Monthly Archive for January, 2010

Live Music: “Da Bi Zi (大鼻子)” – French hiphop/jazz fusion with Chinese characteristics!

Published on January 28, 2010 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Dabizi 大鼻子 Live at GinkgoNext Performance: 10:30pm Friday 29th January (Free B4 9:30pm / 20 RMB after)

Da Bi Zi (大鼻子) are a French hip hop outfit based in Beijing, who perform hiphop and jazz acoustic songs with a Chinese twist incorporating many traditional Chinese instruments.  They also bring to the stage outlandish costumes, theatrical performances and a unique style that always impresses.

The Band is composed of 6 members, a bassist form France, guitarist from China, an Erhu (二胡) performer from Taiwan (she also sings Jazz tracks), a Yangqin (扬琴) player from China, a DJ from the USA, and an MC from France. This original mix of classic instruments (Guitar/Bass) and Chinese traditional ones (Erhu/Yangqin) creates a really different Hip Hop/Jazz sound. Combine that with a beautiful Taiwanese voice, and a crazy French MC who uses 3 languages (English, Chinese and French) and you have the makings for a great evening of live music.

Here is a music video from their online hit “Pekin” in French (with English subitles):

Use a Flash Player to play Video from TUDOU – http://sites.google.com/site/annuairevin/flash-reader

New Bar Food – Delicious Tapas Selection

Published on January 22, 2010 in Food. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Our new chef Robin has been hard at work in the kitchen over the last couple of weeks creating great new dishes for Ginkgo. We are pleased to announce that we have just added a selection of delicious tapas to our bar menu. Here’s what’s new:

Ginkgo Bar Tapas - Baby Clams 'A La Plancha'

Baby Clams 'A La Plancha'

TAPAS 塔帕斯

Available daily till 11pm. 到晚上11点

A La Plancha
 铁板烧烤
Grilled on the hot plate. Choose from: 可供选择：

(a) Calamari 鱿鱼 ………………………………. 28
(b) Baby Clams 蛤 …………………………….. 24
(c) Garlic Mushrooms 大蒜蘑菇 ……………. 18

Pastis Flambéed Prawns …………………… 36
力加酒烧鲜虾
Fresh prawns flambeed in Pastis.

Calamari 'A La Plancha'

Calamari 'A La Plancha'

Grilled Mussells with Aioli ………………… 20
烤海虹配酸蛋黄酱
Grilled mussells with breadcrumbs, garlic and aioli (garlic mayonnaise).

Ginkgo Chef’s Pate …………………………… 22
法国小吃猪肝泥
Homemade pork liver pate prepared by our chef Robin. Served with bread and butter.

Marinated Spanish Olives …………………… 16
美味橄榄
Delicious Spanish Olives marinated in-house to our special recipe.

Ginkgo Bar Tapas - Pastis Flambeed Shrimp

Pastis Flambeed Shrimp

Fried Chorizo Sausage ……………………..…. 28
炒西班牙腊肠
Sliced spicy Spanish Chorizo sausage lightly fried on the grill.

Pan con Tomate
西红柿面包配大蒜
Toasted baguette brushed with garlic and tomato and your choice of toppings:
可供选择：

(a) Grilled Vegetables 烤蔬菜 ………………… 22
(b) Anchovies 凤尾鱼 ……………………………. 26
(c) Spanish Ham 西班牙火腿 ………………….. 28
(d) Air-Dried Beef 牛肉干 …………………….. 28
(e) Bega Cheese 澳大利亚奶酪 ………………… 24

Ginkgo Bar Tapas - Grilled Mussells with Aioli

Grilled Mussells with Aioli


This is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, Robin will be revamping our restaurant menu, tweaking old favorites, as well as creating a range of delicious new dishes. We also plan to begin offering breakfast/brunch items in the coming month, as well as starting home/office delivery for those of you in the area who want to eat our food at home. Exciting things are happening in the Ginkgo kitchen. Stay tuned for more updates…

In search of of the perfect Pork Scratching!

Published on January 18, 2010 in Food. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Pork Scratchings at Ginkgo
Popular as a bar snack in pubs across the UK, Pork Scratchings are salted, slow roasted pieces of pig skin. While this may not sound like a particularly appetising snack, rest assured that the finished result is incredibly moreish, and goes almost perfectly with a cold beer.

Over the past few weeks, we have been perfecting our recipe here at Ginkgo, and are pleased to announce that after a bit of experimenting we have finally crack(l)ed it! In the US they are known as Pork Crackling, Australia and New Zealand as Pork Crackle, France as Grattons and in the Netherlands as Knabbelspek however here at Ginkgo, thanks to my stubborn Britishness, we will be referring to them by their British name of Pork Scratchings. Be sure to try a bowl for 5 RMB next time you are in the bar.

P.S. Not suitable for vegetarians, health nuts, cardiac patients, gluttons and the squeamish.

Live Music: “Thunder Ghost” – Trans-Pacific Reggae mash-up supported by Meiwenti Soundsystem DJs

Published on January 15, 2010 in Events, Music and Party. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Thunder Ghost - Live at Ginkgo
Join us this Saturday from 10:30pm for a night of great live reggae from Andrew Murgatoyd and his band Thunder Ghost.

Lei Gui “Thunder Ghost” is the Chinese word for Reggae translated back into English. This Trans-Pacific reggae mash-up blends the Island style reggae of Canada’s West Coast with East coast Newfoundland-sound all tossed into in a martini shaker with the best horns and drums Beijing has to offer.

Mix that up with the notorious MeiWenti SoundSystem DJ set featuring Thunder Ghost and other live MC’s spitting hot fire on top of roots, dancehall, and dubstep and you’ll be sure to shake your ass until dawn. There are certain to be a few surprise guest musicians as well.

This will be the last party before lead singer Andrew leaves Beijing. Don’t miss them this Saturday night. Free before 9:30pm. 20 RMB after.

Live Music: “The Discounts” – Awesome fusion of reggae, funk and hiphop!

Published on December 9, 2009 in Events, Music and Party. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

The Discounts - Live at Ginkgo
Final Performance: Friday 19 February 2010 10:30pm (Free before 9:30pm. 30RMB with a free drink after.)

Canadian recording artist Neil Conway has been in Beijing for last few months and anyone who caught his previous shows has been suitably impressed. Teamed up with the cream of local musical talent, he has brought his trademark fusion of hip-hop, reggae and funk to Beijing. He will be live at Ginkgo again this Friday and he puts on a great show.

“fiercely talented” -Kerri Breen, The Scope, 2008

“The cramped, narrow bar is churning with bodies dancing, stamping and, I think, even pirouetting. Or maybe it’s merely the earth tilting an extra beat to the funk-reggae party sounds of The Discounts.” -Christopher Frey, Up! Magazine, 2008

“Live, the band combines a great deal of positive energy with extremely solid and creative musicianship that will make you dance and intelligent lyrics to make you think.” -Devon Strang, House of Rock, (drummer for Tom Fun and Slowcoaster), 2002

“a real knife edge of sheer experimental exuberance.” -Mark Vaughan-Jackson, The Telegram, 2001

The Discounts MySpace page is here. Visit Neil’s personal website and myspace to.

Live Music: “James Brodie” – Mad Scotsman performing hilarious and spontaneous schizo-folk!

Published on December 9, 2009 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

James Brodie - Live at Ginkgo

Next Performance: Thursday 1st April 2009 – 9:30pm (Free Entry)

Scotsman, James Brodie, writes comedic schizo-folk songs drawn from his time living as an expat in China. Brodie is a madman on a soapbox whose songs string together truths as they come to him, singing in Chinese, French, English, and Chinglish. His wild performing style and hilarious lyrics always have the audience in stitches.

Live Music: “Jordan Thomas Mitchell” – American singer songwriter

Published on October 16, 2009 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Jordan Mitchell - Live at Ginkgo

Next Performance: Thursday 24th December 2009 – 9:30pm (Performing Christmas Songs! – Free Entry)
Following Performance: Thursday 7th January 2010 – 9:30pm (Free Entry)

Hailing from Orlando, FL, Beijing newcomer Jordan Mitchell is a talented guitarist singer songwriter who will be live at Ginkgo to perform his own compositions and spirited reworkings of old favourites.

Check out his website here: www.jordanmitchellmusic.com

His MySpace page is here: www.myspace.com/jordanmitchellmusic

He also works as a freelance photographer. Website here: www.jordanthomasmitchell.com

Live Music: “Skunky Monks” – Beijing’s stankiest funk players!

Published on October 15, 2009 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Skunky Monks

Next Performance: Saturday 23rd January 2010 – 10:30pm (Free Entry)

Make it Funky, you Skunky Monkey! The Skunky Monks bring that nasty funk to Gingko, and jazz and blues get down and dirty with rollicking good tunes to dance and drink to! With Adam Kielman on tenor saxophone and band of Beijing’s stankiest players, it’s gonna be smelly! Free B4 9:30pm. 20 RMB after.

Live Music: “Daisy Sweetgrass” – Siren and songwriter performing American Roots music

Published on July 7, 2009 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Daisy Sweetgrass
Next Performance: Thursday 26th February 2010 – 9:30pm (Free Entry)

Daisy Sweetgrass (a.k.a Christine Laskowski) is the result of an affair between the wife of Presbyterian minister and a door-to-door flower seed salesman on a steamy August afternoon in 1984. Her mother Evangeline told her that he had a passion for 7th century Persian poetry, smelled of pine trees and damp wool, and had given her a packet of daisy seeds as a parting gift. As per the origins of Daisy’s musical talent, Evangeline could only tell her that he had a very pleasant hum.

But that was many years ago.

These days Daisy’s in Beijing. She’s playing guitar and singing American roots music- from traditional bluegrass ballads to Swahili folk songs, as well as songs of her own. With her infectious energy, sparkle in her eye, and a voice that’ll make you swoon, Daisy Sweetgrass puts on a show well worth watching.

You can listen to some of her songs here:

Daisy Sweetgrass – “Never Lonelier”
Daisy Sweetgrass – “Hutong Girl”
Daisy Sweetgrass – “Jolene” by Dolly Parton

You can also see her website here: www.daisysweetgrass.com

Daisy Sweetgrass是1984年8月某一盛夏午后一位长老教会牧师的妻子和一位走街串巷的推售员之间一段风流韵事的结晶。她的妈妈 Evangeline告诉她那个男人狂热于7世纪的波斯诗歌，身上充满了松树和湿羊绒的香味，并在离别之际将一包菊籽赠与她的妈妈作为礼物。至于Daisy音乐天赋是否传承自那个男人， Evangeline 只是告诉Daisy他的低声轻吟令人沉醉。

不过，那已是很久以前的事情了。

现在，Daisy身在北京。她弹奏吉他，吟唱着美国传统的歌谣—-从传统蓝草音乐到斯瓦希里民谣，还有她自己创作的歌曲。Daisy Sweetgrass拥有非凡的感染力，明亮清澈的眼神和令人陶醉的嗓音，她的演出不容错过。

Live Music “Philip Spencer” – Dylan-esque poet and storyteller singer songwriter

Published on March 30, 2009 in Events and Music. Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Philip Spencer

Next Performance: Thursday 28th November 2009 – 9:30pm (Free Entry.)

Many people know Phillip Spencer the owner of the Nan Luo Gu Xiang restaurant, Luo Gu. What many people don’t know is that he also has a secret sideline playing the guitar! Philip plays great covers of classic songs from Bob Dylan to Leonard Cohen, as well as his own haunting Dylan-esque compositions with storyteller lyrics. From time to time he can be found gracing our stage when we can pull him away from his restaurant!

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