Truly Eggs-cellent: An Interview with Philipp Blaser of The Opposite House

Hospitality pro and Hong Kong native Philipp Blaser has been at The Opposite House since 2011, with much of his time spent overseeing the smooth operations of city venue favorites like Sureno and Mesh. A foodie to the core, he gives the scoop on the best spot for a home-cooked meal in Beijing and his favorite DIY snack when tipsy.

What was the first thing you remember eating as a child?
My dad was a chef for many years, and for Sunday dinners, he would always whip up something very simple, but tasty. My first memory was a roasted chicken and garden vegetables with his homemade gravy.

What’s the most memorable food city in the world?
The cuisine in and around Milan. Every restaurant, deli, and café I went to was fantastic. It’s usually very simple, but the quality is superior.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Eggs – there are so many variations of great egg dishes. My doctor would not be a fan though.

What’s your favorite dish from any one of The Opposite House venues?
My favorite dish at The Opposite House is the Beijing roast duck from Jing Yaa Tang. Its crispy skin and succulent meat is just fantastic – you really get the aroma from the date wood-fired oven. The duck sauce that goes with the paper-thin pancakes is very refined and tasty. In the build-up to the opening of Jing Yaa Tang. I had tried many Beijing roast duck restaurants in town, and I must say that the Jing Yaa Tang roast duck is up there.

What’s your favorite food to make for yourself at home after a boozy night out?
A mozzarella, tomato paste, and mortadella toastie with lots of cracked black pepper and a bit of pesto.

What’s the best restaurant that no one’s ever heard of?
I really enjoy a simple home-cooked meal from My Soup in Central Park. Their Cantonese chicken soup and brisket of beef rice is fantastic.

What’s your strangest recurring food craving?
Blue cheese on a celery stick with a little honey drizzle on top.

What’s your ideal breakfast?
Eggs Benedict on a bagel with a generous serving of hollandaise sauce. Life is too short to not have enough sauce!

Lunch out at Jing Yaa Tang, get a taste of their new set menu (RMB 88), and cash in on their latest promotion – tables of four pay only for three.

A version of this article appears in the February 2014 issue of the Beijinger

Photo: courtesy of The Opposite House