PS We Ate You: What We're Eating in March 2013

Every month, we like to shine a spotlight on some of the most delicious dishes we’ve stumbled upon recently. Dig in!

mushroom burger
The Veggie Table, RMB 62
Not only is this the best non-meat burger I’ve ever had, but its denseness is almost enough to make me forget about beef. It can get messy if the mushroom patty crumbles apart in the middle, but is so filling and satisfying you’ll forget it’s vegan. Served with potato wedges.

Turkish salad
Biteapitta, RMB 28
If you’ve ever ordered the Ten Mezze variety platter, you’ll recognize this as “the red one” – diced fresh tomatoes and roasted bell peppers tossed with spices and peppers. In the Middle East, it’s called matbucha. We call it delicious.

Caesar salad
Twilight, RMB 50
We think it’s the best in the city. Beautifully soft-boiled eggs, a flavorful but not overly pungent dressing, amazing croutons (bread provided by the geniuses at Gang Gang Delicatessen), house-cured bacon chunks and lightly warmed tomatoes that are bursting with juice. When you pay this much attention to each aspect of the salad, the result is magic.

omelette
Yoshimura-ya, RMB 36
Cabbage and bacon are wrapped in a thin sheet of egg, painted with a tangy sauce and served up on a sizzling plate. It’s a great dish to share. Don’t be put off by the photo on the menu – the scribbles of mayonnaise are unnecessary, but don’t detract from the enjoyment.

eggs Benedict
Nola, RMB 48
Simple, but hard to get right, eggs Benedict is the martini of brunch. Nola’s sets the standard in Beijing. When you prick the poached egg, warm yolk gushes over bacon and a lightly toasted biscuit. Just remember that it’s only available for their weekend brunch.

spicy braised rabbit head
Shuangliu Laoma Tutou, RMB 8
Rabbit meat is, according to experts, a healthy alternative to beef, pork and chicken; it’s lower in fat. The signature dish at this Sichuan restaurant is definitely rabbit’s head. It comes in two flavors: mala (extremely spicy) and five-spice (non-spicy). The first time you look at a braised rabbit head, it can be quite intimidating. The skull is palm-sized and still has the two front teeth on it, but you’ll be rewarded for pushing past the aesthetics of the dish.

jerk chicken
Jamaica Me Crazy, RMB 38
They always seem to be out of the other main dishes on their small menu, but I never regret having to change my order to the jerk chicken. It has enough bite to satisfy a spicy craving, but pairs well with the rice and beans piled underneath in the sturdy takeout container. It’s served with tomato and cucumber salad. Perfect take-home food for winter hibernating and DVD watching.

Barbara crepe
Moment Cafe, RMB 43
Think of this as a pizza crepe. Filled with cheese, a tomato sauce and salami, it’s quite substantial. All of Moment’s crepes are named after women. I don’t know who any of these women are, but Barbara should be proud.

Photo: Ron Wu

This article originally appeared on page 39 in the March issue of the Beijinger.