Capital Bites: Valentine's, Veal, Pasta and Pingtan
With Valentine's Day approaching, new pasta deals at Flamme and much more to report, here we are with this week's roundup of the latest news, gossip and scandal from Beijing's restaurant scene. Let's go!
First up, if Valentine's is on your mind, get it off your mind by checking out our romantic couple of roundups (here and here) of what restaurants are doing for February 14. There's something to suit most price ranges, though it does help if you're prepared to spend big. It helps if you really, really love that other person you're going to be dining with.
Flamme has just launched its new pasta lunch deal, with prices starting from RMB 58. Four types of pasta to choose from: spaghetti Bolognese, fusilli cream cheese, seafood linguine and penne four cheese. Each pasta is served with a house salad and garlic bread.
If you haven't been to Nanjing Impression (南京大排挡) in Shimao Gongsan yet, you need to go. It's only going to get busier. It looks great, is full of atmosphere, and there's a performance of traditional pingtan (perhaps the most appealing genre of traditional Chinese folk music) from 6pm most nights. The food's great – Nanjing specialties that can be sweet, sour and spicy pretty much all at the same time. These are flavors that you feel are forcing you to think, and I mean that in a good way. There are both photos and English on the menu, so you can't go wrong. I'm not even going to begin recommending dishes. Go and just choose. You will not regret it.
If you live around the Anzhen Qiao area, on the North Third Ring Road, Feast at the Sheraton Dongcheng offers the widest choice of international food you're going to find around the neighborhood. Lots of live cooking stations, with steaks and fish fillets on the grill, a Japanese chef grilling mackerel, fresh pasta and a great dessert selection. Hopefully we'll see them launch a champagne brunch in the future, though they haven't confirmed any plans yet.
Steak Exchange remains one of the Beijing restaurants most worthy of a big spend. While their red meat, red wine and "exploding" desserts have made most headlines over the years, their new menu features an incredible pan-fried snow fish fillet that melts away delightfully in the mouth. Or you could opt for the hearty-as-ever surf and turf of the lobster and Australian Angus beef fillet mignon.
Out by the airport, My China and Compass Grill at the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport are offering a veal promotion right now, with a bunch of dishes featuring Australian veal. Samples include Osso Bucco, veal rolls, veal carpaccio and the heartiest of veal fillets. Handy if you miss your flight.
Finally, I'm going to urge you once more to go and try Sanyangcai's amazing Sichuan cuisine. It's between Mix and Latte in the Workers' Stadium, but don't let that put you off. That's their dandan mian at the top of this post. Go!
Photos: Iain Shaw
