Pee-king Report: Foreigners Pool Funds for an Appetizer From Michelin Star Restaurant

For stories that are too true to be false, Beijingers turn to the Pee-king Report.

Two weeks after the 2020 Michelin Guide for Beijing was released, a group of foreigners living in the capital had finally saved up enough to afford an appetizer – split between the four of them – from one of the restaurants.

“I’m really trying to get the most out of my time here,” said drama teacher Kelly Holland. “So when I heard that the tire company had recommended these restaurants, I knew I just had to try one.”

Holland’s crew, consisting of herself, a kindergarten teacher, a Chinese language student, and an editor at a local English-language lifestyle publication, broke open their piggy banks and cobbled together enough cash to splurge on a bowl of “Buddha Jumping Over the Wall” soup from Jing Ji, the second restaurant in the city to receive two stars from Michelin. The soup cost the squad a mere RMB 798.

“I’ll have to eat campus canteen tofu the rest of the month, but it’s worth it!” said student John Glass, adding, “Ah, waiter, could we get three more spoons?”

According to Holland, the purchase was only possible due to COVID-19, and the fact that she hasn't been able to travel anywhere this year. "Usually this money would've been spent on happy pizza in Cambodia, but because I was stuck in China all year I had a little extra money laying around."

Everyone at the table was in agreement that it was the best soup they had ever tasted, and their cries of “Mm, tasty!” were interrupted only by awkward head shakes and avoidance of eye contact whenever a waiter came around to ask, “Are you sure I can’t get you anything else?”

After wincing at the check, teacher Selma Patterson suggested they all head down to 711 for a round of Tsingtao bottles.

Musing over the beers, Patterson figured that with the raise she’s got coming to her, she just might be able to afford solid food from another of Michelin’s picks next year, albeit one that was only awarded a single star.

READ: Pee-king Report: Old-New WeChat Emojis Know Their Honeymoon is Over

Image: Dianping