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

Wangfujing might not be the first place you think of when you want to get healthy grub. This tourist street in the cultural center of Beijing has got tons of food choices that would make you think about rescheduling your diet plans.

Just recently when I visited Wangfujing to get my weekly dose of (joy-inducing) donuts, I learned that our friends from TRIBE Organic recently opened a branch at Wangfu (WF) Central Mall. And hey, they’ve got a new spring menu!

To be honest, I’ve been eating a lot since the recent holidays that resulted in gaining the not-so-cool “winter weight.” Now I find it quite hard to go against my habit of munching so why not feast on something healthy? After all, eating makes us happy. And when the food is free of all things unhealthy, we might as well eat all the time!

So after browsing their new menu…

…I started with what I thought might replace my beloved donuts… the Well-Done Banana Buckwheat Waffles. They’re delicious without the guilt of getting tons of sugar, and in turn, calories. What’s more is that it’s a high-protein and metabolism-boosting meal, making it a nice breakfast or after-workout munchie.

The next one I indulged in was the oddly-named Prawn and On Bowl, which has an interesting mix of flavors. If you’re finding cutting rice out of your big meals very difficult, this dish will be a great replacement. The pickle flavor of turmeric lotus root and seaweed paired well with the grains and the roasted red prawns. This could be my lunch every day! If you’re up to the vegetarian option, the red prawns can be replaced with avocado.

The Surfing That Seafood Pizza is a colorful main course that’d be a sure hit with kids. Okay, many kids are accustomed to the usual meat toppings on their pizza, but this one features bite-sized servings of seafood coated with mozzarella cheese!

If you’ve got seafood allergies, the other pizza option is just as delicious and healthy. The Magical Mushroom Pizza might be full of greens but the pairing of mixed mushrooms and a few chillis works wonders. Don’t let the mention of chillis scare you or your kids off; it’s not really spicy! They just give you a very subtle hint of heat, which works surprisingly well with the combo of buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheese.

To see more of TRIBE’s spring menu, click/tap here.

TRIBE WF Central
Open everyday, 10am-9pm. WF Central, 4th Floor, East Building, 269 Wangfujing Street (6526 2690)

Photos: Andy Penafuerte III