On Land or Houhai: Where to Source Salmon, Caviar, and Sun For Your Ultimate Picnic

Margaux Schreurs | Apr 11, 2016 11:30 am | 2 comments | 2295 reads

We may have jumped the gun a little on the weather but last weekend my friends, my cousin (who is in Ulaanbaatar by now), and I went boating on Houhai, and took a picnic with us along for the ride. Last year we would've taken The Rug's picnic, or one from MODO Urban Deli, (who are both still going to provide them this summer, more information on that as it becomes available) but this time we got a little creative and decided to put it together ourselves. Turns out it was pretty easy to get an incredible selection with the right contacts and knowing where to go.

Vodka Cured Salmon
This recent discovery was the star of the picnic. Norwegian imported salmon cured in Beijing by Viking Food comes in two flavors: vodka and citrus, at RMB 80 per 150g. To get your hands on some, whether it be for a picnic or just at home, add Max on WeChat (ID: Maximilian-s) or get it via Weidian.

Caviar
Caviar, which I hadn't even considered necessary for a picnic, can be bought at the Russian supermarket directly opposite the Russian Embassy. There's a few different types depending on whether you prefer the fresh caviar or jarred black caviar. Prices may fluctuate depending on availability.

They also sell tinned bear meat in this shop, which I'm not sure what one would do with. It didn't really fit in with our picnic vibes.

Cheeses and Meats
For cheeses and meats, as a Yonghegong hutong-dweller, it was simple: Chez Gerard. I don't often write about this store because I assume that everyone knows it, but actually, even if I didn't live nearby, it would be worth the visit. There are two fridges full of cheese to choose from, and even more meat. Everything is prepackaged making it easy to put into a picnic basket.

Location, Location, Location
And then finally, you need to pick a location to enjoy your picnic. Here are some land-based locations throughout the city, but, as we did, taking your picnic on a Houhai boat is a great alternative. The deposit is between RMB 200 and 600, depending on whether you want a four-person peddle boat, four-person motorized boat, a six-person peddle boat, or a six-person motorized boat, and the hire is between RMB 120 and 260 per hour depending, again, on the size of the boat.

You can either get on slightly east of where Deshengmen Neidajie crosses the lakes, for a calmer atmosphere, or you can get a boat on the Di'anmen Waidajie side of the lakes. As the temperatures rise, the lakes will undoubtedly get crowded so get your boating in, especially if you have weekdays off work, when it will be a lot quieter. That way, you won't have to deal with bottlenecks and added stress like we did here.