Last Orders: Badr Benjelloun, Music Blogger Extraordinaire

“Last Orders” is a regular magazine column in which we ask noteworthy Beijingers to imagine their final meal before leaving the city for good. This month’s host: music blogger Badr Benjelloun of BeijingDaze fame.

The venue
I’d most likely have a cozy extrava ganza at Guoyao Xiaoju, a Tan cuisine gem hidden in the hutongs that could host some 30-odd friends of mine. The decoration is elegant without being pretentious, the staff amazingly efficient and the food outstanding. Chef Guo Xinjin prepares imperial-quality treats for common mortals in a locale that could pass for a museum.

The starters
Guoyao Xiaoju’s own rich and delicate black chicken soup combined with Najia Xiaoguan’s crispy fried shrimp and smoked duck would be perfect to get this started. All three are unique, mouthwatering dishes I’ve marveled over many times. I’d throw in Mosto’s shrimp Napoleon with avocado tartare for good measure. Finally, we’d add some homemade foie gras from Brasserie Flo’s chef Bertrand Combe. We’d wash all this down with some excellent mijiu from Yunteng Shifu.

The main courses
I’d opt for a cacophony of tastes. Start with the Beggar ’s Chicken from Wumingju, and add gongbao jiding from Little Chuanban. Venison stew from Najia Xiaoguan and some chuan’r and kao baozi from the restaurant in the Kashgar representative office. All would be worthy accompaniments to generous pours of Sangre de Toro. The fondue from Pure Lotus would be a fitting finish.

The desserts
I’m not big on sweets, but no matter how full I am, I will always have room for chocolate lava cake from SALT and Chef Guo Xinjin’s egg tarts. Also, an assortment of spiced rums courtesy of Salud, and Moscato from Torres.

The drinks
I’m a big fan of Paul Mathew (formerly of Flamme) and Stephanie Rocard (Mao Mao Chong), so I’d love to have those two entertaining the guests with exciting and uncommon tipples. I would also have Torres handle the wines.

The music
It would be befitting to have the lovely Wu Fei playing the guzheng as everyone indulges in the feast.
Any other entertainment? After the meal, gather the troops and head over to 2 Kolegas, where Black Cat Bone, Xie Tianxiao and DH & the Hellcats would rock our bones!

Read more of Badr ’s musings at www.beijingdaze.com.

Click here to see the October issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo: Nature Zhang