Capital Bites: Home Plate Sanyuanqiao Temporary Closure, New Mexican and New Cuban

Starting Monday November 18, Home Plate Bar-B-Que's original location at Sanyuanqiao will be closed for two weeks. The group explains: "The closure allows us to make some essential backstage renovations, and we'll also be carrying out staff training, getting the team ready for the imminent launch of Home Plate Sanlitun!" The fortnight-long dearth of beef brisket should only make the launch of their new, sprawling space that much sweeter.

On that tip, Home Plate will be holding some festivities starting 6.30pm on Thursday Nov 21 in their new digs in Sanlitun's Courtyard 4 (home of the Bookworm) near Janes and Hooch. If you're into hipsterdom's agrarian romanticizations as manifested via square dancing, get down there. You might also be interested in eating, and for that, the dudes at Home Plate will have you covered. Tickets will be RMB 150, RMB 100 (advance) and will include servings of hog, two sides, bourbon bread pudding plus two drinks. More of the nitty-gritty when we can give it to you, meaning mostly when and where to grab tickets. My guess – and my hope – is that there will be copious bourbon involved.

After a very short-lived existence, Gung Ho Pizza in Wangjing closed. If you had been one of their (apparently few) customers, turn back to their Lido location to satisfy your crust cravings.

Elsewhere in the Lido neighborhood near Frank's Place, well-regarded sushi purveyor Yotsuba has opened a second branch and already has gotten some high praise. It helps they're now across the street from a Japanese school.

On the west side of town, there is a new Mexican place on Huguosi next to NBeer. It's called Xalapa and, as you might expect, focuses on cuisine from Veracruz as well as serving dishes from other regions as well. The restaurant is the offshoot of a similar venue begun in 1996 in Buenos Aires. We'll be over there for tamales, flautas, and enchiladas soon.

For more pizza needs, Pizza Plus reportedly has opened a second branch near Chaoyang Park. They have been vague with their exact location so once we get a chance to cycle over to those parts, we'll hit you up with the coordinates.

Guomao can now claim the proud distinction of being the district with Beijing's only Cuban restaurant. Caribeno opened in the CBD's World Trade Center Overseas Plaza and I'm excited for some island-style rice and beans.

Din Tai Fung on Xinyuan Xili Zhongjie is closed for renovations until December. That is, if signs are to be believed. My advice: don't hold your breath as we all know how simple construction projects can go in this town, and what "closed for renovations" often means: closed.

Schweinehaxe with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut

Not only is Beijing getting the pleasure of new cuisines, but those that exist are broadening with regional variety and more specificity. Zeit Berlin has opened off of Xiaoyun Lu in the Chengbao Hotel at 6 Xiaoyunli. Most of the German fare in town has Bavarian flair to it and Zeit Berlin's owners are trying to open our eyes to northern Germany's cosmopolitan specialities. In part, this means Schweinehaxe (grilled pork knuckle), which is bigger than my head and delicious, but also simple home-style dishes like salmon with a baked potato.

For something lighter than massive amounts of pork, look to Element Fresh's freshest branch, which has now opened in Parkview Green.

Shaoyaoju gained another cafe with the arrival of Munch New York. They claim to be "a tribute to the original foods that make New York a favorite eating destination for people from all over the world. The sights, sounds, and culinary fragrances you experience in our Beijing restaurant make you feel like you are back in New York City, or at least wish you were there!" If they even approach that, we'll be happy.

On a small, but exquisite final note, LM Plus has just introduced some new wines from the Sicilian winery Murgo. The Tenuta San Michele Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is a particular standout – perfect both with absurdly large (and thus, ideal) cuts of tender beef or rich pistachio ice cream with shavings of black truffle. This latter dish were some of my best bites of the week.

Photos: courtesy of Home Plate BBQ, Cat Nelson

Email: catnelson@thebeijinger.com
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