicken wings (too crisp, at least in terms of the batter; they are pricey at RMB49 for four). Still, I like this spot for its earthy sports bar feel, friendly staff, and spirit - it already has Halloween decorations up and we watched as six more boxes of spray-on cobwebs, inflatable pumpkins, and the like were unpacked in preparation for the place’s October 31 bash.

Pig & Whistle*, which would do well to tone down some of the lighting near the front and - especially given the large crowd - play some peppier music. This seems to be a default bar for those waiting for the return of “St. Margaret’s,” though the mall-like environs, somewhat vanilla vibe, and across-the-hall bathrooms mean it lacks the character of that spot. I’ll have more on the Pig & Whatever soon (I can never remember the name. Maybe it’s the Pig & Thistle? The Swig and Whistle? The Fig & Gristle? The Whirligig & Cacomistle?)

UPDATE: Guys, I am unable to meet with the “draw master” until tonight at the earliest, so I will announce the winner on Monday. Apologies all around, and as compensation, I will be rolling out another four contests over the coming month.

The deadline for the The Real Deal Contest is 5 PM tomorrow so time is running out to share your pick for the best food and drink bargain in town and get into the draw. Here are the recommendations so far. To make a suggestion or see a list of the prizes, go here. And I have one additional prize to add - the glory:

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Kro’s Nest: “We Hate Tuesdays”, with two free kegs of Tsingtao at 6PM, followed by RMB5 pints until 10 PM - Boyce

Tun: Ladies drink for free on Friday nights – beijingdaze

The Saddle: Fajitarita Monday, with fajitas at RMB35rmb and Margaritas at RMB30 – beijingdaze

Carrefour: Wine fair, with hundreds of wine samples for free and 20 percent off retail – beijingdaze

Pyro’s: Happy hour, 10 PM-midnight, RMB25 pitchers of beer, RMB15 mixed drinks, and RMB50 six-shooter tequila deals - Stuart

La Bamba: Happy hour with RMB5 draft - Stuart

Paddy O’Shea’s: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 9 PM, bottled beers and house spirits, two-for-one upstairs – GP

The Den: From 5-10 PM, half-price pizza and beer – Judge Panda

Domus: From 5-8 PM, complimentary antipasti spread – Judge Panda

Pekotan: Lunch box - pick jumbo prawns for all three servings, RMB28 - Daniel LaRusso

Asamuka: All-you-can-eat lunch, with sashimi, steak, sushi, etc, RMB150 (includes one drink) - Daniel LaRusso

Club Sandwich: Pepperoni pizza (RMB25) and iced coffee (RMB10) or Qingdao (RMB10) – Blake

IKEA: One hot dog, one ice cream cone, one coke for RMB10, or three hot dogs and one ice cream cone for RMB10 – Chad

The Saddle: FajitaRita Mondays, with Margaritas and Fajitas at half-price – Melissa

China View: Teppanyaki place (3F), all you can eat and drink for RMB150 – aardvark

Club China Doll: Ladies drink free on ladies night, with RMB1000 prize split between best dancer, sexiest girl – Boyce

Tun: Thursday night, live music, no cover, two beers for RMB15 - Boyce

Aria: Happy hour, two-for-one drinks and free snacks – Boyce

Matsuko: RMB78 lunch, with all you can eat, including sushi, desserts, and beer – Chad

Kokomo gave a winning performance during the Olympics - the place was more crowded than a (really big) can of sardines, had more gold than a jewelry shop, and became a veritable United Nations of party-goers.

I guess the guys just can’t let go, because they are having an “Olympic Survivor Party” this Saturday, from 9 PM to 6 AM. The deal: 50 percent off on drinks (except bottles). The catch: you need to show your “Kokomo VIP card”. (Yikes, I already sold mine for thousands on e-bay!)

By the way, Kokomo joins the list of joints throwing Halloween parties: its version is “Caribbean Carnival” and is described as the “scary sexy version of Halloween!” (October 31, 9 PM-5 AM).

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See also:
The Fuwa Chainsaw Massacre and other Halloween parties

In order to prevent too much cross-posting between this blog and its sibling Grape Wall of China, which I guess is the equivalent of double dipping, here is a four-pack of highlights of recent stuff from the latter (click through on the titles):

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Words get in the way: The China sommelier contest, the challenge of wine vocabulary

Reflecting on her role as a judge in the first China sommelier contest, Chantal Chi explains how in three years “sommelier” has gone from being a simple French word to a symbol of high class in the wine world of China. The problem: None of the finalists were comfortable talking about wine in Mandarin.

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California drinking: Zeon Chow, Rutherford Bench & Napa Reserve

Last month, Shanghai-based Rutherford Bench, a company focused on Napa Valley wines, celebrated its first year of business. I talked to deputy general manager Zeon Chow about the rationale behind the Napa focus in a market led by French and Australian wines, the reaction of consumers to these typically fruit-forward wines, the lessons learned over the past 12 months, and more.

Getting corked in China: The fault with no name

Frankie Zhao explains that one major issue with corked wine is that Chinese consumers often do not know it when they taste it. He covers his own experience and some research on the topic.

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Lost in translation: A Rose is a Rose is a Rose?

Asked for an English-Chinese list of wine grape varieties for Grape Wall, Ma Huiqin ponders which of the three transliterations for Chardonnay she should use and explains why consensus on these names will be hard to achieve.

This week’s lineup includes the October Wine Fair at Carrefour (Shuang Jing branch), which typically involves samples of hundreds of wines and deals on bottles (I’m still working on the Chateau St. Michelle / Columbia Crest package I bought last time). By the way, the poster advises people to request an invitation via email, though I walked in last year with no problems. As they say, you drinks your wine, you takes your chances.

Friday’s blind tasting of Argentinian Malbec at Sequoia Cafe should also be good. Proprietor Frank Siegel held a similar event almost two years ago, in the early days of these tastings, and it still ranks in my top ten (along with that tasting of Algerian wines!).

Finally, expect the Beaujolais Nouveau invites to start flooding in.

Here’s what’s up for the rest of the week…

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Tuesday, October 21, Aria, 7 PM, RMB788
Five-course Coriole wine dinner, with owner and wine-maker Mark LIoyd; RSVP with Danny Kane at 6505-2266, x36 or danny.kane@shangri-la.com.

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Wednesday, October 22, 7:30 PM, La Baie des Anges, RMB100
“Butterfly effect”, with 5 wines (Pinot Noir, Cotes du Rhone, Bordeaux, Jurancon, and Cabernet Sauvignon); By French Wine Paradox and Chamarre; RSVP at ccarrard.fwp@gmail.com / 13439-441-103.

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Thursday, October 23, 6 PM-Midnight, Carrefour (Shuang Jing branch)
Beijing October Wine Fair Opening, with wine tasting, music, and 20 percent discount; according to the poster, to get an invitation, send your name, address, telephone number and email address to secretary_bjsj@carrefour.com

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Friday, October 24, 6:30 PM, Sequoia Cafe, RMB100
Blind tasting of Malbec from Argentina, with 5 wines; RSVP via E-vite; to get on the list, call Frank Siegel at 13701178073

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Saturday, October 25, 4 PM, Tribute North, RMB200
Southern Hemisphere Pinot Tasting, with 6 wines from The Wine Republic; by Beijing Wine Club; RSVP with Gabe Suk at gabriel.suk@gmail.com.

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Saturday, October 25, 5-6 PM, Pinotage, RMB60
Weekly tasting; by WineLink; RSVP with Chris at 13611-207-396 / chrisb@winelink.com.cn

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Note: See the long-term schedule. If you intend to attend any of the above events, it is best to confirm the details with the venue ahead of time. To get an event listed, send the details to beijingboyce@yahoo.com.