February 5, 2012

TRB

There are numerous reasons why Temple Restaurant deserves to have a great fuss made about it – but for the sake of brevity we’ll try to keep it to one. Put simply, no other restaurant in Beijing occupies such a spectacular and inspiring space.

Housed in a 600-year old Temple complex, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB for short) is actually just one part of the whole, with several event spaces; an as-yet-unfinished boutique hotel and even a carpet museum all contained within the ancient set of buildings.

Unlike the centuries-old, wood-beamed event spaces though, TRB occupies a more recent addition to the complex – a small factory outhouse that once produced Beijing’s first television sets. Perhaps fittingly then, the restaurant has a more modern design aesthetic. Pristine white tablecloths hint at the excellent service to come, while the black titanium cutlery and fiery hued chairs add a splash of colour to the otherwise minimalist space, punctuated only by the occasional proud white orchid.

But here, the star of the show is the food, with the attentive and friendly service coming a very close second. Exquisitely presented dishes feature international ingredients and techniques, and almost every menu item will sound irresistible – unless you’re a vegetarian. Dishes such as Olive Oil Poached Black Cod, Grilled Veal Chop or Confit of Suckling Pig all put in an appearance, so there’s something delectable to suit all tastes. Portions are small but beautiful and apart from a shockingly small main-course ravioli we had on one visit, perfectly filling.

But secretly, our favourite thing about a meal at TRB is the parade of amuse bouche and petit fours, which appear on the table at various points in the meal like tiny food drops from heaven. Once set down, each offering disappears within seconds, almost as magically as they appeared.

In other words, dear readers, a meal at TRB is an entirely special experience, and one not to be missed. Our top tip? Come here for Sunday brunch after a stroll around the nearby Jingshan Park, or for a special meal after a day sightseeing at Tiananmen and the Forbidden City.

For a pocket guide featuring a personalized selection of the city’s best new restaurants, Bespoke Beijing’s Savvy City Kits offer the perfect solution. To find out more, click here.

TRB 23 Shatan Bei Jie, off Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing (+86 10 8400 2232)

 

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September 11, 2011

The Royal Smushi House

This new Danish design hub in the heart of Beijing’s Sanlitun district boasts a shop, a café, a restaurant, a bar and a bakery.

The Royal Smushi House Beijing Cafe

There’s no denying the fact that to step into the Royal Smushi House is to enter a different world. Perched at the crossroads of Dongzhimenwai and Sanlitun’s chaotic bar street, a sense of calm pervades its various outlets and there’s something reassuring about its neat Danish design and coolly exquisite interior.

The Monocle Shop inside The Royal Smushi House, Beijing

Transplanted from Copenhagen (with a few additions in the form of a bakery, a Georg Jensen boutique and a Monocle Shop), The Royal Smushi House is a recreation of that city’s popular café, which purports to sell sushi, Danish style. In practice, that means sushi-sized, delicately prepared culinary creations deriving their ingredients from the Scandinavian smørrebrød (open faced sandwich). Typically Nordic flavours such as dill and salmon and red cabbage feature heavily, and each ‘smushi’ takes several minutes to prepare. Perhaps given this café’s pedigree, it goes without saying that all are delicious, and often more of a mouthful than they first appear.

Smushi from The Cafe at The Royal Smushi House Beijing

Our tip? Pop by one morning to grab some freshly baked bread and pastries from the Bakery or enjoy afternoon tea in the Café, and then go and explore the rest of the venue. From the Monocle Shop with its carefully designed lifestyle products to the fabulous upstairs restaurant, The Royal Smushi House may be peddling a pricier experience than most, but in a city more accustomed to fast paced cooking and low quality products, it makes a delightful change. And no one minds paying for that.

The Royal Smushi House Beijing

Which way to the Smushi!?

The Royal Smushi House: 12 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district, Beijing (tel: 6416 9664).


 

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August 10, 2011

A sneak peak inside 1949 #2

Copyright Bespoke Beijing

It’s not every day you get to try out a restaurant before it’s open to the public, but naturally we know the right people. So, in the name of keeping you completely up to date with all things fabulous and Beijing-related, we bring you some exclusive snapshots of the brand new 1949 Hidden City2 complex on Jinbao Street.

Those who have been to the original 1949 will know that the Sanlitun branch is located in a former factory complex. Exposed red brick and quirky sculptures are the order of the day and it’s a great place for a relaxed evening meal with friends.

By contrast, 19492 is a much grander, 3-storey building arranged around two traditional courtyards. Designed by the same architects as the Hong Kong Jockey Club a few doors down, it’s resplendent with colourful painted eaves, pine trees and plenty of elegant Chinese touches with a modern twist.

The new 1949 has a more traditional setting

Given 19492’s prestigious neighbours on Jinbaojie (Burberry, the Jockey Club and Mazerati dealerships) – and its proximity to Wangfujing and Tiananmen– this venue is without doubt aimed at impressing local VIPs. But that’s not to say it’s a forbidding or exclusive place, far from it. This is about as fun and special a setting as it gets for a duck dinner in the center of town. With a whole collection of wood fire duck ovens in the central courtyard, all visible to diners, and Elite Concept’s take on the Beijing Hot Pot coming this winter, there’s plenty for tourists and old China hands alike.

Sweet and sour garoupa fish

Bespoke Beijing got to try the very first duck out of the new ovens, roasted to perfection over the wood of fruit trees to add a delicious sweet flavour.  We’re pleased to report (as if you ever doubted it), that it was every bit as good as the Sanlitun branch. 1949’s owner tells us he’s made some minor improvements to both the sesame buns and the pancakes, but we didn’t really notice. They’ve always been the perfect accompaniment (along with the beautifully presented hoi sin sauce and vegetable accoutrements) to what we think is still the best duck in town.

So good we forgot to take a photo BEFORE we ate half of it!

Other dishes that were a massive hit? The sweet and sour garoupa fish, which looked spectacular and tasted even better; a naughty but nice shredded fried potato dish, foie gras on miniature toasts and some fantastically flavourful and smokey stir-fried fresh vegetables.

In conclusion, we’re huge fans already, so when the builders leave and it opens at the end of the month, we urge you to go – it’s an absolutely quacking new venue.

(Sorry).

Orchids in the reception area

One of the private rooms. Swanky eh?

1949 Hidden City2: Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng District (6521 2221 – Duck de Chine)

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June 24, 2011

MODO Rocks!

There's a lot going on here, but it's all good.

It’s no secret that MODO is one of our favourite Beijing restaurants, but it just got even better thanks to the addition of several new spring dishes and three very handy chef’s menus.

For instance, has there ever been a more delicious sounding dish than the ‘Seared Giant Japanese Scallop with Curried Cauliflower, Crispy Bacon and Rhubarb Sauce’??  No we didn’t think so. Add to that several light and scrumptious creations such as the Summer Peach Salad and the Seared Duckbreast with Watermelon and Feta and you know a meal here will be a special one every time.

For those of you unfamiliar with this hip Sanlitun eatery, MODO means ‘manner’ or ‘way’ in Spanish, and the talented South American team behind it encourage you to eat their way: no starters, no mains, just an assortment of exquisite dishes to share.

"Mmmmm, pork belly and apple sauce...."

Helpfully, the chef (Mr Daniel Urdaneta) has also just created three suggested sharing menus to help you make up your minds, including one for vegetarians. Six dishes to share (including dessert) costs 430RMB, while eight dishes costs 620RMB. We think you’d be hard pushed to find a better quality meal for this price anywhere in the world, let alone Beijing.

MODO: Third Floor, Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (+86 10 6415 7202).

 

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June 23, 2011

The Veggie Table

Guilt free gorging...

Appropriately, a new vegan restaurant has just opened near the Lama Temple, and it’s actually very good. The food is Western, rather than Chinese, but trust us when we say this is probably the most virtuous restaurant you will ever eat in.

Not only are no animal products used anywhere on the menu, but every aspect of this enterprise is completely green and sustainable. From the water filters on the taps to the fact that vendors delivering their produce in unsustainable packaging have been banned – owner Laura Lawless has thought of everything.

When we asked for ketchup we were told they didn’t stock mass produced Heinz goods, but instead made everything from scratch. We were promptly treated to their homemade mayonnaise instead.

Dishes we sampled included a surprisingly tasty beetroot salad with dates and walnut; a burger made of enoki mushrooms; an Indian-style dahl bat; some homemade hummus; and to finish, a chocolate cake that deserves awards for its deliciousness considering it’s made without any dairy products whatsoever. Hey we know we had a lot but we’re blaming that on our dining companion – Time Out’s Food & Drink Editor Lillian Chou.

It's certainly the tastiest mushroom burger we've ever had...

And the ambience? The bright and comfortable interior is a tad more hippy than it is chic, but that seems to be the idea. Put simply, eat here and you’ll have good karma for at least the next year. The monks across the street would certainly approve.

The Veggie Table's laid back, bright and airy interior

The Veggie Table: 19 Wudaoying Hutong, Doncheng district (+86 10 6446 2073)

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June 14, 2011

Susu

For some reason, the name of this restaurant makes us want to sing a certain Phil Collins song, but the main reason we are telling you about it is because it’s a great new addition to Beijing’s dining scene.

Don’t get us wrong, we love Chinese food. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here. But sometimes it’s nice to eat something a little lighter, and Susu -a new Vietnamese restaurant-  delivers just that.

Nestled deep in a hutong north east of the National Art Museum of China, this stylish little courtyard playing 20s jazz sets just the right tone for a tête à tête over lunch or a relaxed dinner away from the crowds.

What’s more, given the lack of reputable Vietnamese restaurants in Beijing, aficionados will be pleased to hear that the owners have employed two experienced Vietnamese chefs to create and execute the menu.

The result is a great selection of classic, well-prepared and tasty dishes including pho noodles, fresh nem rolls, and even chewy banh mi sandwiches perfect for a quick lunchtime snack. Our favourites include the vibrant Three Colour Salad with its crunchy lotus root and surprisingly delicious pig’s ear shavings, and the supremely tasty barbecued fish spring rolls.

Altogether now:” Su-su-ssudio….”

 

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