One of my favorite places in Beijing for Peking duck is at the one-star Michelin restaurant, Jing Yaa Tang. Led by local chef, Li Dong, Jing Yaa Tang has perfected Peking duck that’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. But Beijing’s most famous dish isn’t the only reason to love them. Fantastic cocktails, unlimited dim sum, and a seasonal menu that highlights the history of culinary culture across the country can be found there year ‘round.

One of my all-time favorite dishes at Jing Yaa Tang isn’t anything fancy. In fact, it’s so simple that it can be made in just three easy steps: cherry tomatoes marinated in plum sauce. A must-order for any diner, they boast a sweet and savory combination that cuts through your meal and refreshes your palette for more tasty morsels to come.

Ingredients

• Water (300g)
• Sugar (80g)
• Preserved prune slice (1 pc)
• Concentrated orange juice (10g)
• White vinegar (50ml)
• Cherry tomatoes (200g)
  

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Instructions

1. Remove the stems of the cherry tomatoes and peel the skin by blanching them briefly in boiling water.

2. Boil the preserved prunes in water, and then add other seasonings (orange juice, vinegar, sugar) after three minutes. Turn off the heat when the sugar has completely melted.

3. Add the peeled cherry tomatoes to the sauce, and marinated for at least eight hours after they have cooled.

Pro tips!

1. Keep chilled after immersing.
2. The length of time immersed will influence the taste. The longer they soak, the more succulent the  tomatoes will be.

Want to master another Chinese classic dish?  Check out Ayi’s Recipe for Spicy Garlic Stir-Fried Eggplant

Photos: Uni You

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 March – April issue

We had been looking for this dim sum place for quite a while, sometimes as a family, sometimes just daddy and daughter, sometimes me and daughter. But we could never find the unlimited dim sum lunch spot I’d read about on the Beijinger. Last Friday as I wandered through Sanlitun, I asked my colleagues for help. Turns out unlimited dim sum was right in front of my face all this time at the Opposite House Hotel.

I was by myself, but so happy I finally found the spot that I decided not to wait for my husband or my daughter. But to go by myself, how many chances do you get like this as a mother? The hotel is modern and quite impressive; I never thought this amazing space was on the inside every time I walked pass the Opposite House.

The unlimited dim sum lunch at Jing Yaa Tang is from 12 to 3 and costs RMB 148 per person with a 10 % service charge and 6 % vat. I felt a bit rebellious and had a bottle of VOSS still water. I was having a posh “mommy me time” moment.

The restaurant has a very relaxed and romantic atmosphere; the spa music is very tranquil. They have a duck roasting kitchen that you can look into and it’s quite the spectacle with a wood-fired oven. They give you a list and a pen to check the boxes of what you would like; I started with just few dim sum the first round, and ordered more a round later. My phone battery was almost empty so I had the chance to really savor the dim sum and the environment.

I especially enjoyed the bbq pork bun, the chive pot stickers, and the egg tart at the end of the lunch were especially good. This spot is not very child friendly but a perfect date lunch or ladies’ lunch in a fancy environment that won’t break the bank.

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.

Photos: Pauline van Hasselt