March 2013

The Beijinger – April 2013 – The Eat Is On

This month’s Cover Feature celebrates the diversity of Chinese cuisine and the finest examples of what can be enjoyed right here in Beijing. We asked two food experts for their picks and we asked them to go beyond the city’s provincial offices and look a little deeper. If you want to eat your way around China without leaving the comfort of the outer Ring Road then you have a brand new handy guide. The eat is on.

Normally our April issue is devoted to our Annual Reader Restaurant Awards. We’ve taken a different approach this year. You can find all of the winners listed in the magazine but all of the in-depth coverage is on our blog. That’s where you’ll find everything you could possibly want to know about the Awards, including our Experts’ Picks.

But back to the magazine.

In the FOOD & DRINK section, we tell you how to get the beef you want from your local butcher in our Dining Feature, the best cocktails with Chinese ingredients in our Drinks Feature and which wine to pair with Beijing dishes in Grape Press. We’ve also been brave (so you don’t have to) and eaten pork floss for this month’s "Taste Test," made the most of mochi in "Just Desserts" and bid a fond farewell to our previous dining team in "Last Orders." Plus, as always, our reviews of the newest bars and restaurants and everything else that you have come to expect in our waist-expanding section.

In GO, we check out the best kitchen gadgets in Inspect A Gadget, we introduce immersive Chinese learning and highlight the photographers up for the Three Shadows Awards. We’ve sorted out at least one lucky ­­reader’s month in our Featured Giveaways, and suggestions for some gigs that we think will cook up a storm. As ever, there’s still space for all of the new venues that are worth your time and money.

And then there’s all these new friends we’d like you to MEET. It’s not often that you are introduced to an ethnomusicologist but you are in Shi Tanding, author Audra Ang lets us know about her book and her ayi’s fried chicken and we meet a mime. We also talk balls with tennis star Peng Shuai, have a drink with chef Laia Pons and peek at NicelymadeinChina.com’s bookshelf.

Finally, we look at air pollution, desertification and foie gras farms in Ecology, ponder the Peking Man’s thoughts on how he got his name and our Events section makes sure you will have a splendid April. Get the PDF here, read it below or find a copy around town.

If you want to make sure that you are always first to get the new issue then subscribe to us on Issuu.com (and there's no need for a new account if you are on Facebook.)

The Beijinger - March 2013: The Many Faces of JUE

This month we bring you the Many Faces of JUE. Our JUE Festival coverage makes up our Cover Feature. We have interviews with representatives of each of the seven separate elements plus we meet some of the biggest names (Grimes, Frank Turner and Benj Binks) coming to support this year's event. We've also got the lowdown on which events you should move heaven and earth to attend and an exclusive cut-out-and-keep festival program and handy map.

In the FOOD & DRINK section, we've got a guide to makin' bacon in our Dining Feature and everything you will ever need to know to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in our Drinks Feature. Grape Press takes a leaf from the city's festivals to offer us some literary sips, we try meaty candy (or is that candied meat) in Just Desserts and we spoke with plums in our mouths in order to bring you our plum Taste Test. Plus, as always, our reviews of the newest bars and restaurants and everything else that you have come to expect in our bumper section.

In our GO section, we've got all of the tech you need to start your own festival in Inspect A Gadget, we've got the fruits of our Time Travel Illustration Competition and we've found a spoon long enough for us to sup with the Beijing Devils. We’ve sorted out at least one lucky ­­reader’s month in our Featured Giveaways, and suggestions for some gigs that we think are worth doing the Lindy Hop at. As ever, there’s still space for all of the new venues that are worth your time and money.

And then there’s all these new friends we’d like you to MEET. Lionel Shriver didn't think that we needed to talk about Kevin but she gave us the time of day, Anne Witchard told us all about shedding the limelight on Lao She's time in London's Limehouse and Ellen Forney let us have a lend of her marbles. We also got the 411 on how to pitch from a literary agent, find out what's on the Playlist of a VICE China Editor and had a drink with Punjabi Beijing's Gireesh Chuadhary before the Punjabi turns six.

Finally, we look at the city's largest dog market, ponder the Peking Man’s thoughts on a Cynic's Literary Festival and our Events section makes sure you will welcome the Ides of March. Get the PDF here, read it below or find a copy around town.

If you want to make sure that you are always first to get the new issue then subscribe to us on Issuu.com (and there's no need for a new account if you are on Facebook.)