The story behind Sophie and her friend, Becca (not pictured):
Nick and I ate ourselves into a dumpling coma at Din Tai Fung post China Doll, while Jack appletini'd himself into a complete stupor. With juicy-pork-and-shrimp-impared judgement, we made a reservation for hibachi and Tairyo Beijing (160 Kuai, all you can eat and drink). Nick, whose phone was conveniently out of credit, slept through our reservation. And, after all attempts of communication through Jack to get to Nick failed, I decided to sit down by myself (Proving how much I love things cooked on my table, that I was willing to sit by myself with strangers at a restaurant whose tables seat parties of no fewer than 12. Clearly, a format not invented for the solo diner). Seated by myself across the table from several Chinese men finishing their meals, I ordered the first three pages of the menu and settled into warm sake.

Then, like arch angels of blessed light from heaven, come Becca (Scottish) and Sophie (British). It was as if the Hibachi gods were rewarding me for bravery. I explained to them my passion for the cuisine and the format and about my narcoleptic friends, to which one replied, "You have new friends now."

And to be fair, Nick did eventually show up. He was two hours late.

Awwwww, come on!