The Golden Jaguar

Last night I had Chinese class from 5:30 to 7:30. Usually, because of time constraints, I am famished by the time class is over. Last night was no exception. After class Bryne and I went to a fancy-pants shopping area near the World Trade Center where are class meets. In this shopping area they have many nice restaurants and shops. This area is designed to appeal to the new rich who are moving into this rapidly developing area of Beijing. After a touch of shopping (I purchased fancy-pants) we pursued nourishment. On the way into the shopping center I noticed a sign on the 5th floor that advertised for The Golden Jaguar: The Best Buffet. I suggested we try it despite the fact that so many times in China products have failed to live up to their grandiose billing (the same everywhere I guess). We had no idea how spot on the sign was.

We went to the elevators that lead up to the 5th floor and found nothing but empty shop fronts around us. It seemed we were in the wrong place initially but then we saw a man in white gloves standing alone in between the forgotten shops we knew we were in the right place. We asked about the Jaguar and he escorted us to the elevator. As the doors opened we were greeted by a row of Chinese women and they ushered us through the double doors and into our dreams. This was the holy land of food. When I go back again, and I will, I'll take pictures to post here. It is a wonderfully ornate, incredibly expansive restaurant. As soon as we walked in we began to wonder about the price of this gastronomic experience. 180 kwai. It seemed slightly expensive for a buffet but there was no way we could say no at this point. A feeling of great excitement and anticipation fell over me as I witnessed giant piles of crab legs, cooked to order steaks, and oysters Rockefeller on the tables of other patrons.

This meal ranks as 1A behind the New Years meal I had in Hong Kong with Garry, DeDe and Co. in 1997. That meal was memorable for two reasons; One, it was a fat spread in a swanky hotel in Hong Kong on New Years. The second reason is that I cried at that meal. I was like that freaky kid from American Beauty. He looks at the plastic bag floating in the wind and says, "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." We all find beauty in different, seemingly ordinary, objects. His was a plastic bag, mine is food. This meal too was worthy of a good cry but I am much more experienced in food and life. A lesser man would have been bawling like a baby.

There were TWELVE stations for food that covered 20,000 sq. feet. Again, 20,000 sq. feet. There was even a live band playing in the middle of the restaurant who were complimented with a full light and laser show.

The food types are as follows:
Korean, Thai, Japanese, Taiwanese, European, Indian, Dim-Sum, Seafood, BBQ, cooked to order meats, dessert, and drinks.

One thing I have held off on mentioning until now for fear of blowing your minds too early, is that beer, wine, and an assortment of mixed drinks are included in the price. Each area had a team of five chefs working to make small portions so that every allotment of food was guaranteed to be fresh. I know it would seem that maybe the food wouldn't be that good in this supermarket of food. Let me assure you, they are Jack of all trades and masters of all.

What was intended to be a quick meal, in order to catch the subway home, ended up being a three hour feast.

P.S.- Two words: Chocolate Fountain