2013 Foodie Wish Lists: Emily Young, Chinese Food Writer

Just before the New Year, we asked you what you were wishing might happen with Beijing’s dining in 2013. Now we’re also rounding up some thoughts from food bloggers, restaurant owners and professional eaters around town. Emily Young did some time as our fearless Assistant Dining Editor (where she penned the immortal phrase “wrap your lips around hot donkey meat”). Now she’s putting her Dianping diamond user status to use as the food editor for Chinese lifestyle site Dailyvitamin.cn.

1. I know there are a lot of chefs or restaurants associated with Michelin establishments, but I’d like to see more actual Michelin-starred chefs coming to Beijing to show us their skills. And when they come, they should bring along ingredients to use, so their talent isn’t held back by the restrictions of the Beijing market. People like Joel Robuchon or Heston Blumenthal, who runs Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire.
2. More personal, homestyle restaurants with a comfortable setting and dishes made of safe, high-quality and natural ingredients.
3. I’d love to see a dessert bar where people can sit around a counter and watch the pastry chef make/decorate the desserts. Like a sushi bar, but for sweets. They could decorate it when people order, like a live show and you can go and watch and talk. Maybe some wine or tea or drinks to go with it.
4. More Beijing xiaochi and laozihao going back to their roots; for example, making shaobing the way it was done 100 years ago. Stop taking shortcuts and stop making variations. The masters who used to make things the right way are aging out, but the skills haven't been transferred to the next generation, which is a shame.
5. I'm a chocoholic so I wish Beijing had a greater variety of good-quality chocolate. I recently discovered that Mio at the Four Seasons uses Italy’s Amedei chocolate, which is exciting, but I’d like it if these types of chocolates were not just available in restaurants. I'd love to be able to just pick up a variety of artisan or single-origin chocolates in supermarkets, shops, etc.

You too can benefit from Emily’s tireless roving through Beijing’s restaurants and supermarkets by checking out her tips at Dailyvitamin.cn. You’ll need to flex those Mandarin muscles, but what better motivation than the promise of good eats?

Photo: Courtesy of Emily Young