A TRIUMPH IN BEIJING

Beijing, Day 9

What a Triumph!

The House of Switzerland team had their first crucial test today, and they passed it with bravura. We hosted the Grand Final of the Triumph Inspiration Award 2008, which is an international competition for students from design schools to create a two-piece lingerie set if I understood well. The jury for his event featured some famous experts, amongst them designers Viktor & Rolf (still less famous than CK, and that’s me!), top model Helena Christensen and other well-known people from that industry. Hakon had the difficult duty to run the back-stage food supply with his “access-all-areas-batch”, and I guess he has rather sweet dreams tonight (in case he manages to sleep).

Aren't we lucky that it is rather warm here in Beijing?

The organized chaos, part 4:

It is a tough job in the back office!

Don't worry, Mr. Höfling, Fides will not breath in an micro-organisms,

thanks to the Chinese health regulations.

Yes, great, and where the h… are the photos???

Well, the author of these lines spent his day in the kitchen to make sure everything went well (just joking, Chef Mark, the Gamma chefs with the “César Ritz” / IMI team were in full control of the situation, I was probably more standing in their way…). It was quite challenging to be back in this kind of Olympic F&B situation and brought back a lot of good memories of the previous games (I get almost every day mails from the Torino team; they are definitely thinking about us here in Beijing and wish us the best of luck).

So, there are no photos as the pastry kitchen has a bad view on the cat walk, but if you go to the following link you will get an idea what we had to deal with: www.triumph-inspiration-award.com/

Beijing's next top models, dressed in honor of the National Day in the Swiss colors.

Steph and the flower boys:

A tough choice to choose the right decoration.

In the evening I went back to move from one apartment to another one (the third, and hopefully last place I stay here). It was quite an adventure since they had already turned the electricity off in my old apartment, so I packed in the light of a pocket lamp (and the impatient Chinese maintenance guy waiting in front of the door since he wanted the lamp back which was his only one). So here I sit now, after I found the fuse box in the darkness of my new apartment, in a 28° Celsius hot place at 01h00 AM and hope to access a free network later as the one here does not work yet (tomorrow, I was told). CK

Verena decided to quit drinking after the Olympics,

but until then...

New water-saving measures for the dish washing area have been put in place!

And, by the way, Julian greets his dentist (isn't there a cavity in the B14 top left?)

Stocktaking at the end of a big day:

Emily takes well care of our business!

BEIJING, LOST & FOUND

Beijing, Day 8

Beijing is wonderful, and almost every day the author of these lines stands, surprised and amazed, and wonders why at home things do not function the same, harmonious way as here. Lately I came across the brochure of the “Lost and Found Center of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau”, which was established November 1956. I quote: “Since its foundation it has been following the principle of serving the people wholeheartedly and by receiving people to report losses warmly, safekeeping found property carefully, and saving no efforts to search for owners thoroughly…”. That’s what I call service! At home we don’t even know where to go, if we call that office we get probably an answering machine, and nobody would return something lost anyway. Therefore I decided to loose my backpack today, simply since I believe that we both deserve to experience these great services.

Are you sure about loosing your backpack on purpose?
Jonathan seems surprised about my intentions.

Too many cooks spoil the broth?
Not at the House of Switzerland!

Today the first team members started at 06h30! You can feel the excitement of the opening coming closer, and I guess everybody is looking forward to it after the days of preparation and planning. In the afternoon I left the House of Switzerland to meet Dominic Desouza who works as Assistant Director of Rooms at the Westin Financial Street. It was great to catch up after many years, and I must admit that I was a bit jealous to hear that Dominic had worked during the last years in a few of my favorite places on our planet, such as San Francisco and Bora Bora.

Break time!
The girls from Triumph get some fresh air, while the local boys admire the view.

Dominic and his hotel.
(I'll sell that photo to Michele for the next issue of "Connection".
After two weeks at the local markets I learned how to get a good price).

The “piazza”was very much in the focus of the male population of the HoS. Everybody was there except me, as I spent most of the day visiting our alumni, which I think was quite “heroic” considering the fact that the Triumph team was practicing for tomorrow’s fashion show (Trude, you can be proud of me!). So I even missed the “Finale Grandioso” of the show, as I went to visit Roger Leung in his newly opened property, the Comfort Suites in the Chao Yang District, which will host some of the VIP visitors of the Olympics during the next weeks. I had a very enjoyable and interesting evening, discussing all aspects of our industry with Roger who has many years of experience, and still remembers how to prepare “Crêpes Suzette" as if he would have left the "César Ritz" Dining Room yesterday. CK

Stop screaming, Matthew! Only 25 days left!
(The dumpling team, from the left: Ian, Cathy, Matthew)

Push and twist rapidly!
(Special effects with a cheap camera)...

So I even missed the “Finale Grandioso” of the Triumph show, as I went to visit Roger Leung in his newly opened property, the Comfort Suites in the Chao Yang District, which will host some of the VIP visitors of the Olympics during the next weeks. I had a very enjoyable and interesting evening, discussing all aspects of our industry with Roger who has many years of experience, and still remembers how to prepare “Crêpes Suzette" as if he would have left the "César Ritz" Dining Room yesterday. CK

Roger Leung, GM of Comfort Suites by Choice Hotels,
and the author of these lines.

A RAINY DAY IN BEIJING !!!

Beijing, Day 7

YES! You won’t believe it! Today, at 10h34 local time, the first raindrops fell and washed away the heat, the smog, the dust, …(and probably a lot of other things as well). And all that thanks to the author of these lines' rain dance, which worked even without the neighbors???

We're swimming in the rain...(after the dance).

With all that fresh air the HoS team worked on full speed, getting ready for the approaching events (Triumph fashion show and Swiss National Day) as well as tonight’s food tasting. Hanlin and the stewarding team were facing a mixture of water shortages and floods, resulting in piles of dirty pots, trays, plates, but also in a rather furious Marco.

Busy chefs at the HoS.

A happy face. Hanlin is back at the HoS!

Since my plumbing skills are rather limited (the skills of the local professionals as well, it seems…). I took the opportunity of clean air and blue sky to visit the Olympic Park with the “Bird’s Nest”, the National Aquatic Centre, and finally Pangu Plaza where Kitty and Jason just survived yesterday’s hotel opening, after months of preparations. What a challenge in Beijing’s 7 (seven) star hotel.

Kitty, the author, and Jason high above Beijing.

I'm proud to meet my alumni!

A perfect view on a perfectly clear day, taken from Kitty's Happiness Lounge.

The Aquatic Centre in front of the Bird's Nest.

Back at the house the catwalk was fully lit for the rehearsal of Triumph’s light & sound team, and there he was: Shuimiao, my brave trainee of Bouveret’s Cesar Lounge, who is about to finish his management training with the Grand Hyatt in Beijing. Just in time for the food presentation and tasting. The chefs under Mark’s expert guidance did a great job, and largely deserved the compliments from the organizers.

Wanna be my bodyguards?

Shuimiao feels like in Brig, with big rocks on every side.

What is he doing? Chefs Mark (left) and Arni (other side).

Some tasty sample of things to come.

Where are the "Brätchügeli"?

The boss questions Chefs Mark and Hakon.

The evening finished with an excellent meal at “South Beauty” (thanks, Miao!), and finally a nightcap at “Touch”, everybody’s favorite late night lounge. CK

Speeding in Beijing? Parking on the walkway?

Passing a red traffic light?

No problem here in Beijing! The handcuffs come with a big smile:-)

THUNDERBOLT & LIGHTNING!

Beijing, Day 7

Thanks to Ute our medical supplies have been re-stocked, and the mosquitoes will flee the HoS.

The author of these lines realized that after one week in Beijing he started to adapt a new morning ritual: the first look, eyes half open, goes full of hope direction window, but every day there are less buildings around me.

I already thought about gathering the neighbors of the 763 other apartments in the compound, and perform a classical rain dance. Instructions can be found on Wikipedia:

Work in two lines, about 4 feet apart, all women in one line, all men in the other.

The main step is alike for both men and women, though a little more vigorously done by the men: Step left foot, step right a little higher, progressing a few inches forward.

Do not work in a circle; but in each of the three figures, progress along two sides of the quadrangle of the pueblo (I guess in a case of emergency or for the Olympics a 23 floor high riser can count exceptionally for a pueblo).

(a) Men and women all facing right, to one singing of the song

(b) Continue the step in same rhythm for 8 double steps, but without music

(c) Then the women start the song again, while the men yelp in time (2 yelps to the measure)

(d) All continue the song to the end.

That sounds quite easy! I will ask Emily and Cathy to translate that into Chinese, and if tomorrow Beijing will be flooded you know why. Please watch CNN for breaking news!

The orginaized chaos, 4:
No, this is not some weird art stuff in our neighborhood.
That's real!

The Team Quarters:
Hakon, reading. Verena, thinking. Laundry, drying!

After a brief visit to the HoS which is still full of feverish activities in order to get ready for the first major event on Thursday, the author took Fides and Hakon, who were off today, for a walk through the Hutongs, the small traditional alleys of Beijing. We dived into the these narrow streets like into another, quite past world, visited the Lama temple to make sure that the HoS gets also full support from that side, before a phone call from Mr. Gutzwiller brought me back into reality (Cosmos? Chaos? We have that here, too). We ended up by pure coincidence in the Houhai Lake area, and had a cup of tea before heading back home.

That's why China will win at least 86 gold medals:
At every street corner is a public fitness palace,
here tested by Fides and Hakon.

Hidden beauty in the Hutongs.

In the evening Stephanie and the author went for dinner with Katharina Rutz, who works already for over 3 years for the Kempinski Lufthansa Centre in Beijing. After publishing a book titled “Ein Jahr in Peking” (“One year in Beijing”, at Herder) in springtime, Katharina is now coordinating with the German House at the Olympics which is situated in her hotel. The evening went by fast, exchanging news from the last years, and reminiscing about the good old times in Switzerland. CK

Long time not seen: Steph and Katharina.

Checking on the competition:
Welcome to he German house, but only if you are an athlete, VIP, sponsor, or from the press!

Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News! Breaking News!

My rain dance works even without the neighbors: it is 2am Beijing time,

and the sky outside is filled with thunder and lightning, and ... rain...???

ANOTHER FOGGY DAY IN BEIJING

Beijing, Day 6

Incredible!
The first fans decided to sleep in the entrance to make
sure they do not miss the opening of the HoS!

Sunday. Lazy Day? Of course not! After starting the day with a cold shower I met Roger Leung , a “César Ritz” graduate from 1988 who is about to open the "Beijing Comfort Suites" as GM for Crestwood Hotels International (regards to Mr. Kisseleff !!!). On the way to visit his hotel the car broke down (what a shame for me as ex-Bavarian, it is a BMW!), and due to the traffic restrictions the emergency car of his garage was not allowed to drive today as they have an even number plate, and today is an odd day. That’s a bit odd!

"Another brick in the wall?"
Cathy (in pink with peace sign) was leading the team on that sightseeing tour.

The Fog, part 2:
The "Birds Nest" has at the moment probably ideal breeding temperatures, but ...
how would mama bird find back to baby bird in these conditions?

Back at the house the kitchen was busy doing mise en place for the upcoming events, the "big boys" (Manuel & Julian) cleared the artwork from the fridges (see photo!), while all the newly arrived team members were busy discovering the heat of Beijing. The author of these lines took a walk through the neighborhood to place the HoS leaflets at the surrounding art galleries (“You like chocolate? I give you a good price!”). We have some really interesting and surprising things going on there, and everybody who will visit us here should take some time and visit these local art treasures.

Art in the Back Office, or:
We at the HoS have the coldest San Pellegrino in town.

Unacceptable!
Frank was late for the second time this morning, so he got punished.
Don't mess with Filippa...

Unfortunately the pollution is still quite high, and you do not really feel like walking in the 38° Celsius fog too long. Therefore we stayed close to the team’s accommodation, and had a Japanese “all-you-can-eat” buffet dinner including sushi, sashimi, …(yes, the boys loved it!). For 20.- SFR per person we had our most expensive meal so far! While the youth gathered for one or two or many more drinks, the author went home to update the world. CK

PS: For German speakers: Luca from GammaCatering has a blog under: www.gianlucatribo.ch/blog/

or, if you access from here in China:
www.awebproxy.info/index.php?q=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5naWFubHVjYXRyaWJvLmNoL2Jsb2cv
For more info, pics, etc. you can also go to www.houseofswitzerland.org

Our friendly neighbors at the art zone, part 3.

A HOT DAY IN BEIJING

Beijing, Day 5

While the mixed “César Ritz" – IMI”team visited the Great Wall, the author of these lines started the morning in his apartment with a cold shower. The hotel room I stayed in until yesterday featured a tropical rain-forest shower, while our apartment comes with an exclusive Siberian waterfall shower. At least I was quickly awake and ready to face my registration which took 1,5 hours at the residence agency, and another 1,5 hours at the police station. But now I’m a real Beijinger!

For tough meat and vegetables we have a beauty salon in our area

(kidneys and other parts are also on the menu).

After the registration marathon I was picked up by the team in their rented bus, and

we went to visit the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City which was quite a challenge in the current climate. We left several liters of sweat behind us before the bus took us to the famous silk market. In that local version of Manor you get a Rolex for 15,50 SFR (“my best price for you”), the latest iPhone for 80.- SFR (“including international warranty”) and ties made in Italy (“Guzzi, very beautiful, pure silk”) if you are a tough negotiator.

M&Ms !!! (Manuel and Mao, starting from the right)

Clockwise from the top: The Imperial Lion, Julian, Manuel, Cathy, the Author, Hakon, Fides

(the time it took to pose for this picture amounts to app. 4,5 dl of perspiration)

In the evening we found the newly arrived members of the “César Ritz” team which will then be complete with the arrival of Hanlin tomorrow. Following a shower (the Siberian version was not that bad tonight) ,we went all for a typical local dinner (I quote: “the chicken brain tastes like “Leberwurst”, but it is a bit smeary”), and after a long and hot day everybody was glad to make it back to the apartments for a well deserved rest , and I look forward to that one, too, as we approach the 02h00 am. CK

Welcome to Beijing, Sebastian, Ute, Verena, Steffi and Ian!

We were all waiting for you, espicially the guys in the dish washing area!

A SUNNY DAY IN BEIJING?

Beijing, Day 4

Today the author of these lines spent most of his day moving from the hotel to a temporary apartment, meaning that there is one more move coming up, meaning that all the nicely ironed and folded clothes will undergo another packing and unpacking procedure (Trude, where are you???).

Benjamin, my flatmate from PresenceSuisse, just before our

fatal error.

My new location is quite close to the HoS, actually it looks that close on a map that Benjamin and myself thought it would be in walking distance. It actually was, but after 25 minutes in the local climate I looked like it was raining, and not 35° Celsius and “sunny”.

If you blow the picture up to the size of your screen you might

discover above the cranes a small, light dot. That is the sun.

Edwin Rudolf from Luzern Tourism, Olivier Roos from the Swiss Embassy,

and the author after the fatal error.

Tomorrow all team members who arrived with the first batch will be off, while the rest of the team is actually in the air at this moment, fresh and ready to join the workforce here which suffered already some minor injuries. But thanks to the modern communication devices, and our flexible team members back home we will get various creams, Antibrumm mosquito repellent, Fenistil in case Antibrumm does not work, Compeed anti blister treatments,…

Our motto, found somewhere in the streets of Beijing ?

(I hope the part which I cannot read contains no obscenities)

The House of Switzerland hosted the first bigger event which was held for all employees of the Swiss embassy and their families. Kitchen and service got a lot of compliments, and I must say: They deserve them as everything is well done!

The Swiss embassy enjoys the party.

A FOGGY DAY IN BEIJING

Beijing, Day 3

(One week to go before the House of Switzerland Beijing 2008 officially opens its doors)

Incredible!

The first guest (he preferred to stay anonymous) is already waiting in the doorway…

The author of the lines’ day started with a visit of the Westin Beijing Chaoyang to meet Dan Aylmer, the hotel's general manager, César Ritz alumnus and one of my first (and best) students when I started to work in Le Bouveret, many years ago (I will not give any precise numbers as we both look much younger than our age). And, what a surprise, I also met the Rooms Division Management Trainee, Zachary Fournier, who is a real Valaisan and looks very familiar to someone I know back home…

From left to right: Zachary Fournier, the author of these lines, Daniel Aylmer

(no, the GM does not have long green hair, there is an ornamental plant in the background!)

Back at the HoS everybody was busy, Stephanie with the planning of future events, Hakon and Fides in the kitchen, Emily and Cathy doing mise en place for the restaurant, Manuel and Julian melting in the steam bath (also called dishwashing area).

The organized chaos, 3:

Steph and Filippa, the event manager for GammaCatering, have full control.

Happy chefs cook good food: Fides and Hakon.

Were the napkins really donated by the Red Cross?

Julian is practicing the Swiss National Anthem, hoping to get promoted to the main stage on the 1st of August.

In the afternoon I finally met my room mate from the HoS Torino 2006 in Sestriere (and director of the House of Switzerland in Beijing), Manuel Salchli from PresenceSuisse who arrived yesterday. It is fantastic to have him around again, and over a coffee we exchanged with Hakon a lot of great memories from the good old days in the Italian alps.

Good to see you !!!

Mr. Manuel Salchli, followed by his bodyguards.

At the end of the evening Tom and Tach Alkhalloufi ,who were my students and later my trainees in the F&B department at the Institut Hôtelier “César Ritz”, came to visit us at the HoS . After a visit of the facilities we spontaneously decided to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant (there is quite a large choice here in Beijing), before the author of these lines went back to the hotel to continue working on our Olympic blog. CK

From left to right: Chen, Tom's wife, Tom, the author, and Tach

(the bottle of Fendant is hidden under the table).