2011 Oct 11 Chi Fan for Charity Tickets on Sale Now, Says Michael Crain
Now in its third year, Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC) has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. We have explained the concept in years past (see here), so we won’t go into too much detail again, but basically 2011 will see 32 of Beijing’s finest restaurants – the highest number yet! – donating tables. (Shanghai is getting its first taste of Chi Fan for Charity too on October 29.) Per seat prices range from RMB 500 to RMB 1,500.
Tickets just became available to the public yesterday, but many restaurant seats are already sold out (i.e. Agua, Made in China and Hatsune, to name a few). This year, CFFC aims to raise at least RMB 300,000 for Bethel Foundation (you can read our interview with them from our August issue here) and New Hope Foundation. At this rate we have no doubt they’ll be reaching their target goal. Visit www.chifanforcharity.org to reserve your tickets now!
We have talked over the logistics of CFFC with founder Michael Crain before, so this time around we decided to find out what kind of dinner companion he’d make. Expect more Q&As with other CFFC 2011 table hosts in the next few weeks.
What makes you a “Beijing personality”?
Not sure I would consider myself a “personality,” but I always enjoy a great party with interesting people. I always look forward to being out in Beijing with a great group of people that enjoy having a good time. While my wife and I have slowed down since adopting our twin girls, we still love breaking bread and savoring a nice glass of wine with old and new friends.
What do you bring to the table? (Literally.)
My Texas-sized appetite! I think I also bring a sense of curiosity. I enjoy learning about what people do, how they fit into the Beijing fabric and moments they have had here that make them appreciate being in Beijing (or miss being back in their home country).
What are your favorite dinner conversation topics?
I normally get pulled into talk of politics (which means I usually leave someone at the table a little miffed), but I try to avoid that topic because it truly is a subject where my mind won’t change and neither will theirs. I love a good chat about movies (especially if they have had an impact on someone in some way), travels (always love to find new and interesting places) and new places for bargain finds in Beijing.
How do you work up an appetite?
I’d love to say “at the gym,” but anyone that knows me knows that is just a lie! I work up an appetite by just living in Beijing. The chaotic pace of the people who are always in a hurry to get somewhere requires a nice glass of wine to wind down and a fabulous meal to satisfy.
Where do you like eating around town?
At any of our Chi Fan for Charity restaurant sponsors! Check them out at www.chifanforcharity.org. They are literally the best restaurants in Beijing!
What do you look for in a dining companion?
Someone that can engage me in talk of current events and who definitely has a sense of humor. I tend to push the envelope (especially after I have a few nice glasses of wine in me), so someone that can get my sense of humor and has quick retorts makes for an interesting dinner companion.
If you could bring anyone in the world to CFFC as your dinner date, who would it be?
This is a little sappy, but I would have to say my grandmother. She passed away when I was 14 so my memories of her are hazy. But she was an amazing cook of southern comfort food (I still long for some of her hand-cut fried okra). She also came of age during the Great Depression and World War II, so she had this hardened persona with a sense of duty. Now that I am at an age that I could appreciate how difficult her life had been, I would like a chance to treat her to an incredible meal while she shares stories of her life.
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Last Chance to Buy Chi Fan for Charity Tickets!
Foodies and do-gooders unite – tonight’s the night you’ve all been waiting for. The third annual Chi Fan for Charity dinner will kick off citywide at 7.30pm, with the Hatsune after-party to follow at 10pm.
As expected, there is only a limited quantity of tickets left for both events. Just two days ago there were twice as many, so the few that are left will also probably be snatched up fast:
Chi Fan With Alan Wong, Kristen Lum and Stacey Lee Mitchell
The event on everyone’s lips still has seats left for purchase, though perhaps not for long. Chi Fan for Charity 2011 held its press party last night at the Westin Chaoyang’s Touch Bar to bring together the restaurateurs, media, table hosts and 2011 beneficiaries. They noted that they were not far from reaching their target goal of RMB 300,000, and that there remains a range of prices (from RMB 500 to 1000) and cuisines (from Spanish tapas at Carmen to Indian at Punjabi) to choose from.
If you’re still on the fence, we’ll let the CFFC table hosts and organizers do the talking. (See our earlier post for founder Michael Crain’s responses.)
This Weekend: Paint, Eat and Drink for Charity
Our Bars & Clubs Editor has already got our hedonistic whims covered for the weekend, but what about our do-good side?
Luckily, it has never been easier to give back. First up on the agenda is Gift of Hope’s Chinese painting class taking place tomorrow afternoon. All of the social enterprise’s monthly “Open Day” events are centered on traditional forms of folk art that are slowly disappearing – a way, founder Meixin Lee told me, “to preserve cultural tradition, along with generating awareness about our cause.”
Eat Well, Do Good: Chi Fan for Charity
We all enjoy having dinner with old friends and look forward to making new ones. It’s even more enjoyable when that dinner is delicious, and there are a few glasses of wine involved. The best however, is when you can do all this AND help out worthwhile causes in the meantime.
The Second Annual Chi Fan for Charity event will be held November 6. The format is simple – diners can buy a seat for a dinner at a well-known Beijing restaurant, and the table will be hosted by a Beijing personality. As the tables are donated by participating restaurants, all proceeds from this event are going to charity. Last year, this event raised RMB 100,000 for The Dandelion School.
Win a Year of Discounts: The Little Gold Book
What is a Little Gold Book? Glad you asked. Not only will it make for a great Christmas present, but it also serves as a useful guide for navigating Beijing’s dining scene.
This year marks the release of the first edition of this compilation of vouchers, which offers first-rate discounts at over 70 restaurants in Beijing (including 50 percent off at Hatsune, a free glass of wine at SALT, and 2-for-1 cooking class deals at The Hutong). Founders Irena Desmond and Andrew Pratley – a brother-sister team from New Zealand – recruited the help of Michael Crain (of Chi Fan for Charity) to track down Beijing’s best eateries, so it’s safe to say you can think of this as your “little black book” to eating out around here.
