Life in the city

Old China Hands 2 April lunch

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Start of the Tomb Sweeping holiday

We had our our Old China Hands 2 April lunch on what was actually Good Friday (nobody seemed to notice it). Many of our members were already away to take advantage of the long weekend for Tomb Sweeping. We were still near 30 to chatter away for hours while enjoying as always the food of Morel’s Restaurant (packed as always). But Easter was everywhere in the restaurant with the decoration of eggs, cute little chicks and flowers.

We also welcomed our youngest member, Oliver, son of Didier with well over ten years of China!
Our Belgian friend Benoit first thought to be alone at his table but some late comers ended his isolation.

Always something happening

Our artist member Kent presented his painting of Mark and Fu Han to Mark. Well done!
Sadly our artist/musician/chef Kent is planning to leave us for the USA to be finally reunited with his wife.
And I introduced a fellow author and long-time friend, Rainer Thomm, whose book “China Mission Impossible” I help to promote, see my book report here.
I hadn’t seen Rainer since ages as he left for Guangdong, far away from the mad crowd of Beijing.

In next post I will talk more about some of our famous Old China Hands members. We have a few remarkable and unique fellows really. Stay tuned!

Old China Hands 5 March

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Full house

Our monthly lunch for Old China Hands 5 March had again to fight to get enough seats in Morel’s Restaurant. Initially I got 30 seats… then up to 40… Giving a chance to the people on the waiting list!
We were 36 exactly, pretty impressive number.
While we had some concerns with the “Double Meetings”, it all went well. As usual the restaurant was fully packed…

Kent is leaving

One of our enthusiastic and regular members, Kent, is sadly leaving us soon. His has been separated from his wife (stuck in USA) for over a year. They finally decided Kent will leave Beijing for the USA. One more victim of the virus pandemic. Will miss him as well as his great deserts he brought us! Kent is talented…. painter, musician, cook, …

Kent wrote on Facebook (unedited):
“Due to my plans to leave China in May, today will probably be my last luncheon with my foreign expat friends. Every month on the first Friday about 35 of us gather from various countries and have a lunch together in a famous Belgian restaurant named, Morel’s, after it’s owner Chef Renaat Morel. Our organizer, Gilbert Van Kerchove, who is also Belgian and has lived in China over 40 years was also honored by me today. Instead of today being a going away party for me, I presented Renaat and Gilbert with a portrait done by me as gratitude for all of the great food and fond memories that they have helped cultivate for all of us that are part of the Old China Hands group.”
Thanks my friend (yeah my correct name is Kerckhove hehe).

Thanks for the painting! Though my wife said I should check a skin specialist for the suspicious growth on my face.
We even had (once more) a birthday celebration, our Aussie lady Rebecca.

A famous foreigner joined

We had also the famous Cao Cao joining us. I will write about that in another post. I already mentioned him here.

Next lunch

Next lunch is planned for Friday 2 April. Lucky it is not 1 April. And I hope I will not mess up (again) my invitation email… with the wrong date somewhere…

SKP the Beijing super mall

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Exploring total luxury

Finally I visited SKP the Beijing super mall, on 9 January 2021.
You could call it the temple of capitalism, luxury shopping, extravagant consumerism.
It houses about any famous international brand, clothing, shoes, kitchen ware, watches, jewelry, anything. Bring your credit card…

We had dinner in the Macau Taste restaurant, in the connected China Central Mall, through underground level 1. Nice food!
You also find around there an Apple store and many banks.
We did not visit SKP-S.

I also had the experience to buy a small kitchen knife. Indeed normally NO ANY SHOP sells knives. If you need knives for your kitchen in Beijing, good luck. Hey, it is a weapon!
I did find exactly what I wanted, though super expensive. I succeeded to buy it after filling out forms, contact data and copy of my Green Card. Tip from the shop: do not take the subway with it… We went by Didi…

About SKP and the new SKP-S (Select)

One of the most upscale malls in Beijing, SKP is filled with shops selling pricey designer goods. Shop in comfort then have lunch at one of the many restaurants, many in China Central Mall connected to SKP.
Located on Jianguo Road, West Dawang Road and near Dawang Bridge. See the maps.
See this website with many great pictures: https://superfuture.com/2020/01/new-shops/beijing-skp-s-mall-opening/

Says the website:
As the planet’s biggest luxury market, you’d say China is the holy grail for any self-discerning brand operating in fashion’s upper echelon. The SKP mall in Beijing has long been the home of glittering trophies from the realm of fashion and lifestyle, featuring a myriad of flagship stores of relevant brands from across the planet. Interestingly, SKP is state-owned, and it looks like the venture’s raison d’être is aligned with the harsh government crackdown on illegally imported luxury goods in recent years. As a consequence of local market conditions, SKP mall in Beijing is slowly transforming into a department store, aiming to offer a more cohesive shopping experience to the Chinese capital’s most discerning shoppers, and which is able to rival some of planet’s most prestigious shopping grounds along the way.

The opening of SKP-S (SKP Select), a distinctly design-led south wing is part of this newly adopted strategy. In a bold move, the company has teamed up with Gentle Monster, the Seoul-based eyewear brand known for its bold and highly evocative retail design, to create premises fit for today’s generation of digital-savvy shoppers.

Exploring food in Beijing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Cocottine by Flo

Some of my experience in exploring food in Beijing. Sadly many restaurants disappear after some time as dispute about rent and other are a market killer. That was also the case with Flo in Taikoo Li… Gone…
This Flo outlet is in Parkview Green, the impressive glass building in Dongdaqiao Lu.
Date of visit: 18 December 2020.
Nice surrounding, good service. Cost for the Osso Bucco and Risotto Seafood Chicken was RMB 416, not cheap but still reasonable, it was too much for two persons. Yeah, doggy bag.

The architecture of Parkview Green is unique and the shopping center has a bit of everything. Mandatory shopping with my guide Sophie who works there and finally convinced me to explore the building.

HULU TRB

On Saturday 14 September 2019 another visit to HULU in Taikoo Li, I am never disappointed by the dishes and service. Good management by Ignace.

During September 13 – 18: a special week “Best of Brussels & Guest Chef Maxime Maziers”.
In celebration of 25th friendly city anniversary of Beijing and Brussels, the Belgian culinary luminary, Maxime Maziers, has embarked on an extraordinary dining journey in Beijing, to uncover the Best of Brussels for the gastronomic aficionados from the Far East at Hulu by TRB.
Prior to taking over the previous three Michelin starred Restaurant Bruneau, where Chef Maxime Maziers worked closely with the founder of Restaurant Bruneau, Jean-Pierre Bruneau for 5 years, the young talented Maxime humbly decided to delve into his later incomparably audacious cooking identity from numerous highly regarded establishments. Now he returns back to his root, being elected as “Young Chef of the Year 2019” by Gault & Millau, Chef Maxime Maziers is ready to sprinkle his gastronomic wisdom into a series of meticulously cultivated dishes in combination with the iconic Lindeman Beer that best capture the Best of Brussels.

See some of the special dishes!

O’Steak, French Bistro

The restaurant is well know, as it name says, for its steaks. Location is in front of April Gourmet near Chunxiu Lu. Overall tasty, nice presentation. Simple but cozy environment; rather small in size.
I still prefer Morel’s for steak as I am suspicious about those steaks in other restaurants that are a bit too tender … because of tenderizer and other stuff.

I chose the mushroom risotto and duck leg. Both very tasty. Date: 9 November 2020.

Beijing Rotary in February

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Many activities

Beijing Rotary in February 2021: it was a busy month!
See here some of our activities.

Lunch 2 February

Back again to Kempinski Hotel, with Christopher Felder as our guest speaker.
Topic: Resonate Leadership Speaker
In his talk, Chris, a frequent guest, gave an inspiring talk on leadership and what a resonant leadership entailed. Summing up, Hope and fostering Hope, are the driving forces behind a Hope leader. During the interactive session with questions from Chris and answers by the members, Chris took us to examine the examples of some of the famous leaders from around the world, the strengths that made them great, and the metrics of a great leader. Chris also busted the common myths of intellect and toughness as the key drivers for leadership. At last he led the audience to conclude that EI, or Emotional Intelligence, that encompasses social awareness, relationship management, self-awareness and self-management, is what is needed in leadership that generates resonance.

Fellowship at Paulaner in Kempinski

With Chinese New Year, a change of location for our lunch on 9 February. Happy to welcome Rotarian Amanda from the Rotary Club of Cambridge UK.

Fellowship at Roots Restaurant

Still Spring Festival, we were back at Roots (LINK) for our Tuesday lunch.
No speaker, simply enjoying the food and good company with visiting Rotarians from France and UK.

Farewell Party

Our President Danny will leave soon for Nanjing where he will open the latest Fraser’s Suite. He will be replaced by the President Elect Didier, assisted by Rtn Piper. To wish Danny success in his new post and to thank him for his service, we had a party in The Roots Restaurant; for the restaurant and the great menu see this post.
Time was Tuesday 23 February at p.m.
Location: “The Roots” above Paddy O’Shea’s
Delicious buffet evening with sangria, red and white wine, mojito, beer…
Thanks go to the incredible musicians in the person of the very Danny himself, Michael, Rob, Winnie, Kevin, Chris, and all of us accompanying.

Rtn Danny donated a real big “hongbao” to the Rotary Club of Beijing to support our projects. Didier gave him some cigars (one of Danny’s weaknesses).
Great evening!