Enjoy Authentic Yibin Flavors at Kerry's Kitchen
Kerry's Kitchen has recently launched a collaboration with the renowned restaurant Beijing Yibin Guest House. The collaboration is available now until Oct 31, during which time you will be able to get some of Yibin Guest House's most famous dishes right in the heart of the CBD at Kerry's Kitchen.
For those not in the know, Yibin Guest House, which takes its name from the city of Yibin in Sichuan, is one of Beijing's municipal government-run restaurants, and they serve up the most authentic Yibin cuisine you'll find in the capital. All of its chefs hail from Yibin, as do the majority of the ingredients. It has been recommended by the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for three years in a row and has been placed on the Dazhong Dianping Must-Eat List for four consecutive years.
It'll be no surprise, then, that trying to get a table at Yibin Guest House can be a little tricky; they don't accept reservations, and its popularity means diners normally have to wait hours to get a table. This makes this collaboration with Kerry's Kitchen the perfect opportunity to try some of Yibin's signature dishes without the long wait time!
We recently had the opportunity to visit Kerry Kitchen and try it for ourselves, and believe us when we say we were not disappointed! Through the collaboration, there are five featured dishes, and each was as delicious as the last, so let's take a closer look at them.
Lizhuang Boiled Pork
Lizhuang Boiled Pork (李庄白肉 lǐzhuāng báiròu) is a signature dish from Lizhuang Ancient Town in Yibin and one of Yibin Guest House's most famous dishes. It sees delicate paper-thin slices of pork expertly carved directly in front of you by a chef wielding one of the biggest cleavers you'll ever see. Served with a spicy, garlicky dipping sauce, it pairs perfectly with the juicy, tender pork.
Yibin Burning Noodles
Another standout dish, Yibin Burning Noodles (宜宾燃面 yíbīn ránmiàn) dates all the way back to the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty and is a staple in the region. Glossy noodles coated in chili oil are topped with green scallions, mustard greens, white sesame seeds and crushed peanuts. The chili and numbing mala spices are balanced out by the umami flavors of the mustard greens and peanuts, creating an incredibly moreish dish.
Gongxian Shangluo Steamed Beef with Rice Flour
Named after Shangluo Town in Gongxian County in Yibin, Gongxian Shangluo Steamed Beef with Rice Flour (珙县上罗粉蒸牛肉 gǒngxiàn shàngluó fěnzhēng niúròu) is sure to be a hit with spice lovers. Rice flour spiced with Sichuan peppercorns, star anise and sand ginger is mixed with minced fermented broad bean paste, pickled ginger and pickled chilies. Chunks of beef are then coated in this mixture, placed in bamboo steamers, and steamed over high heat until the beef is super soft. The dish is finished with a sprinkling of red chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, scallions and cilantro for a dish that really packs the heat.
Cornmeal Bun
A great after-dinner snack, these Cornmeal Buns (苞谷粑粑 bāogǔ bābā) are made following traditional methods where glutinous rice flour, wheat flour, and granulated sugar are blended and mixed together and then wrapped in corn husks and steamed. A beautiful golden yellow color, they're soft, sticky and slightly sweet.
Brown Sugar Ice Jelly
Finally, as a sweet treat to finish your meal, there is the Brown Sugar Ice Jelly (红糖冰粉 hóngtáng bīngfěn). A beloved and popular street stall and night market snack in Yibin and the wider Sichuan-Chongqing area, Brown Sugar Ice Jelly is the perfect cooling and heat-relieving dessert to enjoy after indulging in spicy food. Simmered brown sugar is mixed with water and ice jelly powder for a sweet and smooth jelly that's finished with a variety of toppings like raisins and tapioca balls.
The featured Yibin Guest House dishes can either be purchased as a special set or can be enjoyed as part of Kerry's Kitchen Buffet. For the special sets, there are three options:
- Yibin Burning Noodles and Cornmeal Bun: RMB 68
- Yibin Burning Noodles and Gongxian Shangluo Steamed Beef with Rice Flour: RMB 78
- Yibin Burning Noodles, Lizhuang Boiled Pork (small portion) and Brown Sugar Ice Jelly: RMB 158
For the buffet, the prices are as follows:
- Weekday Lunch: RMB 188/person
- Weekday Dinner: RMB 168/person
- Weekend Lunch or Dinner: RMB 610/couple
We think that going for the buffet option is a great choice because it allows you to pair the Yibin specialties with Kerry's Kitchen's vast array of other delights. Included in the buffet, they have everything from sushi, chuan'r and malatang to Western dishes and beyond.
If going for the buffet, our personal recommendation would be grabbing some of Kerry's Kitchen's amazing chuan'r – they've got lamb, beef, pork and more to choose from – and covering it in their mala spice blend for the full Sichuan experience! Alternatively, if you're all spiced out from the Yibin dishes, they've got a staggering nine different sauces and spice blends available, so whatever you're in the mood for, there's plenty of choice.
The Delicacy of Yibin collaboration is taking place at Kerry's Kitchen from now until Oct 31. You can purchase set meals by scanning the QR code below, or scan the QR code in the poster above for buffet options.
Kerry's Kitchen
1/F, Kerry Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区光华路1号 嘉利酒店1层
Hours: Mon-Fri, 6.30am-10.30am, 11.30am-2pm, 5.30pm-8.30pm; Sat-Sun, 6.30am-10.30am, 11.30am-2pm, 5.30pm-9pm
Phone: 010 8565 2088
READ: Four Things for the Week Ahead in Beijing (Sep 22-28)
Images: the Beijingers, courtesy of Kerry's Kitchen
