EAT: Vegan Wine ‘n’ Dine, El Mercadito Opens in Shunyi, White Asparagus

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

Apr 22: Vegan wine 'n' dine at Black Sesame Kitchen

What does it take to make a delicious vegan Chinese meal? What makes a wine organic, sustainably grown, or biodynamic? You’ll discuss these questions and more at Black Sesame Kitchen’s first-ever vegan wine ‘n’ dine event. Enjoy a 10-course vegan Chinese dinner paired with free-flow organic, sustainably-grown wines. Dinner is priced at RMB 398 per guest.

El Mercadito soft opens in Shunyi 

Rejoice, Shunyi residents: Ray Heng of Pebbles Courtyard fame has opened a new restaurant within Meeting Mart in Euro Plaza. The menu is simple: choose from one of a series of taco fillings such as carnitas, grilled chicken with adobo marinade, or grilled flank steak available by weight and paired with tortillas and sides. For example, 250g of carnitas — good for around two people — costs RMB 98 and comes with eight tortillas and two free sides. Sides include tomato broth red rice, re-fried beans, and grilled veg topped with salsa negra, and there are chips and salsa, guacamole, and queso fundido to complement your meal as well. The restaurant is currently in soft opening while they get on their feet, so you'll need to either reserve or pre-order (for take-out) in advance via their WeChat; scan the QR code below to add them. 

Three places to enjoy white asparagus this spring

Its spring in Beijing and foodies know what that means: white asparagus season. And Beijing's restaurant's certainly seem to be taking advantage of it. All of TRB group's venues are currently offering white asparagus specials. Hulu and Peach have dishes such as a while asparagus platter or white asparagus salad, starting from RMB 65, while TRB Hutong and TRB Forbidden City are both offering a six-course white asparagus tasting menu priced at RMB 988 per person, featuring dishes like white asparagus veloute and duo of lamb with grilled white asparagus. 

Over at Brotzeit, they've got a range of asparagus dishes, from the modern — white asparagus wrapped in ham and Emmental cheese and deep-fried in breadcrumbs, cordon bleu style — to the traditional — white asparagus with parsley potatoes and Hollandaise sauce. At the Grand Hyatt, you'll find it on the a la carte menus at most of their restaurants (they recommend it served with Prosciutto, spring tomatoes, and balsamic reduction). This pale beauty is a favorite of fine dining restaurants, so expect to see plenty more promotions popping up over the next month or so. 

This local gem of a hot pot restaurant will definitely leave you wanting more

Images: Pixabay, Waldemar Brandt (via Unsplash)