Our favourite incubator where foodie ideas are hatched and grown will soon be taking up a new residence in Sanlitun. Say goodbye to Hatchery’s retro 80’s interior at their Guomao-based Arcade restaurant, and hello to their new collaborative project in trendy Sanlitun. Look forward to more food ideas worth growing, a continuation of awesome tasty offerings, and a chance to unwind.

Hatchery is a platform that has been dedicated to supporting and growing China’s next generation of food entrepreneurs and concepts. They support, showcase, and hatch creative food ideas, and have partnered with a number of entrepreneurs in the Beijing expat community. They are best known for their hatched concept, Common Burger, where you can munch down on gastronomic burgers, such as the Roast Dinner, and inspired sides like the Mac ‘n’ Cheese bites.

At Canteen, you can opt for more healthy options with veg- and meat-laden pasta and salad bowls. Inspired by surfing trips to Bali with beachside smoothies and poke bowls, the second of Hatchery’s hatched projects has succeeded in bringing a slice of paradise to Beijing in the grey and winter months with healthy but hearty options, and brightening up even the brightest of summer days with colorful bowls of yumminess.

Before swinging by their new joint, it’s time to say goodbye in style with an epic closing party. There will be food and drinks specials, including the droolingly moreish Fries with Chicken Salt (RMB 15), Dan Dan Nachos (RMB 35), Chicken Shawarma (RMB 45), Larou Yacai, Fried Rice (RMB 25), Mayan Bowl (RMB 50), Vanilla and Sesame Butterscotch Milkshakes (RMB 35), and Chocolate and Pecan Milkshakes (RMB 35).

Expect copious amounts of food and beverages, and entrance is free! Bring along friends, perch up at the bar and celebrate the old while bringing in the new. Keep an eye out for more information regarding their new location set to open on May 1, but for now you may be keen to make your reservation. If so, don’t delay and secure your spot by sending an email to: m.leine@hotmail.comor WeChat: Maddy_Madeleine.

Arcade by Hatchery, 5L Hotel Lobby 1 Jianguomen Outer Street, Chaoyang District. 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街1号5L饭店大堂右侧 (6500 2884).

Happy Holidays
If you’re reading this at the beginning of November, Christmas may seem a long way off. But it comes around quickly, so from all of us here at beijingkids, we’d like to wish you a peaceful Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, cool Yule, joyous Kwanzaa, delightful Dongzhi, and good cheer whatever you celebrate at this time of year. beijingkids magazine will be back in the New Year, but throughout the festive season we’ll be keeping you informed and entertained as usual at beijing-kids.com.

Didi Difficulties
If, like many Beijing families, you rely on Didi to get around the city, you might have noticed that cars have suddenly become harder to hail. This is because of a clampdown on drivers who don’t have Beijing hukou, the all-important registration that entitles them to live and work in the city. Following the sudden rise in prices that marked Didi’s victory over Uber, the shortage of drivers means that traditional green and yellow cabs aren’t headed for the scrap heap yet.

Zaijian to Jessica
Our sensational School Editor, Jessica Suotmaa, is off to pastures new – to Los Angeles, California, to be precise. We wish her and her family all the very best in their future adventures.

Go Figure
Top figure skaters from all round the world will lutz and mohawk into town in November for the Audi Cup of China 2016. The Cup forms part of the ISU Grand Prix, a series of six annual elite competitions across the globe, equivalent to the Grand Slams of tennis. You can watch skating at its very best at the Capital Gymnasium, 54 Baishiqiao Rd., Haidian District, from November 18-20.

Bye-bye to Max Brennan?
Sad news for Beijing’s chocaholics: the doors are locked at the Max Brennan Chocolate Bar, after opening less than six months ago. At the time of going to press, we had no confirmation that the closure is permanent; however the lights are off, the chains are heavy, and the signs are not good.

Hatchery Rehatched
Beijing’s very own “culinary incubator,” the Hatchery, has reopened at a new location in Dongsi. The Hatchery provides a space to support and showcase new food ideas from local entrepreneurs, like the Yeyo dairy-free coconut yogurt we featured in our August 2016 issue. Find them at 88 Dongsi 9th Alley, Dongcheng District (北京市东城区东四九条88号).

HARMONY AND STEVE                                                                                  BY JIN CHAN YUM WAI AND AK

This article originally appeared on page 7 of the November/ December issue of beijingkids magazine . Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.

PHOTOS: DAVID W CARMICHAEL (WIKIMEDIA COMMONS), ANDREW KILLEEN, AND COURTESY OF THE HATCHERY

As new expats start to arrive to settle and schools start to call back their teachers for the new school year’s preparation, events start warming up in the city. To help those new arriving expats, we’ve gone a bit overboard with this week’s summer edition. We’ve included free events, unique events, ongoing events, and the best of next week. If you’re a planner at heart, sign up for our Top Picks Newsletter, where we let you know the best of Beijing events significantly far into the future. You’ll never miss out on tickets!

Free Events
Beijing Women’s Network Monthly Spotlight Dinner, July 25
Ages 16+. This month the special guest speaker, Hannah Fei, will highlight how she overcame adversity. Fei was born in Beijing but abandoned after a burn injury destroyed her right hand. After seven years in an orphanage, Fei was adopted in 2000 by a family in the US. Fei is a highly successful woman in everything she does, from designing, marketing, event organizing to founding her own companies. Free (excluding dinner costs). 7.30-9 pm. Hatchery, Inside Classic Furniture Yard, 12 Nongzhanguan Nanli, Chaoyang District 朝阳区农展馆南里12号(185 1547 5841)

Faces of Modern China, July 30
Ages 14+. This is a free lecture (in Chinese) open to the public hosted by the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in the 798 Art District, with a focus on cellphone photography in the context of Modern China. Free. 9am-Noon. Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, 798 Art District 798艺术区尤伦斯当艺术中心 报告厅 (Register for Tickets Here)

Learn how to use Chinese Uber and Didi, July 30
Ages 13+. Don’t forget that in a city like Beijing, teens could use the helpful skill of hailing a taxi with one of these apps and the vocabulary taught for free at this workshop. RSVP through WeChat: mmmichellecli. 11am-Noon. Sinology Institute, 8 Shuangsi Hutong, Dongcheng District 东城区 双寺胡同8号 (admissions@sinologyinstitute.com)

Unique Events
Cirkopolis By Cirque Éloize In Beijing, July 27-30
Ages 9+. This highly symbolic performance combines the worlds of circus, dance, and theater. “Performing within an inventive stage design and accompanied by an original musical score and video projections, ten acrobats and multidisciplinary artists rebel against monotony, reinvent themselves and challenge the limits of the factory-city.” RMB 180-880. 7.30-9.30pm. Poly Theatre, Poly Plaza, 14 Dongzhimen Nandajie Dongcheng District 东城区东直门南大街14号保利大厦1层 (Buy Tickets Here)

Wizard of Oz- A Children’s Interactive Play, July 30 and August 27
Ages 3-12. Children will be swept away into the magical world of Oz and find out the truth from the main character Dorothy and her special companions’ adventures. RMB 80-380. The performance on July 30 starts at 10.30am while the two performances on August 27 are at 10.30am and 2.30pm. China National Children’s Center, 43 Western Road, Ping’anli, Xicheng District 西城区平安里西大街43号 (186 1406 6431 or buy tickets here)

NCPA’s Production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, August 3 ^– 7
Ages 5+ Le Nozze di Figaro is one of the most famous operas created by Mozart in 1786 during the summit of his composing life. The whole opera features witty and brisk tones, retaining the artistic style of its original novel, which was written by the French comedy writer Pierre Beaumarchais. The story sets its music on the sharp contrast between the folly and dissipated noble and the smart servant Figaro, molding vivid roles as vibrant and witty Figaro, elegant and implicit Countess Rosina, intelligent and cute Susanna, and so on. RMB 80-580. 7.30-9.15 pm. National Center For The Performing Arts, 2 Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District 西城区西长安街2号(6655 0000)

Ongoing Events
Grug and the Rainbow In Beijing, Until July 31***
Ages 5+. Featuring exquisite puppetry and more of the gentle storytelling that has delighted audiences around the world, this brand new show has been especially created for the next generation of our littlest theater goers (and those who just love Grug and his quest for the rainbow). RMB 200+. 2.30pm-4.30pm. Multi-function Hall of Tianqiao Art Center, Building 9 Tianqiao Nandajie Xicheng, 西城区天桥南大街9号楼 (Buy Tickets Here)

***Parents in the beijingkids Family Events WeChat group have highly recommended this event with the caveat that even infants are required to pay. Otherwise, the facilities were beautiful and clean while the play captivated even a two year old. To join our events group, send your WeChat id and an email to editor@beijing-kids.com

Storytelling in Bookworm Café, Saturdays Until August 6
Ages 5-12. This summer storytelling program runs from July 9 to August 6, and is an interactive English storytelling program that will include brunch, games, and music time. RMB 249 per session with discounts available. The Bookworm (sue@beijingbookworm.com)

Tai Chi Class, Wednesdays Until August 9
Ages 8+ For those who are not familiar with Tai Chi, it can perhaps be thought of as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. The Tai Chi course focuses on health cultivation, flow of chi (energy) and meditative exercises for the body. The Tai Chi master speaks English and has rich experience in teaching Westerners. RMB 150. China Cultural Center, Victoria Gardens D4-101, Chaoyang Park West Road 朝阳区朝阳公园西路，维多利亚花园D4 (Register Here)

Calligraphy Class, Tuesdays Until August 9
Ages 8+ The classes are conducted in English. The Four Treasures of the Study- the ink brush, ink, paper, and ink stone are all provided. You don’t have to be able to write Chinese already, just be enthusiastic and willing to hold a brush. Maximum 12 people. RMB 200. 10.30am-Noon. China Cultural Center, Victoria Gardens D4-101, Chaoyang Park West Road 朝阳区朝阳公园西路，维多利亚花园D4
(Register Here)

Art in the Streets, Until August 24
Ages 8+. Curator Magda Danysz says, “Street art is unquestionably, for who wants to see, the most important artistic movement of the early twenty-first century. For some this is not yet obvious. Time will teach them.” Open everyday except Mondays and Sundays. RMB 15. 9.30am-5.30pm. CAFA Art Museum (6477 1575)

Hi, Beijing Children’s Acrobatic Show, Until August 31
Ages 4+. This troupe uses acrobatics, aerial acts, farces, magic, and jugglers to bring alive the story of Marco Polo, who first visited Beijing in 1215, but comes back to modern Beijing to view its modern day developments. RMB 180. China’s National Children’s Center Theater, 43 Western Road, Ping’anli, Xicheng District, 西城区平安里西大街43号 (138 0106 7568)

Best of Next Week

Second International Foodie Weekend, August 13-14
Ages 6+. With foodie passports in tow, festival goers will be set upon a culinary journey: Bite-sized delicacies representing cuisines from over 20 different countries and regions will be on offer. Current vendor count is 67! RMB 30 (One Day Pass), RMB 45 (Two Day Pass). Sanlitun Soho, South side of Gongti Beilu, across from Sanlitun Taikooli, Chaoyang District 朝阳区工人体育场北路8号院 (But tickets here)

PADI DAPI Fish Dance Company Presents: “White Lullaby”, August 6^–7
Ages 6+. This children’s drama is just 40 minutes long and has been performed around the world, including  Germany and the United States. The show addresses topics such as how one might go about explaining to children why their parents spend large amounts of time at work, and sometimes even leave their home country due to work. How can children still feel their parents’ love when they don’t have a lot of time spent together? RMB 120. 10-10.45am. Holiday Classic Theater Hall 假日经典小剧场, 64 Dongan Gate Street, Wangfujing, 东安门大街64号中国儿童剧场4层 (Purchase Tickets Here)

Cinderella, August 6^–7
Ages 2-10. This performance “Cinderella” is brought by the Romanian Children Opera House and will be wonderfully depicted by real people with its director Corina Dumidisko at China Children’s Theater (CCAT), Beijing. Cinderella’s plot will remain unchanged. RMB 180-500. On August 6, there are two performances at 3pm and 7.15pm, and on August 7 the performance is at 3pm. China Children’s Theater 中国儿童剧场, 64 Donganmen Street, Dongcheng District, 东城东安门大街64号(6466 9968 or Buy Tickets Here)

Looking For Hailibu, August 6^-7
Ages 3+. Looking for Hailibu is a performance that is based on a Mongolian traditional legend about a hero called Hailibu. The story started with Hailibu saving the dragon king’s daughter. In order to express his gratitude to Hailibu, the king awarded him a dragon pearl that can help him understand what all kinds of animals are saying. Read more about the story here. RMB 100-480. 7.30pm. Jingyan Minzu Wenhuagong Theater, 49 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District 西城复兴门内大街49号 (6466 9968 or Buy Tickets Here)

Photos: Courtesy of Cirkopolis, Hi, Beijing, and Swiss Tastes

Beijing’s very own healthy foods community organization, Farm to Neighbors, convened its first Jamie Oliver Food Revolution event last week.  If you recall, beijingkids attended the Farm to Neighbors Call to Action meeting on May 19^th, the official Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Day.  We wrote about the volunteers’ brainstorming session led by Farm to Neighbors, as each attempted to envision how they could educate the local Beijing community.

So what is Farm to Neighbors’ led Food Revolution aiming to educate us on?  Exactly what they have always been teaching us about:

• Food education (especially on nutrition and healthy eating)
• Where our food comes from (how it’s produced)
• How the “public health crisis” (of growing percentages of obesity in younger and younger children, along with other food related illnesses), is not just a Western concept. Most importantly, how eating right can prevent the onslaught of obesity and various related conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease (the number one killer in developed countries).

Specifically, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (JOFR) is a public call to action, encouraging everyone to petition schools on changing food policies in cafeterias (school lunches), etc.  However, Erica Huang, founder of Farm to Neighbors, emphasizes that the local version of JOFR is not a public call to action, for obvious reasons. Instead, the goals of the entirely volunteer-based movement are to educate the Beijing Chinese and international community on the fundamental points of JOFR.

The first Food Revolution event of the series took place on Sunday, June 19^th, a month after the initial planning meeting. It was hosted by Farm to Neighbors and the Beijing Mindfulness Centre (BMC) at the YOGASUMMIT (at the Grand Summit, above the regular Farm to Neighbors market).  The bilingual workshops were on Mindful Eating Practices, with a kids’ session (ages 6-14) and an adult session, lasting two hours in total.

The goal of the children’s workshop was to help children experience slowness, learn how to establish a relationship with food, and understand the differences between Hunger, Appetite, and Emotional eating. BMC states that by mastering mindful eating, children will grow up with the long-term benefits of reduced anxiety and depression, as well as a better relationship with parents, teachers, and peers.

The session began with tasting little bits of food very, very slowly. While the kids’ savored their tiny portions of dark chocolate, cucumber, and carrot (all from the Farm to Neighbors market), Dalida Turkovic, founder of BMC, explained the origins of the food they were eating. Using enlarged photos, Turkovic described how the food is grown, processed, and made into what’s on the kids’ plates. Children were surprised to learn that chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are large and grow on trees!

The purpose of the mindful eating practice session is therefore not just to slow down while you eat and really taste what is put in your mouth, but to also observe and think about where one’s food comes from and how it’s made.  By learning such habits, children will eventually be able to make better food choices.

For our readers, Turkovic has a few recommendations on how to inspire mindful eating at home:

1. Establish your own mindful eating practices.
2. Be playful and make it fun!
3. Keep it simple.
4. Avoid a punishment and rewards approach.
5. Let your children know that “emotions are like the weather”. Talk openly about emotions and help them notice that they are constantly changing.

Sound advice, and similar to what a nutritionist recommended to us previously on inspiring healthy eating habits in our children!

The next JOFR meeting in the Farm to Neighbors’ series is titled: The Future of Foodie, and takes place on Friday June 24, from 2:30-4:30pm at The Hatchery. The RMB 20 entrance fee includes a drink from the Hatchery. For more information, follow the Farm to Neighbors WeChat, which now provides news blasts on the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution movement (including a summary of the recent Eat Stockholm Food Forum) and find out more about how Farm to Neighbors can help revolutionize your eating habits!

Photos: courtesy of Farm to Neighbors (WeChat), Jamie Oliver Food Revolution

Christiana Zhu proudly calls herself a ‘Chiwi’ (a kiwi of Chinese ethnicity). A New Zealand expat from Auckland, she was exposed to the Asian market while working in the NZ tourism industry. She moved to China in 2014 to explore the Chinese market, was hired by WildChina for a project and eventually stayed on as head of marketing with WildChina.The move to Beijing hugely impacted her physically; she developed allergies and severe eczema, while her body adjusted to the air quality, different environment, and foods. In an effort to manage her allergies, triggered by severe lactose intolerance amongst other factors, she tried various solutions, and that’s how she discovered coconut milk based yogurt, which has really helped reduce her skin related issues.

“When I realized how beneficial it was, I wanted to share it with friends, in the hope of opening their eyes and minds to new healthy options for people with food allergies, who might have difficulty finding certain foods here in Beijing”, Christiana tells us.

“My friend made coconut yogurt for me and taught me to make it for myself, as it wasn’t available anywhere in China, including Taobao! I started taking it to parties and gatherings. It slowly got popular and then, urged by my supportive friends, I tried selling it at Farms to Neighbors farmers market. I really did not expect it to be such a huge hit. I sold out every single time and started getting WeChat orders for the week”, she adds.

From there, the business developed naturally. There is a huge demand in Beijing for dairy free products, especially yogurts. Expanding to the Hatchery has helped with wider visibility. Since it’s still a part time venture, she continues with her day job and is somehow managing to keep up with this fast growing business as well.

Yeyo is only six months old and very much in its infancy right now. However Christiana is taking it one step at a time and enjoying the steady growth, while entertaining further expansion ideas. “The most challenging part is to find the time and energy to keep it going! Yet, every time I feel tired and get tempted to scale back, I get a message or feedback from some client telling me how much they enjoy my yogurt, how they’ve not had yogurt for years due to allergies and can’t thank me enough for making it available for them.  They send me pictures with their yogurt! That re-energizes me and helps me plow through, to keep going”.

There’s no competition for her in the Beijing area, especially because it’s also unsweetened yogurt, which is hard to find in China. She offers dairy free yogurt, with the consistency of a Greek style yogurt, in three flavors every week. Two are standard, the pure yogurt and yogurt with honey. The third flavor varies every week, with a seasonal fruit compote at the bottom to make it interesting. You can find her yogurts at Farm to Neighbors Farmers Market, at the Hatchery and through WeChat as well. They come in 150ml glass jars for RMB 30, or a pack of four in a cooler bag for RMB 100. You can get a discount for recycling glass jars to reduce wastage. The delivery fee varies based on your location, and the yogurt needs to be delivered to your door within an hour, for it to be fresh. It’s usually around RMB 16 for CBD area and RMB 24 for the hutongs. And that name? It’s simple. Yeyo comes from the Chinese words ‘ye’ for coconut and ‘yo’ for yogurt!

Photo: Courtesy of Christana Zhu, Yeyo Yogurt.