Dine for Charity: Table Booking Opens Today
Who doesn't like to balance the indulgence of a glamorous night dining out and the excess of sipping on sparkling wine with doing good for others? Chi Fan for Charity has had that gig on lockdown for five years, and the 2013 date for the annual event is approaching quickly.
Table booking opens today for the evening of Saturday November 2. Visit their website here to see which restaurants have donated tables, who's hosting where and to snag a few seats (or a whole table) with friends. Jokes of extravagance aside, CFFC is doing solid, admirable work – read on for the quick and dirty on the laudable charity event.
On one night only, Chi Fan for Charity will feature at least three courses of dinners offered by more than 50 of Beijing’s top restaurants. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to two selected charities. This year’s beneficiaries are Educating Girls of Rural China, which sponsors university educations for rural women and operates under the philosophy that educating women is the key to bringing positive changes to a family, a village and a society, as well as Little Flower Projects which has led grassroots, small-scale, effective, and cost-efficient projects throughout China for the benefit of countless children in need, particularly abandoned infants and orphaned children.
Born and bred in Beijing in 2009, Chi Fan and its success is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. It spread to Shanghai in 2011 and this autumn sees a third city – Hong Kong – added. Forty of Beijing’s top restaurants participated in last year’s sold-out shingdig and, along with Shanghai, raised RMB 400,000. The annual event, accompanied by a smaller vintners’ dinner held each spring, has raised over RMB 1.7 million for various causes.
What do the people who make it happen have to say?
“Chi Fan for Charity’s fifth anniversary event is shaping up to be the best yet. More than fifty of Beijing’s best restaurants are participating, which means we should raise a record amount for our beneficiaries this year.” Michael Crain, co-founder (with Joanna Crain) of Chi Fan for Charity.
“We wanted to give something back to the community but didn’t quite know how, and then Chi Fan for Charity came along. Also, it’s fun to get all the restaurants together on the same night to do this.” Ignace LeCleir of Temple Restaurant Beijing.
“It’s a very good cause and an established charity, plus it’s fun for everyone – the perfect combination.” Alex Molina of Mosto, Modo Urban Deli and Moka Bros.
And if all of that hasn’t convinced you, good-hearted hedonists and revelers, what is the last, but perhaps best part of the night? The wild after-party at Hatsune in Sanlitun for everyone who just chi fan’ed for charity across the city.
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. Tickets (RMB 500-1,000, varies by venue) for Chi Fan for Charity go on sale today.
Text adapted from the Beijinger October 2013 issue
("Chi Fan for Charity: Doing Good ... by Dining?", p30)
Photo: Kristen Lum
