EAT: New Menu at Pebbles and Mosto, Summer Specials at GLB Lido, Summer Deals at Rive Gauche
EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.
Pebbles launches new menu for 2019
Wudaoying Mexican restaurant Pebbles continues to push the boundaries of what we expect from Mexican cuisine in Beijing, once again refreshing the menu with a selection of delicious regional Mexican dishes. Take the tlacoyos (pictured above), for example, a popular street-food dish in Mexico City that is rarely seen in restaurants outside of the country, let alone in Beijing. The oval-shaped masa pancakes (for want of a better word) are filled with refried beans and served with a punchy salsa verde.
Salsas and sauces have always been one of Pebbles' strong suits and they are on full display in these new dishes, lending complexity to dishes such as grilled whole fish with two glazes – chipotle and tamarind-guajillo – or simple chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. One of the most popular dishes at our tasting was the costilla de cordero, a Baja-style dish of grilled lamb (sourced from Mongolia) with salsa negra, jalapeń chimicurri sauce, and garlic mash.
It's not quite as authentic as the other dishes but it would be remiss of us not to mention the queso fundido, which ranks up there with Taco Bar's as the best we've had in Beijing. The three-cheese blend is wonderfully stretchy and comes topped with homemade chorizo and roasted bell pepper for an extra punch of flavor. Pair this with one of Pebbles' wide range of tequila and mezcal – chef Ray Heng will be more than happy to recommend something.
New summer specials at GLB Lido
Hot on the heels of their limited-edition "no diet" menu, Great Leap Brewing has introduced a series of summer specials at their Lido brewpub. The new dishes range from lighter fare, such as the blackened cod wrap packed with fresh veg and punchy pineapple salsa (RMB 65), to more indulgent items, such as the meat plate, which features roast pork belly paired with apple jam and pickled onion, porter glazed corned beef paired with kraut and beer mustard, and house-cured ham with chili pineapple, all served with toasted rye bread (RMB 138). They also now give you the option to add a third patty to your beef burger for an extra RMB 20.
New lunch and dinner menus at Mosto
Mosto has introduced a new dinner menu packed with cooling South American-inspired dishes just in time for the hottest days of summer. Sample dishes like ceviche cartagenero, served in an icy-cold half coconut with shrimp, tomato, peppers, red onion, and leche de Tigre or scallop tiradito with lime, spicy salsa, and green pea coulis (pictured above). We've also got our eye on the vegan porcini and truffle fusilli, which is packed with black truffle, sun-dried tomatoes, and olive oil (non-vegans can opt for a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano). Also look out for Mosto's updated June lunch menu (RMB 95 for a starter and main), which features an all-new selection of starters, including chilled pumpkin-orange soup and seabass ceviche.
Summer deals at Rive Gauche
If you haven't visited Rive Gauche at The Puxuan yet, now is your chance as they are offering a couple of good value dining deals. Pay the bill for just two people when three people dine together or when four dine together pay for just three and get a free bottle of wine. Alternatively, grab a table on their terrace, which offers great views of Jingshan Park and the National Art Museum, and enjoy deals on seafood platters, Champagne, and sharing cocktail pitchers (not cheap but you're worth it).
READ: Early bird tickets now on sale for the 9th Beijing Burger Festival, Jun 22-23
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Images: Great Leap Brewing, Mosto, Robynne Tindall
