Living in the ‘jing is an incredible experience. This is a town where we can immerse ourselves in the local culture and explore the diversity of the world’s people without ever leaving the 5th ring road. It’s cosmopolitan but accessible. And without a doubt, one of the most accessible ways to do that is through food. Beijing has established itself as a foodie capital and a strong community has built up around the F&B industry. One of the cornerstones of that community is the annual Chifan For Charity event or CFFC.
This yearly extravaganza brings together both patrons and owners for an epic night of overindulgence all to benefit a local charity.
If you’re new to this event here’s how it works: 62 amazing local restaurants like Hulu, Nuo, and Toast, offer a single 10-person table with a special gourmet meal the night of the event. Groups of friends buy out the table at a per head rate and start the evening with a special chef’s menu. Board member and admin for the Foodies in Beijing WeChat group Ana Lourenco explains, “The owners and Chefs go all out to make it really special, it’s over the top!” Then the stuffed epicureans make their way to the after-party at the Grand Hyatt where dancing, drinking, lucky draws, and silent auctions raise even more funds.
Preston Thomas began as a table host but now serves as president of the board and he tells me it’s unlike any other charity event in Beijing. “We party harder. We aren’t a stiff overly formal ball, this is about getting your friends together and actually having fun. Everyone is equal no matter what table you went to. It’s about coming together for a good cause and having fun doing it.”
This year’s event will be on Nov 6 and will benefit Dandelion School. Dandelion is the only middle school for migrant children in Beijing, offering both educational and financial support to students who too often fall through the cracks of society. 12 charities were considered this year and local foodies voted to narrow the field to three, each of whom presented their program to the board of directors.
As Thomas explains, “In the end, we chose the charity that we felt would have the biggest impact and do the most good for the betterment of China. Education is so important and we wanted to help in providing opportunities for the advancement of underprivileged children.”
This will be the third time that Dandelion School has been a recipient. In fact, one of their dormitories was built with funds raised through CFFC and bears its name. CFFC Executive Director MJ Wang says that “With this year’s funds, we are able to help seven to 10 students cover all their expenses for the school year.”
Wang has been organizing the event since 2011 and proudly lets everyone know they never cancel. Even in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, they still threw “the best and the only party in that challenging year,” adding, “One week before and one week after our event, all of the large events were forbidden!” According to Thomas, this year promises to be no different. “It will be legendary, we don’t stop the party until they throw us out.”
Unfortunately, tables are sold out for the pre-party dinner but you can still join in the fun and support Dandelion by volunteering at the after-party and buying raffle tickets. “This year we have some big-ticket items from TRB, hotel staycations, and much, much, much more!”
For more information on how you can get involved scan the QRcode or email chifanforcharity@outlook.com
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Images: CFFC
