EAT: Mexican Food Fest, Slow Boat Beer and Food Pairing at Ramo

Mexican Food Fest at Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast's Mexican food festival kicked off Sep 11, with a full week of events including cooking classes, Mexican-themed parties, a special buffet lunch and dinner featuring Mexican dishes, and a chef's table that will see Chinese and Mexican food combined. The star of the show is special guest Chef Ricardo Lujan, who is known throughout the culinary world in Mexico and Asia for his superb interpretations of the Mexican cuisine. For full details of all the events, see this article.

Slow Boat Beer and Food Pairing at Ramo
Following the latest chef collaboration between Slow Boat Brewery and Ramo, the two restaurants are taking their cooperation further by offering a couple of beer-themed dishes, both designed to pair with Zombie Pirate Pale Ale. Inspired by classic American flavors and beer, Ramo is now serving beer mustard sauce chicken wings and an indulgent burger pizza, both up for grabs throughout fall. The wings are covered with Zombie Pirate Pale Ale beer mustard sauce for a tangy mouthfeel and sweet finish (RMB 48), while the pizza is topped with barbecue sauce burger meat, white onion, bacon, mozzarella, cheddar, and pickles (RMB 158, including two beers).

New Business Lunch Menu at Tavola
Tavola have refreshed their business lunch menu for fall. The menu features autumnal ingredients like pomegranate and persimmon, with colorful touches like mint sauce that offer a last taste of summer. Highlights include slow-cooked egg with asparagus, Hollandaise sauce, and buttered toast, handmade pasta with deep-fried aubergine, tomatoes, and ricotta (pictured above), and slow-cooked chicken breast with arugula puree and porcini sauce. The set lunch is priced at RMB 128, including an appetizer, pasta, and dessert, or RMB 168, including an appetizer, pizza or main course, and dessert.

Buy-One-Get-One-Free Rosé at Village Cafe
Finally, make the most of the last of summer on the terrace at Village Cafe, where they are currently offering BOGOF rosé by the glass or bottle every day from 5-9pm. Their current selection includes Rimauresq Petit Rose Cotes de Provence, a dry rosé with a lovely nose of strawberry and chalky minerals with subtle floral notes.

Longtime Xingfucun Vietnamese Restaurant Pho La La Closes
One of Xingfucun's longest-standing venues, Pho La La, has announced that they have closed due to "the company's new business development." The café-style second-floor restaurant next to O'Steak opened in 2012 and gained a following for its authentic bowls of Vietnamese noodles, a relative rarity in the city at the time. Given that the team seems to be working on a new venture, we hope to see them return soon.