I've been reading a lot about noodles this week. Mostly due to an initial bout of Googling the question "Who made noodles first", which I've discovered via the Beebs that yes, they're from China. Wonderful! My Italian friend now owes me a fiver. Not that noodles really have much to do with today's post, unless you're liking the look of the above – as tasty as it was pretty. Read on to find out where it's from, and other less noodly dining news.

First broken resolution of 2012: "get up earlier". First food regret of 2012: overcooked beef tenderloin. First nutty food discovery of 2012: BEIJING DUCK FLAVORED PRETZ. I found these in a jumbo pack at Qingdao duty-free, of all places, for RMB 200-ish. Other interesting "Chinese" flavors include Shanghai Hairy Crab, Guangdong Shark Fin Soup, Sichuan Mala, Oolong Tea, Lychee and Chestnut. Please, please, please keep an eye out at your convenience store, your supermarket, your xiaomaibu - and let me know if you find these little gems. Or if you happen to pass through Qingdao Duty-Free and have a spare RMB 200. There is a reward: I will buy you a sandwich.*

Now, onto eating news of a bit more import. 

As the year draws to a close, we took a moment to reflect on what's made the news in Beijing's dining scene this year. As with any other year in Beijing, 2011 was a year of openings, closings, award-giving ... with a healthy dose of scandal thrown in. Here are just a few of the stories that made the headlines in Beijing dining in 2011.

It was a good week in food. Yes, the weather is terrible. Yes, nobody else can breathe either. Yes, all of it yes, yes, yes. But you gotta focus on the positives of being in the Beej. Maybe you've got an ayi who'll wash your window frames for you. Maybe you have the luxury of supporting yourself easily (*cough*English teachers*cough*) while figuring out what you want to do in life. Maybe you're in a city where world-class cuisine is comparatively cheap. So, y'know, go out and get some this weekend.

(Oh, and in case you forgot, we ran this little pizza competition a while back. Now we're throwing it a party. Keep reading for details and more food news.)

It's been a quiet-ish week in eating: a lot of really great holiday events and dishes are just on the horizon. Still, "quiet" doesn't mean "silent." Beijing is blessed with an excellent food scene that still manages to be interesting in the most lackluster weeks (see: precipitation). It rained last night, but the pollution doesn't seem to have budged an iota. What can you do? Not much. What might perk you up? Delicious foods! How can you get a totally boss Thanksgiving dinner (yes, another one of these competitions) at the Renaissance Cafe for zero RMB? Read on, read on.