Stir-fried Beijing style. ¥188
Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant, Beijing CHINA
This dish tasted great. The beef was nice and tender and the sauce was very tasty (not too salty). Again, the vegetables (shallots) weren’t what I expected. These were more like onions and other alliums than shallots to me. But it doesn’t really matter because they were delicious regardless.
Sizzling plate atop a wooden pedestal stand.
Duck utensil holder.
¥30
Fami-Li-Hood Kitchen, Mutianyu Village CHINA
I liked this soup. It was warm and hearty and tasted great especially with snow falling outside. It was more vinegar-y than those I’ve had in the U.S., but I liked it that way. Overall, it wasn’t too different from the U.S. versions I’m used to.
Individual bowl.
Coffee.
With honey mustard and sliced tomatoes. Served with Italian wedding soup. Combo $8.55
Il Canto Cafe, San Francisco CA
This lunch combination was pretty good! And nicely priced. The panini was served hot and melty, just how I like it. The wedding soup was good, but it was served WAY too hot. I still could eat it very quickly towards the end of lunch because it somehow stayed hot the entire time. This place is definitely worth a re-visit.
Happy hour $5
Piatti, Mill Valley CA
This pizza was small, but it only cost five bucks during happy hour which is great in my book. The pepperoni were greasy and flavorful, but I wish there would have been a little more cheese.
Chocolate cupcake, chocolate and nut cake, cheesecake, assorted cheeses, caper berries and olives. Complimentary in Executive Lounge
Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel, Beijing CHINA
These dessert bites were pretty good considering the usual fare you get a hotel lounges. They were moist and fairly fresh, yay!
Cremier de Bourgogne (soft cow), fumaisson (smoked sheep), Saint Agur (blue). Served with pear, honey and pistachios. $16
Garcon, San Francisco CA
I love cheese plates and this provided a nice selection of flavors and textures. It was a toss up between the cremier de bourgogne and the saint agur as to which was my favorite. Mmm…
A pork stew with purple corn, garlic, guajillo chiles and onions topped with cabbage salad, cilantro, onions and radishes. $9.45
The Little Chihuahua, San Francisco
This pozole was pretty good! I think I’ve had better and more authentic versions in the Mission, but this had great depth of flavor with great ingredients.
In olive oil. ¥18
Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant, Beijing CHINA
This was kinda cute, but definitely not satisfying. These “peas” weren’t the kind that we’re used to in the United States. They were really small and didn’t have much flesh. I thought the presentation was nice though.
¥58
Fami-Li-Hood Kitchen, Mutianyu Village CHINA
We weren’t expecting much form this random restaurant in the touristy village below the Great Wall, but they really delivered! These noodles were delicious and I loved all the vegetables they included. Even the noodles had a nice texture and the sauce was tasty too.
Rosemary roasted pork loin, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, garlic aioli, burgundy mustard, pickles and marinated onions served on rye. With potato chips and pickles. $12
Atlas Tap Room, San Francisco CA
This sandwich was ok. Their bread choice definitely wasn’t hefty enough to hold up to the amount of filling in this panini. The sandwich ended up feeling very limp and sogging in my hands. I liked the overall flavors, but there wasn’t much finesse.
With chicken bun and chicken dumpling, croissant roll. Complimentary
Beijing (PEK) to San Francisco (SFO), United Airlines
Talk about carb loading! This meal was disgusting. Everything tasted horrible and was painfully dry and bland. Super fail!
Assorted sushi, soy chicken, pumpkin dumpling, Shanghai soup dumpling, shrimp dumpling. Complimentary in Executive Lounge
Renaissance Beijing Wangfujing Hotel, Beijing CHINA
Again, the Renaissance had a great variety for afternoon snacks as well. Nothing was spectacular though, and actually everything was on the dry side. I did like the fried dumplings because they were prepared to order.
Fried dumplings.
Vittle Monster 