For one night only, 40 of Beijing’s top restaurants, including the likes of Bei and Maison Boulud, are setting aside tables for a special night of dining, where 100 percent of all proceeds will be going to two local charities. Time Out Beijing talks to event founder Michael Crain to find out how it all began.
Why did you start Chi Fan for Charity?
A lot of people in Beijing want to do something philanthropic. But many of us don’t have the time. I’d been to raffles in Beijing where prizes included meal vouchers and I’d been to gala charity dinners held at big hotel conferences back in Washington DC. I thought why not bring the best of both together: intimate meals with good quality food; then afterwards, everyone can dress-up and mingle together at the after-party at Hatsune – and all for a good cause.
Tell us more about the event…
In the first year, 16 restaurants took part and we raised 100,000RMB. Last year, twice as many participated and we made over 225,000RMB. This time, diners can choose from over 40 restaurants. In the past, celebrity table hosts have ranged from the Tibetan princess Yabshi Pan Rinzinwagmo to What Women Want film director Chen Daming. Once again, each table this year will feature a person of note.
How do you choose the charities?
Our charities this year include the Bethel Foundation, which provides foster care, education and life skills for blind and visually-impaired Chinese orphans, and the New Hope Foundation, which looks after abandoned babies with surgically correctable deformities and other ailments. They were chosen by a charity selection committee, who had a strict set of criteria. We were after transparent, accountable charities that had been around for at least a few years; they had to be working on sustainable projects making a visible difference. Personally, having adopted two Chinese daughters and seen for myself how orphans with medical conditions often receive little help, I am proud to be working with two such important charities.
Chi Fan for Charity takes place on November 5 For dinner: tickets cost from 500RMB to 1,000RMB per person. For the after-party: 150RMB for advance tickets; 180RMB on the door. Tickets go on sale from Monday 10 October at
www.chifanforcharity.com.