French Concession Brings Authentic Dim Sum and Classic Chinese to Hillcrest November 2013

Top Quote The new Hillcrest eatery, developed by San Diego restaurateur, Alex Thao, offers more than 30 dim sum items, 10 classic Chinese dishes and a large craft beer selection. End Quote
  • San Diego, CA (1888PressRelease) November 23, 2013 - French Concession, San Diego's newest authentic dim sum and classic Chinese restaurant is announcing its official opening. Meeting the demand for the hot new trend of dim sum, the 3,500-sqaure-foot restaurant officially opened on Monday, November 18, 2013. Expanding authentic Chinese beyond San Diego's Asian community, French Concession is centrally located in Hillcrest at 3671 5th Avenue.

    San Diego restaurateur and founder of Asian Kitchen Concepts, Alex Thao, is bringing the culture and food of the Shanghai French Concession to the streets of Hillcrest. Inspired by the French power in Shanghai in the 1930's, French Concession offers an authentic Chinese cuisine in a chic Parisian ambiance to recreate the historic feel of the "Paris of the East."

    "For good dim sum in San Diego, you have to venture to Convoy and beyond. French Concession is filling that void by bringing that true authenticity and Chinese cuisine straight to Hillcrest," says Alex Thao, restaurateur and developer of French Concession. "Our Executive chef, Andrew Kwong, is a Hong Kong native, and has worked at many award-wining restaurants in China. There is no doubt that San Diego locals will be impressed by the recipes and flavors he brings to the table."

    French Concession's menu and weekend brunch consists of approximately 30 dim sum items, 10 classic Chinese dishes and a wide selection of local and Asian craft beers, as well as an eclectic wine list. Guests can indulge in savory items like crystal shrimp dumplings, homemade potstickers, honey walnut shrimp, spareribs with black bean and crispy scallops with shrimp mousse. Weekend brunch at French Concession is a unique and ethnic take on the typical brunch, far from the traditional eggs and French toast. The restaurant seats 60 in the dining room, 30 in the bar area and another 15 on the patio.

    French Concession, formerly Celadon, is Hillcrest's newest and only dim sum restaurant. The 3,500-square-foot restaurant was renovated in a total of three weeks by San Diego project managers, Jaime Partners.

    "The ever-changing dynamic in the restaurant industry is inevitable. New trends come and go, and it's important to keep up by offering something new and fresh," says Thao. "People can't wait to indulge in the latest and greatest, and what better than a new craft beer and dim sum restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest?"

    Jaime Partners, the San Diego-based leading provider of program, project and construction management services, completed the 3,500-sqaure-foot renovation in a total of three weeks. As project managers, Jaime Partners assisted in vendor procurement, cost control, as well as graphic and concept design.

    "We have worked with Alex Thao on Rama Restaurant, Lucky Liu's and other past projects. We immediately understood Alex's vision for French Concession, and aimed for a quick and smooth transition," says Rodolfo Farber, partner and co-founder of Jaime Partners. "We made changes to both the interior and exterior of the space, including furniture, paint and flooring. The finished product is the perfect combination of modern Chinese a la 1930's Shanghai style, perfectly suiting the art deco and architecture of the French Concession in Shanghai."

    French Concession is open seven days a week from 12pm to 10pm. Guests can enjoy a daily happy hour from 4pm to 6pm, which offers craft beer specials and $3.00 to $5.00 dim sum. Brunch is offered over the weekends from 11am-3pm.
    For more information about French Concession, please visit: www.frenchconcessionsd.com.

    About French Concession
    French Concession is San Diego's newest authentic Dim Sum restaurant, located in the heart of Hillcrest. Owned by restaurateur Alex Thao, French Concession takes inspiration from the French-controlled Shanghai of the 1930's. Using fresh ingredients and a time-honored craft, Executive Chef Andrew Kwong brings the art of Dim Sum to Southern San Diego. The menu features over 40 items and a full craft beer selection. French Concession is open daily from 12-10pm, serves brunch on the weekends and features a daily happy hour from 4-6pm.

    Alex Thao is the founder of Asian Kitchen Concepts, a boutique restaurant group that manages, consults, and operates restaurants in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York and Thailand. Thao is a native San Diegan who has ventured out of the city to develop and manage new concepts, but will always have San Diego in his heart. Thao has most recently redeveloped the restaurant that gave him his start in the hospitality business and is also bringing what San Diego really needs.

    For more information about French Concession, please visit: www.frenchconcessionsd.com.

    About Jaime Partners
    Jaime Partners is the San Diego-based leading service provider for program, project and construction management services. With decades of combined experience in the development and construction of hospitality and food services projects, founders, Alfredo Jaime and Rodolfo Farber, have made a name for themselves as leaders in local, regional and national hospitality projects. Jaime Partners offers clients' program and project management services, as well as construction services that arise from extensive experience working as Owner's representatives.

    Jaime Partners has established itself as the premier advisory and consulting company in San Diego, with an extensive list of dedicated clients including Enlightened Hospitality Group restaurants' Searsucker, Herringbone, Gingham, Gabardine and Burlap. Other projects that the partners have worked on include Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, Pueblo Bonito Resorts in Cabo San Lucas and Alea Living in North Baja, just to name a few.

    From the inception to the launch of a project, Jaime Partners breathes life into its clients' vision for office, industrial, restaurant, retail and hospitality spaces - turning projects into real life masterpieces.

    For more information about Jaime Partners, please visit: http://www.jaimepartners.com/.

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