Pizza My Mind: Professional Foodie Favors Annie's, Barolo, and Bene

Margaux Schreurs | Oct 31, 2016 11:21 am | Add a comment | 1656 reads

During the 2016 Pizza Cup, we're asking Beijingers to tell us about their favorite pizza places as part of our Pizza my Mind series. This time, we talk to Clemence Jiang, a professional foodie whose job as an editor at China Daily takes her to more than her fair share of Jing eateries. Jiang knows a thing or about what she's eating (in fact, she used to write for our sister publication beijingkids), and is a veteran participant of almost every Pizza Fest the Beijinger has held. Below, Jiang outlines her favorite pizzas for various scenarios:

For a date with a significant other
Bene Italian restaurant at the Sheraton Grand Beijing Dongcheng Hotel is my top choice when going on a date. They serve up really good Italian food, especially the pizza, like you'd expect to find at a five-star luxury hotel. The handmade pasta is a bonus.

I also like it when the fine dining environment turns a little more casual on Mondays when they have all-you-can-eat pizza for RMB 98 per person, alongside great live music. 

For an important business meeting where money is no object:
Barolo, the Italian restaurant at the Ritz Carlton Beijing. Located near Guomao subway station in CBD, Barolo is a good location to meet for a business lunch. Hotels like the Ritz Carlton are always a good and safe option to have a business lunch as there are never any (bad) surprises.

And if money is no object, and you need to buy your business client a present, visit the SKP mall nearby to check out the latest Gucci and Chanel collections ...

For a pint out with the gang (aka when drinking is as important to the evening as eating):
Annie's, for sure, dine in for great value buy-one-get-one-free wine bottles in the evenings. I also enjoy the good service, the casual and comfortable environment, attentive service, and that the restaurant is very family friendly and organized.

Voting in this year's Pizza Cup round of the Elite 8 closes today at 2pm. In order to make sure that your favorite joint makes it through to the Final 4, click here.

Voted already? Read more from the foodies of Beijing in our Pizza My Mind profiles here. Got some favorites of your own? Share them with us by filling out our Pizza My Mind questionnaire here.

Photos courtesy of Clemence Jiang, the Beijinger