CFFC Table Host Chair Cynthia Pham Dishes Her Fave Dining Spots

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With the Chi Fan For Charity Dinner 2023 coming up soon on Nov 4, jingkids International speaks with CFFC Committee member and Table Host Chair Cynthia Pham to discuss her commitment to the charity initiative and her personal dining recommendations around Beijing.

Hello! My name is Cynthia and I am a Vietnamese American from Seattle who has called Beijing home for eight years now! What started as a two-year teaching contract in 2015 has led me to my husband and our wonderful dog, Felix Pancakes! Together we have (literally and figuratively) built a home and will continue to plant roots here in Beijing. During Covid in China, I had the pleasure of working for small businesses in the city, and one of the opportunities led me to the world of F&B (Food and Beverage), an industry filled with passionate and hard-working people.

CFFC

JKI: What made you get involved with CFFC?

Pham: My good friend, Annie Han, was leaving Beijing and she kindly recommended me to the Chi Fan For Charity Committee! I was so honored and touched and knew that I had big shoes to fill. This is my second year serving as Table Host Chair, so I am feeling more confident and excited! I love organizing and planning, and seeing everything come to fruition is a truly rewarding experience.But most importantly, when being asked to help, you always want to say “Yes!”

JKI: What do you think of Beijing’s food scene?

Pham: I think it is the best! And not just the food, but the people and the stories behind the food. Some of the best cuisines are found in this city. 

Favorite Thai place? Pak Pak! Favorite Japanese place? Hatsune!

And not to mention accessibility! We are lucky to live in a city where you can find good eats at an affordable price. 

I also feel like there is a lot of camaraderie in Beijing, so chances are you will meet cool people at a restaurant, whether that be other diners or the restaurant team, and can chat it up for hours.

CFFC

JKI: For those new to CFFC, why should they get involved, either as a volunteer or as a table host/guest?

Pham: This year marks 15 years of Chi Fan For Charity, and so it is going to be extra special. And this will also be the first time in a few years where we can gather and celebrate without any constraints, and because there is still a lot of good in this city!

What better way to support charity than to gather a group of friends, dine at a delicious restaurant, and dance together at the after-party!

Pham: We have two beneficiaries this year -

HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) provides therapeutic equine-assisted services to orphanages and adults with special needs in Shunyi.

From Our Eyes aims to promote cultural preservation and sustainable rural development through videography and education in Yunnan.

It is going to be a fantastic night, probably the biggest celebration in the city! So don’t miss out! Feel free to add me on WeChat (ID: cynpham) if you are interested in either hosting a table or attending as a guest!

CFFC

JKI: Name your fave place in Beijing for…

Family brunch: Toast!

Fancy date night: TRB Hutong!

Casual date night: Pak Pak in Wangjing!

Favorite dish: Pollo al Carbon (roast chicken) from Pebbles!

Favorite hotel: Hyatt in Wangjing because it is modeled after a Japanese Zen garden and it is also dog-friendly, so Felix Pancakes loves it!

CFFC

Table bidding for CFFC 2023 is open so be sure to reach out to Pham if you are interested in joining this year's festivities and being part of this Beijing community cornerstone event!

Images: Courtesy of Cynthia Pham and CFFC

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