Sheng Yong Xing 晟永兴: The Roast Duck Restaurant We’ve Been Waiting For!

One of my favourite comfort-food restaurants in Beijing used to be Lau Pa Sak (RIP). Located opposite the Canadian embassy, it was unceremoniously demolished and refurbished last year. It moved to a new location in Sanlitun SOHO, but doesn’t seem to have survived the traumatic event. I went through a period of mourning and then noticed that a Beijing roast duck restaurant had taken it’s place. Skeptical, I put off going for a while, but finally curiosity got the better of me. I rounded up a few foodies who were keen to try the new Sanlitun duck spot and we all knew that Chinese food is always better when you can order a feast! With low expectations going in, we braved ourselves for the worst.

First impressions of Sheng Yong Xing Roast Duck Restaurant were pretty jarring. This restaurant is very tastefully designed. Light and airy, it is a beautiful space with greenery dispersed throughout the space and a balance of grey bricks, wood and smart Chinese touches. I’m a big fan of their glowing screen lanterns hanging over each of the larger round tables and strategic use of screens as space dividers, giving private tables a sense of intimacy without being in separate rooms. The duck ovens are located on the second floor and you can go gawk to your hearts content. The chefs were patient and dealt with our intrusions with aplomb.

Sitting down at the table, we inspected the menu and began the ordering process. It is a process because the menu is gigantic. Beginning with their specialty dishes highlighted at the front before moving into cold starters, mains, and starchy staples at the back. The menu has the classics, but also a bunch of unexpected dishes like giant prawns with black truffle, roast duck topped with caviar and even some Australian wagyu beef. Some fancy pantsy dishes aside, we found comfort in the menu’s dishes that were more familiar and all for great value. The only one glaring Chinglish example: “Fried Enema”. #Chortle

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Chandeliers & CCTV Views: Dining at F Bistronome

As the new China World building ramps up to full power, more and more of the promised F&B heaven venues are opening their doors. Amongst the newer openings is F Bistronome on the 7th floor. With the know how of Brasserie Flo in the kitchen and a view of Beijing that one day will be quite nice (at the moment you get to look at a few buildings still under construction), F Bistronome has all the hallmarks of being a great new destination. Read on to see how it shapes up.

Brasserie Flo is one of the Beijing stalwarts and it’s no secret why they’ve not only maintained a strong reputation, but they’ve continued to expand their brand with various locations across the city, offering different menus at different price points. While each “Flo” restaurant (by the FLO group) has its own unique style (which is evident in the restaurant ambiance and menu), each concept always produces quality food, professional service and a sophisticated environment. F Bistronome is no exception.

Located on the 7th floor of the new wing of the China World Mall in Guomao, it’s gorgeous with plush couches, a glowing bar area and large chandelier centerpiece. As noted above, the floor to ceiling window views can showcase the CCTV tower (from certain angles), but is generally unfortunate at the moment because all you get to see is a collection of soon-to-be skyscrapers taking shape, oh and the 3rd ring road. This is especially the case with their outside dining terrace where all the buildings in view are under heavy construction. *cough*

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TRB Forbidden City Hosts Michelin Chef Koen Verjans

After two years of being known as the more casual dining concept called TRB Bites@The Courtyard, the TRB Hospitality Group announced earlier in Spring that they would revamp the venue for their guests to enjoy sophisticated meals. Renamed TRB Forbidden City, this is your answer when your driver refuses to drive down that narrow hutong to the original TRB and you’re looking to impress your guests with the best that Beijing has to offer.

“[Where] one is expected to find comfort in elegance that he/she has come to associate TRB with, the only difference lies in that instead of dining in the historical temple compound, they will now be feasting in the regally enchanting shadow of the adjacent Palace”.  – Ignace Lecleir, Founder and Owner of TRB Hospitality Group

LDS Snapshots of TRB Forbidden City:

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The Orchid’s Toast Restaurant: There’s life in the Hutongs yet!

With the bricking up of the hutongs, it is easy to get depressed and believe that all your favourite small spots are going to be forever snatched away from you. Thankfully, The Orchid looks to be in no danger and indeed has gone from strength to strength.

If you haven’t been, the Orchid is one of my favourite spots to send visiting friends from abroad.

A gorgeous courtyard boutique hotel on Baochao hutong, it is not just a beautiful setting. The staff have always been attentive, helpful and personable in a way that large hotels never quite manage.

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From Foie Gras to Fondant: BJ FOoDiEs Charity Dinner at Bistro 108

Having generated a lot of interest, my previous review of Bistro 108 features a new restaurant gem. While there are certain restaurants that appear that everyone knows about as soon as they open, there are others that seem to fly under the radar but that you get told about by the fans. This is a prime example of a recommended restaurant by fellow FOoDiEs who really know their food.

Tucked away in a strange complex just opposite the US Embassy, Bistro 108 is hospitable and cozy and the French dishes were all spot on and very reasonably priced.

Bringing together foodies from across the city, this Sunday, June 11th, the BJ FOoDiEs team is hosting their monthly charity dinner at Bistro 108 with a fantastic 3-course menu featuring their signature menu dishes.

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Nooxo: Nourishing Soups, Smoothies & Grain Bowls

Slurp It Up: Smoothie Bowls at Nooxo

Comparisons between Nooxo and Moka Bro’s are inevitable. The healthy bowls, the smoothies, there are vegan and vegetarian friendly options, there are a lot of similarities between the two. But Beijing is a big city and we could all use some more options for our “healthy options” dining list. Oh, did I mention that all of Nooxo’s dishes are also dairy free?

Nooxo does however stand on its own merits and is worth a visit.

“Nooxo started with a really simple idea: to create a lifestyle brand that focuses on building a healthy and active community with our signature smoothies and Nooxo bowls.”  – Nooxo

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小SUSU Hosts BJ FOoDiEs Charity Feast

One of my all-time favorite spots to impress out-of-town guests – the stunning hutong courtyard restaurant serving vibrant and flavorful Vietnamese cuisine Susu has just opened a second branch in the new China World Mall (north zone) called 小SUSU.

Working with the same team who created the original Susu, a dreamy courtyard tucked in an old Beijing hutong south of 美术馆, designers Rania Ho and Wang Wei of Kupa Studios have once again done their magic with 小SUSU. Incorporating Susu’s signature cement blocks into the new venue’s design retains a level of familiarity with the original space while adapting to its new modern surroundings alongside Beijing’s growing skyline of iconic architecture.

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Home Grounds: Comfort Aussie Cuisine

Don’t Let the Gym Upstairs Fool You, Home Grounds is Not Only Healthy Food

International Wonderland has always puzzled me. While the location is prime with its close proximity to Sanlitun’s plethora of restaurants and bars and there are plenty of foreigners who live in the apartments above, you’d think it there would be a lot more happening in the 1st floor retail outlets. But the shops below have always seemed random and empty. Seemingly the only business with any ambition was Parlor. But things are changing quickly with the arrival of Base Fit fitness center (2nd floor) and Home Grounds restaurant (first floor).

While Base Fit and Home Grounds are new in Beijing, this is the same team behind Living Bigg, which was a gym just next to original Hatchery location by Tuanjiehu subway exit B. Since the demise of The Hatchery last year, the Hatchery moved to a new location just south of Zhangzizhonglu subway station on Dongsi Jiutiao 东四九条 in the dynamic co-working space called 5LMeet. Living Bigg has also expanded to a second platform and moved most classes to Base Fit, from Tuanjiehu to Sanlitun’s International Wonderland. Although they are no longer associated with the Hatchery, they have opened up their own restaurant called Home Grounds, located just below Base Fit.

With its association and close proximity to a gym, you might expect that Home Grounds would be focused on healthy salads and juices. In fact, the menu does have a handful of salads and they do serve juices, but that is not at all their focus or what they’re about. Their menu is designed for taste and comfort, and anyone who is calorie counting or on any paleo or gluten-free diet will be sorely disappointed. #sorrynotsorry #yourdietyourchoice

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