Suit Geek Dinner | Grand Hotel de Pekin
As part of our 10 year anniversary celebrations, we planned another ‘Suit Geek Dinner,’ this time at an iconic and historical site, The Beijing Hotel. We invited a few friends and asked them to ‘dress formal’ but left the interpretation up to them.
In June, PRINCIPLE M gathered with several old Suit Geek friends at the Beijing Nuo Hotel to share the delights of Chinese-grown wines and savor an unforgettable evening. Adjacent to the former imperial palace, the Forbidden City, the Nuo Hotel boasts a history spanning over a century. Since the early 20th century, this hotel has been a place of socializing and relaxation for numerous celebrities and dignitaries, including figures like Sun Yat-sen, Zhang Xueliang, Richard Nixon, Charles de Gaulle, Bernard Montgomery, George Bernard Shaw, and Henry Kissinger. It has also borne witnesses to many significant historical events, tightly intertwined with the political and historical developments of Beijing and China.
Stepping into the hotel, we were captivated by the fusion of Eastern and Western styles typical of the Republican era. From the French-inspired high walls to the spacious marble staircases, from the well-preserved dance floor that still radiates the glamour of the 1920s to the rooms and suites named after historical figures who once stayed there, everything exuded a unique atmosphere. It felt as if we had traveled through space, strolling into a time capsule of a bygone era, witnessing the elegant and witty gentlemen from a century ago engaged in lively conversations, laughter, and graceful demeanor. Each Suit Geek was dressed in classic attire, ranging from suits, waistcoats to full on tuxedos, perfectly complementing the ambiance of this historic venue.
The theme of this evening was "Chinese Wine Dinner In A Historic Site". Therefore, we felt so fortunate to have EMW Fine Wines to provide us with a meticulously selected wine list that consists eight fine wines from domestic wineries. Mr. Adriano, the brand manager and a valued guest of PRINCIPLE M, also attended the dinner, offering insights and introducing the Chinese wines and winery stories.
Where there is fine wine, there is fine cuisine. The menu for this evening's banquet features classic French dishes, complementing the exquisite Eastern wines. Amidst the rich historical ambiance of the hotel, glasses clink and conversations flow, as we relish in the past and present, it was another unforgettable night of camaraderie among the gentlemen in elegant attire.
We all enjoyed the wines, the company, the dinner but what was really magnificent was the nostalgia we all experienced that evening. The feeling of being at another place in time.