Meet Adam Steinberg, Huang Ting's Chi Fan for Charity Host

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, Chi Fan for Charity is the Beijing-bred annual charity event that brings diners and restaurants together for an evening of altruistic eating. This year, the bash takes place across town on November 2, with dinners offered by more than 50 of Beijing’s top restaurants. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to two selected charities.

At every participating restaurant, each table of ten is hosted by one engaging member of the community. This year, Adam Steinberg of Weber Shandwick will be hosting the table at Huang Ting. Read on for why he chose Huang Ting and what he believes is one of the best kept whiskey secrets in town.

Want to snag a table with Mr. Steinberg? Tickets (RMB 500-1,000, varies by venue) for Chi Fan for Charity are available for purchase here. (The Beijinger’s Dining Editor Cat Nelson will host the magazine’s table at The CUT at the Fairmont Beijing Hotel. Managing Editor Steven Schwankert will host a separate table at Café Sambal.)

Would you please introduce yourself in a few sentences?
I am originally from San Francisco and have been working and studying in Beijing for about nine years. My career passion is financial public relations, which is the marriage of finance and communications. I lead Weber Shandwick's financial communications practice in Beijing. I am also active in the community as a volunteer: I head The Hedge Fund Association's China Chapter and currently serve as AmCham China's Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Forum Co-Chair. I am also a wine lover and even dabbled in the wine business and visited many wineries around the world. 

Why did you choose to host a Chi Fan for Charity table and why this particular restaurant?
First, CFFC is a fabulous and very deserving charity organization. It truly is one of Beijing's premier charities. I love five-star hotel dining, and, Huang Ting, at the world-class The Peninsula Beijing has a certain je ne sais quoi!

What are you looking forward to most about the evening?
I love good company and fine food, so I am looking forward to everything about the evening! We' re going to have a lot of great conversation, fine cuisine and good memories. We will also know that we are contributing to a very worthy charity and good cause.

What’s your dream table of diners? Who would be the best company?
Honestly, I look forward to dining with people who are looking to have an enjoyable evening...everyone is interesting when they are relaxed and having fun.

What’s your most memorable memory of a night dining out?
It's a tie: the black tie Robert M. Parker Wine Dinner on the Great Wall of China featuring 100-point wines and cuisine from Brian McKenna in 2008. The other was opening day at Maison Boulud way back in 2008. Chef Daniel Boulud himself was staffing the kitchen.   

What's the number one dish from a Beijing restaurant that you crave?
Fatty salmon sushi from Edomae at their Lido area branch! Also, the single malt whisky during happy hour at Nashville on Lucky Street is one of the best keep secrets in town.

Photos courtesy of Kristen Lum and Adam Steinberg