“I want my favorite foods, and I want them now!” Ok, sometimes when I get hangry I start sounding like my toddler, but come on, there’s just something about having your favorite comfort food (whether it’s soup, carb overload, or desserts) that makes life so much sweeter.

Recently I discovered that Beijing’s new favorite Indian restaurant not only delivers all over the city, but all over the country as well! Owned and operated by Sk Rabiul Baksh, former Indian chef at the Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing, Dastaan Indian Restaurant has been building up a loyal group of foodie followers since it opened early last year.

Focusing on great food, cultural events, and now delivery even during Spring Festival, they’ll send you your Indian comfort food anywhere you go.

To get in touch, add Rabiul on WeChat at rabiulcool and be sure to ask him to add you to the Dastaan WeChat group, where you can get the latest information on the restaurant firsthand.

Find it:
3/F, Sanlitun SOHO 5 Shopping Mall, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯SOHO5号上场3层
Tel: 150 0135 8663

For those with a sweet tooth, Mary Sweets is an expat favorite. What started out as a small operation has grown to a bakery that makes cakes, donuts, cookies, and (my personal favorite) their brownies assortment (RMB 62), where you get six different pieces of their super moist brownies.

They’re taking a break for the Chinese New Year holiday and will be firing up their kitchen again on Jan 29. To check out their WeChat store, scan the QR code below.

Want more great eats that you can’t always find on Sherpas or Meituan, without ever leaving your home? Add Foodie Queen Ana Lourenco on WeChat at ana_linaxin and request to join her Beijing Delivery Specials WeChat group.

Images: Dastaan Indian Restaurant, Mary Sweets

KEEP READING: 6 Super Fun CNY Camps To Keep the Kids Busy

In another life, I’m a notorious over tipper. Even — or especially — when I had little money of my own to spare, I always added whatever I could to the tip jar, automatically calculating 25% for restaurant or delivery service, minimum. It likely comes from all my years of working for tips myself and knowing how hard a customer-facing position can be, especially in a world where “the customer is always right.”

Moving to a country where you don’t tip out of respect was a hard transition, so I channeled my energies towards the reviews or ratings at the end of a DiDi ride. It seemed like a no brainer way to show my appreciation and took just a few seconds.

I never think of rating my package delivery services, however. I certainly never dug back into an order once I had received it just to praise a delivery person for a job done well. I also rarely complained unless I didn’t get a package at all. After reading this article on npr about how overburdened and harshly punished delivery workers are in China, however, that will change.

According to the article, “Good customer reviews earn delivery workers virtual points in the app, which serve as a buffer against deductions. In the case of a late package or a three-out-of-five-star review, the app will knock off points. Too few points, and a worker gets fined….If Wang fails to garner at least one five-star review a month, he gets slapped with an $8 pay deduction. If someone complains by email, Wang is fined about $300, nearly a week’s wages. Lesser offenses can carry fines of about $30 to $80.”

Now I feel bad about a time last year when I ordered two small coatracks and neither one arrived. The delivery person said he only had one, and he offered to pay for the one he delivered to the wrong address, almost RMB 250. After reading that article, now I understand that it is possible only one was in his care, where it sounded like a weird trick at the time. Although I didn’t allow him to pay for the mistake, as it seemed like too much for one person to fix out of their own wages, I hope my messages to customer service didn’t cause him more trouble.

I usually don’t like to patronize companies who use such punitive measures, and that sentiment was echoed in one or two WeChat groups where I shared this article. It’s not always that simple, however, since ceasing to use delivery services ultimately only harms the very delivery people we want to help. Without more orders to deliver, they’ll likely lose their jobs, or get wages cut even more.

There’s no way to know what happens on the other side of a delivery, and I’ve never actively tried to get someone in trouble. But I’ve never gone out of my way to write a nice review either. I tend towards Baopals and PandaBoo, but friends use Taobao and showed me where to leave a rating:

I even returned to a recent order and reviewed it, for good measure.

This wasn’t just to make myself feel better, or so I could tout my virtue in this article. I know how difficult it is for me to get everything together, get the kids to school and myself to work, and that’s with a very family-flexible office a mere ten minutes away. I could walk there if necessary. The holidays are coming…who am I kidding? They’re here! And that means more deliveries, more traffic, more people upset, and probably more chances for screw-ups than normal. If there’s one thing I can do on a micro level that might mean a lot more to my receiver, it’s to take 30 seconds to rate and write a review for a job well done.

We have been talking a lot about gratitude and kindness around the beijngkids office lately, as it’s the theme of our next magazine. Let’s just remember that in this case, a job well done is merely a package delivered; where we might normally tip the minimum, we must type the minimum. Be thankful, be kind, and for goodness sake, leave a five-star review!

KEEP READING: How to Use WeChat Subscriptions For All Your Beijing Family News

Photos: Cindy Marie Jenkins, Public Domain Pictures

Whether you are North American or not, whether Thanksgiving has been added to the holidays you celebrate in Beijing or not, we can all agree that this year we have something to be thankful for. 2020 has not been the easiest year for any of us to surmount. One thing you don’t have to wonder about, however, is where to get a turkey while in Beijing. Even if you might not be planning to celebrate Thanksgiving, a nice roast turkey is a delicious treat for the entire family.

In the lead up to the 2020 Thanksgiving season, we will bring you the best Turkey deals throughout the city to make your festive season planning that much easier.

Raw or Ready-made?

If you have your own cherished ritual of Turkey prep and roasting, then the idea of getting a ready-made turkey might not be as appealing to you, You look to source for your own, to prepare your treasured secret family recipe. It’s not that difficult to source a raw turkey. Just because you don’t see it at the supermarket aisles doesn’t mean it isn’t readily available. Believe it or not, Taobao is a great place to get yourself a nice turkey! And for as little as RMB 238 for a 5.5kg bird, it does not sound like too bad a deal. Most turkey vendors on Taobao will offer same-day delivery through SF Express, so you might want to order it on a day you are sure someone will be home to receive the delivery.

Con Mucho Gusto!

So maybe you are a little on the fence about buying your bird off of Taobao. It’s quite understandable. Sometimes deliveries are delayed, and the last thing you need is a bird that’s been thawing for a few days on its way to your door. Then let El Gusto Argentino take the worry, frustration, and possible language barrier worries away from you. At a reasonable RMB 78 per kilo, El Gusto Argentino offers large 6-7 kg birds to be delivered to your door at no extra cost to you!

Breakfast Champion’s China-Proof Turkey Pack

If you are hoping to do it up big this Thanksgiving, and still have enough for the ever-delicious week of leftover meals, then Breakfast Champions has you covered. Offering an incredible assortment of Thanksgiving meats, from whole imported turkey to a whole Thanksgiving ham and Applewood smoked streaky bacon! With these offers, you will have enough to feed up to 18 people!

The Butler Did It!

Butler and White’s have made it easier to order your own bird on their platform. Whether you want it raw at RMB 375 or roasted to perfection at RMB 395, Butler and White’s has you covered. They are also offering a 10% discount for all orders made before Nov 15.

IPA and Turkey?

Beersmith might be the last place in the city you might associate with turkey that isn’t served as a side or as part of a delicious sandwich with a mug of beer, But not so fast! This year, to kick the festive mood into high gear, Beersmith is offering Beijingers the option of an authentic turkey dinner with a 5-6kg bird available for dining in at RMB 1,288 or as takeout at RMB 988! The turkey is not all, as Beersmith is also offering a side of Chardonnay-glazed baby carrots, sauteed brussels sprouts with Bacon, and roasted purple sweet potato! Just be sure to contact them 24 hours in advance. This offer runs from November 1 to December 31, so that’s your Christmas bird also sorted!

Thanksgiving Dinner Chef’s Table at the Hutong Kitchen

If you are looking for a more communal feel for your thanksgiving revelry, then Chef Olivia Nadine’s thanksgiving table might just be what you need. Promising to not only deliver a turkey roasted to perfection, but also Southern home-style gravy, cornbread stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, Olivia’s signature mac and cheese, classic garlic green beans, Southern-style greens, and that’s just the tip of the delicious iceberg. If you wish to enjoy this feast then be fast about booking your spot at RMB 368, as it has limited seating.

KEEP READING: Thanksgiving Meals Preview: Order Early!

Photos: Courtesy of Vendors, Mark Karanja, Unsplash 

The strip of shops just outside the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) campus on Laiguangying Dong Lu has seen a rapid revitalization in recent weeks, starting with Hulu taking over the space formerly occupied by Fella’s and ending with the opening this week of another branch of popular Japanese spot Hatsune.

In between, a new Indian spot operated by a former Ganges manager — Ganga Impression — has opened, as well as Hulu’s fast-casual/healthy dining option Peach in the spot formerly occupied by Doko.

All in all, the four new dining options have added variety to the strip and made it more of an attraction for the dense residential compounds that surround nearby school campuses such as WAB, the French International School of Beijing (LFIP), Harrow Beijing (HBJ), Daystar Academy, and The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB).

Hatsune’s newest location is just outside WAB

The new openings make for stellar compliments to other, longer-term food options on the strip, including South African restaurant Pinotage, Michael’s German Bakery, and the Secrets of Africa bakery/coffee shop (not to mention the Annie’s and the Comptoirs de France just a stone’s throw away).

In addition, rumor has it that Pie Squared, the Detroit-style pizza joint currently located in the shopping area north of Beijing Riviera, will be moving into the strip soon.

Ganga Impression brings an expansive new Indian menu and takeout options in the WAB area

While all this dining action may not merit a special trip from downtown, the revitalized row is a breath of fresh air for everyone living in the far northeastern corner of Chaoyang district between Wangjing/Lido and Shunyi.

KEEP READING: New Hulu by TRB is the Perfect Destination for Romantic Waterfront Dining

Photos: Michael Wester, Uni You

In the light of the coronavirus epidemic, expat families have taken drastic measures to keep their families safe. Communities all over Beijing have asked for temperature checks and registration, and some have closed off their compound to all non-residents.

But staying in only solves part of the problem. What about food? We’ve been on self-imposed quarantine for days now. Food supply is bound to start running low. For those who are adamant about avoiding supermarkets, what’s one to do?

One thing this city has in abundance is the ability to have anything delivered to your door at any time and the apps to make all of it possible. Even with the fear sparked by the coronavirus, it is still possible to get your groceries and takeaway meals delivered in a timely fashion. But how are you assured to get your groceries in 30 minutes or less? If you are still swearing by your Meituan, Eleme and Duodian apps, then you have clearly never heard of 每日优鲜 (Mei Ri You Xian).

Mei Ri You Xian has physical stores that serve as storage locations all around Beijing. Unlike delivery apps, they skip the step of going to the supermarket and the order is sent directly to the closest Mei Ri You Xian location, packaged, and delivered straight to you through one of their own delivery guys. Their company motto is fresh quality product delivered within one hour.

Advantages of the app:
1. It has an interactive interface.
2. The homepage has multiple options so you don’t need to navigate multiple pages to find what you might be looking for.
3. You are able to access different supermarkets’ products purely by category and not by supermarket or store name.
4. The homepage also displays all the products on offer per day so you are able to shop at a discount.
5. The app automatically updates your location, which means you don’t have to labor over keying in your Chinese address.

The only drawback I might mention is that the app is only in Chinese, and for those who aren’t entirely comfortable reading or typing in Chinese, it might be a bit of a nuisance.

How it works:
From top to bottom, you have your location finder on the top left corner marked as 送至 (SongZhi). Below that is your main search bar, and under that is your first stack of categories of what is on offer. The pictures are a helpful guide, so don’t worry too much if you don’t read Chinese. Under this is the all-important special offer stack, with numerous options each day, ranging from fruit to meat to alcoholic beverages.

• As you might imagine, much like any other app downloaded in mainland China, you will not only need to update your address, but you might need to link it to an e-money payment platform such as WeChat or Alipay, or your banking app if you have one installed on your phone, which you will find at the bottom right-hand corner marked 我的（wǒ de, “Mine”).

• Once you have set up both your address and payment system, you may now choose to browse what is on offer according to category, or you might choose the second option on the bottom toolbar labeled 分类 (fēn lèi, “category”) for a more detailed shopping list.

• The app does not classify its products by stores and brands but according to proximity. Once you have selected what you might want to buy and added them to your cart, you can proceed to the checkout counter, pay, and await delivery.

Disclaimer: Usually, Mei Re You Xian delivers your groceries in around just 30 minutes, but with their reduced staff during Chinese New Year and the coronavirus outbreak reducing their team members even more, expect a longer delivery time. Also, depending on you where you’re located in Beijing, the delivery time may vary.

To download Mei Re You Xian, scan their QR code below:

Photos: Mark Karanja, fcn.technode.com, shanghai-zhaopin.com, www.libuqing.com, www.iyiou.com

Today (January 29) Sherpa’s announced that they’re temporarily suspending delivery in Beijing due to the severity of the coronavirus epidemic. This, of course, makes the lives of expats in Beijing that much harder as Sherpa’s has become to go-to source for food deliveries for us.

But fret not. There are still other apps still in full swing that’ll get your favorite foods (and more) delivered to your door. All you need to do is download one of the Chinese delivery apps and learn a few keywords. You can get your food, groceries, face masks, thermometers, and other necessities delivered to your door.

In this post, we shall be looking at Eleme (饿了么), a close contender to the more popular Meituan (美团) which is also used by many an expat for shopping and delivery.

Here is how it works:

1 – After downloading the app from an app store of your choice, input your address, and your telephone number which will come in handy during delivery.

2 – After keying in the all-important details, it is now time for you to explore the options on your home page. The five large top icons are mostly what you will need in order to have things delivered to your house. If you want them to run specific errands to places not listed in their options, click the run errands option (second from the right) and provide very specific instructions on where to go and what you want.

3 – Input the name of your favorite restaurant. Chances are if they were on Sherpa’s they’ll be on the Chinese delivery apps as well. While the names are listed in Chinese, each item has a picture next to it so you pretty much know what you’re getting. This adds an extra step, but to double-check your order, you can take a screenshot and put it through a translation app like Dear Translate.

Some stores might need you to hit a minimum in order to allow for delivery. Please note that during this period, there is a slight increase in delivery charges but this should not discourage you from searching for your mask.

Translations You Might Need:

facemask: 口罩
bottled water: 矿泉水
thermometor：体温计
handwash: 洗手液
disinfectant: 消毒液

Happy convenient shopping, and stay safe.

Photos: Mina Yan, shine.cn

The end of the year is here and no matter where you’re from or what religion you believe in; it’s a time for celebrations with friends and family. As someone who loves throwing small house parties, I can tell you it’s not an easy task. There’s the menu planning, shopping, preparing, cooking, table setting, entertainment, and when everything is done there’s the cleaning. Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy one of your own parties as much as your guests instead of worrying about every small detail?

Fortunately for us, there are a few places in Beijing that’ll essentially bring their restaurant to your home. In other words, give your guests a party to remember and enjoy yourself a party too. Leave the cooking, serving, and cleaning to the professionals.

Catering in Beijing isn’t something that’s as widely promoted as restaurant deals. There are only a few reputable options that you can depend on to give you your money’s worth, but at least there is an option for Health Food Catering, which is really important. Most function the same way with a preset minimum spending requirement and menu options that need to be decided days in advance, but each company’s rules still vary.

TRB Catering

Crowned as the world’s best fine dining restaurant according to TripAdvisor, TRB is known for impeccable service and great food. TRB Catering makes choosing easy with four menus (full buffet, multi-course dinner, canapés only, and the drink package) depending on what type of event you’re looking to throw. TRB’s signature dishes can be found on all the menus and if they’re a guest favorite in the restaurant, they’re sure to be a guest favorite at your party too.

Their catering team brings the same level of excellent service that we’ve all come to expect from TRB, Hulu, and Merci right to your home. For anyone looking to host a stress-free holiday party, the TRB team will let you enjoy the evening just like your guests.

Their team needs at least 48-hours prior notice to get everything ready and a minimum spending of RMB 10,000 for the entire event. When you’re ready to give the team the go-ahead, you’ll need to pay a RMB 5,000 deposit. Then, the rest of the work is all on them.

Based on what’s available in your kitchen or whatever exotic party venue you’ve decided on, the team will bring the proper equipment to make it work, but keep in mind that the more they need to bring, the more expensive your bill will get.

One of the things I love the most about TRB Hospitality Group is their flexibility. The menu is interchangeable to cater to dietary restrictions or just personal preferences.

www.trb-catering.com
catering@trb-cn.com
8400 2232

Annie’s Catering Service 

Annie’s isn’t where you go for fine dining, but most of us have at least one Annie’s plate or bowl in the kitchen. They offer comfort food at affordable prices. For those looking for a casual night of great food and company at home, the sharply dressed Annie’s catering team will bring all your favorites right to your kitchen counter. They require a minimum spending of RMB 4,000 for buffet meals and about 3 to 4 days of lead time, but as the Annie’s team tells beijingkids, they’ll try their best to accommodate last minute requests as much as possible.

Rain: 136 6116 5838
Eric: 186 1139 9728
Leo: 138 1192 7918
Marlon: 186 1908 8846

Flo Prestige 

Maison FLO is a Beijing dining institution that’s been serving up delicious French cuisine for years, and their casual dining restaurant Cafe Flo lets you have a taste of their incredible menu for a fraction of the price.

When it comes to catering, Sales Director Frankie Foo knows his job inside and out, having ca-tered numerous events large and small in all kinds of unique venues over the years. All you need to do is tell them how many people you’re inviting, the venue, and the date. He’ll do the rest.

Flo Prestige’s minimum spending is RMB 8,000 with a 48-hour minimum lead time, catering to at least six guests. They’ll bring the tables, the chairs, the sharply dressed waiters, and cooking stations for full buffets, sit-down dinners, backyard BBQ, cocktail parties… you name it, they’ll cook it.

Frankie Foo: 138 1167 0151
Frankie.foo@flo.cn

Caravan @ Home

We love the food and friendly vibe at Caravan. They’re not the first name to come to mind for home catering, but their fantastic menu and enthusiastic team have made their way into the hearts of Beijingers over the years. If you live within the 5th Ring Road, they can bring the whole caravan to your home.

For a minimum of RMB 3,000, imagine having all your Caravan favorites come directly to you. Caravan is one of those places that’ll do their best to accommodate, so even if you’re arranging a last-minute event, they’ll still try their best to give you a party to remember.

eat@caravanbeijing.com
8563 0801

This article appeared in the beijingkids December 2019 Giving Back issue

The holiday season is almost here, and that means the time for dinner parties, weekend brunches, and just all-around get-togethers with friends. It’s always good to have a few bottles of your favorite wines stored at home for those last minute dinner parties and impromptu friends’ visits.

Carrying wine home from the store is so old-school. Check out these companies that have your holiday party beverages covered and sent directly to your doorstep.

Signature Wine Club

Their motto is “convenience, quality, value”. By becoming a member of Signature Wine Club you receive three different wines a month all year long, giving you interesting bottles to try from around the world. If you really like a particular wine, their website offers the option to reorder at a discounted members-only price.

http://www.sigwine.com/gold-and-silver/

China Wines and Spirits

China Wine and Spirits (CWS) is known for supplying wine to a number of hotels and restaurants in Beijing. What they’re lesser known for is their online WeChat shop that’ll ship directly to your house. With wines starting at less than RMB 100, they’ve got deals for parties of any budget. Scan the QR code below to browse through their online shop.

All In Wine

WeChat group All In Wine offers free shipping and weekly wine deals for its members. To be added in one of their wine deal groups, WeChat Fani (fanigurevich).

Cheers

Cheers makes you smile. With stores all over the county, Cheers is synonymous with vino loving for every budget. Their new WeChat MiniApp lets you browse through their extensive supply of wine that can be delivered to your doorstep in less than an hour. Perfect for house parties, Cheers is offering “buy 5 get 1 free’ deals as well as selected bottles this month.

Cheers is devoted to wine education and drinking for wine lovers of every budget. To stay up-to-date on their monthly offers and activities follow them on WeChat.

Photos: courtesy of vendors, unsplash