Food

Coming back from CNY holiday, my girls and I took a walk around Pinnacle Plaza to see what was new. Things we noticed were mostly in area restaurants…we must have been hungry! Here’s what we saw:

*Coming soon is a new Mexican grill called Avocado Tree! It is located right next to Johnson’s Computers, but doesn’t appear to be open yet (and there was no closed-for-CNY sign on the door like at many other establishments). It’s not a large place, but I’m personally hoping that it’s good, as Mexican options are much needed around here. It is pretty close to Mexican Kitchen, but then again, everything is close to one another in this area.

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In Beijing, we discuss food safety with the zeal of hardened sports fans. Every week seems to bring some fresh scandal about the things we eat and the products we use. But what about the dangers that lurk in our homes? One of the biggest culprits is the kitchen. For example, did you know that kitchen sinks are dirtier than public bathrooms? With that in mind, here’s how to thwart eight common food-borne illnesses.   

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Chinese New Year is coming, so is Midweek Giveaway. This week we are giving away an afternoon tea set for a family at Crêpanini.

The tea set includes:

• 4 sweets: simple crêpes
• 4 hot drinks or soft drinks

To win, simply comment on the post below with the answer to the question: What is your favorite sweet treat?

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Shortly after we moved to Beijing, I met my wife for lunch on a balmy afternoon and at the end of the meal, she asked our waitress for a fapiao and explained to me that it had a scratch off award area. She scratched away the silver bar and underneath was a prize for RMB 10. Beaming like the Cheshire Cat, she returned to the cashier to receive her cash winnings.  Ever since, I’ve been scratching away. Everywhere I ate, I requested a fapiao like a man desperate to win the lottery. However, after three years of fruitless scratching, I still had not won once. I decided this exercise in chance was futile and simply gave up.

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The holidays are in full swing and in Beijing the festivities extend clear to the end of January. It’s a time of gathering with friends and loved ones to celebrate our diversity of traditions and cultures. One theme that binds the various winter holidays together is food. A party, a celebration, a gathering simply is not complete without food during the holidays.

This past weekend, my family had the good pleasure of being invited to attend one of the biggest little dinner parties in Beijing as about 50 guests crammed into the home of Theresa and Q Ahdieh. There were some old friends, some new friends, and even people we simply did not have a chance to talk with. Children played games, adults played Rock Band on the X-box, and grown-ups swapped stories and good cheer.

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Thirteen days 'til Christmas, folks! If you don't have your act together - no presents bought, no decorating done and no recipes Googled, you ought to get on that. On that last front, we can help you out. Today's post is the first of three Christmas-themed posts, with a focus on Dining Out during Christmas. We've rounded up the jolliest Christmas Eve dinners for you to sink your merry little teeth into, and we've even got a free dinner to give away. For your chance to win a Christmas Eve dinner for two to the St. Regis, read on.

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Since my first expat friend back in my university, Kungbao Chicken and Sweet & Sour Pork have always been on my list whenever I eat with non-Chinese people in a Chinese place.  I just assumed the sweet and sour taste is a great bridge between the Chinese and non-Chinese dining culture until one day one of my co-workers shouted “We don’t only want to eat them! Some of us just don’t know what else to order!”

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The December issue of beijingkids is full of fun-indoor activities and excursions to keep you and your clan happy over the holidays.

Give yourself ten ways to celebrate Christmas in Beijing, and catch the spirit of Christmas and Hannukah from three families. Also, get a peek from behind the scenes of Beijing Playhouse’s wacky production of Cinderella. And if you're looking for ways to give, consider Beijing's local charities focused on helping less fortunate babies and young children.

The weather outside is frightful, but indoors is still delightful! Explore Joy City Chaoyang for shopping and playing - role playing at EE City, that is! Or warm up at one of Beijing's hot springs. We've also got a great winter craft for your kids: making your own snowman. He makes a great decoration for your home.

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This Sunday, at the British School of Beijing’s Christmas Fayre, you’ll find a curious little booth staffed by seven ladies who really want you to try their mustard. Don’t be fooled by the product’s benign yellow smoothness; its story is one of friendship and secrets that originates in the faraway place called Ohio, US.  

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