Capital Bites: Organic Cooking Class, Boutique Water, and Tapas Special
In Shunyi, Let's Burger in Pinnacle Avenue has closed and has been replaced by a Chinese take on Western fare (pasta, sandwiches, burgers) called Dickson Do.
The Hutong has a couple new things to keep on your radar. They recently started a partnership with TooToo Organic Farm, who have been approved by the European certifier ECOCERT and the Chinese organic certifier COFCC, to supply the produce, meats and grains for their cooking classes. TooToo has an English-speaking department and does free home delivery (minimum purchase of RMB 98) as well. For more details and to order, check their website.
Next Tuesday September 17 (10.30am-1pm), Chef Reshma Khan will be teaching a class at The Hutong on vegetarian Indian cooking. You'll learn to whip up curries and biryanis, all sans meat.
Migas has started a tapas deal – for RMB 35, get a draft Heineken and a tapa (selection varies depending the season and the chef's inclinations for the day).
They've collaborated with The Peninsula Beijing, 5Js Pure Iberico Ham and Pasion Wines to host two Spanish chefs, Juan Suárez and Kisko García, to town for tomorrow (September 11) and Thursday (September 12). Tomorrow evening they will be preparing a six-course menu with wine pairings at Huang Ting in The Peninsula. The evening will showcase the chefs' "interpretation of Chinese gastronomy" via various tapas and other dishes. Seats are RMB 698 plus 15 percent. Call 6510 6707 to reserve.
The two chefs will also be creating a tasting menu and selection of tapas to be served at Migas Restaurant for the three days following their stay in Beijing. Prices TBA, but call 5208 6061 for more details.
The group buy scheme for salmon, organized by Chef Too, has expanded to frozen Atlantic cod from France. Get it at wholesale prices (RMB 220 per kg for half a fish). Email Chef Billy for more details and to place orders.
Marianas Group is collaborating with Temple Restaurant to host a New Zealand month at TRB. Marianas will be introducing New Zealand boutique water Antipodes starting Friday at Temple which will then serve Antipodes as their exclusive water. The month will kick-off with a degustation dinner by New Zealand visiting chef Kate Fay on this Friday (September 13). It's rare to have a female guest chef in Beijing, so this dinner seems of particular note. Seats are RMB 888 plus 15 percent. Call 8400 2232 to reserve.
If the weather holds, then Sunday (September 14) should be perfect for The Great Aussie BBQ which AustCham is hosting with The Wine Republic at Dulwich College in Shunyi. From 11am-4pm, chow down on grilled meat and get your game on with a whole spread of activities including a goal kicking competition, a blind wine tasting game, a pavlova competition (bring a home-made pavlova to compete), and a cricket match between the Australian and British Embassies. Shuttle buses leave from Central Park and The Australian Embassy apartments at 10.30am and are included in the ticket price (RMB 200, non-members, RMB 150 AustCham members). Call 6553 6192 for further details and to reserve.
Photo: Cat Nelson
