New Year's Eve Event

Thanks to the generosity of The Beijinger and the St. Regis, I attended the New Year's Eve Dinner with a friend. There were many, many positives. Decor was classic upscale hotel--shiny cream marble, towering flower arrangements, proper place settings. Service was excellent--staff were cheerful and discreet, which is hard to find in Beijing. When I asked about specific ingredients, they were knowledgeable, and didn't wave away questions. The open bar made excellent mojitos, and who doesn't love free-flow Veuve Cliquot? Dishes included beef carpaccio and arugula, tuna tartare, goose pate, chilled lobster, smoked salmon, gravlax, roast turkey and trimmings, mashed potatoes, and a huge dessert station. The roast turkey in particular was moist and expertly cooked, and much better than the rendition I had at a Thanksgiving buffet. Live music played throughout the night, confetti was strewn at midnight, and beautiful Venetian masks were given as party favors.

So, what went wrong? I had a single cocktail shrimp that tasted funky. Instead of spitting it out like a sane person, I swallowed. The smoked salmon may also have been suspect. I ended up throwing up five times over the course of the night...For a hotel of this caliber, the seafood should have been above reproach. My friend didn't eat shrimp, and was perfectly fine, so I probably just lucked out! If you're extra careful about the cold dishes, everything else was great.