There’s always a bit of excitement whenever we hear about a good food supplier. “Really? You can get wagyu beef delivered to your house?” But in all actuality, getting restaurant-quality ingredients is surprisingly easy if you know where to look.

Here are just a few of the WeChat groups for wonderful suppliers, and their amazing deals.

Steaks Promotion

Trader Joe has weekly deals for carnivores. Each week he sends the group a package promotion, including a combo of popular cuts, and even some free cheese, olive oil, and seasoning now and again. I order from Trader Joe’s all the time. The steaks arrive still frozen the very next day via SF Express. This week’s latest promotion is five 200g black Angus grain-fed Sirloin plus 1kg grass-fed French lamb, five 150g corn-fed beef patties, and a free bottle of Spanish olive oil all for RMB 499. Time to get your beef on!

To join, add Trader Joe on WeChat: a664978432

Morgan’s Cheese and Wine Group

The name pretty much says it all: This is a group for wine and cheese lovers. Yusan shares wine and cheese deals with tasting notes throughout the week. Recently, they began adding cold cuts to their group as well. The latest promotion is for nine pieces of cheese including three 125g Camembert, one 125g brie, two 100g Danish Blue, one 150g Spanish goat cheese, and two 150g Manchego for RMB 376.20.

To join, add Yusan on WeChat: hhhhh1407

We Love Wine

Again, it’s all in the name! If you love drinking wine, then this group is for you. Jacquelin WinePimp sends out deals and pairing recommendations throughout the week. She also organizes wine tastings with friends, which she calls her WTF events. The next WTF tasting will be on Sep 11 and will feature an afternoon tasting of nine different wines plus nibbles and a buffet of cold cuts for RMB 290.

To join, add JacquelinWinePimp by scanning the QR code.

Always Fresh – Organic & Healthy

Always Fresh sends photos and promotions on a pretty regular basis, meaning it’s a great way to save on guaranteed organic fruits and veggies that are delivered straight to your door. Their latest promotion is for 2.5kg of grapes for RMB 98. They also organize monthly specials for weekly organic veggie deliveries.

To join, add Always Fresh on WeChat: YJSG201918

KEEP READING: Guide To Buying Organic Produce in Beijing

Images: Pexels, courtesy of group admins

Life before new motherhood meant that I used home services not only for the convenience but also for the luxury of it. The notion of having my hairstylist care for my tresses while binge-watching my Game of Thrones box set, or having my beautician tend to my weary cuticles in the comfort of my own home would have seemed far-fetched, and not to mention an expensive non-option before moving to this great city, where almost everything is at your fingertips.

Nails, hair, massage, groceries – whether working from home, starting life as a new mother or just plain lazy and needing a break from the outside world, Beijing’s online community and platforms make it easy for anyone to live life as a hermit for a day or two depending on your in-house needs.

Nowadays, five weeks into caring for a newborn, it’s vital that I take advantage of services that offer the option to remain indoors. This has mostly been due to poor air quality, but has not been a bad excuse for times when I just don’t want to leave my apartment. A few days ago, my mom watched in astonishment as I sat in my rocking chair, baby in hand, while I was pampered hand to toe by one of the finest nail technicians in the city – I’ll tell you what I told her, give hermit life a go!

Nails – Xiao Fei
Xiao Fei will polish, buff, clip and soak you into happiness with her professional nail-care service. Xiao Fei and her trusty partner travel all over Beijing, offering a number of beauty services in the comfort of your abode. Not only does she give excellent manicures and pedicures finished off with neatly applied shellac of all colors but can tend to your eyebrows and waxing needs. If you are looking for convenience wrapped up in professionalism, then give her a try. She’s always on time and arrives with a smile. You have to be quick though, her services are in demand, so it’s worth booking at least a few days in advance. WeChat: ZXF19930710

Massage – Angela
Angela is not only a wonderful masseuse but is highly trained in prenatal massage. She is a wonder with all kinds of strains and pains and can click you right back into place where you will find blissful respite from everyday stresses. I used Angela throughout my pregnancy and was extremely happy with her professional service. Her schedule is flexible, and she can work miracles with her hands. Angela doesn’t speak any English, but what’s WeChat good for, if not for its handy translation capabilities, and if you’re anything like me, who wants or needs conversation during a peaceful massage? Make sure to have your preferred lotion or oil on hand. My preference is Arnica Oil – smells divine, soothes, and leaves skin moisturized but not sticky! WeChat: qin635041

Hair – Jasmine
Jasmine has experience handling different hair types, she not only cuts and styles but is a wizard with color. As far as color technicians go, you will do well to find someone as awesome with highlights and new trends as Jasmine. Although working for a high-end hair salon in Sanlitun, Jasmine often makes time for home visits on evenings or on the weekends. Reasonably priced, when she works her magic on locks of any kind, tresses long or short, curly or straight will be left looking salon-finished. My suggestion? Kick back, get the kettle on or the wine on ice, get box-set ready and be prepared to be beautified hermit style – in your home! WeChat: Jasmine523698

Groceries – Carrefour
If you’re not already familiar with the French supermarket chain, Carrefour, then you also might not be aware of the same day and next day delivery options available using their online service. Not only can you have your groceries delivered in time slots between 9am and 10pm, you can sign up for home deliveries using the English version of the website. Take advantage of the convenience of a comprehensive customer service line accessible via email or telephone, also all in English. Order before 9am and have your items delivered to your door on the same day, or select a time slot for the following morning, afternoon or evening. Sign up is quick and easy. Tip: have your address in Chinese handy to help with the sign up for accuracy. www.carrefour.cn

It’s time to treat yourself, and indulge in services accessed and secured through the touch of a button and executed in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Don’t fight the hermit in you, take a break from the notorious stifling Beijing summer heat and crowds, and put that change you’ll spend on a Didi towards a bottle of your favorite wine. Enjoy!

Photos: Adobe Creative Cloud

In a bid to save some time and get dinnertime streamlined I decided to pick up Sunday morning batch cooking. Sometimes I forget that I’ve been a chef for 15 years and that cooking lots of food is something I am very good at. I will share my tips and tricks for a smooth batch cooking session.

Preparation is key and I started on Friday to make the menu for the week, then made a grocery list. I won’t share recipes just general ideas of what can be cooked. I spend 1.5 hours in the kitchen and had all our meals and snacks prepped for the week. Again I have worked as a chef for many years so I might be a bit faster than the regular home cook. I saved so much time over the week not having to cook or to think about what to cook.

Monday– Pasta with Meat Sauce

Tuesday– Roasted Root Vegetables with Sausage

Wednesday– White Bean Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Thursday– Mashed Potatoes with Meat Sauce and Broccoli

Friday– Crockpot Chicken

Saturday– Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Peas

Sunday– Restaurant Night

I started with turning on the oven for the grilled vegetables and sausage. Then I peeled and cut all the veggies and potatoes. I put my sweet potatoes carrots and sausage in a baking dish to roast while I prepped away. I then browned all my meat for the meat sauce and put it into my crockpot to simmer all day. I precooked my pasta so on Monday I only have to heat up the meat sauce together with the pasta. Two meals done.

I then put the potatoes on for the mashed potatoes and blanche the broccoli, and get a big freezer bag to toss all the ingredients from the crockpot chicken inside and popped this in the freezer to take out a day before and then put in the crockpot in the morning of the day we eat it. I blended all my ingredients for the soup, so on the day it only requires heating up and making the grilled cheese sandwiches.

The salmon with eggs needs no prep as I just make scrambled eggs and toss the rest of the ingredients inside. I also cut up some salad, carrot sticks, cucumber, pineapple and orange. Then I wizzed up some hummus. for snacks during the week. Fridge full, and a kitchen dirty but now we have meals for the entire week.

My Tips For Batch Cooking 

• Make an easy menu, no need for gourmet meals every night. Some dishes can be used for 2 days.
• Make plans and think what would need the longest cooking time and start with that dish.
• Have one really easy dinner night, for me its eggs and salmon.
• Start with recipes you know and are comfortable with, no need for a whole week of experiments.
• Take a night off and order dinner or go out for dinner, I like to do this on batch cooking day as I don’t feel like eating at home after I have cooked all of this food.
• Have somebody help you with the clean up after you are done with your batch cooking.

Picture Credit: Pauline van Hasselt and Pixabay

My first mission when we moved to Beijing was to find a grocery store where I could do my weekly shopping. It has been quite a roller coaster eight months since we have arrived in Beijing. I have found normal markets, big supermarkets, small supermarkets, international supermarkets, and Chinese supermarkets. I have tried online grocery services, but something always went wrong. I had heard of METRO supermarkets but the idea of needing a membership card was just a bit daunting. I tried to get the METRO membership card online but it did not work so I continued to shop at Carrefour, Jinkelong, Jenny Lou’s, and the Sanyuanli market. However, shopping regularly at these spots can be bit of a hassle with a toddler.

As with loads of difficult situations as an expat, conquering these hurdles was just a matter of putting on my brave adult boots and trying to find a solution to my grocery woes. I sent an email to customer service at METRO asking if I could get a membership card in the store. The service representatives informed me that I could. My ayi wrote down the address for the closest METRO in my taxi book and off me and my daughter went to the location.

When my daughter and I arrived we found enormous shopping trolleys, unfortunately with no children’s seats, but since my daughter is almost four she just sat in the trolley and occasionally walked herself. They do have a public toilet and seating area by the entrance of the store.

I took my passport, address, and phone number to customer service and filled out the majority of the form, after which a nice gentleman filled out my address in Chinese. The employees at the service desk were very friendly and helpful even if they did not speak English. After filling out the form, the lady put all the information in the computer and printed my free membership card. I then had to scan two QR codes so that if I forgot the card at home I could still use the digital WeChat membership code.

We entered the Aladdin’s cave of grocery stores. One has the option to buy in bulk or simply buy regular portions of items. They have everything Carrefourour has and more. The cleaning supplies, personal care, and canned goods are all cheaper than anywhere I have been thus far. I have found several hard to find products like: pizza bases, frozen peas, and sugar-free yogurt.

The grocery store is surprisingly clean and devoid of ladies screaming through microphones. METRO has home delivery service and if you spend RMB 2000 they will deliver all the groceries for free, in the area, on the same day. If you want to get home delivery but not spend this amount separate your groceries and take the fresh supplies home with you, as they don’t guarantee same day delivery. Make sure to inform the cashier that you want home delivery before they start scanning your groceries.

This place is great for a monthly grocery trip, for the needs of big families, and batch cooking. I felt so happy after this grocery shop experience that I felt compelled to share this information with my fellow expat shoppers. My experience at METRO was as easy and relaxing as a grocery store experience can be with a toddler in tow.

Pauline van Hasselt has been working for beijingkids since October 2016. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of last year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

Before expat families register for an online Ayi training course, I always approach the subject of shopping. Often they tell me to find it easier to do the shopping themselves because their Ayi does not really know how to shop, that she shops only for fresh products like fruits and vegetables, or she sometimes even categorically refuses to be in charge of shopping.

Have you once put yourself in your Ayi’s shoes and tried to understand why?

There are some very simple reasons for resistance.

First, make sure that this is not a practical issue:

– Perhaps she considers that she has enough work or that it is not her job. Or she thinks you have enough time to handle it. This is quite possible. One of my students told me one day, “But why does not she do the shopping? She does not work after all … ”

– If shopping means walking or cycling and carrying heavy bags, that is understandable. A little help from a driver might resolve the issue.

But in most cases, this is a matter of apprehension.

Your Ayi is afraid of making a mistake and coming back with the wrong products. Buying fruits and vegetables is not rocket science, but buying meat, fish, or imported products can be a real headache. Here are the reasons:

– You will have noticed that we do not necessarily eat the same meats. Pork and chicken are part of their everyday life. We appreciate beef and lamb; meat they eat little or very little. Moreover the way of cutting meats is often different.

– Your Ayi is not comfortable in a supermarket of imported goods. She is lost in the different aisles, and doesn’t know the brands. She cannot decode the labels. Do you remember the first time you set foot in Carrefour? I remember it as if it were yesterday, what a stress. Yet it was 10 years ago!

– Alternatively, she might be lost with all the different brands and will not know which brand to choose if the one you use in general is out of stock.

– She will naturally buy cheap, local products with Chinese inscriptions that she can understand. The prices of imported products are so disconnected from her level of income that she doesn’t want to spend astronomical sums. Let me give you an example. Imported fresh mozzarella costs between RMB 30 and RMB 90 per package! The price is one to three times her hourly salary and the equivalent of a meal for a family in a local restaurant.

– Finally, she might be confused with all the different brands and product varieties. How can she find Emmental or Cheddar sold in squares for hamburgers, shredded in a bag, or in bloc.

As you can see, there are good reasons for not wanting to go shopping.

So how do you overcome these hurdles?

You can simply tell yourself that your Ayi will be in charge of fresh products. On your side, online supermarkets like Epermarket.com in Shanghai or Carrefour have many imported products but also fresh products like meat. So why complicate your life with forcing your Ayi to shop?

Otherwise this is what I always advise. You can start by going to the supermarket together. Explain her how it is organized, where to find the products, what brands you like, and give her choices. Spend a moment in the meat department to explain the pieces you like. Show her where the expiration dates are and other important points of shopping.

Another important point: reassure her. Tell her that if she is wrong, it is not dramatic. You will always be able to consume the product or bring it back.

Finally, the prices of imported products can make it uncomfortable for her and you too! So explain why it is so expensive, what the difference is compared to a similar Chinese product and why you are willing to spend that sum.

Try these techniques and tell me about it!

Olivia is from South of France and is a food lover with an eye for nutrition. When she arrived in China she felt the need to iron out everyday kitchen problems so decided to teach her wonderful Ayi about balanced meals by introducing her to Western food culture. “Cuisine mei wenti” Academy was born out of this need. Later in 2014, as she became a busy mum, she realized how cooking varied food for her little girl was important. Follow her on wechat: guinebaultolivia, email her at info@cuisinemeiwenti.com, or sign up for her newsletter on www.cuisinemeiwenti.com/blog, where this article originally appeared. Also take note, her online classes for ayis are now available.

I always told myself I’d never be one of those parents who uses their kids to interpret for them. Now, after 15 months in Beijing, I’m one of those parents who uses their kids to interpret for them.
Noah (10) and Joseph (7) attend Yew Chung International School (YCIS) of Beijing, and their Chinese proficiency has accelerated so fast that it’s left their mother and I choking on their dust. One reason for this, I’m convinced, is YCIS Beijing’s co-teaching model, in which classes are taught simultaneously in both English and Chinese. They’re learning the language not only formally in lessons, but also from hearing it spoken all day long. As a result it comes naturally to them, and they’re able to understand and respond easily in real life situations.
To put this to the test, I took them down to the market to buy some vegetables.
“Get some potatoes,” I tell the boys, “and I’ll make chips.” (That’s French fries to you non-Brits.)
Their enthusiasm for the task immediately increases.
“土豆 多少钱?” (tǔdòu duōshao qián) they ask – how much are potatoes?
“土豆三 块一 斤,” (tǔdòu sān kuài yī jīn) the stallholder answers – potatoes are RMB 3 for half a kilogram.
(The jīn is a traditional Chinese weight, sometimes in English called a “catty”, which is where we get the word “[tea]caddy” from. It’s been metrically rounded to 500 grams, or 600 grams in Taiwan, and remains the usual measure for food in both markets and supermarkets.)
The boys pick out some spuds and hand them over to be weighed.

“If we were in the south of China I’d have asked for 马铃薯 (mǎlíngshǔ),” Noah tells me. “土豆 there means peanuts.”
We buy lettuce (生菜, shēng cài) and tomatoes (西红柿, xī hóng shì). “That means ‘western red persimmon’,” Noah says, and I am amazed. When I was his age I didn’t even know what a persimmon was.

“二十四块”(èrshísì kuài) is the final bill. I hand the money to Joseph, who counts out RMB 24.

“你的中文说得很好,” (nǐde zhōngwén shuōde hĕn hǎo), the stallholder says to the boys, and even I understand that, because I’ve heard it said to them so often: “You speak Chinese very well.”
Joseph says “谢谢.”
Then she turns to the man who has been watching the 老外 children shopping.
“这些男孩真的漂亮,” (zhèxiē nánhái zhēnde piàoliang), she says.
“What does that mean?” I ask Noah, and he blushes.
“She said these boys are really handsome.”
Of course. They take after their father. Ahem.
But it’s YCIS Beijing we have to thank for their 中文说得很好.

This post is sponsored by YCIS Beijing

Photos: Uni

Net Savings is a regular series in which we spotlight businesses and services that accept mobile payment methods like online banking, Alipay, WeChat Wallet, and Baidu Wallet to help you get the most out of life in Beijing.

I live in a bustling neighborhood with a major public hospital, so you would think that getting groceries is a straightforward task. Not so – fruit vendors cater mostly to hospital visitors with overpriced gift baskets and the nearest wet market is across a major thoroughfare. I once got into an argument with a fruit stand that charged me RMB 6 for two bananas.

Recently, I tried a fruit delivery app called Yimixian. The company’s ethos is “freshness, quality, safety, and health,” and currently operates in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Nanjing with plans to expand to other Chinese cities.

Yimixian has its own cold chain system and picks all fruits before dawn to ensure integrity. Products are also carefully packaged for delivery (a bit over-packaged, chides my treehugging side).

Orders can be made through Yimixian’s WeChat store (account name: yimixianlife) and the app (available for iOS and Android). The WeChat interface was a bit glitchy on my iPhone 5, so I used the app instead.

The first step is to sign up. Enter your mobile phone number, then the verification code that texted to you. Then you’ll be asked to enter your address in Chinese.

The main screen classifies fruits according to category. The first three (see green box) are current deals and popular fruits: 特价换购 (special prices on specific fruits if the bill total meets a minimum amount), 限时抢购 (time-limited offers), and “Top 10” (self-explanatory).

The next three sections rather arbitrarily classify products according to shape: 圆圆的 (round fruits like apples, pears, and oranges), 带串的 (clustered fruits like grapes, field cherries, and bananas), and 大个的 (large fruits like papaya and dragon fruit).

The last category, 超值套餐, gathers good-value fruit “combos.”

When you’re ready to check out, you’ll be asked to confirm your address and choose a time range for the delivery as well as a payment method (WeChat Wallet or Alipay).

The second half of the checkout screen details your order contents and any discounts you’re entitled to. When you’re ready, click the orange button and you’re done! Await your delicious fruit order.

In addition to app-only deals, Yimixian members are often notified about other promotions through SMS. On Wednesdays, for example, you get RMB 15 off your total bill if you spend RMB 30 or RMB 10 off if you spend RMB 25.

Sijia Chen is a contributing editor at beijingkids and a freelance writer specializing in parenting, education, travel, environment, and culture. Her work has appeared in The Independent, Midnight Poutine, Rover Arts, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @sijiawrites or email her at sijiachen@beijing-kids.com.

Visuals: Celeste Lindell (Flickr), screenshots by Sijia Chen

Like me, you’ve probably noticed tatsoi before in supermarkets. This member of the Brassica family looks somewhat like a squashed head of lettuce, with dark green leaves radiating from the center. It’s known in Chinese as tacai (塌菜), takecai (塌棵菜), or wutacai (乌塌菜), and in English as spinach mustard, spoon mustard, or rosette bok choy. The hardy tatsoi can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C, making it an excellent winter alternative to leafy greens like spinach. It’s best stir-fried, sautéed, steamed, or used raw.

Asian Miso Sesame Soba Stew with Tatsoi
This simple vegetarian recipe from the Daily Meal is tangy and light, with tatsoi stirred in right at the very end for a shot of color and nutrition.

Ginger Beef Stir-Fry with Tatsoi and Jasmine Rice
This Blue Apron recipe makes heavy use of hoisin sauce and Thai basil for an easy, aromatic stir-fry.

Tatsoi Salad with Warm Maple Dressing
Yes, you can use tatsoi raw in salads. Lady Locavore (VPN needed) has a version with toasted pecans, red onion, mixed salad greens, cucumber slices, and crumbled goat or feta cheese with a dressing made of maple syrup and apple cider vinegar.

Tatsoi with Avocado and Egg
Short on time for breakfast? The Sweet Beet has you covered. Just throw together some avocado, a fried egg, a handful of sautéed tatsoi, and a slice of rye bread for a quick and delicious start to your day.

Tatsoi Stir-Fried with Mushrooms, Carrot, and Bamboo Shoots
It doesn’t get much simpler than this Douguo recipe (Chinese-only). Add some oil to a wok; throw in chopped mushrooms, carrot, bamboo shoots, and tatsoi; lightly salt; and stir-fry for a few minutes until cooked through.

Photo: baldeaglebluff (Flickr)

As westerners turn to apples and pumpkins in October, a little-known Chinese crop is coming into season: jiaobai (茭白), also known as wild rice stem or water bamboo shoots. According to The Hutong, jiaobai is a yin food that can "clear away heat, relieve thirst produce body fluids, promote urination, reduce dampness and induce bowel movements." Had one too many glasses of Pinot with the girls? Apparently jiaobai can help detoxify the body. Read on for five simple ways to cook with this vegetable.

Pork and jiaobai stir-fry 茭白炒肉丝 (jiaobai chao rousi) Former Time Out Dining Editor Shanti Christensen shares a three-step recipe for Nanjing-style pork and jiaobai stir-fry on her blog. Using ginger, green onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and chilies, the ingredients are basic and easy-to-find.

Stir-fried jiaobai and edamame 清炒茭白毛豆 (qingchao jiaobai maodou) It doesn’t get any easier than this, folks. Put sliced jiaobai and edamame beans into a wok, stir-fry with a bit of oil, remove from heat, and sprinkle with salt. Original recipe in Chinese here.

Jiaobai with mushrooms This recipe refers to jiaobai as "water bamboo." Jiaobai can often be substituted for young bamboo in recipes, owing to its firmness and mild taste.

Hot-and-sour jiaobai Featuring step-by-step pictures, this slightly Chinglish-y recipe uses chili sauce for a bit more of a kick.

Stir-fried three-veggie combo 炒素三丝 (chao su sansi)
This vegetarian recipe combines julienned jiaobai, carrot, and mushrooms. Simply toss them into a wok with a bit of garlic and oil, remove from heat, and add salt and chopped green onions. Step-by-step pictures with Chinese instructions here.

When produce is available year-round at Beijing’s farms and greenhouses, it’s easy to forget that each fruit and vegetable has its own sowing and harvesting cycle. Eating seasonally not only ensures the best-quality produce, it also helps maintain our body’s yin and yang balance, according to TCM. The Seasonal Eats series on beijingkids introduces foods best eaten this month.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Xiachufang,