In our previous post we looked at where to get Christmas decorations and trees to help take the guesswork out of your holiday preparations. We now look at where to seasonal foods such as the gingerbread cookies or house and turkey.
How the Cookie Crumbles
For many, the smell of baked ginger goods is inextricably linked with the holidays. For all the crafty folks, Paddington Bakery has gingerbread cookie kits for sale.
If you would rather leave the gingerbread house to the professionals, there are plenty of options: Hilton Beijing, Comptoirs de France, Grand Hyatt, South German Bakery, and Kempi Deli, The Sweet Spot to name a few
Eat Your Heart Out
Whether you are looking for glazed ham, roast turkey, entire takeaway meals, or simply little additions to your holiday table, Beijing has it all.
In Sanlitun, French butchery Boucherie Michel sells pre-cooked turkey for RMB 98 per kilogram (must be ordered a week in advance). Roast chickens are available daily for RMB 58 per bird.
In the Chaoyang Park area, Chef Too offers whole, fully-cooked turkeys to go. A 5-6kg turkey costs RMB 1,280 while a 8-9kg turkey costs RMB 1,980. The price includes side dishes such as mashed potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and an apple or pumpkin pie. Chef Too requires one week’s notice and a deposit of RMB 500.
Also near Chaoyang Park, the German Food Center carries cooked and uncooked turkeys ranging from 6-10kg. An uncooked turkey costs RMB 58 per kilogram. Roast turkeys must be reserved at least three days in advance.
You can also pick up turkeys, hams, and other seasonal foods from Deli de Luxe, Culinary Capers, Village Cafe, Grandma’s Kitchen, The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, Traders Upper East Hotel, Fairmont Beijing, Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, Lily’s American Diner, Nola, Jenny Lou’s, and BHG Marketplace.
In Shunyi, ready-made holiday food is available at a variety of local restaurants. Pinotage makes a delicious roast beef, The Yard offers festive ham, Piazza Cafe can whip up a whole western or Chinese feast to take away or prepare in your own kitchen, and Peter’s Tex-Mex has roast turkeys to go.
Busy parents can turn to online food wholesaler Baode Home Delivery. Browse beef, poultry, pork, lamb, seafood, and other imports on their website. Delivery is free for orders of RMB 500 and over within Fifth Ring Road and Shunyi. Otherwise, the delivery fee is RMB 30. Allow at least one day for arrival, especially during the holiday season.
This article has been modified from the original which appeared on p62 of the December 2013 issue.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia commons and Bazzadarambler (Flickr)
