Additional Coverage:
- His boss gave him an alarm clock for his 7-year work anniversary. It became the catalyst for 3 major life changes. (businessinsider.com)
From Alarm Clock to Appetite: Former Canadian Office Worker Finds Success in Beijing’s Bustling Restaurant Scene
At 52, Nathan Huixiang Zhang is the proud owner of two popular Beijing restaurants. But his path to culinary entrepreneurship began with an unexpected wake-up call – a seven-year work anniversary gift.
The gift? An alarm clock.
Ironically, it was this very object, symbolizing the daily grind, that prompted Zhang to quit his data entry and project management job at a Canadian telecom company and return to his native China.
Feeling unfulfilled and unchallenged by his office work, Zhang decided to pursue a new life in Beijing, a city that had captivated him since childhood. Three months after resigning, he moved to the Chinese capital with his then-wife and two young children. While his family later returned to Canada, Zhang remained, finding his true calling in Beijing’s vibrant culinary scene.
After working at a television station and on various social projects, Zhang opened the original White Tiger Village in 2015. This small, 40-square-meter barbecue restaurant, with its open kitchen and intimate setting, quickly gained popularity. Zhang kept initial costs low by relying on his network of friends, bartering services for logo design and interior decorating.
Though the original White Tiger Village closed in 2017 due to building restrictions, a sleeker, second iteration opened in 2021 in a trendy east Beijing neighborhood. This new location embraces a “bistro-style” dining experience, offering small plates paired with wine and showcasing Chinese flavors with a Western twist. The restaurant also functions as a creative hub, hosting film screenings, art talks, and musical performances.
Popular dishes include innovative takes on Yunnan classics, such as fried fermented tofu balls with local herbs and fried, stuffed rushan (cow’s milk curd) cigars. These dishes are priced affordably, ranging between 42 and 78 yuan.
Despite the restaurant’s success, Zhang acknowledges the challenges posed by China’s recent economic downturn, particularly the decrease in alcohol sales, a significant source of restaurant revenue. While the new White Tiger Village, funded by a 2 million yuan investment, has yet to recoup its initial costs, Zhang remains undeterred.
In the winter of 2022, he opened a second restaurant, In-Between, a more casual eatery near Beijing’s Sanlitun shopping district. In-Between offers comfort food like noodle bowls, skewers, and wine, providing a different dining experience from White Tiger Village.
Despite the long hours and responsibilities of restaurant ownership, Zhang finds fulfillment in his newfound creative freedom. He contrasts the sense of purpose he feels now with the feeling of uselessness he experienced in his previous office job. For Zhang, Beijing isn’t just home; it’s where he’s found his purpose.