Meet Sara Jane Ho, TRB'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, Sara Jane Ho of Institute Sarita will be hosting the table at Temple Restaurant Beijing. Read on for why Ms. Ho chose TRB and her tip on where to get grilled salmon head (teaser: you can also chow on some top-tier sushi while you're there).
Want to snag a table with Ms. Ho? 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 think the Financial Times put it best: “For Beijing’s Miss Manners, this is not just about telling a shrimp cocktail fork from a chopstick: she wants to launch nothing less than a cultural revolution in decorum. 'Institute Sarita is the first step in creating a global etiquette movement,' [Ho] says, noting that etiquette really means 'showing respect and consideration for others.'"
Why did you choose to host a Chi Fan for Charity table and why Temple Restaurant Beijing?
We teach our students that being a true lady or a gentleman does not depend on your social standing or net worth but rather on your contribution to the community around you. I like CFFC’s innovative approach to supporting local causes and was grateful for the opportunity to help out this year. Temple Restaurant Beijing was a very natural choice because owner Ignace’s values are so aligned with the CFFC mission. He works hard to find local farmers and use organic ingredients. He stays as close to the local community as possible while managing to turn out some of the city’s best cuisine. I recently chose Temple’s historic site to conduct an interview for Channel NewsAsia.
What are you looking forward to most about the evening?
I’m looking forward to meeting ten unique individuals for the first time and hearing about why they came to Beijing. I am continually impressed by both expats and locals who move to our capital for a variety of reasons, whether journalism, non-profit, government related or start ups!
What’s your dream table of diners? Who would be the best company?
The best company is that which makes me laugh. A lot.
What’s your most memorable memory of a night dining out (in Beijing or elsewhere)?
I like long and leisurely dinners that take you on a journey. I was in Moscow last weekend and my Russian friends took me to Brasserie Moct. Formerly an underground nightclub, this space was transformed into an exquisite Louis XIV atmosphere of Versailles. I was taken aback by the refined décor, but couldn’t take my eyes off the sophisticated and stylish women dining there. They were so elegant and ladylike … very Carolina Herrera.
What's the number one dish from a Beijing restaurant that you crave?
Grilled salmon head from Sushi Midorikawa in Sanlitun. It is a hidden gem around the corner from my apartment and in the winters I go once a week for that dish!
Photos: courtesy of Kristen Lum and Sara Jane Ho
