Restaurants That Fill the Community’s Bellies&Feed Their Souls

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For many people around the globe, the holidays represent a time of joy, coming together, and an opportunity to give back. And yet, for some of us, it’s precisely during this time – and only this time – that we feel compelled to do charitable work. Nevertheless, some of the most beloved companies in Beijing are founded on an ethos of helping year-round, by not only filling the bellies of hungry Beijingers but also nourishing the soul of our local community.

Chi Fan for Charity 2020

The TRB Group is one such company, made up of eight individual restaurants and a top-notch catering team. Though the brand may not be familiar to all, its many restaurants – including TRB Hutong, TRB Forbidden City, Hulu, and Peach – as well as owner/founder Ignace Lecleir are luminaries in the F&B scene, having contributed to the capital in more ways than one over the years.

The TRB Group is one such company, made up of eight individual restaurants and a top-notch catering team. Though the brand may not be familiar to all, its many restaurants – including TRB Hutong, TRB Forbidden City, Hulu, and Peach – as well as owner/founder Ignace Lecleir are luminaries in the F&B scene, having contributed to the capital in more ways than one over the years.

Earth Day Tree Planting 2021

What’s interesting, however, is that even the most ardent fan of TRB Group may be wholly unaware of their many behind-the-scenes charitable causes, and that’s no accident. As TRB’s Jenny Lee explains, “To be honest we don’t really market this, we don’t take the initiative to tell people that we are donating or giving back to the community.” That’s because part of their company philosophy is aimed at “relentlessly refining and improving,” and in this pursuit, they are often giving back in ways that elude public knowledge. While their involvement with some high-profile events – such as the city’s premier dining fundraiser Chi Fan for Charity and annual galas such as the British Ball, Irish Ball, and AmCham Banquet – are well known, it is their donations to groups like Migrant Children Foundation, Wild Women On the Wall, and numerous school events that more often fly under the radar.

Peachy Run 2021 with Wild Women

If TRB has cornered the charitable fine dining market then Moka Bros, first established in 2013, is doubtlessly their casual dining counterpart. According to Moka Bros Group Marketing Director Anna Lin Yip, “We are renowned for being a restaurant chain with a unique personality, hosting events like tattoo parties, and also offer customers the opportunity to donate-your-coffee-for-charity and more.”

That, however, only begins to scratch the surface of the many ways Moka Bros gives back. For instance, the brand is known for regularly changing up its menu and offering special dishes, with a portion of these sales going to different charitable causes. Yip explains, “We’ve done a lot of things in the past for Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC), Smile Angel, and supporting pet adoptions, just to name a few.”

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While that’s admirable to be sure, there is one cause that’s particularly close to their leadership team’s heart, and stands as a testament to their passion for community service. “The management of Moka Bros has a proportionally high degree of female leaders,” says Yip, “and we are aware that the opportunities we have been given are not the norm anywhere in the world. Our favorite charity at the moment is EGRC.”

Needless to say, when companies do their part, we are reminded of the importance of doing ours, which is made all the easier thanks to dedicated restaurants like TRB Group and Moka Bros. And much like these two great companies, more will continue to contribute to causes bigger than themselves when we share our appreciation for what they are doing and continue supporting those who support others. As Yip so succinctly puts it, “Our business does not per se benefit from the donations, but it warms our heart, and hopefully, our guests will see that we are here to be a part of the community.”

Images: Courtesy of Moka Bros and TRB

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