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Film to highlight herbal tea
A five-episode documentary film will take on the history, innovation and popularity of liangcha, a cooling herbal tea that some have called China's version of cola, with a history of nearly 200 years. Guangzhou Wanglaoji Pharmaceutical Co, a leading canned liangcha producer with the trademark Wanglaoji liangcha that originated in 1828, kicked off the shooting project in Beijing on July 8, together with partner CCTV's documentary channel, and Aiqiyi.com, an online video website. The company plans to spend millions of yuan to promote the tea to the international beverage industry, through exporting, initiating internationally recognized liangcha-processing standards, and promoting the culture of the beverage.
Icelandic afternoon tea
The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street is serving a Nordic-style Iceland afternoon tea through the end of July. Pure produce from the pristine environment ranges from premium smoked salmon and precious caviar to North Sea cod, rustic breads and sub-Arctic salad. Highlights of the Nordic fare extend to authentic Iceland tarts, mousse, cheesecake and ice cream. To pair with all the delicacies, various summer ice teas are featured at the Crystal Bar and Lobby Lounge, including floral oolong, rose, lemon, jasmine and chrysthemum. The menu is created by the hotel's dessert chef Charles Zhao in partnership with Iceland cosmetic brand Bioeffect and Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water, revealing a new face of the remote island best-known for volcanoes and glaciers, and as the inspiration for Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. The la carte menu is priced from 118 yuan ($19), plus a service charge per set.
1 Jin Chengfang Street East, Beijing. 010-6601-6666.
Tastes of Belgium
If the recent China visit of the Belgian king and queen piqued your interest in that country's cuisine, check out a special weekend of dining at Temple Restaurant Beijing. Visiting guest chef Reinout Reniere will present the native tastes of his homeland at lunch on Friday (588 yuan, plus a service charge) and at dinner on Saturday (888 yuan); prices include wine pairings.
No 23 Songzhusi, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng district. 010-8400-2232.
Hong Kong
Lunch and brunch
Just in time for Bastille Day, France's national day, the new Scarlett Cafe and Wine Bar launches a weekend brunch with French-inspired items, such as poached eggs and merguez (poached eggs served in spicy tomato sauce served with crispy potatoes and a lamb sausage), and eggs with duck gravy. Also on offer are more traditional comfort foods, including cheeseburgers, penne carbonara and rotisserie chickens served with two side dishes. The French-style bistro is also serving two-and three-course lunch sets, priced at HK$88 ($11.35) and HK$98 respectively that rotate daily.
Ground floor, 2 Austin Avenue, Tsimshatsui district. 852-3565-6513.
China Daily
(China Daily 07/14/2015 page19)
