Home Plate BBQ and EventBank

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

I discovered Home Plate through a social event of Rotaract and it was a pleasant surprise. A bit hidden in the no-name compound where The Bookworm is located, you actually need to look for the sign of The Loft – the restaurant does not exist anymore and for some obscure reasons the management of the compound does not want to remove it.
My favorite dishes are the Pulled Pork Plate and (a bit more modest in size) the Pulled Pork Sandwich. They have a range of home-brewed ales. And several American souces. You need to ask the waiter for the “day list” of beers hidden in his pocket if you want to discover an off-the menu beer.

During a previous evening, 10 April,  I met the owner, Victoria Rong, sitting on the right in the picture. Very friendly and modest, at first I thought she was an extra waiter… Good management I call it.
On 27 April thanks to my friend Kyle I took part in the EventBank Pre-Launch Dinner & Networking. Too much food, lots of beers. Interesting presentation by the CEO, Eric L. Schmidt.
See their website: www.eventbank.com
They offer some interesting solutions for companies organizing events.
As it happened, many familiar faces. Beijing can be a small world.

SwissTaste: Global Launch Event

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Peter Troesch kindly invited me to the event to mark to opening of their SwissTaste restaurant bar, deli concept.
It took place on Saturday 18 April, in Central Park (CBD), close to The Place where my gym is (California Fitness). Actually I knew that corner, previously a coffee shop I visited several times.

 

Colorful event, several friends I knew. German music and performances, speeches by Peter, the ambassador and Asia Correspondent of Ringier, an Old China Hand: Peter Achten Tetmajer von Przerwa (I hope I got that right!).
I am looking forward to test Peter’s dishes as I love Swiss cuisine, roesti potatoes and more.
Peter has a long track record in China, also with Swisscham (I was a member for many years).

InterNations Beijing – A Dazzling Night at Tadka

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On Friday 17 April I finally made it again to an Internations event, in TADKA, the bar of the Marriott Northeast Hotel (Xiao Yun Road).

I guess some 150 people attended, some I knew had registered but did not turn up. Too bad because the hotel is nice and so is the bar. And of course the people… That is what Internations events are all about!

Rotaract in The Bookworm

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On Monday 20 April, other very international gathering of our Rotaract members in The Bookworm.

Next round of activities: Storytime at the migrant’s school 25 April; networking event possibly 14 May in The Bookworm (TBC); Interact Picnic possibly 30 May (TBC).
And of course the Rotary Ball on 23 May where Rotaract will set up a photobooth..
Elections for the Rotaract Board are planned for 11 May and we welcome candidates!

Rotaract Beijing, meeting in The Bookworm

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On Monday 13 April, another meeting in The Bookworm, the usual mix of nationalities: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland (Rtn Regula) and China.

Rotaract Beijing can look back at some recent successful events: The Speech Competition (Capital Club, with the Interact Club) with Frederik as coordinator; the Art Jam that attracted twenty participants and two artists, under the guidance of Youssef and Oliver, bringing in RMB 1620 for Crossroads Beijing, a Women Rights Library Project.
Upcoming are, among others, the usual “Story Time” at a migrant school in the South of Beijing, presenting again the story of the Turtle and the Hare, coordination by Tinia.