The Liu's Find a Perfect Return to Date Night Dining at Jing Yaa Tang

My parents have been overprotective from day one, and facing the pandemic was no different. So, after staying in the house for a total of 213 days, imagine the shocked and surprised faces when I announced that I had arranged a date night for them. My mom comes from the south of China and my dad from the north, and they have completely different taste buds, so finding a restaurant that compliments both would be a challenge. After much thought, I finally decided on one Michelin-starred restaurant, Jing Yaa Tang.

The Liu’s enjoying dinner.

Jing Yaa Tang not only serves Beijing Cuisine, they also have various flavors suitable for both Chinese and Western taste buds. As my parents entered the restaurant, it was as if they’d been transported back in time. The setting of the restaurant creates an elegant atmosphere with a hint of mystery, and my mom immediately regretted not wearing an evening dress. My parents were greeted with sparkling champagne, and I nearly had to pry their phones out of their hands because they couldn’t stop taking pictures of everything.

Appetizers are tasty but won’t fill you up!

The appetizers — chilled Yunnan golden tremella mushroom with turnip seed oil dressing (RMB 98) and pan-fried tofu roll with mushroom, carrot, and Yunnan black truffle (RMB 168) — were refreshing and flavorful, giving your stomach a warm-up for the bigger dishes ahead.

Speaking of warming up, stewed pea sprouts and Jiangsu tofu skin in pork broth (RMB 138) was up next. A silky-smooth broth mixed with the chewy tofu skin perfectly matches the crunchiness of the bean sprouts. Even my dad had to admit that it was the best remedy after a day of working under air conditioners.

You will make room in your belly for the delicious noodles.

If you go to Jing Yaa Tang and don’t try the “three-cup” clay pot cod fish with basil (RMB 338), that would be possibly the worst mistake ever. The tenderness and freshness of the codfish is unbelievable. With the slightly spicy peppers and basil inside the pot, its flavor and texture really make this dish unforgettable.

It’ll be hard to top a classic, but my parents were left speechless when they tried the tea leaf roasted beef belly (RMB 158). The tea used in this dish is called tie guan yin, which belongs to the Oolong tea class. The beef is slow-roasted to medium, resulting in maximum tenderness. Also, they add the tea in the sauce during the process of roasting the beef, creating a unique taste. To the side of the dish are fried tea leaves that have a bit of bitterness but are also refreshing, thus going in perfect harmony with the beef.

The experience is not complete without succulent roast duck.

Now, what would Beijing cuisine be without Peking duck? My mom wondered the same thing when multiple plates were cleared. It was finally time for Jing Yaa Tang roast duck (whole duck RMB 328, half duck RMB 248). What sets this dish apart is its secret sauce, melon that is added as a condiment to give a refreshing taste, and the fried garlic which adds a level of texture to the Beijing style. Their pancakes are handmade, which makes it taste even better. Jing Yaa Tang roasts their duck using date wood, so that when they light the wood on fire and smoke the duck, the aroma comes out and gives the duck a unique essence.

Just as my parents thought they were done, the last dish, Sichuan dan dan noodles with spicy minced pork (RMB 58), arrived. Like most dan dan noodles, this dish was spicy. However, the hint of sourness and the unique texture of the noodles creates the perfect blend. With the minced pork, it’s the go-to dish for your dose of carbohydrates.

On the car ride home, my parents were overjoyed. With full bellies and the discovery of a wonderful restaurant, it was the perfect way to reintroduce them to date nights.

My parents met when they were around my age, and my dad remembers when he first laid eyes on my mom as if it was yesterday. He saw her riding her bike on the high school campus, and they exchanged letters during college to stay in touch. The result of this courtship is that both my parents are anti-phone, so they set up a rule called “zero technology” where phones and other devices are stored away during date nights. “Communication is the key to everything,” they say. “It’s the foundation of our marriage and it’s what keeps us from fighting.”

And that, dear reader, is their secret.