ms447460's picture ms447460 Submitted by Guest on Mon, 08/15/2016 - 18:14

Having been to many Beijing food festivals the past several years, I'd have to say that this was the most disappointing. I'm not normally one to comment, but I feel a strong urge to let whoever set this one up know that they really let us down. I agree with puchunguise that the signage leading people inside was terrible and I feel bad for the vendors inside. Even more than that, though, was the selection of booths and effort put forth by the actual vendors. While I understand that having a booth is very tricky and you want to get the food out as quickly as possible, I don't want to be handed something that's been sitting out all day. I don't mind waiting a few minutes for something fresh. Furthermore, this was toted as an "around the world" experience, when in fact, it was mainly sausage and pizza as the main items. Nothing stood out to be amazing, except for the beef kabobs from the Brazilian food stand. I feel like the quality of food events is rapidly declining and will see an even greater decline in event-goers as time goes on.

puchunguise's picture puchunguise Submitted by Guest on Mon, 08/15/2016 - 16:54

I was so disappointed the way this was set up. I had to go back a second day because someone told me there were more food providers inside. There was no signage, no one to direct me to indoors, nothing to inform me where to head. The weather was quite beautiful, so I would have assumed that the organizer and the owner of TrueRun Media would have had the sense to have the indoor vendors move outside. I am sure they did not get the space for free. In fact, I know that Sanlitun Soho is quite expensive. Now, I am not standing for anyone in particular, but if I were one of the people that was indooors, I would be quite upset by the fact that my sales were below norm. I would also feel that the outdoors people from TrueRun Media would have informed all attendees that more vendors were located inside. This would have one of the biggest helps that any attendees would have appreciated.

Second, for a 50RMB fee, to only see 5 vendors located outside made me feel cheated. So basically what I felt was that my entrance fee went to a plastic apron that I will never use. Not until the second day when I went with my friends after being begged, did we notice sinage, and encouragement from TrueRun Media employees to go inside. That would definitely been a plus to attendees that are buying goodies and vendors that were providing many deliciousness from across the globe. From my perspective, the message delivered about 'Western Foods' was that we are made of sausage, pizza and other run of the mill foods that Chinese know very well.

We are here to share each other's experience and each other's culture. So we have just done a great diservice not only to the community we live in, but also to the community that provide their exemplary culinary skills. Now, for thebeijinger.com/TrueRun Media, I am sure that the confidence from the vendors that were recruited for this event feel disenchanted by the fact that what was promised was not delivered properly. I as a consumer feel that way.

Good job Michael! We, the expact and local community, expect better for the next one.

emc2's picture emc2 Submitted by Guest on Sat, 08/13/2016 - 10:18

Do you people actually live in Beijing? A "tranquil" picnic in a park in Beijing....come on man. These parks are so crammed with people and noise pollution!! I do not know what dream park you are imagining but it is not in Beijing. I have never in all my years been in a beijing park that was not full of wandering people in every direction no matter what time of day it is. Then you have these old idiots playing their stupid scratchy sounding musical instruments as loud as they can or some kind of ridiculous other type of music blaring from huge speakers. they have brought to the park or radios they have strapped around their necks. Yeah...nice honey...look over there...there is a nice man pissing in the bushes. Eat your fruit honey, just try to ignore him. What did you say honey...I cannot hear you because of the ugly old braless women yappping next to us so loudly that even the birds are irritated. Swimming pool??? Do you people actually swim in these Chinese bathtubs. Wow....does dysentery not bother you people. Really funny to read such ridiculous articles describing experiences that are not even possible to have in Beijing. A quaint little private picnic in Chaoyang park....you people really crack me up sometimes. Keep up the good work.

Beijing Horror Films's picture Beijing Horror Films Submitted by Guest on Fri, 08/12/2016 - 09:02

Just a side note Kipp. Not to discourage anyone from consuming large quantities of alcohol (aka getting drunk), but with the sweltering and humid weather we have been having, drinking massive amounts of alcohol is the worst action you can take as it dehydrates you. Stick to water or sports drinks until the sun goes down.

孙精深's picture 孙精深 Submitted by Guest on Fri, 08/12/2016 - 05:49

HAHAHAHA. I LITERALLY laughed out loud multiple times while reading this. I completely imagined a disgruntled news reporter sitting at a tiny desk and sighing repeatedly throughout the day as he tried to find the motivation to write original entries about Beijing's nightlife. This was an awesomely unexpected read. Keep it up! Everyone be sure to rally outside of his landlord's apartment...yeah...at the undisclosed location...make sure you go there for sure. Lol. Good times. Good article.