Beijing is a culinary wonderland where noodles float lazily on oceans of hearty soup broth, mountains of fluffy baozi reach into the heavens, and the smell of barbecue wafts through the streets like a dense morning fog.

Navigating your way through this illustrious landscape of traditional Chinese foodie bliss is enough to keep anyone’s belly full for a while. But once your sojourn is complete, or if you just feel like taking a detour every now and again, there’s always an eclectic mix of expats eager to share a new dish from their culture, and find fresh ways to spice up your palette.

On Sunday, Sep 22, local cooking-enthusiasts Sarika Dhami and Sharon Dekel will be hosting an Indo-Israeli Brunch Fest at Zhonghe Art Center (No. 190, Gaobeidian Ancient Furniture Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing).

Beginning at 11.00am, guests will be treated to a culinary adventure through India and Israel while indulging in some of the regions’ most classic fare. What’s more, given that Israel’s metropolitan hub, Tel Aviv, is known as the world’s most vegan-friendly city, the event promises to be a hit with all of our plant-based friends as well.

Indian favorites will include samosas, chicken lollipops, and tamarind and green chutney with Indian tea to wash it down, while the Israeli spread will consist of falafel, pita bread, two types of hummus, and Chinese tea. Tickets for the event run RMB 150 for adults and RMB 80 for kids, which, given the exorbitant prices usually charged for imported delicacies, seems like a particularly savory deal to us. In addition to the tasting, kids and parents will have a chance to bake some fresh pita bread, and be given the recipe so they can replicate this staple of Israeli cuisine at home.

“I feel like food connects people from all around the world,” Dekel tells beijingkids. “They can explore different flavors [and]histories around food, so it’s a really major experience in any culture that you are interested in getting to know. By doing Israeli food and Indian food in China, all the cultures come together, and we’re bringing our homemade food to your table, so it’s quite unique.”

As for Zhonghe Art Center as the event’s host, Dekel says, “it’s a great opportunity for people to explore Chinese art alongside delicious dishes. The space has a fish pond as well so kids can enjoy that while making some new friends from different cultures!”

For more information, and to reserve a space, you reach out to Sarika Dhami directly using the QR code above.

Photos: Shutterstock, Sarika Dhami & Sharon Dekel,

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Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

BIBA Day, Sep 28
The community-wide celebration of BIBA Day has a theme of “Serving our Community, Honoring China,” to better the surrounding community and to recognize the National Holiday. Grade 3 students will organize a flea market at Shine Hills, in front of Uniqlo in the North Section, from 9.30am to 11.30am. BIBA parents and families are also invited to join the afternoon ceremony at BIBA’s main gym at 1.30pm. All ages. For more info about the event admission, visit this page. Activities start at 8.30am. Beijing International Bilingual Academy.

World Class: Filipino Artist Jensen Moreno’s 6th Solo Painting Exhibition, until Sep 28
The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines presents World Class, featuring Filipino artist Jensen Moreno. This will be Moreno’s 6th solo painting exhibition in Beijing. Moreno’s previous exhibition, titled Hall of Fame, showcased her collection of portraits of the people she admires, including that of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. She donated the said portrait to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing for the celebration of Rizal’s 157th birth anniversary. All ages. Free admission but a passport is required. 9am-5pm. Philippine Embassy, Jianguomen.

The ‘Midnight in Peking’ Walking Tour, Sep 29
Bespoke’s next Midnight in Peking Walking Tour is perfect for fans of the book, history buffs, and those looking for a Saturday night out with a difference. Paul French’s New York Times bestselling murder mystery captured imaginations across the world when it was released. Now, with the help of historian Lars Ulrick Thom, Bespoke brings 1930s Peking back to life through a walking tour like no other. As night falls, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the victim’s father, ETC Werner, as he frantically searched for his daughter, and learn about the shady characters implicated in her killing. Ages 18+. RMB 388 per person (buy tickets here). 6.30-9.30pm. (info@bespoke-beijing.com)

Imagine Adventure Camp (Golden Week Holiday), Sep 29-Oct 7
Imagine’s Golden Week Holiday camp gives kids a chance to participate in some of Imagine most iconic adventures: Civilisation Game, parkour, indoor climbing, indoor ski, and Adventure Park. The camp length can be at least 3 days from a total of 9 days. All ages. RMB 700-900 inclusive of transport. Get a 100 RMB discount per day by signing up with two more friends. Visit this page for more info. (WeChat ID: Imagine-china, 5739 4933, info@imagine-china.com)

Summer Palace Tour, Sep 30
Enjoy one of the most beautiful Chinese imperial gardens before the maddening crowds fill it all for the Chinese National Holiday celebrations. Discover which special woman in his life Emperor Qianlong commissioned these amazing gardens for, take a stroll along the longest corridor in the world and let the stories behind the paintings inspire you. Adults. RMB 290 per person. See this page for more info about the itinerary. 1.30-3.30pm. Tours must be booked in advance. (138 1777 0229, info@newmantours.com, www.newmantours.com)

Let’s Leaf You to Temptation: Parwaaz’s South Indian Meal DInner, Sep 30
Parwaaz Spice Route Concepts hosts a traditional South Indian feast where dishes are served on a banana leaf. All ages. RMB 275 per person (scan the QR code on the poster to register). Dinner begins at 7pm. The Orchid Lodge, 66 Baochao Hutong.

Kids City – First Architectural Workshop For Kids, Oct 1
KidsCity! holds their first architectural workshop on October 1 with a team of designers and architects building a collective architectural model of Beijing with the city’s most iconic landmarks. Ages 7-12. RMB 350 (scan the poster for more info). 9am-7pm. Parkview Green Art 798 (751 D Park at 798 Art District).

October Holiday Signature Camp, Oct 1-5
Atelier will present a Signature Holiday Camp on the theme of The Middles Ages full of history, fun, and creativity during the October Golden Week. Full-day camp starting at the age of 6 years old. Half-day for Art and half-day for Fablab. Students will make- a castle, stained glass, drawbridge, trebuchet etc… Half-day option for the younger group (5 to 7 years old) for Art Camp. Locations will be in Atelier Sanlitun and Atelier Shunyi. All ages. RMB 1,800-4,000 (register here). 10am-4pm. Atelier. (WeChat ID: atelier_apas, 6416 1614, contact@atelier.cn.com)

Fashion Design Camp at Atelier (October Holiday), Oct 1-5
During the October Golden Week, Atelier will present a unique Fashion Design Camp on the theme of The Middles Ages. The students are going to design their own costume inspired by the medieval fashion style. It is designed and open to the students at the age of eight and plus. Students will discover medieval period and costumes and learn about the history of fashion design. It is an A to Z project where they will learn to make fashion design drawing, take measures of body shapes, make clothes pattern, dye DIY fabrics, and more. All ages. RMB 2,500. 1.30-4pm. Atelier Shunyi. (WeChat ID: ateliershunyi, 5686 4243, shunyi@atelier.cn.com)

Artistic Gymnastics – Recreational and Competitive Level, every Tue/Thu and Sat/Sun
Triple Gymnastics provide gymnastics training program for all ages including parent-kid group, kinder group, boys’ gymnastics, girls’ gymnastics, competitive team gymnastics, and adult gymnastics. Their courses are designed to enhance coordination and agility, body awareness and balance, develop posture and confident body movement, enhance creativity, and build self-confidence, strength, flexibility, and a healthy mind. All ages. RMB 150 per hour. 6-8pm (Tue/Thu), 9am-4.30pm (Sat/Sun). Dulwich College Legend Garden Campus-New Dome (Ricky Zhang: 134 3955 4192, ricky.zhang@triplegymnastics.com)

Photos: Courtesy of BIBA (featured photo) and event organizers

• 1 liter yogurt (酸奶)
• 1 liter sweet yogurt (甜酸奶)
• Sugar, to taste (糖)
• 10 slices lemon (柠檬)
• 1g saffron (红花)
• 30ml water (水)
• 500ml mango puree (芒果泥)
• 10g cashew nuts (腰果)
• 10g raisins (葡萄干)
• 10g pistachios (开心果)

• Mix yogurt and sweet yogurt in a bowel
• Make sugar syrup with sugar and sliced lemon
• Put saffron in warm water to extract flavor
• Mix sugar and saffron water to the yoghurt blend
• Add water to get liquid consistency
• Serve with dry nuts and fruit.

Mint Chutney

Mint chutney is a spicy mint-cilantro relish infused with chili, garlic, lemon and yoghurt, which goes very well with kebabs and most Indian snacks.

Ingredients (for 4 serves):

• 2 bunches of fresh mint leaves (薄荷叶)
• 1 bunch of green cilantro leaves (香菜叶)
• 15g garlic (蒜)
• 15g green chilies (绿辣椒)
• 1 lemon (柠檬)
• Salt, to taste (盐)
• 20g plain yoghurt (原味酸奶)

How to make: Simply mix all ingredients together and grind in a blender or pestle and mortar to make a paste. Serve with sundries and other Indian snacks..

Batata Wada (Potato Dumpling)

"Batata" means potato in English, and Batata Vada is one of the most popular Indian snacks which is also easy to make.

Ingredients for stuffing ( 4 serves):

• 1kg potatoes (土豆)
• 200g chopped onion (洋葱碎)
• 5g mustard seeds(芥菜子)
• 10 pieces curry leafs (咖喱叶)
• 5g chopped green chili (绿辣椒)
• 5g chopped cilantro (香菜段)
• 2g chopped ginger (姜)
• 1g turmeric power (黄姜粉)
• Salt, to taste (盐)
• 30ml oil (油)

Ingredients for batter:  

• 500g chick pea powder (鸡豆粉)
  
• 2g turmeric powder (黄姜粉)
  
• 1g asafoetida (阿魏)
  
• 100ml water (水)
  
• Salt, to taste (盐)
  

How to make:

• To make potato stuffing, chop all the vegetable, dice the potatoes, and boil with turmeric powder
• Heat oil in a pan and sprinkle in mustard seed, followed by onion, ginger and sauté
• Add potato, chili and cilantro, cook and season with salt.
• For batter, simply mix the ingredients together
• Next, make balls of potato mix, dip in batter and deep fry in oil
• Serve with mint chutney

Chef Santosh Jori and his mum will be cooking together for “Mom’s Kitchen”, an enchanted Indian fair as part of the hotel’s buffet till December 1. Moms who are aged over 50 eat for free (with valid ID card only) when they dine with their family. Call 6629 7810 to find out more.

Main photo provided by The Westin Beijing Financial Street. Recipe photos by Apurva Pangam, The Purple Foodie, and missginsu on Flickr