Maison Boulud Beijing

Lost Heaven is one of Beijing’s most talked about restaurants with an eclectic menu to match the stylish design.

Opened in May last year, Lost Heaven occupies a prestgious location in Ch’ien Men 23, a refined lifestyle complex housing high end stores such as Patek Philippe and Johnnie Walker House, the renowned Maison Boulud, an art gallery and theatre.

The quadrangle of neo-classical buildings was home to the US embassy in the Qing dynasty (between 1903 and 1949) and is close to the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. By contrast, Lost Heaven is in a slick, contemporary building with an expansive dining room, bar and second floor outdoor terrace.

Lost Heaven is inspired by James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon and there are already two outlets in Shanghai. The Beijing restaurant’s stunning design features hand-carved wooden chairs with jewel tone cushions, decorative orange lanterns, embroidered bar seats, colourful tiles and photographs of Yunnan Province. The surroundings are so striking that Lost Heaven won Best Interior Design 2013 in Time Out Beijing Food & Drink Awards.

Chef Li Zhire’s menu references the ethnic cultures along the Ancient Tea Horse Trail through Yunnan, Burma and Tibet. Some of the tribal-style dishes from Yunnan Province are folk classics, while others are innovative interpretations exclusive to Lost Heaven.

We visited for a late lunch and enjoyed the chef’s selection of signature dishes and chilled glasses of lemongrass lemonade.

We started with a delicious string beans salad with a peanut, dried shrimp and red chilli topping. This was swiftly followed by Ji-zong mushrooms, stir-fried kale, stir-fried broccoli with garlic and some tasty vegetable spring rolls. All of the dishes were beautifully presented in terracotta or hand-painted dishes and were decorated with pretty purple and white flowers atop a bed of fresh kale.

For the meat dishes, we tried braised bamboo shoots with chicken, Da Li-style stir-fried chicken with Jiao Tou and Huayao Dai-style sauteed beef tenderloin. The chicken and beef were both served in long minced strands and had a springy, light texture.

Other delicious dishes that we tried included Yunnan scrambled eggs with white mushrooms, spicy cod steamed in banana leaves, Yunnan-style hot and spicy tofu, and fried rice with vegetables. My favourite dish was the Miao Tribe hot and sour prawns in a rich, spicy tomato and chilli sauce.

Most of the dishes we tried were very spicy and hot, with a delicately fragrant taste. If you prefer milder tastes, ask the attentive staff to make some menu recommendations.

We finished with a luscious fresh fruit platter of watermelon, strawberry, orange, apple and dragon fruit.

Lost Heaven is perfect for a delicious lunch after sightseeing in Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, or for an elegant evening meal in grand surroundings. Sampling authentic dishes from Yunnan Province is a rare opportunity that is not to be missed when visiting Beijing.

For more Beijing travel ideas, read my reviews of

Chérie City was a guest of Shangri-La Hotels

All photos by Chérie City

Temple Restaurant Beijing is one of the most exciting, stylish restaurants in the city and a real must for design lovers.

The award-winning restaurant is housed in a 600 year old Ming Dynasty Tibetan temple which was renovated in 2008 and given a contemporary new look by Australian architectural and design firm, Hassell.

Location

Temple Restaurant Beijing is tucked away among the hutongs of an unassuming residential Dongcheng street, close to the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and the National Art Museum of China. It can be tricky to find, particularly as there are no signposts or visible branding. Well-dressed staff were waiting outside to escort us to the restaurant, however, I can imagine it would be a marvellous discovery if you stumbled upon the restaurant by yourself.

The man behind the restaurant is Ignace Lecleir, the Belgian former General Manager of Maison Boulud in Beijing, whose concept for the complex includes several event and gallery spaces and this year’s new opening, The Temple Hotel.

The restaurant

The sleek dining room is in a modern annex that was once a television factory, creating the capital’s first black and white TV. Floor to ceiling windows, vibrantly coloured Scandinavian furniture and striking artworks punctuate the minimalist space. Even the black slate bathrooms are sexy and luxurious, with low lighting and a small Buddha puffing incense smoke out of his mouth.

Service at TRB (as it’s locally known) is exemplary, with waitresses all in elegant teal chiffon dresses and suited waiters darting to the table to deliver each course, top up water and push in our chairs every time we moved.

The menu at TRB is contemporary European and the wine list is predominantly French, boasting some excellent wines, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and my favourite Sauternes.

Brunch dishes

We were lucky enough to be in town on the weekend and enjoyed a boozy Saturday brunch, including wines paired with each course. The fabulous brunch began with glass of Bollinger Champagne and a sharing plate of freshly-baked, flaky pastries with jams and honey.

The first course of White Wine Poached Shrimps and Avocado was mouth-wateringly delicious. The poached shrimps were very fresh and lightly marinated and were perfectly complemented by the cool, crushed avocado.

Duck Egg en Cocotte, Foie Gras, Artichoke and Bacon was a light and tasty dish. The duck egg was slow-cooked and the artichoke and bacon added plenty of flavour. The long garlic artisan bread twists came in handy for scooping up the yolk.

Sea Bass, Spinach and Curry Oil was a delicate dish with clean flavours. The fish was fresh and succulent and the dash of curry oil added a subtle kick.

The Roast Chicken and Grilled Asparagus was juicy and tender with a crispy, golden layer of skin. The chicken was served on a bed of spinach and a rich jus while the asparagus was nicely charred.

The Lychee Mousse dessert looked pretty with powder pink icing sugar adorning the plate, however, it was a little disappointing. The mousse was unexpectedly frozen and didn’t taste very much like lychee, although I did like the sticky top layer of lychee milk jam.

Tea and marshmallows

The meal ended on a high note with a delightful selection of chocolate truffles and assorted fruity marshmallows. We enjoyed a pot of fresh mint tea and relaxed a little longer before hitting the next stop on our itinerary.

As we were leaving, the staff brought us a bottle of Temple Restaurant Beijing branded water each for our travels. We couldn’t resist a few photo opps with the outdoor sculptures of the crouching men, deep in thought.

Impressions

TRB is a leader of Beijing’s thrilling fine dining restaurant scene and the experience is both memorable and impressive. While the restaurant is undoubtedly high end, the prices can be quite reasonable, particularly for the set lunch menu. Someday, I would love to return for dinner, as the temple locations looks particularly captivating at night.

For menus and booking, visit: www.temple-restaurant.com

Chérie City was a guest of Temple Restaurant Beijing and Shangri-La Hotels

Photos by Chérie City (evening exterior by TBR)

Chérie City

An Excellent Lunch at Lost Heaven Beijing

A Wonderful Brunch at Temple Beijing

Location

The restaurant

Brunch dishes

Tea and marshmallows

Impressions