The English Tearoom
It’s high time for high tea
Traditional British food is known (and sometimes derided) for its simple ingredients. A good meal is believed to consist of “meat and two veg.” One of the vegetables is usually potato, which is roasted, boiled and mashed, or fried. It is said that the English will drop everything for their afternoon tea, although this is becoming less and less the case. The hallmarks of this rather modest cuisine can be attributed to the Puritans, who were averse to strong flavors like garlic. With the influx of immigrants after World War II, more exotic dishes started appearing on menus across the country – including the beloved chicken tikka masala. But when it comes to quintessential English food, think fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, black pudding, and the full English breakfast (toast, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, bacon, fried eggs, and baked beans). For a sweet ending, pies, pasties, scones, and crumble all go down well with a spot of English tea. Dana Cosio-Mercado
Also try: Fish Nation, The Swan with Two Necks, Alfie’s Beijing
Recommended Dishes for Kids
– Fish and chips: Slivers of fish are deep fried in breadcrumbs and served with a choice of regular fries, sweet potato fries, mushy peas, or baked beans. RMB 38.
– Little Shepherd’s Pie: Ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, and gravy topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar, then baked. Served with small salad. RMB 38.
– Cheese Teddy Toasts: White toast cut into the shape of a teddy bear and topped with cheddar, then baked. RMB 28 for a small order, RMB 35 for a large order.
Family-Friendly Checklist
– Non-smoking? ✓
– Clean bathrooms? (The English Tearoom has Western toilets as well as kid-sized toilets and sinks). ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? (High chairs available) ✓
– Healthy food selections? (The menu is designed by a nutritionist, and all the food is preservative-free.) ✓
– On-table distractions? ✗
– Kids’ play area? (Designed for younger children, the Children’s Tearoom has lead-free toys from Europe and a playpen for babies.) ✓
– Child-sized portions? (Most of the items on the regular menu can be made in kids’ portions.) ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✓
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✓
– Stroller-accessible? ✓
– Quiet atmosphere? (Toddler playgroups can be noisy and there are sometimes birthday parties.) ✗
– English menu? ✓
– Low prices? ✓
– Nearby parking? (There is lots of parking but it can be scarce on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings when there are religious services nearby.) ✓
– Booth seating? ✗
– Diaper changing table? ✓
– English-speaking staff? ✗
– Live entertainment or floor show? (No, but there are sometimes events like arts and crafts, storytelling, ballet, and music for toddlers.) ✓
The English Tearoom 英国查房
Daily 10am-7pm. Chuangyi Yuan (near Beidong Flower Market), 1A Shunhuang Lu, Sunhe Township, Shunyi District (8459 4407, 158 1099 8410) www.englishtearoombeijing.com
顺义区孙河乡顺黄路甲1号创意园内近北东花卉市场
South German Bakery
Hearty fare from the heart of Bavaria
German cuisine is rich and heavy with ample portions of meat, bread, and potatoes. Food plays a central role in German culture, as evidenced by fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel that showed lack of food to be the root cause of many problems. The country also has a strong tradition of baked goods. Pork and sausages make up a large part of the meat dishes, which are often served with sauerkraut, or sour fermented cabbage. Though the cuisine varies from region to region, German food is rarely spicy. In the north, common dishes include soups made from dried beans and Aalsuppe, a sweet and sour soup made from vegetables, dried fruits, and eel. Traditional southern cuisine includes dumplings, cheese noodles, sausages and sauerkraut, all of which can be found at South German Baker’s second-floor restaurant. Popular among families, the restaurant has a busy weekend brunch; reservations are strongly recommended since SGB only has 13 tables. The restaurant can also be booked for birthdays and other events, and offers catering services. Clemence Jiang
Also try: Schindler’s Tankstelle, Paulaner Brauhaus, Zeit Berlin
Recommended Dishes for Kids
– German breakfast: This sumptuous breakfast set (available all day) includes a mixed bread basket, butter, homemade jam, honey, cold cuts (salami and ham), cheese, a boiled egg, and one coffee or hot chocolate. RMB 76.
– Schnipo: Available from the children’s menu, shnipo is a breaded pork escalope that comes with French fries, ketchup and mayonnaise. RMB 46.
– Swabian noodles with creamy mushroom sauce: Spätzle, or Swabian noodles, is made from wheat flour and eggs. The hand-pulled noodles are served with a creamy mushroom sauce, which can be eaten as a side dish we well as main course for kids. RMB 34.
Family-Friendly Checklist:
– Non-smoking? ✓
– Clean bathrooms? ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? ✓
– Healthy food selections? ✓
– On-table distractions? ✗
– Kids’ play area? ✗
– Child-sized portions? ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✗
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✓
– Stroller-accessible? ✗
– Quiet atmosphere? (South German Bakery is quiet during the day, but its weekend brunch tends to get very busy.) ✗
– English menu? ✓
– Low prices? ✓
– Nearby parking? ✓
– Booth seating? ✓
– Diaper changing table? ✗
– English-speaking staff? ✓
– Live entertainment or floor show? ✗
South German Bakery 德南面包房
Daily 9am-10pm (restaurant), 7am-10pm (bakery). 27 Lucky Street, 1 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District (5867 0201) 朝阳区朝阳公园路1号好运街27
photos by SUI
This article originally appeared on p52-54 of the beijingkids January 2014 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com