Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆: Beijing’s Best Bibimbap

‘Bibimbap’ is an awesome word. What’s more fun than saying ‘Bibimbap’ five times as fast as you can is eating Bibimbap at Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆 Korean Restaurant, home of Beijing’s very best bibimbap!

I have actually eaten at Saveurs de Corée ages ago when it was still located on Nanluoguxiang and remember loving their rooftop terrace and thinking the food was decent, but overpriced.

Fast-forward like 5 years and I am now kicking myself for not coming back sooner!  Was Saveurs de Corée always as good as it is today?!? If so, why didn’t someone drag my butt here sooner?? Now, thanks to Sarah Keenlyside, city expert and founder of Bespoke Beijing travel and events company, I have finally discovered Beijing’s best bibimbap, I seriously plan to come here at least once a week.

The restaurant is now split into two venues – a Korean Grill Restaurant on Xiang Er’s and Korean Patio Gourmet at Ju Er Hutong (both located just about a block away from one another). I haven’t been to the Grill, but the Patio Gourmet is a really elegant, beautiful venue and the food is excellent and I love that the menu is filled with words like “organic” and “NO MSG”.

While many of the dishes may seem a bit pricey, they have some fantastic deals including the Chef’s Classic Set (RMB 59) which includes assorted Korean appetizers, Dubu Buchim – crispy, sauteed tofu with special Korean onion sauce, their Classic Dulsot-Bibimbap – organic rice with mixed vegetables, minced beef with a raw egg and Korean chili paste in a sizzling stone bowl and Korean traditional cinnamon iced tea. That’s an amazing deal for all that goodness!

Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆 Chef’s Classic Set:

Assorted Korean Appetizers 

Dubu Buchim – crispy, sauteed tofu with special Korean onion sauce

Classic Dulsot-Bibimbap – organic rice with mixed vegetables, minced beef with a raw egg and Korean chili paste in a sizzling stone bowl

What it looks like all stirred up

Korean Traditional Cinnamon Iced Tea

Next time I make a trip to Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆, I’ll be keen to try their Chef’s Tasting Set (RMB 159) which includes assorted Korean appetizers, kimchi jeon – Korean style pizza with homemade kimchi, Japchae – stir-fried sweet potato glass noodles with julienned vegetables, Bulgogi – grilled premium beef with lettuce OR Gochujang daejigogi – Grilled pork shred marinated in Korean chili paste, Korean signature soyabean paste soup with vegetables, mushrooms, seafood and tofu with organic rice and Korean traditional cinnamon tea.

Chef’s Tasting Set (RMB 159)

Delicious bibimbap aside, Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆 is a lovely restaurant set in a hutong courtyard with an open courtyard, which will be perfect during summer time.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆 Korean Restaurant:

The owner is Korean and just so happens to also have a British accent, which is kind of adorable.  He was excellent – really friendly, really helpful and attentive.  Unfortunately, the rest of his staff seems utterly lost and hopeless.  When the owner wasn’t around to tend to us, we found ourselves helping ourselves to our food coming out of the kitchen, our own water refills, extra napkins and everything you’d normally ask of a waitress.  Even just asking for the bill was a 20 minute wait, which is ridiculous because we were one of the only tables in their restaurant.

Overall, in spite of service issues, this place is fantastic and I already can’t wait for my next trip to Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆. I anticipate many future ‘LumDimSum Discovery’ posts featuring more dishes from Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆!

Saveurs de Corée 韩香馆:

KOREAN PATIO GOURMET AT JU ER’S

• Address: 20 Ju Er Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing (Near Nanluogu Xiang’s north end) 
• 菊儿胡同20号
• Tel: +86 10 6401 6083

FINE KOREAN GRILL AT XIANG ER’S

• Address: 128-1, Xiang Er Hutong, Jiaodaokou, Dongcheng District, Beijing (5mins walk from Bei Xin Qiao metro, exit-D)  
• 东城区香饵胡同128-1号
• Tel: +86 10 5741 5753

LDS Discovery: Karaiya’s Hunan Spicy Broiled Fish

Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼

On average, I eat at Karaiya Spice House once a week.  It’s a choice pick for my Beijing crew’s “family dinners” and most definitely a top destination for anyone who is coming or leaving Beijing and needs a “Karaiya fix”. I say “fix” as if Karaiya was an addiction and for our group of friends, it really is because as much as we all enjoy hole-in-the-wall, super local, cheap Chinese food once in awhile, it’s really not something I like to do regularly knowing how horrendous the hygiene is and the obscene amount of oil they drench their dishes with really does take a toll. On the other hand, knowing that Karaiya is a part of the Hatsune Restaurant Group, it is guaranteed to use only quality ingredients and high hygiene standards.

Considering I’m such a regular, for me to know the restaurant menu inside-out is expected.  And I thought I was pretty much a savvy Karaiya expert until I recently discovered Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼 (RMB 108).

At first, I thought it was an “off-the-menu” dish since I had never even noticed it on the menu before!  They need to seriously reconsider the real estate this dish occupies on the menu because it’s definitely worth it!

Unfortunately for this fish dish, Karaiya’s Signature Fish Dish (RMB 158 for Perch Fish or RMB 258 for Mandarin Fish) is undoubtedly one of the most popular dishes on the menu and for good reason – it’s amazing!  With yellow Hunan peppers on one side and red on the other, this steamed fish is both spicy and the sauce is super addictive.  I like to dip scoop out spoonfuls of this sauce and pour it over rice and everything else for that matter.

“Traditionally in Hunan this dish is served using a steamed fish headcovered in spicy peppers and simmering in special Camellia oil collected from trees.We prepare this Hunan specialty using the whole fish, and our tree oil is shipped weekly from rural villages in Hunan.”  - Alan Wong, owner of Karaiya Spice House and the Hatsune Restaurant Group

Karaiya’s Signature Mandarin Fish with Two Types of Hunan Peppers

But the downside of this Signature fish’s popularity is that all other fish dishes are then overshadowed and very often entirely overlooked.  That is the case with Karaiya’s Hunan style Spicy Broiled Fish  飘香鱼.

Not only had I never ordered it before, I didn’t even notice it on the menu!  How that happened is beyond me, but I blame the Signature Fish Dish for being so ridiculously good, we never had the desire to try anything else.  But now that I have recently been introduced to their Spicy Broiled Fish, and I may have discovered a new favorite! It’s a giant bowl filled with tender fish pieces drenched in spicy yumminess.

If you are a general fan of 水煮鱼, then you will get hooked on Karaiya’s take on this popular Sichuan dish, but obviously it’s Hunan style.

Karaiya Spice House won Time Out’s 2011 Award for Best Regional Chinese.

Click here for LDS article.

Karaiya Spice House Details:

• Address: 3F, Building 8, The Village at Sanlitun, No. 19 Sanlitun Road, Sanlitun

  (3rd floor of the Nike Building across from Hatsune) 朝阳区三里屯路19号The Village南区8号楼

• Tel: 6415 3535

• Website: www.hatsunesushi.com (Karaiya Spice House is part of the Hatsune Restaurant Empire)

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just search tagged “LumDimSum Discovery” articles for more recommendations.

LumDimSum Discovery: Obentos Pumpkin & Tofu Salad

Obentos’ NEW! Pumpkin & Tofu Salad

As soon as I heard about Obentos‘ new winter menu with different curries and dishes, I was happy to go and try it out and what do I order? Their new Pumpkin & Tofu Salad with Soy Ginger Dressing (RMB 48).

It’s a cold salad, so you should go for one of their new hot dishes if you’re looking to warm up from the cold outside, but their Pumpkin & Tofu salad is a big hit!  It’s a massive salad loaded with mixed lettuce, tofu squares, chunks of pumpkin, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, spinach, soy beans, sunflower seeds and black & white sesame seeds.

And the best part, Obentos has expanded their delivery menu so now you can enjoy this salad in the comfort of your own home!

Click Link for Previous LDS Review of Obentos:

Bento Pushers: Obentos Japanese is in Business!

Welcome Winter with Obentos Winter Menu

Obentos Contact Details:

• Address: 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

LumDimSum Discovery: Punjabi’s Ginger Garlic Soup

Punjabi’s Manchu Shorba – Ginger Garlic Manchow Soup (RMB 28)

WARNING my fellow Beijingers: This Thursday, Beijing’s weather forecast predicts temperatures to drop to -11 degrees Celsius.

That is scary cold, but with enough layers/puffer jackets together with enough hours of sleep and an appropriate diet, you should be able to prepare your body for the dramatic drop in temperature.

What’s a proper diet for cold weather?  Probably lay off the ice cream and other cold treats and stick to foods that will warm you up like hot pot and soups.

I recently discovered Punjabi’s Manchu Shorba, ie Ginger Garlic Manchow Soup (RMB 28) last week when I went to meet owner Gireesh Chowdhury with his recent order of candy&caviar’s webstore exclusives.  I was exhausted from lack of sleep, stress and all the things that come from a busy work week and it was clearly written all over my face because as soon as I walked into his restaurant, Gireesh ordered this soup for me straight away and I’ve got to hand it to him as it immediately warmed me up inside out and that night, I slept like a baby.

Thanks to this amazing Garlic Ginger Soup, I was able to get through the rest of the week and make sure everything was in order for my BICCO and Kagen Christmas Charity dinner last Saturday night (which was a HUGE success! – stay tuned for event pics and summary)

Packed with heavy doses of garlic, ginger, and vegetables, this chunky soup is packed with germ-fighting ingredients to boost your immunity system and get you through Beijing’s cold winter months.

“Of all the soups on my menu, this is the one that’s best for winter. It’s got ginger, garlic, veggies, black pepper and a dash of mint – a perfect cure for winter blues.” – Gireesh Chowdhury, owner of Punjabi Restaurant

Finally, medicine that actually tastes good! Well, it’s not technically medicine and as it’s not actually something doctors will prescribe to their patients with colds, but maybe they should!  Anyway, it really did work for me so I figured it would be beneficial to share this dish with my LDS readers and hopefully it will cure your winter blues too!

If you happen to be a vampire/someone who can’t handle garlic, then my second choice on Punjabi’s soup menu is their Tamatar Ka Shorba, ie Tomato Soup (RMB 28). It’s different from your typical rich and creamy American-style tomato soup because it’s a lot lighter with less cream.

“Punjabi’s tomato soup has no cornflour, no additives, just pure, fresh tomatoes with a dash of white pepper and cream.” – Gireesh on his tomato soup

Punjabi’s Tamatar Ka Shorba, ie Tomato Soup (RMB 28)

Next time you are dining in Punjabi, you must also try my all-time favorite Indian dish – Punjabi’s Baingan Bharta Dish, made from mashed chargrilled whole eggplant with fresh tomatoes and zero oil.

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just search tagged “LumDimSum Discovery” articles for more recommendations.

Punjabi Indian Restaurant Contact Details:

• Address: Located on Lucky Street, opposite 21st Century Hotel, 朝阳公园路C-8号二层

• Tel: 5867-0221/23

• Email:  punjabibj@gmail.com

• Website: www.punjabichina.com

LDS Discovery: GungHo!’s Turkey Hot Pot Tradition

Annual Turkey Hot Pot Tradition

It really should be no surprise that GungHo! Legends John and Jade are the masterminds behind my newest LumDimSum Discovery: Turkey Hot Pot.

LDS Discoveries are normally reserved for finds I uncover in various dining establishments around Beijing (click here for previous posts), but I couldn’t pass up writing about this discovery because this could easily be imitated and replicated in the comfort of anyone’s home! Yes, you can try this at home too!

Always scheming up new adventures, new recipes and new concoctions to share, this happens to be a relatively new tradition (second year running) and John & Jade were kind enough to introduce me to their world of turkey hot pot.

Turkey Chainsaw Massacre

Taking a giant, frozen turkey and slicing the meat into thin slivers and prepping a ton of veggies – pumpkin, sweet potato, brussel sprouts, baby carrots, potato slices and asparagus, we shared three massive pots of boiling turkey broth between 16 of us.  If you can close your eyes and just imagine, the turkey meat is even more juicy and moist in hot pot broth than out of the over! And the boiled vegetables were super healthy and carefully selected to follow in their theme of a classic turkey dinner’s veggie sides, but in Chinese hot-pot dinner style.

And not only did each person get their own sesame dipping sauce, we had cranberry sauce as well -an unexpectedly delish compliment to the savory turkey meat!

Pure Genius: Turkey Hot Pot

Flying Chopsticks Fighting For More Turkey Hot Pot!

As this weekend was Beijing’s first snowfall of the year, a hike on the Great Wall was in order. Needless to say, it was cold, but the sky was bright blue and winds were mild. So in spite of the lack of snow on the wall, it was an invigorating hike with gorgeous views of the mountain side and valleys all around.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Hiking on the Great Wall at the First Sign of Snow:

LumDimSum Discovery: Veggie Table’s Carrot Cake

A Thick Slice of Veggie Table’s Moist Carrot Cake (RMB 28)

The Veggie Table has been on my hit-list for months now.

After reading Bespoke Beijing‘s well-written review of Veggie Table on their blog site The Urban Edit Website, I have been really been dying to go.

“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.”

Check out Full Article here.

The only problem is that I have YET to have a full meal here.  I did stop in once for a quick bite – some hummus, lentils and beer (which was all OK, but nothing exceptionally great or bad), and since “a quick bite” doesn’t count as a full-on meal, I’ve decided it best to hold off before I judge Veggie Table after only trying a few dishes. Stay tuned for a full LDS review…Soon my foodies, I promise!

In any case, last week I was hell-bent on checking Veggie Table off my restaurant hit list and finally dig in to some giant veggie burgers and I hear their “stink out” is fantastic.  But to my great disappointment, they were unable to seat us and the experience itself was actually quite frustrating.  We arrived at 12:30 and there was a sign taped to their door which read “We will open at 12:30, apologizes for any inconvenience caused.”  Considering it was already 12:30, we figured our timing was just right until we looked in to see that the restaurant fully occupied in what looked like a teaching seminar.  When we stepped inside the restaurant at 12:45, owner/chef Laura Fanelli said that their event was taking longer than expected and asked if we would be willing to sit down on a sofa that was covered in coats as we waited for the seminar to be over.  No, thanks.  It’s really not a big deal that the previous event ran over-time, but the suggestion for waiting customers to sit on a couch clearly not available or suitable was a lame, half-ass effort and just not well-handled in my opinion.

We ended up eating at Vineyard (which has a great set lunch!) and afterwards, we came back to Veggie Table for a slice of carrot cake and just one bite later, all prior frustrations were forgiven (but not forgotten).  The carrot cake was just fresh out of the oven and Laura explained that it is vegan and even made with organic flour (which is apparently near-impossible to find in Beijing).

Whether or not it’s healthy or entirely organic, it was mouth-wateringly delicious, a slice of heaven if you will. It’s moist, tasty and just knowing that it’s made from Veggie Table (home of vegan cuisine and about as organic as you can get in Beijing), I feel less guilty indulging in a giant slice of sweetness.

Well-worth the RMB 28 and if I ever find another chance to make my way back to The Veggie Table, I’ll be sure to save room for more carrot cake!

Loaf of Carrot Cake Fresh out of the Oven

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

Other Reviews of Veggie Table:

• Time Out
• theBeijinger
• CityWeekend
• LocalNoodles

The Veggie Table Contact Details:

• Address:  19 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District  东城区五道营胡同19号
• Tel: 6446 2073
• *Note: Restaurant is not open on Tuesdays and I hear their dinners are quite busy (so try lunch instead!)

LumDimSum Discovery: Maan’s Bulgogi Burger

I probably would not have come to this cafe on my own, so I am very grateful to my fellow foodie Saul Diaz for the introduction.  Located in Lido, just to the right side of Ai Jiang Shan Korean BBQ restaurant, MAAN Coffee is a Korean cafe that’s relatively new and specializes in coffee and waffle desserts.

From the outside, it’s a massive two-story building with tinted glass windows and as soon as you walk inside, you are basically standing in line to place your order.

MAAN Coffee Ordering & Pick-Up Stations

Glass Counter Displays of Plastic Food & Desserts

Looking at two glass counter displays of plastic food and desserts, I would normally have been turned off by this point, but my foodie accomplice swears by their Bulgogi Burgers.  We each ordered our own (each order comes with two burgers) and priced at RMB 48.

I don’t drink coffee, so I opted instead for a fresh kiwi juice, but I hear their coffee is half decent.  Walking through the seating space, the place is packed with loungers, computer users (they provide a few impressive Mac computers for customers to browse the web) and mostly couples indulging in their waffle desserts.

A nice bonus is that the cafe features several counters stocked with napkins, hot and cold water, milk and sugar for coffee and bowls of cinnamon toast sticks!  A nice complimentary treat and definitely popular with the coffee drinkers.  I would have wanted to try some of their desserts, but I was way too stuffed after gorging two bulgogi burgers and too many cinnamon sticks.

Overall, the cafe has an incredibly quirky design, it’s a massive space that’s always busy and best of all, they have the best Bulgogi Burger ever.  I’ve never heard, seen or tried a bulgoki burger anywhere else, but I’m sure this one beats out all other because it really is fantabulous.

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

Review of Maan Coffee Waffle & Toast: Just right of Ai Jiang Shan Korean BBQ restaurant in Lido, 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:

• MAAN Coffee’s Bulgogi Burgers are BOMB
• Cool cafe to hang out in the Lido area
• Tasty waffle & fruit ice desserts
• Free Wifi & plenty of couch seating
• Nice computers for customers to browse the web
• Newly opened, MAAN is already bustling with coffee and dessert lovers

Comments:

• Background music is awful – everything from hip hop to pop and just everything you don’t want to listen to when lounging at a cafe
• Service is also awful, cashiers often get orders wrong and don’t take responsibility and waitstaff is unhelpful and unfriendly
• Decor is kind of quirky and cool in some respects, but also ostentatious 
• One time, cashier refused to accept cash and only wanted customer to pay with card
• It’s quick, casual so customers order at the counter and are given a teddy bear with a number to receive their meal
• Customers can help themselves to complimentary hot and ice water…and cinnamon sticks! 
• I don’t think there is a non-smoking area, there were people smoking cigarettes throughout the upstairs section

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 7

LumDimSum Discovery: Susu’s Banana & Prawn Roll

I’m always raving about Susu and introducing new people here because for me, this is one of those “no-fail” restaurant choices.  The decor is stunning, the food is authentic and the drinks are delicious.  And now, I have discovered a new reason to love Susu even more: Susu’s Banana & Prawn Fried Spring Roll

In all my dining trips to Susu, I had always ordered from the fresh spring roll menu options and had never even given a glance to their fried spring rolls.  Silly me because this is about one of the best dishes on their entire menu.  People go ga-ga for their La Vong Fish dish (their restaurant speciality) and their rich salad selection, but somehow a few other noteworthy dishes have been previously overlooked and I now feel an obligation to my fellow foodies to shed light on my new discoveries.

Susu’s Banana & Prawn Fried Spring Roll (48) is the perfect balance of crunchy and gooey texture and sweet and savory flavors

 Another noteworthy dish is their Tamarind Crab (RMB 168) which is bursting with tangy flavors and although it’s messy and not the easiest thing to eat, the succulent crab meat is delicious once you’re able to crack/bite your way through it’s tough shells.

Susu has some great vegetarian options including a couple excellent tofu dishes.  I had previously tried their stinky tofu dish (which is also delish), but I was happy to discover their Tofu Flower dish (RMB 48), which is a simple but mouthwatering dish of silky tofu encased in a crispy exterior and served with sweet and sour fish sauce.

Susu’s Tofu Flowers (RMB 48)

Tonight (Friday, September 30), Susu is hosting a great happy hour featuring new craft beers from 5:00-7:00PM.

“Enjoy authentic American style craft beer made in Beijing together with Susu’s spring rolls and shrimp toast or other Vietnamese fare.  We’ll keep pouring that night till the tap runs dry.” – Susu Team 

Previous LDS Reviews on Susu:

• Just Can’t Get Enough: Susu Revisited
• Susu is Superb: A LumDimSum Discovery

Check out other Susu Restaurant Reviews here:

• China Daily Review
• Beijing Today Review
• Time Out Beijing Review
• CityWeekend Review

If you are planning to visit Susu for the first time, be sure to take note of their address and this map below:

Susu Contact Details:

• Address: Qianliang Hutong, West Alley No. 10, 钱粮胡同西巷10号
• Directions: Just northeast of National Art Museum and Sanlian Bookstorn on Qianliang hutong
• Tel: 8400-2699

*Note that Susu is closed on Mondays, I recommend calling ahead to book a reservation

LumDimSum Discovery: Punjabi’s Baingan Bharta Dish

Baingan Bharta: A Specialty Dish by Punjabi Indian Restaurant

Every time I go to Punjabi, I am inspired more and more to travel to India.  The food here is phenomenal. Every time I bring a new friend to Punjabi, they are stunned they did not know such awesome Indian food is available in Beijing.

I guess it doesn’t hurt that Punjabi’s owner Gireesh Chowdhury is always spoiling me with off-the-menu dishes and although he will let me look through their new menu, he still offers to help me to order a selection of dishes that leaves me in food-coma-heaven.

The first time I asked for something off the menu, he introduced me to Kathi Rolls which is like an Indian burrito.  A Northern Indian snack, Kathi Rolls come rolled with veggies, cheese or meat stuffed into a rolled Roomali Roti bread (flour is similar to naan bread, but Punjabi can make it with whole wheat naan). Punjabi’s Kristen Kathi Rolls (yep, he named them after me!) are stuffed with either BBQ chicken, lamb and mushrooms or there is also a veggie option filled with vegetables, BBQ cottage cheese, mint and tamarind sauce.

Most recently, he introduced me to a new favorite dish, Baingan Bharta (RMB 42 and pictured above). It’s super healthy as there is no added oil whatsoever.  Made from charcoal-grilled whole eggplant, we then mash the eggplant and then sauté with tomatoes and add a pinch of turmeric and salt.

“This is a dish I remember from when I was 7 years old when I would always steal from my friend’s ‘packed lunch’ his mom made! It’s completely vegan, and not a drop of oil used in it!”  - Gireesh Chowdhury, Owner of Punjabi

This aside, he also introduced me to a fried cauliflower dish called Chilli Gobhi which was exceptional along with the Yellow Dal Tadka, the lentil curry featured below.  And although everyone loves a good garlic butter naan, I also prefer the wheat naan option – Tawa Paratha.  And to wash it all down, Punjabi’s got the best homemade Mango Lassi.

Here is a sampling of some of Gireesh’s recommended dishes of the day.

LumDimSum Snapshots of other Punjabi Dishes:

Chilli Gobhi: An Indian Chinese street snack: Sauteed Cauliflower in sweet and spicy sauce (RMB 38)

Malai Tikka: Cream marinated boneless chicken with minimal spices, cream and green chillies, and then barbequed in the “Tandoor” (RMB 50)

Saffron Rice: Long grain super fragrant Indian Basmati Rice, slow cooked over night with spices and saffron. (RMB 35)

Yellow Dal Tadka: Split Gram Lentils, slow cooked along with tomatoes and “Tadka” on the top. (RMB 44)
“Tadka” means a dash of “Sauteed seasoning of Indian spices and chillies” which brings out all the flavors to the max!

Kathi Roll (RMB 36) / Tawa Paratha (RMB 18)
A home-style whole wheat pancake. Cooked in a non-stick pan, with minimum butter, some cumin seeds and multi-layered, since it is folded and then rolled with a rolling pin. A very healthy and light alternative to standard naan bread!

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

Punjabi Indian Restaurant Contact Details:

• Address: Located on Lucky Street, opposite 21st Century Hotel, 朝阳公园路C-8号二层
• Tel: 5867-0221/23

LumDimSum Discovery: Gungho! Salads Rock

On the topic of healthier options, who would guess that a pizza place would have such exceptional salads?  But as you all already know, Gungho! Gourmet Pizza Factory is not like other pizza joints.  Their pizza is not soaked in grease and they even offer an organic whole wheat crust option.  And more than pizza, they have a wide selection of fresh spinach pastas, calzones, desserts, fresh juice and fresh salads!

I had previously sampled a few of their salads like their low-fat greek salad and house salad which were all fresh and good, but not mind-blowing.  That was before I tried their Thai Beef Salad (created by celebrity chef Jun Trinh) which is off-the-hook amazing and their Tropical Salad is also one of my new favorites!  Both salads are fresh, filling and leaves you addicted so that I find myself just craving Gungho!’s salads more than their pizzas (and I love their pizzas)!

Tropical Salad: Vegetarian salad with arugula and perilla, pineapple and smoked tofu topped with toasted walnuts and shredded coconut

RMB 30 for Medium or RMB 50 for Large

Thai Beef Salad: Fresh spinach and perilla salad tossed with basil, asian mushrooms, grilled beef, chili peppers, fried shallots, sesame seeds and nuoc mam dressing
*Designed by celebrity chef Jun Trinh

RMB 35 for Medium or RMB 60 for Large

Summer is pretty much over, but Gungho!’s summer menu by celebrity chef Jun Trinh is outstanding.  I’m a big fan of his salad creations, Pesto Chicken Pizza and Grilled Beef Pizza.

And with Gungho!’s unbeatable Money Back Guarantee, you really have nothing to lose.  See below:

The GHP Money Back Guarantee

Here at Gung Ho! Pizza, we put our money where our mouth is. And we have a very big mouth. Big mouths. Sure, it gets us into trouble from time to time, but what’s life without a little risk. Or drunken streaking through south street on a bet. So without further ado, the Fine Print:

1. If you’re not satisfied with your food we’ll take it back – end of story
2. You’re satisfaction is important to us! If you’re returning something, please fill out a questionnaire to tell us why
3. Offer only applies to Gung Ho! food – drinks not included!
4. No taking the mickey. If there’s less than three quartes gone, it’s all yours baby
5. Likewise, if you’ve had your food for more than an hour, see rule number 3

Gung Ho! Gourmet Pizza Factory:

Address: Behind Hooters on east side of Gongti, 101 Building 3, China View, 2 Gongti East Road, Sanlitun, 工体东路2号中国红阶大厦3号楼101室(在猫头鹰后边)

For delivery orders, call: 8587 1404 / 8587 1370

Website: http://www.gunghopizza.com/

Previous LDS Reviews on Gungho! Pizza:

The ‘Real’ Gungho! Pizza Experience
Gung Ho!’s Gourmet Pizza & Goofy Gimmicks

So Gungho! for Jun Trinh’s New Summer Menu

LumDimSum Discovery: Lime Cafe’s Pomelo Salad

In the middle of summertime in Beijing, when you feel like there’s no escape from the constant, lingering heat, the thought of hot and heavy foods like curry can be overwhelming and the very last thing you are in the mood to eat, but don’t rule out Thai food entirely as Thai salads are not only bursting with flavor, they are incredibly light and refreshing – a perfect summertime food.

Every time I dine at a Thai restaurant, I have a habit of ordering Green Papaya Salad, but most recently, I have discovered a new favorite: The Pomelo Salad (RMB 28) from a new addition to Central Park called Lime Cafe.  With big chunks of pomelo fruit mixed with grapes, tomatoes and cashews, this salad had the flavor and spice of a Green Papaya Salad, but with a unique mix of ingredients that fused together exceptionally well. For only RMB 28, this salad is great value and definitely worth a try!

Some other dishes I tried included their Green Papaya Salad (RMB 32), Green Chicken Curry (RMB 45) and Stir-fry Morning Glory.  While all were satisfying, I was most impressed by Lime Cafe’s Pomelo Salad.

A nice option for a quick lunch, Lime Cafe offers a great set lunch menu on weekdays for RMB 58 which includes a two-course meal (soup/salad with a main course and choice of green tea, jasmine tea or watermelon juice).  If you have room for dessert, I recommend trying their Mango Sticky Rice (RMB 20).

LumDimSum Snapshots of Lime Cafe in Central Park:

Review of Lime Cafe: Store 103, Bldg 15, Central Park, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区朝外大街新城国际15号楼103铺. Tel: 6597 0887

Best Part:

• Authentic, newly opened Thai restaurant

• Refreshing Thai salads – both their Pomelo Salad and Green Papaya Salad were excellent
• They offer a great set lunch meal for RMB 58 includes two courses + drink
• Great Mango Lassi
• Plenty of vegetarian options!
• Nice outside seating area if you enjoy being under the sunshine and sitting outdoors

Comments:

• It’s Central Park, so don’t expect very low prices.  That being said, Lime Cafe’s prices are reasonable.
• Bathroom is outside of restaurant, so you’ll have to walk a bit.
• Pretty packed during lunch hours, there’s often a wait for seating (especially seating indoors if you want air conditioning)
• Service was mediocre, staff was not very helpful in recommending dishes.

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 6
• Service: 5
• Overall Experience: 6

LumDimSum Discovery: ‘Dinner Teaser’ at Punjabi

Punjabi has recently released a new photo menu (click here to view) of over 25 pages packed with everything from specialty Indian drinks (they have the best Mango Lassi ever), soups, appetizers, BBQ dishes and combos, curries, vegetarian dishes, rice dishes, roti and nan bread, New Delhi famous street food including Kristen’s Kathi Roll (yup, that’s me!), South Indian dishes, Indian and Chinese fusion dishes, and traditional Indian desserts.

With a million and one options, it’s near impossible to choose out of so many dishes and still get enough variety, so Punjabi’s owner Gireesh has created a “Dinner Teaser” set menu. Perfect for two, the set dinner menu includes a six course menu highlighting Punjabi’s new menu featured items.

Punjabi’s ‘Dinner Teaser’ Set Menu:

• 2 Drinks: The Cinderella (a super strong Indian cocktail) or Mango Lassi (non-alcoholic option)

• Tamatar Ka Shorba (tomato soup)

• Masala Pappadams Appetizers (pappadams with chopped vegetables)

• Half BBQ combo order of chicken and lamb mix

• Kristen’s Kathi Rolls (Indian burritos made of BBQ’d meat, mint and tamarind sauce)

• The Thali – a special curry set served on a silver platter (available for sale worth RMB 2,188) with 5 silver bowls featuring some of Punjabi’s most popular curry dishes:
  • Butter Chicken (BBQ chicken in a tomato and cream buttery sauce)
  • Gosht Saagwala (lamb with spinach and cream)
  • Jhinga Curry (prawn curry in an onion based sauce)
  • Mix Vegetables
  • Sweet Dahi (Fresh Thick Yoghurt)

• Desserts to share: Mango Custard (made with milk and Indian Mango pulp) and “Gajar Ka Halwa” made from carrots, milk and cardamon.

LumDimSum Snapshots of Punjabi’s Dinner Teaser:

The Cinderella Indian Cocktail or Mango Lassi

Rich Tomato Soup / Masala Pappadams

BBQ Chicken & Lamb / Kristen’s Kathi Roll

The Thali: Silver Platter featuring 5 of Punjabi’s most popular curry dishes

Mixed Vegetables / Lamb with Spinach and Cream

Butter Chicken / Prawn Curry

Sweet Dahi

Desserts: Mango Custard / Gajar Ka Halwa

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I try a dish worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

Punjabi’s Address:

Located on Lucky Street, opposite 21st Century Hotel, 朝阳公园路C-8号二层, Tel: 5867-0221/23

LumDimSum Discovery: Sassy Scrubs Body

Sassy Scrubs Body first caught my eye at my last visit to Kocoon Spa Lounge, but when I received a Mint Chocolate Sassy Scrubs gift from my dear friend Kelly Olver, I became one of their biggest fans.  A week later at BJ FOoDIES ‘Shelter’ Charity Dinner, I had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant woman behind Sassy Scrubs Body – Ms. Cathleen Chang, after which I placed an order for 6 body scrubs as pampering gifts for family and friends!

Using all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, these hand-made sugar scrubs come in 12 yummy flavors like Lemon Coconut Cream Pie, Spice Banana Bread, Red Velvet Cake, Lychee Mojito, Blueberry Smoothie and Apple Cinnamon Latte.

Full list of Sassy Scrubs Body Flavors:

Not only do these scrubs smell absolutely delicious, the natural sugars dissolve into your skin, leaving you feeling silky smooth!  Especially in Beijing’s horrendously dry winters, these scrubs are the perfect remedy for dry skin - a natural way to gently exfoliate your skin, clear excess oil and dead skin cells, and save your precious skin from the dry weather!

To order Sassy Scrubs Body, contact Cathleen directly:  cathleenchang@gmail.com

LumDimSum Discovery: ROOM’s Magical Fruit Tree

ROOM Signature Fruit Tree with Seasonal Fruits/sugars and sauces (RMB 200)

Known for his innovative food creations and playful dishes, Brian McKenna of ROOMbeijing is all about quality ingredients, beautiful presentation and this fruit platter is a perfect example of Brian’s magic touch – taking something simple and making it magnificent, original, something unforgettable.

After seeing this brilliant fruit tree creation at ROOM, never will I look at a standard fruit plate the same.

ROOMbeijing

Address:

301-302, 3/F, PARK LIFE, Beijing Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomenwai Street,
建国门外大街2号, 银泰中心3

Tel: 8517-2033

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