All About Avocados

It’s unfortunate that avocados are so pricey in Beijing because they really do make everything taste better – avocados in sandwiches, avocados in salads and even avocados in sushi rolls!

It seems like anything on a restaurant menu that includes avocados will instantly catch my eye.

Here are some recent finds for all you avocado lovers:

Live Well‘s Chicken & Avocado Salad – rocket leaves, spinach and lettuce topped with cherry tomatoes, shredded chicken, thick slices of avocado and pine nuts (RMB 35):

Live Well's Chicken & Avocado Salad

Element Fresh’s Avocado Salad in their new summer menu selection features slices of avocado topped with greens soaked in an amazing balsalmic vinaigrette dressing (RMB 32).  Although you can’t see the avocados, I promise you they are there.  I realize this photo is not the most appealing, but this salad really exceeded my expectations and the dressing is definitely the selling point – the flavor is totally unique so good, you’re going to want to put it on everything else you may have ordered. My only gripe with this salad is that it was not bigger.

Element Fresh's Summer Menu Avocado Salad

And recently on my short trip to Malaysia, I discovered Avocado Smoothies!  I was a bit hesitant to order it, but it turned out to be a new favorite find!  Mixed with mangoes, coconut and condensed milk, avocados make a super smooth, refreshing smoothie!

When I ordered the avocado salad at Element Fresh, I also noticed the Vietnamese avocado smoothie (RMB 32 for small) on their summer menu.  After getting so excited to find avocado smoothies in Beijing, I was sorely disappointed with the result.  Instead of tasting like the smooth combination of avocados and condensed milk I had in Malaysia, I only tasted mint and more mint.  It had so much potential, and yet fell so short.

Instead of being a hit, Element Fresh’s Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie was a BIG MISS.  NOT recommended, but now I am determined to find a proper avocado smoothie in Beijing!  Mark my words, I will let you know once the mission is accomplished.

Element Fresh's Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie

Any tips or suggestions?  E-mail me directly: kristen@lumdimsum.com