Capital Bites: Beijing Restaurant Week, Chicken Parma at Mao Mao Chong, Late Night Delivery and New Würzburger Hofbräu
This week: We've got news about the next Beijing Restaurant Week coming up. Mao Mao Chong offers up more of their chicken parma. Oktoberfest will be rearing its frothy head soon, so what better time for yet another German joint to hit town? Also, Jinshisong has now extended its late-night delivery to seven days a week, and the Kempinski's going all high tech on us with iPad wine lists.
Round two of Beijing Restaurant Week takes place September 3-9, with reservations starting at 4pm on August 15. We'll have lots more info in a separate post for you soon, but for now, check out the scoop at our sister site, Agenda.
We stumbled upon yet another German brewery at the International Wonderland. By our count, that area west of Sanlitun proper is really coming together, but we'll have to see how this as-yet-unopened venue fits in. It's called Würzburger Hofbräu. If the name's not stolen, this is the same German brewery that was the first to open shop in the United States back in the 19th century. The font looks the same, but the logo looks a little lo-fi. We'll keep you posted. If they're smart, they'll be looking to open soon and capitalize on the upcoming Oktoberfestivities.
Speaking of Germans, over at the Kempinski, they've switched all their leather-bound wine lists into sleeker iPad versions. So now all you techno-oenophiles can experience two of your greatest loves in one place.
Jinshisong tried out their weekend late-night delivery service for the first time recently, but apparently, so many midnight snackers came out of the woodworks that they've decided to go whole hog with it. Now, seven days a week, you can order from Jinshisong until 1.30am. The restaurants open after 10.30pm: Rumi, Biteapitta, Hooters, Blue Frog (U-Town), Herbal cafe, Ole and Argana. Not all are open until 1.30am though, so check the Jinshisong website for details.
Everyone's favorite little hutong bar is offering another one of their chicken parma nights. This Sunday, starting from 7pm, Mao Mao Chong will be serving up regular chicken parma (RMB 55), eggplant parma (RMB 60) or pancetta parma (RMB 65). All orders come with potato wedges and salad.
Pacific Northwesters (or just those who watch Portlandia) take note: Beijing Boyce tells us oyster bar Starfish is featuring some Oregonian treats this week at their happy hour. Every weekday from 6-7pm, or Saturday and Sunday 11.30am-2pm, pay RMB 20 a pop for select oysters (Tillamook's up this week, from Oregon's Tillamook Bay) and Rogue Dead Guy Ale.
This weekend, Beijing Foodies returns from their summer break with a meal to benefit Bethel, a Beijing charity that supports blind orphans. It's RMB 120 for dinner at Mare and a drink. Email bjfoodies@gmail.com to reserve.
Sienna at City Weekend also informs us that a few new restaurants will be opening at Sanlitun Village North soon. Greyhound Cafe will serve light fare with Thai flavors while Isola will be Italian fine dining.
Now, for some new discoveries around town. There's a new cafe/restaurant at Park No. 5 called M+Cafe. The space is clean and mod, with some funky shelves and a little grocery store inside. We'll have more for you once we've checked it out. Over near Nanluoguxiang, there's a new cake shop called NPower. They claim tiramisu and cheesecake among their specialities and we're due for a visit.
There's also a new Annvita Tea Boutique in the Sanlitun Village and a new designer coffee shop, Emily Coffee, open in Sanlitun Soho (we were contacted by one of the shop's designers, who once worked with starchitect Zaha Hadid). Emily has a branch that's done well at Chaowai Soho, so we'll see how this new location shakes out.
We'd also like to point out that Agua's early dinner set is now RMB 188, down from RMB 248, which we incorrectly listed in our August issue. Apologies for any inconvenience (or the pleasant surprise).
May your food not get soggy.
Photos: Stephanie Rocard, Lilly Chow, Virtualbargains.com
