Last Orders: Alessia Frisina, Business Development Manager, Diningcity.cn

After five years in Beijing, Alessia Frisina, business development manager of Beijing Restaurant Week organizer diningcity.cn, is moving back to Europe. With Beijing Restaurant Week set to get underway in early September, as her final act before she heads home we asked her where a foodie that shuns most meats would eat (and drink and entertain) after working with some of the city’s best establishments.

The venue
I’d have to opt for Capital M. I’ve been there just once but it’s seriously one of the nicest restaurants with a view in Beijing. I have worked in the food and beverage industry for two years, but only dined at Capital M last month when I went on a date with my current boyfriend. It was there that we decided that we’d move back to Europe together.

The starters
Any choice of mushrooms at Middle 8, especially the stir-fried wild matsutake. I have been pescetarian for 20 years, therefore I struggle with Beijing cuisine. Yunnan cuisine, on the other hand, is much more interesting for its vegetarian choices. I’d add the shredded dried tofu with sesame oil at the New World Hotel’s 8 Qi Nian restaurant and their double-boiled Yunnan matsutake soup with mushroom essence.

Main course
I’d probably go for the vegetarian noodle soup at Luga’s. I have been to many fancy restaurants in Beijing but that soup carries at least four years of memories and it’s still one of my favorites. I tried it for the first time when I was still a student at Tsinghua University – it was an economic and tasty choice for my palate. To this day I have a craving for it at least once a month and I suggest it to all my girlfriends. I don’t know of one single person who doesn’t like it. I’m all about soups, even in 40-degree summer heat. I would also order the fried shrimps with goat cheese at Middle 8 and the falafel sandwich at Biteapitta. 

Dessert?
I don’t eat Chinese desserts so I’d make a chocolate cake or get the delicious tiramisu at Opera Bombana.

Entertainment?
I’d invite Adriel, who has been my best friend and guitar player for the past five years (yes, I have been part of a band for the past five years in Beijing) to play his mix of progressive jazz and traditional African sounds from Cape Verde, and I’d sing along.

Any other entertainment? 
I love Salsa. I am actually a salsa dance instructor and I have studied dancing in New York City. I would definitely love to play some salsa tunes and have everybody dancing to it. I would make sure everybody has enough alcohol, get everybody drunk, chat with friends, and play charades.

Try some of these restaurants during Beijing Restaurant Week, Sep 4-14. See restaurantweek.cn for the full details.

Photo: Ken