Eat beat

Beijing

New restaurant Craft

1. Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido has launched its new restaurant Craft. Located beside the lobby lounge, Craft is the ideal stop before heading to work for a takeaway breakfast or lunch or snack on-the-go. It features a great selection of bakery and pastry produce, with a wide array of products from crafted gourmet sandwiches, quiches, seasonal salads, fresh juices, great coffee culture to a retail approach on imported wines and craft beers. The most impressive piece is the wood wine rack, standing in the corner like a piece of art. The menu changes throughout the day, offering the best oversized freshly baked Swedish Cinnamon buns for breakfast; a gourmet sandwich, warm quiche or a seasonal salad for lunch; followed by Craft signature "Crumble Time" in the afternoon; and a great evening combination of wine or craft beer with Mediterranean tapas platters.

CRAFT, Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido, F1 No.6 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing; 010-8443-6227

Bites of Italy

2. At the Minzu Hotel in Beijing, a monthlong Italian festival focusing on the "Six Fs:" Fashion, Ferrari, Food, Football, Festival and Film. For foodies, that means lots of garlic, tomato sauce, onions and cheese through Feb 10, as guest chef Pastillo and the hotel's executive chef Wang Chundong take guests on a culinary journey across Italy, in the cozy confines of the hotel's Coffee Mill restaurant.

51 Fuxingmen Inner Street, Xicheng district, Beijing; 010-6601-4466

Loving those lollies

3. If cupcakes seem like a fun addition to Valentine's Day or Spring Festival parties, learn to make your own festive treats with Lexie Morris at the Lollipop Bakery. There are no regularly scheduled classes, but cupcake-decorating sessions can be scheduled in English or Chinese for groups of 10 to 15. There is heavy emphasis on frosting and pro-style decoration. They won't say if the price of 220 yuan per person includes a chance to lick the bowl; find out for yourself. Reserve three weeks in advance.

Call 135-5277-2683 or e-mail cupcakes@lollipop bakery.cn to book.

Around China

The 2nd Yangzhou Cuisine Promotion

4. The opening ceremony of the 2nd Yangzhou Cuisine Promotion was held in the Great Hall of the St. Regis Beijing on Jan 20. The promotion will continue through Feb 10. This event is co-organized by the foreign affairs office of Yangzhou city and Yangzhou State Guesthouse, which aim to promote the development of Yangzhou Cuisine. You can find traditional Huaiyang dishes and dim sum in Celestial Court, such as "Braised shredded chicken with ham and dried tofu", "Yangzhou pork meat patties" and "Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish". Experience an authentic Yangzhou taste made of seasonal ingredients by a celebrity chef from Yangzhou.

Celestial Court, 2F of The St. Regis Beijing, 21 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District, 010-6460-6688 ext. 2460

Coming, Going

Beijing's popular Mexican eatery Xalapa will open in spring in Yushu, Qinhai province, as part of the local government's effort to boost tourism in the wake of the 2010 earthquake there. The Hong Kong-based Bombana group (8-1/2, Opera Bombana) will open in Macao after Spring Festival.