Say what you will about the holidays, the one thing that makes all those crazed shopping trips and stressful family gatherings totally worth it is the delectable treats and feasts sprinkled throughout the season. Whether cooking at home or dining out, amateur and professional chefs alike seem to move about the kitchen with a creative energy akin to the merry elves of Santa’s workshop. And the folks behind Tiago Home Kitchen’s Christmas dinner are no different.

For RMB 1,174, or RMB 888 if you’re a Tiago member, you and a loved one can spend a date night indulging in their Christmas and New Year dinner for two, including a variety of festive plates, such as seared foie gras with cranberry sauce, crispy chicken with asparagus and basil risotto, with avocado and strawberry cheesecake for dessert, plus mulled wine, gingerbread latte, or cranberry mojito to wash it down.

Tiago is usually known for their homey vibes and comfort food, but just like with any family, during the holidays they’re pulling out the fancy aprons and welcoming guests with a different side that’s only reserved for special occasions.

My culinary journey through the North Pole started with the asparagus soup, delightfully decorated with a créme Christmas tree artfully drizzled on top. The dish had a delicate flavor that served to open the palette, ultimately clearing the way for what was to follow.

Served alongside the soup were our two appetizers; beetroot arancini stuffed with feta, spinach, mozzarella, and pine nuts, plus eclairs with smoked salmon and truffle cheese. The arancini was a complex juxtaposition of citrus notes that hovered at the front of the tongue, with deeper, savory notes of cheese which settled towards the back. Conversely, the salmon eclairs carefully doled out hints of sweetness which weren’t shy about mingling with the salty salmon.

Of the myriad options available for a main course, we settled on the premium Rustica-Parma Mushroom Truffle Sauce and Honey Pizza, and the Australia Black Angus Short Tomahawk Steak. The highlight of the pizza was certainly its truffle sauce, which has a depth that makes your tastebuds feel like they’re falling down a wishing-well of deliciousness. Likewise, the steak was paired with a chimichurri that wrapped itself around the meat with a warmness reminiscent of a fine coat on a mid-winter’s eve.

The meal was capped off with a Panatone Tiramisu that perfectly bookended the delicate flavor of the soup at the meal’s beginning. It wasn’t too sweet, and the thin wafers crumbled on top added a welcome crunch to the billowing cream cascading down the Panatone peak.

It should be noted that the meal detailed above is but a small sampling of that which is available this holiday season at Tiago’s family of restaurants. Additionally, though Tiago has seven locations spread across the city, the photos and meal above came from their Wangfujing branch located inside WF Central, making it a nice reprieve from a day of holiday shopping. 

Tiago Home Kitchen (WF Central) is located at No.269 Wangfujing Street, 411B, 4/F, WF Central Building.

For more information about all that Tiago has to offer, follow them on WeChat: tiagobj

Photos: Drew Pittock, Tracy Wang

There are loads of occasions where mothers feel ashamed of how they feed their child, breast or bottle. I remember going to a brunch when my daughter was only a few weeks old and I had brought pumped milk as I felt nervous to breastfeed in public. It turned out the pumped milk was not enough and she was still hungry. I left the table to feed her in another area of the restaurant. Why? I have no idea, but most likely because I was a new mother and not feeling confident enough to feed my child in public. This is fairly common for new mothers going out on the town with their infant for the first time.

I met up with Michelle Lori and her six-month-old son Jason Gabriel. Lori tells me how being added to the La Leche League WeChat group made her very confident in breastfeeding her son, whenever and wherever she wanted. She explains “I find China to be a great place to breastfeed, the people are very accommodating and truly make me comfortable.” We stop for a quick dessert at Tiago in Indigo Mall, where the environment is comfy and there’s even a small play area for kids. Lori agrees “Indigo Mall and Tiago is child friendly with nice staff and clean changing rooms for babies.”

Lori hails from Zimbabwe and has lived in China for over 8 years. She owns an events planning and management company, so you can bet she knows a thing or two about delicious food.  She ordered a panna cotta dessert and fruit punch, satisfying all of her sweet cravings.

The Tiago menu impressed us with its culinary delights featuring an array of Italian fare for both lunch and dinner. Lori is one of many moms who agree that this is a perfect spot to take care of her baby while nurturing herself at the same time.

Tiago
Daily 10am-10pm. L173, 1/F, Indigo Mall, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 酒仙桥路18号颐堤港商场1层L173商铺 (星巴克对面) (6348 8772)