When the kids ask what’s for dinner you can never go wrong with pizza. And when it comes down to deciding who’s got the city’s best pie, we’ve all got our own opinions. Thin crust vs. deep dish? Classic margarita vs. pineapple and durian? Round vs. square? Who’s to say what makes a pizza great? The Beijinger can! The annual Pizza Cup is back but due to COVID-19 restrictions, there wasn’t enough time to fit all the regular food events into Beijing’s six warm months, and since no one wants to eat pizza outdoors in the cold, the PIzza Cup is a bit different this year.

This year’s Pizza Cup is going to be decided with a Final Four Taste-Off indoors in the cozy confines of Boxing Cat Brewery, this year’s official beer sponsor of the cup, on Dec 19!

At the event, you will be served pizza from all Final Four contestants, drink beer, and make merry – but this is key: only those present who have tasted all four can choose the ultimate champion for 2020. It’s time to call the sitter and plan for a night out with just your grown-up friends and a lot of pizzas.

This year’s event is sponsored by JSS Food Delivery, the premiere food delivery app for Beijing and Shanghai, which features a fully bilingual interface. You’ll find using it a breeze – and you’ll also find a wide selection of popular restaurants, including ones you won’t find on other delivery platforms. All voters in the Pizza Cup will receive an RMB 30 coupon from JSS for any pizza order, and those attending the Taste-Off will receive even more valuable discounts and goodies from JSS.

Grab a slice, decision 2020 is on!

Book now to reserve your seats, as only 500 seats total are available for this exclusive event. We’ll be selling tables of 6 and tables of 4, with a very limited number of single seats available at the bar.

Each table will receive:

• Whole pizzas from the Final Four (leftovers are yours to take home)
• Craft Beer from Boxing Cat
• Beijinger beer mugs for everyone
• Hipster Pizza Cup 2020 beanies/ski hats for everyone
• Discount pizza vouchers from JSS for everyone
• and other surprises!

So gather your pizza-loving peeps and book your table for one of the following times:

Early Bird Lunch Session: 11am-1pm
Late Lunch Session: 1:15pm-3:15pm
Mid-Afternoon Session: 3:30pm-5:30pm
Early Bird Dinner Session: 5:45pm-7:45pm
Late Dinner Session: 8pm-10pm

Tickets will go fast, so book before you regret it for the premiere pizza event of 2020.

SCAN TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR THE 2020 PIZZA CUP TASTE-OFF

Scan with WeChat. Payment must be made with WeChat pay

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How the Pizza Cup 2020 Works

This year, we start off Pizza season with the annual Pizza Cup – our initial seeding list features 100 choices where you can choose those worthy of placement in our 32-slot World Cup-style elimination bracket. Voting starts today (Nov 27).

The list starts with last year’s Top 100. We eliminate those that have gone to the Great Pizza Oven in the Sky (RIP) and added all the newbies who have opened since our last Pizza Cup in November 2019.

The pies go head to head (or crust to crust) until but four remain… and that’s when we’ll leave it up to the 500 diners that have booked a seat for the taste-off.

So don’t miss out on the chance to try all four of Beijing’s best pizzas, choose the winner, and have a great time.

Here are the dates to remember:

• Friday, November 27: Preliminary Seeding Round is announced
• Friday, December 4: Bracket featuring Beijing’s Top 32 Pizzas is announced
• Thursday, December 10: Sweet 16 is announced
• Monday, December 14: Elite 8 is announced
• Thursday, December 17: Final Four is set
• Saturday, December 19: Final Four Taste-Off

 

Your Pizza Cup Taste-Off Questions Answered

Q. I am unable to attend the event but I would like to vote in the Final Four. Can I do that?
A. No. Final Four voting is available only to those that attend the event and try all four pizzas. However, we welcome everyone to vote in the earlier rounds of the Pizza Cup.

Q. Which four pizza establishments will be serving their pizza at the Taste-Off?
A. This is all dependent on the previous rounds of the Pizza Cup, where our readers vote for their favorites. We will not know the Final Four until the day before the event.

Q. What toppings will come on the pizzas?
A. We will be serving the most popular combo from each of the Final Four. Because we will not know who these four contestants are until the day before the event, we cannot predict what the toppings will be.

Q. Will there be vegetarian / vegan / halal / kosher / gluten-free options available?
A. While there is a chance one or more of the pizzas will meet one or more of these dietary criteria, it is unlikely that they all will and there are no options for ordering special menus.

Q. I don’t drink. Will there be non-alcoholic choices available?
A. Yes, soft drinks will be offered for those that choose not to drink.

Q. Can my child come for a discount?
A. While we welcome families to attend the event, the prices are the same for adults and for children. In other words, the prices are by the seat, rather than by the age of the attendee.

Q. What about my infant that will sit in my lap or stay in a stroller?
A. We recommend that you do not bring infants to the event, as it will likely be crowded and noisy. If you choose to, you will need to buy a ticket for them as well.

Now then, all these questions are making us hungry! Time to grab a slice and get those voting fingers all greased up and ready for the ballot box.

KEEP READING: What Makes a Family-Friendly Restaurant?

Images: Uni You, UNSPLASH

This period has been tough for all of us, but somehow, we have all managed to make it work. And by that, I mean we have been working from home. Protocols put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has seen us all adopt new schedules and routines, and its been working great for the most part. But all good things, even those borne from adversity must come to an end. In the coming days, those of us who are not yet back to work will be heading back to the office. Which will mean the resumption of the eternal question: what am I going to have for lunch?!

For all its convenience, Beijing and its convenient apps also have a nauseating amount of choice, making simple decisions like deciding on noodles over a burger over lunch paralyzingly difficult. But hotels like Grand Mercure Beijing Dongcheng Hotel has taken on the challenge to take the guesswork out of your midday meal, opting to provide more options available for delivery during this time. Promising carefully prepared, healthy meal choices for the hungry workers of Beijing, Grand Mercure’s offerings seem to be a safe bet. We spoke to Billy Jin, General Manager at Grand Mercure Beijing Dongcheng to find out just why hotels are now offering this new dining option and how choosing their offerings is not only a convenient but a smart choice for our lunch rush orders.

When will the delivery service start?

We’ve recently launched our delivery service to include a healthy selection of salads and our all-time guest favorite local Chinese dishes. We launched our delivery menu on April 8 and it’s been well received by both Chinese and ex-pats in Dongcheng. They’re great for those who are looking for a fast, healthy, and clean work lunch.

What made your company decided to venture into delivery?

COVID-19 has greatly impacted our industry as travel to Beijing significantly declined and the F&B industry faced new challenges. So as a way to sustain our F&B business, we decided to turn our guest favorites into delivery sets for people to enjoy in the comfort of their own home.

The hotel’s sanitation requirements and procedures are extremely strict which means that not only did our staff meet the city’s requirement, of quarantine, they also meet the additional requirements that the hotel as placed. Since everyone has now become even more conscious of health and sanitation, hotel restaurants have become the trusted safe choice for diners.

What is the menu available to clients?

The Grand Mercure is a brand that tempts travelers with a charming and inviting hotel experience that appeals to their imagination and an insatiable sense of discovery. For us, that’s Beijing. Following our brand motto, we put together two options of healthy salads and Chinese sets starting at RMB 38. These menu sets are created with health and local flavor in mind and with a price that’s as competitive as any restaurant.

How far will you be able to deliver the orders? For instance, will customers in Shunyi and Tongzhou also be included?

We’re using Meituan for delivery service which currently limits our range to the Dongcheng District area.

Where customers access the delivery services?

In-house guests can order by calling our restaurant directly from their room. For guests who aren’t staying in the hotel, our menu can be ordered through Meituan by searching “东方美爵酒店” if you prefer to have it delivered or through the hotel’s WeChat Mini-program by adding us on WeChat at “东方美爵酒店” if you’d like to pick up at the hotel.

How does it work? What is the process of ordering from start to finish?

After an order is placed either through Meituan or through our Mini-program, our chefs will immediately begin preparing the order, and the delivery service picks up the order from the hotel lobby. The entire process is done promptly with the name and body temperature of every staff who’s handled your food written on the order.

Do you guys have any sort of guarantee? i.e. Deliveries to be done within thirty minutes of ordering or something like that?

We understand that no one likes to wait too long for their food. When you place an order, you want your order to be at your doorstep immediately. From the time the order is received to the pick up from the Meituan delivery person, the entire process takes less than 45 minutes.

What is the philosophy of your company when it comes to customer service and satisfaction?

Customer service is our number one priority. We place the satisfaction of our guests above all else which is why we ensure that the hotel only uses the freshest ingredients, the menu that we prepare are both tasty, in season, and healthy, the food is prepared on time, and finally the sanitation, health, and safety of our staff and working environment are closely monitored.

Photos: Grand Mercure Beijing Dongcheng, unsplash

For the teachers and school staff planning their return trip to Beijing and nervously looking at 14-days of serious quarantine on campus or in their compound, fret not. Businesses in Beijing have done what they do best, they adapt.

While you might not be able to stroll down supermarket aisles and browse through piles of fruits and veggies, there are delivery apps that make it so you can get fresh fruits, veggies, meats, seafood, and your basic household supplies delivered right to your door.

For those living really far outside Beijing’s center, you’re not forgotten!

Grocery delivery apps like Mei Ri You Xian (每日优鲜) and You Zheng Can Dan（邮政菜单) make ordering fresh produce super easy and will deliver to almost anywhere in Beijing. Click on the name for step-by-step guides on how to use each app.

But local Chinese supermarkets won’t always have exactly what you’re looking for, especially when it comes to finding a wide variety of pastas, cheeses, cold cuts, and even truffle sauce. Now that’s a decadent way to spend quarantine… IF&B – Miele’s will ship authentic Italian goods straight from their warehouse for orders over RMB 250.

Aside from Italian ingredients, IF&B – Miele also offers Australian rib-eye steaks and homemade Neopolitan bread. Click here for their price list and scroll all the way to the bottom to add Giovanna on WeChat, who’ll organize your order.

If you’re too tired to cook, food delivery apps like Eleme (饿了么) will be able to deliver more local favorites to your door.

For those who are looking to spend their quarantine with a nice glass of wine or two, Cheers Wines can deliver a wide variety of vino to your door. If you’ve already used Cheers delivery before, you know the drill.

But, if you’re living somewhere really far from a Cheers store and outside of their usual delivery range, David from Cheers has offered to be your go-to person for all your wine needs. Check out the selection on their website and then WeChat (david-from-berlin) or call (131 4136 2843) to set up your delivery. If you’re living outside the 5th Ring, we recommend combining orders with your friends and neighbors.

Photo: NeONBRAND on Unsplash, Cheers Wines

Most of us are looking at another week spent quarantined at home, longing for the day when our lives can go back to normal. I for one like to look at the silver lining, and for a foodie, that means delivery from my favorite restaurants. Frankly, it seems like a no-brainer. Getting your comfort food delivered during a time like this can be just the pick-me-up you need to add a bit of normalcy to your day.

Many of Beijing’s favorite restaurants amongst expats have been creating new menus and delivery methods to get food from their kitchen to your table as fast as they can. Here a few comfort food delivery deals to get your week started in a tasty fashion.

Annie’s Italian Chef Starter Pack

From Feb 23 to March 31 they’re offering 20 percent off their “Annie’s ingredients selection package”. The package lets you try your hand at cooking up some Italian classics.

There are six items in the package, all of which have been reduced by 20 percent:

• Aceto Balsamico di Modena Etichetta Platino (250ml), originally RMB 136
• Creamy Modena balsamic vinegar (500ml) originally RMB 98
• Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil (750ml) originally RMB 96
• Anrini Modena balsamic vinegar (500ml) originally RMB 58
• Divella spaghetti #8 (500g), originally RMB 18
• Parmesan cheese (240g), originally RMB 80

Or, for those who want to just skip to the eating part and leave the cooking to the professionals, Annie’s will still be delivering their entire menu. Order directly from their WeChat account (anniesbeijing).

The Bake Shop

The Bake Shop now delivers carbo-loaded brunch sets! We’re in quarantine and, let’s be honest, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s the weekend or not. When you’re quarantined at home, any day is good for brunch.

They now offer four types of brunch sets (for 2 or 4 people) of either bagel and locks or freshly baked San Francisco style sourdough. And if that’s not enough to satisfy your belly, each set comes with their freshly baked giant scones.

For those who just want freshly baked bread and bagels, the Bake Shop will continue to deliver these carb-y delights every day as long as your order meets the minimum spending of RMB 68.

Scan the QR code to order directly through their mini-program.

Hulu Delivery

Keeping with the Hulu way of always staying new and fresh, Hulu Delivery has added three new dishes in their Asian Corner including a tofu pumpkin salad, gong bao chicken with rice, and Thai coconut chicken curry with rice.

On top of their new Asian Corner additions, Hulu will continue to serve up different three-course weekly set lunch options for RMB 98.

Photos: Annie’s, Hulu, The Bake Shop, unsplash

As we all know, Covid-19 has impacted not only families and schools, but continues to threaten many companies globally. One industry that may be overlooked is the food catering industry, and specifically, those that deliver food to schools.

Doko is one such company. Having started as a healthy food delivery service, they’ve since grown into three locations across the North East of Beijing, and currently serve many of the local international schools. Their team is made up of a driven and international group of individuals, led by Aleks, co-founder and head of Product Development.

We spoke with Aleks to find out how they are handling the outbreak, and what folks can do to stay healthy as it continues.

As we know, the Coronavirus has affected a lot of industries. How are you guys doing right now?

Doko is doing perfectly well. We feel like most of the Beijing community are probably feeling at the moment: ready to see everyone again! Our delivery services are running smoothly, and we are happy to be here and continue providing our services to the community during a time we are all encouraged to stay indoors. We just can’t wait to have more of the community back in Beijing, out of quarantine and enjoying the wonderful F&B scene Beijing has to offer.

How will your company handle this? Any specific measures you can share with us?

We will always remain optimistic and hope that things will go back to normal as soon as possible. The best thing we can do right now is to continue what we always have done and provide fresh, delicious, colorful meals to anyone that orders from us on the WeChat account.

How do you maintain food safety during this time?

These days, being in the Doko kitchen might feel similar to an operating room at Beijing UFH. We are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure our product is as safe and fresh as ever. On top of our regular kitchen hygiene and food safety routine, our staff are made to wash hands more frequently and wear surgical masks, which cover the nose and mouth.  We also monitor and record the body temperatures of all members of our team four times a day.

Since schools are postponed indefinitely, do you have any plans for schools you work with? Are there any other enterprises you are cooperating with?

We are in close contact with all of the institutions and schools we have formed relationships with over the years. From the sound of things, the community is just as eager to get the term under way again! As soon as we get the green light from the Beijing Government, it will be right back in to the swing of things as usual.

As a food specialist, what do you suggest people eat these days to stay healthy and keep their immune systems strong?

I would encourage lots of water, lots of exercise and a balanced diet with lots of veg. It is most important that during times where we are all encouraged to stay indoors, we don’t all resort to bad eating habits and melt into our sofas like butter on crumpets (even though that sounds deliciously tempting).

I do have a personal secret, which I would encourage anyone to use… Raw Garlic. If i am ever feeling like an immune system boost, I will eat a clove of crushed raw garlic and *POOF* my problems are solved. Make sure you carry chewing gum!

Exercise is essential! There are many theories that suggest exercise is linked to strengthening your immune system. For example, exercise raises your body temperature, which just like when your temperature rises when you catch the flu, helps prevent bacteria from growing!

I know my gym has been closed for a while now, and there has been no any indication of it reopening soon, so I have developed an in-house workout routine to keep me fit and active. Normally i will follow a HIIT workout with Joe from The Body Coach TV on Youtube. They are KILLER and leave you in a big sweaty mess but only last 20 minutes!

Photos: Doko WeChat

Great news for Shunyi families. Hulu by TRB has set up shop at Fella’s and will be cooking up their entire menu available for delivery starting today. Now they’ll be able to deliver all your favorite Hulu dishes to Lauguangying and its surrounding areas. With our without this Coronavirus self-quarantine, this is fantastic news for families in Shunyi who dread the idea of going all the way to Sanlitun just for a bit of culinary variety.

But don’t go looking up Hulu on your favorite food delivery app just yet. For now, you won’t find them on any of the apps. During the COVID-19 period, Hulu is taking extra precautions with your food to make sure that only their staff, whom they’ve been keeping a close eye on, are handling the orders. From preparations, cooking, packaging, and finally delivery, your order never leaves the hands of Hulu staff.

To order Hulu Delivery, contact them through WeChat by scanning the QR code below.

Photos: courtesy of Hulu by TRB

From food to groceries, there’s no shortage of delivery for those of us adamant to stay fully quarantined these next days. New to the delivery service hype is China Post; not the first name to come to mind when you want fresh groceries, but China Post, a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise has been a reliable name in delivery long before there was SF Express.

China Post has introduced a WeChat mini program called You Zheng Can Dan （邮政菜单） that lets you order eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruits with same-day delivery if you order before 10 am. To sign up is easy. Since it’s a WeChat mini program and not a separate app, all they ask for is your phone number to send you a confirmation code. Then you’re in.

Once you’ve logged in, selecting a category is easy since there are only three. All you need to do is select a photo of either the vegetables, fruits, or eggs. Then scroll around until you’ve finished selecting what you want to purchase.

Once you’ve added everything, select your shopping cart to proceed.

The first time you use the app you’ll need to enter your address. If you’ve already saved your address in your phone’s contact, all you need to do is give the mini-program permission to access your address book through a pop-up (in English).

If you need to make changes to your address, click on it to make the edits. Tip: if you don’t know your zip code you can put 100010 for Beijing.

After the address part is done, then the last step if to proceed to WeChat pay.

Scan the QR code below to access the You Zheng Can Dan （邮政菜单）mini program.

That’s it. Have fun cooking!

Photos: Mina Yan, Moneycrashers.com

Some call it a quarantine, I call it a staycation (sometimes). The timing is perfect. Hulu by TRB has just introduced their new service – Hulu Delivery. While some might think, ‘Yeah, what’s the big deal? Loads of restaurants are on food delivery apps.’ This one’s different.

Hulu is offering their whole menu to be delivered to your home by their own staff and since for most of us, Hulu is a place for comfort food where we’ve grown to know and love their team, it’s extra comforting knowing that my food was cooked by their chefs, packed by their team, and delivered to me by their own team member, without ever being handled by strangers.

During the beginning of Chinese New Year, they sent out their sanitation procedures through WeChat. The restaurant has been monitoring the health of the staff closely, requiring all staff to wear masks, cleaning all of their restaurants with disinfectants each day, and carefully checking their ingredients to ensure the safety of both their own staff and guests.

Yesterday Hulu officially announced the launch of Hulu Delivery.

One of the things I love about Hulu is their attention to detail when it comes to presentation. You’re not just eating with your mouth. You’re eating with your eyes too. With many restaurants, food prepared for delivery gets packaged so tightly that, while they still taste great, they look less than pleasing. Not here. My food arrived in a black Hulu box with a white TRB Restaurant bow on top. The last time I received a box like this was when I bought a Chanel bag. Hulu has made their delivery look like couture. Inside, along with my orders were handwritten notes of encouragement from the Hulu team. It was the perfect little pick-me-up.

According to Rutger Wildenborg, for the moment, “we will do the whole process from A to Z by ourselves as we would love to control the quality. For that reason, we will (for the moment) only do deliveries with pre-order (Wechat: ilovehuluforever) and limit to 25 orders for lunch and 25 orders for dinner.” He went on to explain that, “this current time has limited the availability of our packaging supplier so we will use very basic packaging.”

To get in touch with Hulu Delivery, scan the QR code below to add them on WeChat, ask for a copy of their entire menu, and enjoy.

Photos: Hulu, Mina Yan, unsplash

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