Q&A
IN THE CLUB
DAVID NESS, GENERAL MANAGER, THE WESTIN BEIJING CHAOYANG by Cat Nelson
H
ailing from Down Under, David Ness is an old hand at the hotel business. After a stint in Tianjin and then in Qingdao, he has arrived in the capital to steer the good ship of The Westin Beijing Chaoyang. He tells us here about memories of Vegemite and eating club sandwiches for life, plus gives us the scoop on what to eat at his hotel. After one month on the job, what’s your favorite item on the menu at The Westin Chaoyang restaurants? There are so many choices, so it’s really difficult to choose. The teriyaki chicken at Mai restaurant is one of my favorites. What has surprised you most about Beijing since moving here?
I’ve been surprised by the continued development. The city keeps evolving in all aspects whether it be restaurants and bars, the art district, or the cultural elements. What has been the most unexpected thing about Chinese food in China for you? I am amazed by the huge selection during a Chinese dinner – courses seem to continue forever. It is also very interesting to hear many of the dishes are chosen for their health element. We hear you enjoy playing football. Do you plan on joining a local football team in Beijing? Yes, I love playing football and have recently joined the Vintage Vikings team. We play in a social league on Wednesday evenings. I am looking at opportunities to play on the weekends, and we may even form a team at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang as many of my associates are passionate footballers. What was the first thing you remember eating as a child? Vegemite on toast. What Australian specialty do you miss most? Have you found a substitute in China? A good Australian BBQ and yes, I have found char-grilled Australian beef at The Grange Grill. The great thing is that I only have to travel to the second floor at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang to experience this.
Lastly, if you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life what would it be? The club sandwich. Stop by The Westin Beijing Chaoyang until May 11 for Tastes of Korea, a special promotion at Seasonal Tastes featuring visiting chefs from Seoul.
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may 2014
photo: courtesy of THE WESTIN BEIJING photo:CHAOYANG Joey Guo
What’s the most unusual and delicious food that you would suggest people try? It’s not the healthiest, but I do enjoy dongpo rou, I tasted this in Hangzhou and have been a big fan ever since.