2011 Dec 28 Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's Eve 2011
Some people prefer to commemorate the final moments of the year with solemnity, in a hushed and intimate environment. Others prefer their New Year's Eve countdown clocks big and gaudy, thronged by hysterical crowds. To each their own, we say.
Either way, you've gotta eat, right? We've put together some options for dining out on the last day of 2011 as well as the first day of 2012. To find out more, and for your chance to win New Year's Eve dinner for two at the St. Regis Beijing, keep reading.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31
Agua
Ring in the New Year with the culinary stylings of Chef Jordi. RMB 381 (5 courses), RMB 528 (6 courses). Reserve for either 6pm or 8.30pm. Agua (5208 6188)
Apothecary
A countdown party that includes light snacks. Groups of 4 or more get a free bottle of Champagne. RMB 260. 10pm. Apothecary (5208 6040)
Before the New Year
Start your evening with a buffet seafood dinner accompanied by live entertainment and lucky draws. RMB 268+15% (includes beer, juice and soft drinks), kids 6-12 half price. 6-10pm. BLD Café, Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel (5863 8223)
Capital M New Year's Eve
The seven-course meal includes one cocktail and a glass of Champagne. RMB 988. 6pm-midnight. Capital M (6702 2727)
Flamme New Year's Eve
Seafood risotto and delectable treats from the grill star in this 4-course dinner. RMB 398 (includes glass of wine). 5pm-late. Flamme (6417 8608)
Funfair Frolics at Scene a Café
A buffet spread and fun with fortunetellers, face-painters and magicians, plus a great lucky draw. RMB 628+15%. 5.30-10.30pm. Scene a Café, China World Hotel (6505 2266 ext 35)
Grange’s Festive Five Courses
A romantic five courses for New Year’s Eve. RMB 598+15% (includes glass of Perrier Jouet). 6pm-late. Grange, Westin Beijing Chaoyang (5922 8880)
Kerry’s New Year Dinner
Lavish spread of seafood and meats from the grill, plus other festive favorites. RMB 888+15% (includes free-flow house wine and beer), RMB 288+15% (kids). 6-10.30pm. Kerry’s Kitchen, Kerry Hotel (8565 2088)
Mosto NYE Dinner
Five courses of warming winter dishes. RMB 550. 6pm-late. Mosto (5208 6030)
New Year Midnight Supper
A New York St. Regis tradition. Celebrate the new year with supper, chocolate fondue and plenty of drinks. RMB 498+15% (includes free-flow champagne, sparkling wine and cocktails). 8.30pm-midnight. Garden Court, The St. Regis Beijing (6460 6688)
Olé Night
What's more festive than an Iberian-themed dinner with paired Spanish wines? Count down the final seconds with the 12 lucky grapes. RMB 395 (4 courses), RMB 690 (6 courses). 9pm-late. Olé (6595 9677)
Retro NYE
Enjoy retro cocktails and a great buffet while you count down to 2012. RMB 788 (includes free-flow house wine, glühwein and beer). 5.30-10pm. Renaissance Café, Renaissance Beijing Chaoyang Hotel (6468 9999 ext 3121)
Sparkling Celebrations at SALT
Celebrate the new year with five innovative courses. RMB 568 (includes free-flow beer and bubbly). 6pm-midnight. SALT (6437 8457)
New Year’s Eve Party Menu
Four courses of fresh, contemporary fare and free-flow alcohol ensures a great night. RMB 578 (including free-flow bubbly or beer). 6pm-late. Terra (6591 9148)
Western Traditions with Yao Chi Chinese
Enjoy New Year in a traditional atmosphere. RMB 688+15% (includes a glass of wine). 5.30-10pm. Yao Chi, Grand Millennium Beijing (8587 6888 ext 3013)
Sureño
The Mediterranean restaurant will celebrate New Year's Eve with a 7-course dinner. RMB 688+15%. 6-10.30pm. Sureño, The Opposite House (6410 5240)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1
Bubbly New Year Brunch
A fantastic option for the first brunch of 2012. RMB 428+15% (includes free-flow Champagne), RMB 218+15% (kids 12 and under). 11.30am-3pm. Senses, Westin Beijing Financial Street (6629 7777)
Festive Feast Brunch
A vibrant holiday buffet in the new Sheraton Dongcheng. RMB 388+15% (includes free-flow champagne and wine). 11am-3pm. Feast, Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng (5798 8888)
Flamme New Year's Day
Seafood risotto and delectable treats from the grill star in this 4-course dinner. RMB 398 (includes glass of wine). 5pm-late. Flamme (6417 8608)
New Years’ Brunch
Celebrate the future or recover from the very recent past. RMB 218 (two courses), RMB 258 (three courses); add RMB 210 for free-flow bubbly. Noon-4pm. SALT (6437 8457)
Revive, Recover & Celebrate
Lift the New Year’s hangover with good food and even more. RMB 218 (two courses), RMB 258 (three courses); add RMB 210 for free-flow bubbly. 11am-11pm. Terra (6591 9148)
Hilton Festive Brunch
All the Sunday favorites as well as seasonal specials like roast suckling pig. RMB 348 (soft drinks, tea & coffee), RMB 388 (wines), RMB 418 (free-flow champagne). 11.30am-3pm. 360 Café Restaurant, Hilton Beijing Capital Airport (6458 8888)
Rug’s New Year Menu
Try out Chaoyang Park's newest cafe with a multi-course dinner. RMB 298 (3 courses), RMB 388 (4 courses, free-flow wine). RMB 22 (kids). 4pm-late. Rug Bagel & Cafe (8550 2722)
Sureño
Free-flow Champagne for those who didn't have enough the night before – and a delicious brunch to soak up the booze. RMB 298+15%. Noon-3pm. Sureño, The Opposite House (6410 5240)
And now for your chance to win a voucher for two for New Year's Eve dinner at the St. Regis Beijing ...
In your opinion, what was the worst food trend of 2011?
Tell us your answer in the comments below. We'll pick a winner at noon on Thursday, December 29, so make haste! Good luck!
Photo: Flickr user maxxtraffic
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Jamesbr
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
Artificial Truffle Oil
Most commercially available truffle oil is made by adding chemical fragrance compounds to olive oil — musky, mushroomy, rancid-smelling, sweet-and-sour, nasty fragrance compounds. Ubiquitous on gastro-pub French fries, on fancy-restaurant brunches of shirred eggs, and all-too-often added to finish innocent fresh-mushroom dishes, truffle oil has become the Axe body spray of ambitious chefs who are also lazy and have no palate. There is nothing worse than ordering an honest mushroom pizza and having it show up reeking like a skunk that took a maple syrup bath.
ting.ting
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
cupcakes!!
they are glorified buns!
how can people be so into a small bit of sponge with icing - i mean if my granny made them in her oven id do the decent thing and eat it - but there is no way i could ever imagine going out of my way to find a good cupcake - THEY ARE JUST ICED SPONGE
but im sure they go great with a nice bit of jewelry making, glass blowing, spice sourcing or whatever else expat wives find to spend their husbands money
ataraxia
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
My first impression was: "Great response and writing! Wow! So rare to see that on comments and forums!"
Then my inner skeptic and English proofreading senses kicked in, and Google turns up this: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-worst-food-trends-of-2011.html
If you're going to plagiarize stuff off the internet, try something other than near-direct copying.
ataraxia
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
Anyway, for my real entry, I think that foraging smacks of hypocrisy. There was a huge NYT article on foraging sometime this year, about how supposedly environmentally-conscious people are gathering wild flora and fauna to eat from parks and forests. I'm not talking about your typical Chinese FOB gathering seaweed (Hi mom!) from the ocean for "health" reasons, which is bad in its own way; I'm talking about herds of self-important hippies.
Foraging sucks because:
1) It is often illegal, especially in national parks and on private property.
2) Well, why is it illegal? Studies show that unless you're highly trained and knowledgeable about the wild, chances are, you're f***ing up the local ecosystem. People who forage include a bunch of "Save the Earth"-types, so this habit is especially flagrant and hypocritical. Moreover, it can be very dangerous. A nontrivial number of people die from foraging.
Basically, foraging seems like the demented product of locavoreism and good intentions run amok.
Sida
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
Atkin's diet. When did not eating starches become a healthy thing? I remember growing up with starches at the base of the food pyramid....
And sure, Atkin's didn't start this year, but somehow it's still trendy, so it counts.
ataraxia
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
I'm in a particularly Scrooge-y mood today, so one addendum to food trends that suck: the proliferation of websites like Groupon, Living Social, etc.
I love the discounts these websites offer, and have had quite a few good experiences, but what really upsets me is how restaurants or waitstaff will often give coupon users substandard service. I thought the point of these deals was to draw new customers in, not alienate them?
I'm a pretty good tipper for a poor recent graduate: at least 15% for normal service pre-discount, and upwards of 20% when it's good. But, more often than not, the waitress will see that I'm using a voucher, and promptly avoid my party for the rest of the night. One time, at a national chain, the waitress "forgot" my side, didn't refill our drinks, and tried upcharging my baby brother for fries that were included in the deal. After our food came in spastic, uncoordinated jolts, she promptly disappeared to the kitchen for the rest of her shift since the restaurant was near empty (gee, I wonder why?)
Tl:DR If you're going to offer Groupon, don't treat customers like steerage.
maxwu
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
We have a winner: Congratulations!User ataraxia, you've won a dinner for two at St. Regis on New Year's Eve. Our marketing staff will contact you shortly. Happy New Year!
Max Wu - Web Editorial Assistant at the Beijinger
Manda_Panda
Re: Your Final Meal of the Year: Dining Out on New Year's ...
Erm, how about the beijinger's obsession with burgers and pizza despite the fact we are in China...
I am sure my entry will be a shoo-in