Bento Pushers: Obentos Japanese is in Business!

Since before it even opened its doors, I have had my eyes set on new, healthy Japanese cafe Obentos 本之味. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to a pre-opening tasting of their healthy, high-quality salads and bento boxes.

It’s only been a few weeks since it first opened its doors in the first week of September and having just dined at Obentos 3 times in one week, it’s safe to say I am officially hooked on this little spot in Central Park.  And I’m not the only one.  Every time I go, there’s a fight for tables and seats.  People are waiting in line just for more Obentos, we all can’t get enough!  This is one of the few places I could eat at every single day and never get sick of it or feel guilty about it!  It’s clean, healthy and there’s enough variety to keep customers coming back for more.

Obentos’ salads are a little pricier than my previous favorite salad selections at Live Well Cafe and Jungbo Juice (previously known as Jambo Juice), but they are definitely worth the extra RMB 15-30. With their large salads ranging from RMB 40-70, you can choose from their 10 different options.  My personal favorites are their Firecracker Beef Salad with Spicy Jalapeno Ponzu Dressing (RMB 60) and their Seared Sashimi Tuna Nicoise Salad (RMB 70).

Obentos’ Outstanding Salads:

Large Fresh Tofu Salad with Sesame Dressing (RMB 48):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, ohitashi, julianne carrot, sushi ginger, sunflower seeds, bonito flakes, white & black sesame seeds

Seared Sashimi Tuna Nicoise Salad with Miso Mustard Dressing (RMB 70):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, red onion, long beans, Julianne red radish, soft boiled egg, white & black sesame seeds, oven roasted pumpkin seeds

Zen Chicken Salad with Ponzu Dressing (RMB 50):

Mixed greens, cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, julianne red radish, daikon shoots, julianne carrot, avocado, oven roasted pumpkin seeds

Firecracker Beef Salad with Spicy Jalapeno Ponzu Dressing (RMB 60):

Mixed Greens, Cucumber, red & yellow cherry tomatoes, julianne daikon, julianne carrot, red pickled ginger, daikon shoots, white & black sesame seeds

If you don’t think a salad is substantial enough for a meal, you can always try one of their bento boxes.  With 10 different selections ranging from RMB 46-78, each bento box comes with 3 different side dishes (like wasabi potato mash, braised root vegetables, kinpira lotus root & egg), and choice of steamed white rice, Obentos flavoured rice or their cleansing coleslaw salad (their flavoured rice is the best choice, followed by their cleansing coleslaw).  I highly recommend their Steamed Chicken Bento Box with Ginger Sesame Dip (RMB 56) which is both low in fat and calories.

Obentos Bento Boxes:

Braised Ginger Soy Pork (RMB 46) / Beef Sukiyaki (RMB 56)

Seared Sashimi Tuna (RMB 78) / Teriyaki Salmon (RMB 60)

Steamed Chicken (RMB 56)

Desserts:

Green Tea Panna Cotta (RMB 20) / Chocolate Tofu (RMB 20)  

Review of Obentos 本之味: Just west of The Place Cafe in Central Park, Unit 106-107, Bldg 9, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区朝阳门外大街新城国际9号楼106-107室; Tel: 6597 0085, 6597 0223

Best Part:

• Super healthy, high-quality Japanese salads and bento boxes
• Popular lunch destination in Central Park
• Delivery  to CBD area starts just after October National Holiday!
• Obentos is so healthy, they even have healthy desserts!  Try their chocolate tofu or green tea panna cotta (RMB 20)
• Newly opened, Obentos is super clean and I love their design and take-away packaging. 

Comments:

• Lunchtime Special!  All large salads and bento boxes include a free miso soup or soft drink.
• It’s quick, casual so customers order at the counter and are given a number to receive their meal
• Customers can help themselves to complimentary hot tea and ice water. 
• Cashier always forgets to remind customers to take their own soft drinks/beer from the fridge (rather than bringing to customers)
• Lunch hours are super busy, so expect to wait for a table to open up unless you arrive before or after lunch rush (noon-1:00PM)

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 8

Learn How to Live Well This Summer

I like to make a point to eat at Live Well at least once a week.  Eating there is not only a healthy choice, their wonderful spread of fresh salads, quiches, muffins and fresh fruit juices just makes me happy.  I love this place and I love any excuse to spend more time here, which is why I am sharing this upcoming event at Livewell with all of my LumDimSum friends.

Next Sunday, July 3rd, Live Well Cafe will be inviting special guest Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach Kimberly Ashton to give tips on how to find the perfect diet for a new and healthier you this summer and Raw Food and Pastry Chef Jennifer McClelland will be introducing a video introduction of raw foods diet called “Raw for Life” while treating guests to some tasty Raw Pastry sample desserts.

Live Well will have their juice bar open throughout the event and will also be providing a special set lunch option (Quiche, Salad, Juice/Smoothie) for guests at RMB 50.

Some LumDimSum Top Picks from Live Well Cafe:

Chicken & Avocado Salad / Vegetable Quiche

Chicken & Avocado Wrap / Homemade Fresh Yogurt & Fruit

Fresh Carrot, Orange & Ginger Juice / Carrot Muffin

And with Hummingbird Spa Retreat just around the corner, I really can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Click here for a LumDimSum Tour of Top Picks in Central Park.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, 3 July 2011
• Time: 1:00PM-2:30PM
• Location: Live Well Cafe
• Address: #110, Building 11, Central Park, No.6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District.  朝阳区朝外大街6号新城国际11号楼110号商铺
• RSVP: Email Fiona at fionawang0608@yahoo.com.cn or call 010 6533 6505 / 6585This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Kimberly Ashton –

Originally from Australia, Kimberly received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and now works out of Shanghai as an Holistic Health Coach and Integrative Nutrition Consultant.

She is one of the founding members of Wellness Works, and is passionate about helping individuals and companies improve their health and employee well-being through food and lifestyle modifications.   Kimberly also hosts talks, healthy cooking classes, workshops, retreats, organic farm tours and documentary screenings.
Email:   integrativenutritionshg@gmail.com
Website:  http://kimberly- ashton.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Perfect Evening Touring Central Park

With the Nathan’s Famous office in close proximity to Central Park, I find myself spending more and more time here.

From my favorite juice bar IF Juice to my favorite place for salads Live Well Cafe, the best place for coffee chats at The Place Cafe to a quick set lunch LMPLUS, place to satisfy your sweet tooth CCSweets to recent addition Jamaica Blue, I love the cozy little cafes and restaurants lined together in one central hub, making this a perfect place to rendezvous for a quick lunch or coffee break.

And with the weather quickly warming up, I find myself choosing to spend more and more of my evenings here, lounging and relaxing outside, chatting the night away.

View of Central Park Just Before Sunset

I just had the perfect night in Central Park which started off with an after-work massage at Hummingbird followed by a light, healthy dinner at Live Well Cafe, and finishing off with a nightcap (it was a weeknight, so that means cup of coffee/tea  at The Place Cafe or bottle of freshly made juice from IF Juice).

Care to take a tour of my favorite spots around Central Park?

1st Stop: Hummingbird Therapeutic Retreat

I’m a big fan of their Japanese Zen Shiatsu massage and Aromatherapy massages.

My friend gave raving reviews for their Prenatal Relaxation massage which was a wonderful de-stressing treatment effective in relieving leg, hip, back pain and reduces swelling.

2nd Stop: Live Well Cafe

After a relaxing massage, your body craves wholesome food so treat yourself to some healthy solutions at Live Well Cafe.  They have a wide selection of fruit juice, smoothies, sandwiches, salads, wraps and crepes together with great combo meal options.

My favorite salad – the best Chicken & Avocado Salad (RMB 35) and my favorite fruit juice – the Carrot Surprise is a delicious mix of carrot juice, apple juice and ginger (RMB 25 for regular glass or RMB 29 for large glass).

Tonight, we ordered 2 different combo meals -

• Combo Meal 1: Quiche + Chicken & Avocado Salad + Fresh Fruit Juice = RMB 68
• Combo Meal 2: Daily Wrap + Homemade Yogurt with fruit and honey + Fresh Fruit Juice = RMB 58
• Carrot Cake Muffin for RMB 10 for dessert

3rd Stop: The Place Cafe

A choice pick for anyone looking for a nice, lounge-y cafe with quick wifi and great coffee to work away from the office or home. The Place Cafe also happens to stay open the latest of other restaurants and cafes in Central Park (most others close by 10PM, but The Place Cafe stays open until past midnight).

…and on my way out, I happened to spot this:

Has anyone been to JAMBO Juice?  Is this just a knock-off of Jamba Juice?

I’d be very keen to try out their breakfast mixes of yogurt and fruits! See photo advertisement here:

I couldn’t tell if Jambo is actually open yet, so if anyone has tried it already or knows anything about it, drop a comment below please.

LumDimSum Discovery: Avocado & Chicken Salad

One of my favorite salads available in Beijing is Live Well Cafe’s Chicken & Avocado Salad.  It’s light, yet satisfying. It’s healthy and still tasty.

Enjoy with one of their fresh fruit smoothies/juices or winter-warming soups.  I also recommend their muffins, sandwiches and panini-crepes.  Click here for previous LumDimSum Review of Live Well Cafe.

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 Cafe: #110, Building 11, Central Park, 朝外大街6号新城国际11号楼110号商铺 , Tel: 6533-6505

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

To Our Health: Live Well

Living well begins with your health.  You could have all the money and riches in the world, you could be the most powerful person in the world, you could be madly in love with your soul mate, but without your health, none of these things matter. The last thing you should ever do is to take your health for granted.  And taking care of your health begins with a nutritious diet.

Live Well Cafe in Central Park offers a long list of fresh juice, smoothies and super smoothies along with fresh salads, quiches, muffins, soups, sandwiches and panini-crepes.  Live Well proves that healthy food can also be delicious.  As tempting and as easy as it is to indulge in greasy Chinese food and decadent desserts, you need to find a balance in your diet and treat your body to more natural meals, focusing more on fresh veggies and fresh fruit.

I tried the Berry Indulgence Super Smoothie (RMB 29 for large) – including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, apple, and pear and sampled my friend’s Fresh Start Smoothie (RMB 26 large) – oats, dates, banana & yogurt. While both tasted very fresh, but both lacked in flavor and the consistency was not creamy enough to be a smoothie – they should have added more yogurt instead of ice. We then tried the Avocado & Chicken Sandwich (RMB 38) – avocado, chicken breast and rocket salad in your choice of ciabatta, baguette or whole wheat bread. Honestly, it was exactly what you asked for – avocado and chicken with some rocket leaves in two loaves of bread. And while it was tasty and fresh, it was also a bit bland. I think I may try the avocado chicken salad (RMB 35) next.

A Peak Both Inside & Outside Live Well Cafe:

Review of Live Well Cafe: #110, Building 11, Central Park, 朝外大街6号新城国际11号楼110号商铺 , Tel: 6533-6505

Best Part:

• Their menu selection is ultra-healthy with an emphasis on their fresh juice & smoothies (RMB 22-29)
  
• Banana & carrot muffins for only RMB 10
• Vegetarian Quiche for RMB 18
• Avocados featured all over their menu – in salads, sandwiches and quiches.
• Nice outdoor seating and bright interior space
• Easy to order hand-written menus with photos – all a nice touch
• Delivery service available

Comments:

• While I have no doubt everything is very healthy here, it was all a bit bland and not as spectacular as I was anticipating.  Perhaps I set my expectations too high, but when I walked in, I felt there was so much promise that this would be my new favorite lunch spot. I will definitely return in the near future, but I will not re-order anything I tried today.  Luckily, they have a decent sized menu.
• Quite pricey for what you’re getting – RMB 38 for a small sandwich (granted avocados are very expensive).  I think I would still prefer Sequoia or Panino Teca‘s sandwiches over Live Well as they offer a larger quantity and great taste.
• No toilet in the near area.  A bit of a pain.

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 7