‘Ham It Up’ at ROOM

ROOMbeijing knows good ham.

Serving up some of the nicest selections of fine ham in the capital (ranging from RMB 55-750 for 100g platter), here is a list of my top 3 picks:

#1 Top Pick: 5J pata negra ham (Spain)

The king of hams from the black-hoofed pig, rich nutty flavour (RMB 750/100g)

#2 Pick: Salami – Italy

Cured Mixed-Meat Sausage, Air Dried (RMB 55/100g)

#3 Pick: Parma Ham – Italy

Cured for 2 years (RMB 90/100g)

If you like to mix it up, ROOMbeijing also offers mixed ham platters:

• Selection of 3 – RMB 560/150g

• Selection of 6 – RMB 660/300g

Click here for ROOMbeijing Restaurant Review.

ROOMbeijing:

中国北京市朝阳区建国门外大街2号

北京银泰中心三层301-302 邮编: 100022

301-302, 3/F, PARK LIFE Shopping Centre, Beijing Yintai Centre

No. 2 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Tel: 8517-2033

LumDimSum Discovery: Mian Dui Mian 面兑面

Pork Noodles topped with Peanuts & Scallions (RMB 10)

There’s something to be said about a simple mound of noodles. It’s loved across cultures all over the world. Call it pasta, call it noodles, at the end of the day, it’s all starchy-goodness.

And while noodles are served in practically every Chinese menu in the world, only a few will highlight it as their signature dish.  Mian Dui Mian 面兑面 offers a simple menu with 3 noodle dish options -pork, braised beef or braised pork intestines – all range from RMB 10-18.  To compliment the noodles, there is a small selection of side dishes including pickled cucumber salad and marinated egg to name a few.

Out of the three noodle options, almost everyone in the restaurant, including our table, all ordered the same dish – Noodles with Pork Sauce topped with Peanuts and Scallions. I think that this exact noodle dish is what Marco Polo must have conjured when he took Asian-inspired noodles to Italy to eventually become Spaghetti Bolognaise.

This noodle dish is an interesting mix of flavors and texture, where Spaghetti Bolognaise meets Sichuan-style Dan Dan Mian.  And the best part? This massive portion of noodles (picture above is their small portion) is only RMB 10 and if that’s not enough for you, you can order an even large size for RMB 12 I think.

And unlike your average local noodle joint, this one is decked out in everything IKEA from its furniture and light furnishings to the water pitchers, you will feel that this noodle joint is cleaner, cozier and rather stylish if you will.  Guests can choose to sit at a long counter in front of the noodle station or on tables tucked inside a second room surrounded by glass walls for a very open, airy atmosphere.

Review of Mian Dui Mian面兑面: Right next to Exit B of Dongsi Subway Station, 7 Dongsi Toutiao, Dongcheng District,东城区东四头条7号 Tel: 6400 8781

Best Part:

• Big, heaping serving of Noodles – I recommend the Pork Noodles topped with Peanuts and Scallions (RMB 10).  It’s got the look and texture of Spaghetti Bolognaise with the Ma La “numbing” spice of Sichuan Dan Dan noodles.
• It’s super cheap - like “10 kuai for a meal” kind of cheap.
• Relatively clean space decked out in everything IKEA.
• Menu is limited to only a few items, so it’s straight-forward and simple to order.
• Casual dining space perfect for a quick lunch.

Comments:

• Noodles were great, but all of us ordered the same kind so we didn’t get to sample much else on the menu.
• Service is non-existent, so it’s more of a quick-service restaurant.
• Don’t expect anyone to speak any English.
• Space is quite small so seating is limited, but luckily you can count on patrons to quickly eat and leave and not linger around so if there isn’t a seat right when you walk in, you won’t have to wait long for one to be made available.

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

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 5
• Service: 4
• Overall Experience: 6
  

LumDimSum Discovery: The Orchard’s Garden of Eden

The Orchard is easily one of my favorite places in Beijing.  If it weren’t so far, I swear I’d spend every Sunday there. The food is awesome (click here for previous restaurant review), I love their fresh organic salads, the home-baked bread, their banana bread is AMAZING, and the food selection is always changing with what’s fresh and what’s in season.

The trip to the Orchard is a bit tricky if you’ve never been, but trust me, it is well worth your while. A canopy of apple trees will greet you at the entrance, and once you step into the charming courtyard oasis, you will feel right at home.

And once you finish your meal, take a stroll and lounge about in their beautiful garden oasis.  Exploring the area, I felt like I was discovering the real “Secret Garden”.

The lush, green trees, the lotus filled pond, the drooping willows, the moss covered bridge, the cobbled walkways, the shaded swings, the brick walls covered in vines, orchards lined with apple and pear trees…I could go on and on.

It’s so pretty, it doesn’t even feel real.  Struggling to battle my food coma, I didn’t want to even blink because I didn’t want to take my eyes off the dreamlike scenery before me.

If you’ve never been before, I highly recommend going there for brunch and then spending the rest of your afternoon walking around or just sitting and soaking in the picturesque scenery.

The Orchard: Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang Township, Shunyi – Located right behind the Beijing Riviera and Quanfa Gardens  崔各庄乡何各庄村  Tel: 139-1121-1965, 6433-6270

LumDimSum Snapshots of The Orchard’s Garden:

Don’t Judge a Drink by its Cover

Unlike most food beauty shots, a photo of a smoothie is just not nearly as appetizing. Regardless of all the delicious ingredients blended together to create something beyond what the effect of any one separate ingredient can have on your palate, it’s appearance just can not do it justice because, let’s face it, all your eyes see is liquid color.

Element Fresh’s smoothies are the highlight of their menu and among the top smoothies available in Beijing.

In the past, my favorite smoothies on their menu was their Mango Madness smoothie or Very Berry, but last week week I noticed a few new additions to their smoothie menu.

With the sweet tooth I have, I was immediately sold by the “Chocolate Strawberry” title.  Ingredients: kiwi juice, coconut, milk, yoghurt, strawberries and chocolate sauce (RMB 32/50 for a small/large smoothie).

So here’s what was presented to me:

Small vs. Large Portion

But what you should really be seeing is this:

I am not exaggerating. The chocolate strawberry smoothie is a liquid form of a combination of the photos above.

The taste was so dangerously good, I had to resist the strong temptation to slurp it all down at once and to allow myself to savor every sip.

So good, it’s been ingrained in my memory ever since and I could not refrain from giving in to a second taste only 3 days later.

LumDimSum Discovery: Banh Mi Now!’s Bun

As much as I LOVE Vietnamese pho, it’s just too scorching hot in Beijing to be in the mood for hot noodle soup.  Which is how I’ve discovered my new favorite thing to order at Banh Mi Now! (see here article on their Banh Mi sandwiches) – their Bún aka Vietnamese cold noodles.

For only RMB 22, you get served a massive bowl of cold noodles with veggies filled to the brim including shredded lettuce, pickled carrots and daikons, scallion oil, cucumber, mint, basil and topped with your choice of meats.

I opted for a side of Ga Nuong – Grilled lemongrass marinated chicken (RMB 7) and Dau Phu Nuong – Chilli and honey marinated grilled tofu (RMB 8). I highly recommend the marinated chicken, which had a delicious marinade and was grilled perfectly. (both sides are pictured in photo above)

Other side options include Bo Nuong – Grilled lemongrass marinated beef (RMB 9), Thit Nuong – Grilled lemongrass marinated pork (RMB 7), Tom Nuong – Grilled caramel marinated shrimp (RMB 12), and Cha Nuong – Grilled pork meat balls & pork belly slices/Charcoal grilled pork meatballs with carrots in a sweet and tangy fish sauce (RMB 18).

Photo of Bun all mixed together:

*Banh Mi Now! is part of the Luga Empire, located above Little Luga’s in Tongli Studio.  They specialize in quick & casual Vietnamese fare from spring rolls to pho & now these authentic Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches & Summer Shakes!  41 Sanlitun Beijie, 三里屯北街41号. Tel: 135-2013-7915

LumDimSum Discovery: Punjabi’s Kathi Roll

A Northern Indian snack, Kathi Rolls are like Indian burritos 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 as well).

Served at Punjabi Indian Restaurant on Lucky Street, Kathi Rolls are not on actually on their regular menu, but they come highly recommended by owner Gireesh and can be specially made by their talented chef from India.

One order gets you 2 Kathi Rolls (RMB 36), which are stuffed with either BBQ chicken, lamb or veggies galore.  Veggie Kathi Roll (pictured above) is filled with vegetables, BBQ cottage cheese, mint and tamarind sauce.

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.

LumDimSum Discovery: Vineyard’s English Breakfast

Vineyard's Full English Breakfast (RMB 68)

The Vineyard Cafe’s Full English Breakfast has long been reason alone to make the trip there. For only RMB 68, you get the following (photo above):

2 Pork Sausages

Sautéed Potatoes

2 Rashers of Bacon

Grilled Tomato

Button Mushrooms

Baked Beans

Toast & Butter

Egg (however you like it)

Your choice of coffee or tea

In addition to their popular Full English Breakfast, they have most recently updated their Brunch Menu to add a Vegetarian Brunch Set Menu (RMB 63) along with the option to customize your own breakfast plate.

I opted for a combination of the Classic English Breakfast and the Vegetarian Meal Deal -

2 Rashers of Bacon

2 Sausages

Button Mushrooms

2 Vegetarian Patties

Over-easy Egg

Whole Meal Toast

Total: RMB 53

Another great brunch menu item is their Eggs-Benedict (RMB 26):

The Vineyard’s New Brunch Menu:

Review of Vineyard Cafe: 31 Wudaoying Hutong,Yonghegong - west of Yonghegong; 五道营胡同31号  雍和宫桥南; Tel: 6402-7961

Best Part:

• Great value for a hearty brunch meal – Full English Breakfast is a great deal
• Venue has a nice outdoor dining space and I personally love the use of the hutong style space.
• Conveniently located by the Yonghegong subway stop, just across from the Lama Temple
• Giant glass of fresh squeezed juices and smoothies only RMB 25.
• Consistent, quality food every time.

Comments:

• Their Full English Breakfast used to come with fresh squeezed apple juice, which was a highlight. Now you can choose between coffee and tea and they were inflexible when asked if that could be substituted (even for drink items at a lower cost than coffee/tea).
• Service is a bit slow and staff did not speak very good English.
• They book up, so I recommend making a reservation in advance.
• Best to check map to make sure you don’t get lost:

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

• Food: 8
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7

LumDimSum Discovery: Lollipop Bakery’s Cupcakes

I consider these mouth-watering cupcakes as my ‘precious’ little treasures. It’s hard to be in a room with them and not turn into Gullum from Lord of the Rings and claim all the cupcakes as “My Precious”.

These cupcakes are sensational and they taste even better than they look.

I’ve had the fortune of sampling a variety of their flavors from vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, and carrot, which has been my personal favorite thus far.  It’s got the perfect balance of cinnamon and sweetness.

The latest addition to Lollipop Bakery’s Gourmet cupcake flavors is the Spiced Carrot Cupcake, which has wonderful hints of cinnamon and ginger complementing the moist carrot cake, and is perfect with a tall glass of iced coffee. 220RMB/dozen

Freshly baked to order using quality imported ingredients, each individual cupcake is finished by hand with a soft buttercreme frosting, and beautifully packaged.

*Note: Order 24 hours in advance, minimum order is 1 dozen cupcakes (Free delivery with minimum order of 2 dozen cupcakes)

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.

LumDimSum Discovery: Comptoirs’ Kiwi Energizer

My absolute favorite French Bakery, Comptoirs de France specializes in freshly baked bread, pastries, cakes, desserts and a great selection of salads and sandwiches/paninis as well.

What you may not know, is that Comptoirs also offers a selection of fresh fruit summer smoothies, which are not only refreshing and delicious, but also healthy and nutritious. I was surprised to find that these smoothies were not included within their standard menu nor were they listed on their cafe’s menu board.

All of  thirst-quenching smoothies range from RMB 18-32 and on a scale of 1-5, each smoothie is ranked on how energetic, purifying, immunizing, digestive, and dermo-vivifying each is.

I ordered the Kiwi Energizer (RMB 32) – “A refreshing green cocktail that will top your energy battery.”

A thick smoothie with a blend of kiwi and lemon, the combination of flavors is a perfect balance of citrus and tang.

Kiwi Energizer Ranking:

• Energetics – 5
• Purifying – 2
• Immunizing – 4
• Digestive – 2
• Dermo-vivifying – 4

Some other recommended top-selling smoothies include the Mango Blush (RMB 28) – a fresh blend of mango, orange and lemon, the Fapai Lover (RMB 28) – a combination of strawberries, lychee and yogurt, and the Islands Passion – apple, pineapple, lime and passionfruit puree.

LumDimSum Hot Tip: After 7:30PM, all freshly baked breads, pastries & desserts are buy-one-get-one-free!  I highly recommend their fresh rye bread, whole meal loaf, and their chocolate eclairs & tartlets.

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.

LumDimSum Discovery: Hatsune’s G-Roll

If you don’t already know, Hatsune has a Secret Menu for our sushi fanatics.

Created for those who have already tried every sushi roll on our menu 10 times and are looking for something different, something special, the Secret Menu was invented by Alan Wong himself and dedicated to hardcore Hatsune addicts aka Sushi Samurais.

Hatsune’s most popular roll on the menu is by far the Moto-Roll-Ah Roll, so Alan created a pimped-out version of this roll called the G-roll.

The G-roll ( G卷) - Inside: Soft-Shelled Crab, Tempura Flakes & Avocado Roll; Outside: Torched Unagi and White Tuna with Tobiko, Green Onions and topped with Hatsune's Special Sauces.

**Note to Sushi Fans:

Hatsune’s next Sushi-Making Class will be held next Wednesday, June 9 at the Original Hatsune.

Learn the secrets behind the legendary Hatsune sushi rolls, eat your own creations and you even get to take home your very own Sushi-Samurai Kit to start making your own sushi at home!

Event Details here.

*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.

LumDimSum Discovery: Fei Teng Yu Xiang 沸腾鱼乡

Fei Teng Yu Xiang has the best Sichuan Shui Zhu Yu (Spicy Water-Boiled Fish) I have found in Beijing, making it a dish worth sharing.

The perfect balance of spice and flavor soaked through the tender strips of fish, this is a popular Sichuan dish among spice lovers.

For those who are a bit more adventurous, I also recommend the Spicy Water-Boiled Bullfrog.

A nice dish to counter-balance spice is the steamed vegetable basket, which features corn on the cob, taro root, peanuts, pumpkin and yams.  The mini red yams were so melt-in-your mouth-good and tasty, we couldn’t deny ourselves a second order.

Address: Down alleyway of Chunxiu Lu (opposite from Gongti Donglu) off Gongti Beilu 工体北路1号  Tel:  6417-4988

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

LumDimSum Discovery: Pure Lotus’ Happiness Roll

A vegetarian seaweed hand roll wrapped with fresh lettuce, cucumber, carrot, walnuts & strawberry for RMB 10 each, this is worth every last fen.

Located at the Northeast corner of the 3rd Ring Road’s Changhong Bridge (big intersection for Sanlitun at the Tuanjiehu Subway stop), Pure Lotus is a vegetarian restaurant run by Buddhist monks. With beautiful decor and a gigantic picture menu with plenty of philosophical Chinglish jibberish to keep you laughing and joking throughout your meal (ex: Garden of the Peaceful Heart Salad and Tonify the Blood Flour Ball Soup, The Dao Transcends the World Sour Bamboo Shoot Noodles), this really is a perfect dining destination to bring visitors and friends alike for a truly unique dining experience.

While our meal was exceptional to say the least, the happiness roll really was the highlight of our meal. Another highlight was the complimentary shot of plum vinegar on ice (served per person) along with the complimentary fruit at the end of our meal – watermelon served in a giant bowl of dry ice.

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I find a dish (or in this case, a drink) worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

LumDimSum Discovery: Banana Soy Moss Shake

After trying this shake only once before, it’s been ingrained in my memory since, begging me to go back for a second taste.

That alone qualifies Moss Coffee & Bagels’ Banana Soy Shake as a LumDimSum Discovery:

Banana Soy Moss Shake

A smooth blend of Banana, Soy Milk, Kinako, Honey, this shake is both refreshing and satisfying. A perfect summer drink to order on its own or to complement your meal.

Moss Coffee & Bagels also has a great weekday set lunch – only RMB 38 for a bagel sandwich (10 choices) + Soup + Latte/Cappuccino/Americano Coffee.  But if you trade the coffee for this glorious Banana Soy Moss Shake (Banana, Soy Milk, Kinako, Honey), they will only charge an additional 2 RMB.  Well worth it.

Moss' Set Lunch w/ Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich

*LumDimSum Discovery Explanation: Whenever I find a dish (or in this case, a drink) worth sharing, I will post this find as a LumDimSum Discovery.  Just click tagged LumDimSum Discovery articles for more recommendations.

LumDimSum Discovery: Biteapitta’s Hummus & Falafel Pita Sandwich

This is not a new or recent discovery, but considering I go to Biteapitta on average twice a week just to get my fix of the usual - Hummus & Falafel Pita Sandwich – I figured it merits a post as a LumDimSum Discovery.

I should probably start ordering other things on their menu to get more of a variety and because I’m sure everything on their menu is definitely worth trying, but whenever I go, I can’t help it and crave nothing else. And I assume it must be contagious because now my friends are also hooked, which makes it even worse because now we all eat the same thing every time. Sounds lame, but once you try it, you won’t be able to stop either. Can’t stop, won’t stop…

Stuffed in soft, fresh pita bread, the Hummus & Falafel Pita Sandwich (RMB 28) holds about six falafels (fried balls from ground chickpeas) with hummus spread throughout and topped with cucumbers, tomatoes and sour cream.  The falafel is served fresh and hot and is by far, my favorite item on Biteapitta’s menu. It’s perfectly proportioned leaving me full but not stuffed and the combination of hummus and falafel is perfect. And for only RMB 28, this is a steal. (If you like to switch it up, I recommend trying falafel with babaganoush.)

Biteapitta's Hummus & Falafel Pita Sandwich

Other highly recommended items off Biteapitta’s menu is their Chicken Shawarma and their appetizer dishes like the sauteed mushrooms, eggplant and egg salad.

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

LumDimSum Discovery: Let’s Seafood’s Smoked Salmon Salad

Let's Seafood's Smoked Salmon Salad

Most chicken/salmon salads tend to have mounds of veggies with actually very few strips of the good stuff on top, but for the first time, I found a salad with the opposite ratio of greens to the good stuff! I found myself finishing this salad with more salmon than greens!

Let’s Seafood’s Smoked Salmon Salad is fresh, it’s delicious and it’s very good value – RMB 78 for this massive plate (good for two people to share if you also order another main to share).  The smoked salmon is thick, tasty, and nicely presented – folded together in the center of the plate in the shape of a flower surrounded by greens.

On a side note, Let’s Seafood is a two story bistro and if Let’s Burger is too packed, you can also order off the Let’s Burger menu in Let’s Seafood.

To see LumDimSum’s previous Review of Let’s Seafood, click here.

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