Raise a Glass to Sulyi’s Gangnam Tapas & Exclusive Soju Selection

The Topwin Center continues its opening spree. Next up on the menu is Sulyi, a Korean tapas restaurant with the former chef for the Korean embassy at the helm. Sulyi means “cheers” in Korean and with what promises to be a very nice balcony area, this restaurant could become a great destination for a fun soju-fuelled night before the cold sets in.

A project that started in 2014, Sulyi sets itself apart from other Korean restaurants in Beijing by focusing on Gangnam, Korean style tapas dishes. You may have heard of Gangnam thanks to PSY’s catchy tune and even catchier dance moves, which refers to a trendy and hip district in Seoul where fashion and style is top notch. According to Sulyi’s owners, they aim to bring “Gangnam” to Beijing’s hip hood Sanlitun through Gangnam tapas and home-made ‘Makguli’ Korean rice wine in fruity flavors at 4% and a special selection of Soju sold exclusively at Sulyi.

Sulyi is located on the 3rd floor of the food-crazed Topwin Center, next to Beyond Yakitori and opposite Cou Cou, the much talked about high end hotpot offering from Xiabu Xiabu.

Continue Reading » Raise a Glass to Sulyi’s Gangnam Tapas & Exclusive Soju Selection

Vin Vino 萬久: Madcap Japanese Tapas & Wine

From the people who brought you possibly my favourite lesser known restaurant in Beijing Vin Vie 萬火, comes a new opening: Vin Vino 萬久. For those of you who have been to Vin Vie, you will know that it is an izakaya style restaurant that also happens to offer a bunch of wine. Vin Vino extends this concept further. It is based around “Japanese Tapas” and wine.

It must be said that this makes the restaurant a pretty odd place to eat in. None of the Japanese influence is visible in the decoration as it looks more like a pseudo-Mediterranean bistro. At the same time, one glance at the menu and you will notice a lot of shiso leaf, soy sauce, tofu and other classic Japanese staples coexisting with ratatouille and risotto.

Furthermore, you’ll eat to the sounds of a soundtrack that seems to have been assembled by someone with multiple personality disorder. We counted atmospheric orchestral songs, Swedish pop, hardcore hip hop and more all in one evening. Yeah it’s a strange beast but don’t let that put you off. If anything, this should spark your curiosity.

Continue Reading » Vin Vino 萬久: Madcap Japanese Tapas & Wine

Sushi Making Class: Hatsune Shares Sushi Secrets

Owner & Sushi Samurai Alan-san Teaches his Sushi Secrets

Famous for their unique and playful signature sushi rolls, Hatsune is the original California-style sushi creators in China.

And with over half of the sushi rolls listed on Hatsune’s menu already named after and created by their die-hard, loyal customers over the years, they know that their sushi lovers are as crafty as they are insatiable. Hatsune doesn’t like playing by the rules because as long as the ingredients are attainable, anything is fair game. The biggest limiting factor is really only your imagination when it comes to creating your ultimate dream sushi roll.

“Since Hatsune first opened over 14 years ago (in 2001), we’ve built a tremendously close community of sushi addicts whose opinions we respect, feedback we value, and for successful sushi ideas that have come to them over the years, we also give due credit, rewarding each with name recognition on our menu every time they came to us with their own dream sushi creation. Some of our most popular sushi rolls are dedicated to our valued addicts – from the Moto-Roll, Pastor Roll, Clayton Roll and Amy Roll, these are all real addicts who either created or inspired these creations.”  - Hatsune

Continue Reading » Sushi Making Class: Hatsune Shares Sushi Secrets

One Star House Party: Global Tour Begins in Beijing

You have 4 days max to act on the information I’m about to tell you. So don’t hesitate because with a blink of an eye, you might miss out on one of the coolest culinary events I’ve witnessed in Beijing yet.

Lucky for us, Beijing is first up in a crazy line-up of 20 countries where a crafty group of chefs have come up with a brilliant concept called One Star House Party, where these chefs will be traveling around the world to learn about cuisines in 20 different countries. They spend 1 month in a location researching the culinary culture, history and trends, then they produce an amazing meal for a lucky few individuals who manage to snap up the limited number of tables available.

We’ve seen our fair share of Culinary Pop-Ups around town from the very casual to the very glamorous, but this event takes the concept of a “pop-up dinner” to a level Beijing has never seen before. From the making of their own tables and furniture to the fact that you have an unparalleled team of six world-class chefs cooking together a menu made from scratch, this global tour gives the “pop-up restaurant” concept a whole new meaning.

They are operating out of The Opposite House until Friday, September 30th, so get booking!

Continue Reading » One Star House Party: Global Tour Begins in Beijing

Laudable Lucky Lopez: Comfort Tex-Mex from Dallas

A Taste of Tex-Mex Flavor

How this location has stayed hidden and unoccupied for so long, I have no idea, but Lucky Lopez has an apt name in managing to find such a great plot.

Hidden in a courtyard just behind Nearby the Tree in Sanlitun, Lucky Lopez has actually been around since 2010, with their first location in Jianwai SOHO in the CBD. Initially a burrito spot, they have expanded their menu for this new location and you’ll find all the comfort staples of Mexican-American cuisine.

Having the pleasure to sit down and chat with Lucky Lopez’s Executive Chef and Managing Partner June Chow, it really gave our dining experience a whole new meaning and appreciation for what June and her brother Schubert Chow have created. While June and Schubert grew up in the northeast – New Jersey/New York area with a family background of restauranteurs, June moved to Dallas about 20 years ago. She made her way to Beijing to satisfy Schubert’s cravings for quality Mexican food and this began their mission to bring Dallas-inspired Tex-Mex to Beijing.

“I am self taught and learn from my family, friends and great home cooks. I like to take liberties with recipes (aka, never follow them to the T) and operate on the notion that you find a great platform of ingredients and build ideas from it. 

Continue Reading » Laudable Lucky Lopez: Comfort Tex-Mex from Dallas

Long Live Lau Pa Sak: Singaporean Hawker Food

Long Live Lau Pa Sak’s Savoury and Moreish Black Carrot Cake

Casa Talia by Tiago: Delusions of Grandeur

The Raffles mall is a strange place. It isn’t high end, and yet it also doesn’t fit in the mould of the crappy Chinese malls that exist throughout the city that you never visit unless your bank happens to have a branch inside. There are some decent shops and eateries in this mall, but I don’t actually know people who go out of their way to eat there unless they’re already there shopping.

It’s interesting that Casa Talia by Tiago chose this stage and it is quite apt for a restaurant that also doesn’t quite understand it’s place in the world. It is a restaurant with incredible potential – the interior design is elegant and tasteful and they have a focused menu featuring innovative, luxurious Mediterranean tapas and shared dishes ranging from a 1.6kg Australian Grain-fed Tomahawk Steak (RMB 888), Boston Lobster and a signature nitrogen tiramisu (RMB 128). The creator behind these indulgent dishes is none other than very talented Italian chef Corrado Michelazzo, the executive chef at 10 Corso Como in Shanghai.

He sums up his culinary background quite nicely here -

Continue Reading » Casa Talia by Tiago: Delusions of Grandeur

Migas’ Anniversary: 6 Courses to Celebrate 6 Years!