Capital Bites: Goodbye Cheese, Hello Homestyle Korean and Shuangpi Milk

News this week: Made in Heaven Cheese & Wine closes, the new Jubang serves up homey Korean food, a new Xiao Che's is coming and Shuangjing gets another great bar and restaurant combo.

Made in Heaven Cheese & Wine, located near the west gate of Chaoyang Park, is sadly closing down. It's a travesty, but there's a short-term silver lining: They're doing a clearance, with 35% off everything while supplies last. We had a beautiful bright orange mimolette cheese there last summer that we still dream about. It was RMB 63 per 100g at the time, but if they've got it in stock now it'll be quite the value.

Milly's Cakes in Nali Patio has now become Jubang. Owner Emily Long, who started Milly's Cakes last year, has decided to give the current space over to her Korean homestyle cooking roots. She'd like Beijingers to know that, much in the way we don't eat roast duck everyday, BBQ is not the only food Koreans eat. So she'll have on offer treats every Korean kid will recognize, like Mom's mini kimbap, bean sprout bibimbap and a chicken dish she promises will challenge the tolerance of even the most die-hard spice lovers. "Jubang" is a play on words, since in Korean it can be pronounced to mean either "kitchen" or "bar." Apart from homestyle Korean eats, Emily will be serving up soju and cocktails – because we know that's another thing the Koreans are good at ...

Fans of Milly's Cakes need not worry: the cupcake and sweets venue will reopen downstairs in Nali Patio in what used to be that teddy bear-themed shop. It'll be looking out toward the Village and still serving up her scrumptious cupcakes (that silky frosting!) and custom cakes.

In somewhat related news, Leaf Korean BBQ (near Stumble Inn in Sanlitun Village) has closed down.

Down in Shuangjing, Main Street Restaurant & Bar is fully up and running, with "not a hair out of place," according to our nightlife editor. They've got quite a huge menu, with New York-style pizzas and pastas, plus bar favorites like burgers, heros, and tons of mussels (there's a whole section called "mussel pots," and a New England mussel chowder).

Beijingboyce.com has other details about both Jubang and Main Street over at his blog too, with some photos.

Xiao Che's Dessert Shop (featured on our blog back in 2009), is opening a second branch at Dongsishitiao after Spring Festival. Say hello to more of some of the city's best changfen (steamed rice rolls) and shuangpi nai ("double-skinned milk").

Hilton Wangfujing's opening a new restaurant called Flames Grill, focusing on grill items and fine wines – perhaps doing battle with Morton's at the Regent? They're tentatively slated for March, but we'll keep you posted.

Happy eating.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons