EAT: Diwali, New Menus at Jing-A CBD and Tribe, Annie's "The Pump" Menu

EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.

Oct 30: Diwali celebration at Punjabi

Diwali — also known as Deepavali and Divali — is here! The five-day Hindu festival of lights is one of the most popular festivals of the year, celebrating the “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Given the tough couple of years many of us have had, the timing couldn’t be better. This Saturday, Punjabi Indian Restaurant is celebrating with a DJ, dancing, a lucky draw, and, of course, an absolutely incredible feast. The buffet is priced at RMB 218 on the door or RMB 188 if you pay in advance (scan the QR code in the event link).

Jing-A CBD launches upgraded menu

Jing-A CBD has given its food menu an upgrade, adding some long-requested spins on classics and some new surprises. For a healthy vegetarian lunch, try the Power Bowl with quinoa, roasted broccoli, and smoked tofu or go in the complete opposite direction with the Stout Bacon Burger, featuring a 200g Wagyu beef burger and house-made bearnaise sauce. We've got our eye on the Flank Steak Singapore Noodles, complete with marinated flank steak served with egg noodles dressed with soy sauce and mixed veggies (pictured in lead blog image). Finally, if you're visiting in the evening, don't miss the huge Barbecue Meat Platter, which will satisfy the cravings of any carnivore with its Wagyu meatballs, char siu pork ribs, buffalo wings, and more. 

Annie's launches fitness-focused "The Pump" menu

To be completely honest, if we're eating at Annie's we're usually there for the lasagne with a side of mozzarella sticks and a whole pizza, but if you're on a health kick, Annie's now has you covered with its brand new fitness-focused menu selection, dubbed "The Pump." The menu features veggie and protein-packed dishes, including some that will be familiar from the regular menu, such as the Caprese Salad or the Grilled Eggplant with Ricotta Cheese. You can also put together a customized selection from individual items like grilled chicken or salmon and sautéed garlic broccoli. The menu is available at all Annie's branches.

New autumn/winter menu at Tribe

Tribe has also just launched a new menu, focusing on warming comfort food dishes for the cooler weather. Try dishes like the "Me Love Miso Soup," which adds spinach and broccoli to classic miso soup for an extra hit of nutrition, or a gluten-free cauliflower pizza (much tastier than it sounds) topped with mixed mushrooms and kale. They've also got heartier options for sharing such as French-style grilled lamb chops served with cranberry and beetroot sauce. 

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Images courtesy of the venues