Sweet Salvation - A sweet retreat from Beijing’s bitter cold

Just because the winter is bitter cold, that doesn’t mean life can’t be a little sweet. With this thought in mind, we’ve searched through the city’s traditional cuisine for dishes that remind us of bright, clear skies, and give us a warm feeling in the belly. They’re sure to put some spring in your step!

Pork

Pork Sweet and Sour Pork Loin 糖醋里脊
This southern dish is a sweet and sticky mound of lean, crispy-skinned pork fillet sticks. RMB 22. Repenjing. Daily 11am-9pm. 12 Hufang Lu, Xuanwu District. (6303 3248) 热盆景, 宣武区虎坊路12号

Pineapple Pork 菠萝古老肉
This Shandong dish is another take on sweet and sour pork. The main difference here is the substitution of streaky, fatty pork for the usual lean cuts. The pineapple oozes with sweet and sour zing. RMB 25. Guolin Jiachangcai. Daily 10am-9.30pm. 2/F, Xinjiekou Fandian, 44 Xinjiekou Nandajie, Xicheng District. (8328 9672) 郭林, 西城区新街口南大街44号新街口饭店2楼

Sweet Streaky Pork 甜烧白
Steamed streaky pork, glutinous rice, and bean paste comprise this succulent taste of Sichuan. RMB 26. Meizhou Dongpo. Daily 11am-11pm. 7 Chunxiu Lu, Chaoyang District. (6417 1566) 眉州东坡, 朝阳区春秀路7号

Lychee Pork 荔枝肉
The “lychee” in this dish is actually pork. Some chefs cook this Fujian dish with all lean meat, while others think that using some fat meat creates a more lychee-like look and taste. RMB 28/38. Bamin Shifu (Fujian provincial government restaurant). 1/F, Bamin Hotel, 7-provinces Yard, 2 Madianqiao Nanlu, Beisanhua, Haidian District. (8200 5551 ext. 7777) 八闽食府, 海淀区北三环马甸桥南路2号七省大院福建驻京办八闽宾馆1楼

Crystal Sugar Elbows 冰糖肘子
This dish from Jiangsu features sliced pork elbows first roasted, then boiled, then deep fried and finally steamed with rock sugar. RMB 68. Changzhou Binguan Restaurant. Daily 11am-1.30pm, 5-9pm. 1/F, Bldg 113, Jixiangli, Chaoyangmenwai Dajie,Chaoyang District. (6553 5588) 常州宾馆餐厅, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街吉祥里113号楼1楼

Chicken

Cola Wings 可乐鸡翅
A contemporary homestyle innovation – chicken wings boiled in coke and soy sauce after being fried. RMB 4/two wings. Qigong Jianghu Kaochi. Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 12 Yinghua Dongjie, Chaoyang District. (6423 5801) 七公江湖烤翅, 朝阳区樱花东街12号

Mutton

Tastes Like Honey 它似蜜
An imperial Muslim dish dating from the Qing Dynasty. Small chunks of mutton are fried with sweet wheat paste (甜面酱) and sugar, creating a thick, honey-sweet, dark red sauce. RMB 38/small size, RMB 57/big. Kaorouji. Daily 11am-11pm. 14 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District. (6404 2554) 烤肉季, 西城区前海东沿14号

Fish

Squirrel Fish 松鼠鱼
This elaborate-looking Suzhou dish – a fried fish sliced and puffed inside out to look like a squirrel – oozes with sweetness. RMB 168/550g. Wumingju. Daily 11am-2pm, 5-9.30pm. 32 Zaoying Beili, Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang District. (6502 1568) 无名居, 朝阳区麦子店街枣营北里32号

Staple Foods

Sweet and Sour Youtiao 糖醋油条 T
hese deep-fried fluffy dough sticks cut into small pieces and dressed with sweet and sour sauce are a traditional Sichuan breakfast item. RMB 18. Feiteng Yuxiang. Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5pm-midnight. Inside Huatongxin Hotel, 1-1 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6417 4988) 沸腾鱼乡, 朝阳区工体北路1-1号华通新饭店内

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Article from Agenda, issue 70, Dec 30-Jan 12. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we'll tell you where you can find one near you.