Golden Fork Awards: The Results
If you're having dining problems I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a dearth of restaurant choices ain't one.
We considered writing one long restaurant-themed rap for this intro, but when we read the above sentence aloud in the office, in a British accent no less, we realized how painfully un-hip-hop we truly are. Nevertheless, that didn't stop us from throwing Beijing's biggest, baddest party last month: The That's Beijing Golden Fork Restaurant Awards, which saw us ditching our laptops for live rap, loads of booze and a Golden Age hip-hop soundtrack (because it's not the Silver Fork Awards, ya know?).
This year's party celebrated the glittering array of street-smarts and realness that render our city's dining scene veritably dope. There were upsets. There were triumphs. There were underdog small businesses that garnered enough reader votes for a victory. And then there were the ones who didn't give a shit about our awards and left us calling out their names onstage like no-friend losers. ("Zhang Mama? Zhang... Mama?")
Special shout-out to the team at L.A. Palms Kitchen and Bar who sported coordinated neck tattoos at the party (yes, you read that correctly; no, they're not permanent). If there's one thing this year's Golden Fork Awards taught us, it's that restaurants in Beijing aren't just good. They're wacky, unique and thoroughly unpretentious. And, Beijing, that's exactly what makes you great.
Click 'Read more' to go to our website for the full list of winners (Readers' and Editors' choice).
And because our city's F&B stars are more than a list, we're also sharing in-depth stories - check back later for profiles of some of the dining scene's most intriguing names. Oh, and our notes from an all-night dim sum stakeout at Jindingxuan.
Thank You To Our Dope Sponsors
Stella Artois, Spark, Palms L.A. Kitchen and Bar, Ramo, The Smokeyard, Loft Eatalicious, Mint Vietnamese Pho & Snacks, Sherpa's, Summergate Fine Wines & Spirits, Casillero del Diablo, The London No.1, Teeling Whiskey, Ron Maddero, Perrier, Vittel, FS Juice and Laurent Falcon.
Special Thanks To
Migas, Zell BeauCare Clinic and Enjoy Dental.