Infinite Flavors, Infinite Experiences
Choice of Infinite 2017 Restaurant Guide Official Launch Gala
On the evening of May 5, 2017, the grand fifth-floor ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing was filled with a vibrant atmosphere, aromatic dishes, and a dazzling array of gourmet delights.
The launch gala for the world’s first restaurant guide powered by big data—Choice of Infinite 2017 China Restaurant Guide and The Choice of Infinite 2017 Korea Restaurant Guide—was jointly created by LYRRA, CITIC Bank Credit Card Center, VISA, and Microsoft Bing, officially unveiling this groundbreaking project.
The event was hosted by Angelina Saiyi Li, founder and publisher of LYRRA. As the chief strategist and narrative architect of the project, Angelina led the entire evening with a bilingual (Chinese-English) presentation, guiding more than 500 distinguished guests through an immersive culinary and cultural experience. The gala gathered a prestigious audience, including municipal officials from Beijing, diplomatic representatives from the Korean Embassy, executives from VISA and CITIC Bank, professionals from 50 top-tier restaurants (chefs and award-winning establishments), Visa Infinite cardholders, Microsoft executives, celebrities, socialites, and leading media figures.
During the ceremony, senior executives from Microsoft officially unveiled the lists for the "Top 20 Best Chefs in China" and the "Top 20 Most Popular Restaurants by Bing Search Data." The Four Seasons Hotel presented a spectacular gourmet feast, fusing tradition with innovation, and earning overwhelming praise from attendees. The announcement of the award-winning restaurants and chefs was staged in multiple segments, enhanced by a giant LED screen and premium audiovisual equipment.
The evening featured stunning live music and dance performances, creating a festive yet elegant atmosphere. Guests engaged in lively interactions, sharing reflections on food, life, and culture throughout the night. The publication of the 2017 guide continued the momentum from the project's successful launch in 2016.
This year's edition was curated by 30 veteran gastronomic experts, including Lin Yilun and Cao Difei, alongside evaluations from 500 Visa Infinite cardholders, selecting over 300 outstanding restaurants across 11 international cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Hong Kong. Each restaurant profile in the guide provides detailed information, including signature dishes, restaurant type, contact details, and QR codes for easy browsing and reservation services. Significantly, this year’s "Choice of Infinite" introduced Microsoft Bing as its official data partner, building the industry's first big data-driven restaurant evaluation system based on the behavior of 15 million premium users and cardholder ratings.
This strategic move fundamentally disrupted traditional closed evaluation models, creating a more transparent, accurate, and democratically selected ranking system. In her keynote speech, Angelina Saiyi Li emphasized, Food is not only about survival—it is the language of emotions and culture.
Through the Choice of Infinite 2017 project, we aim to build a bridge between taste, city life, and the soul." With the grand success of the launch gala, The Choice of Infinite 2017 China Restaurant Guide and The Choice of Infinite 2017 Korea Restaurant Guide have officially been released nationwide.
More exciting developments are on the way—stay tuned!
