Salt of the Earth – Part 6/8 – South Africa & Russia | jingkids international | Beijing | February 6th, 2014

Pinotage
Rainbow food from the rainbow country

Traditional South African cuisine is known as “rainbow food” for its blend of influences from indigenous cooking, European settlers, Malay slave colonies, and the largest Indian population outside of India. This rich cuisine is heavy in meat and uses many spices. Braai (or barbecue) is a central feature of South African cooking, acting as social as well as dining events. Friends and family bring meat, salad, or a side dish, potluck-style. These laid-back events are also known as dop en tjop; dop and tjop are Aafrikans slang for an alcoholic drink and “lamb chop” respectively. Beer and wine are also important to South African cuisine. In the past, indigenous tribes made their own brews from sorghum, long before Europeans arrived in the 1600s. The first Dutch settlers were tasked with planting vineyards in the false belief that consuming wine would be effective for combating scurvy on long sea voyages. Dana Cosio-Mercado

Also try: Turay’s Africa House

Recommended Dishes for Kids

– Vetkoek with savory mince: Translated as “fat cake” in Afrikaans, vetkoek is a fluffy, slightly sweet roll stuffed with minced beef and grated cheese. A favorite for kids in South Africa that will soon be available in child-sized portions. RMB 40.
– Boerewors roll: A farmer’s sausage made from ground beef, herbs, vinegar, and spices. The sausage is coiled and barbecued whole, cut into kid-sized pieces, then served in a freshly-baked roll with tomato sauce and fried onions. Soon available on the Pinotage menu for RMB 40.
– Durban lamb curry: A hearty tomato-based stew of lean lamb seasoned with garlic, ginger, fenugreek, masala, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. Served with a side of basmati rice or a roll. RMB 70.

Family-Friendly Checklist:

– Non-smoking? (Yes, but the wine bar is not. Smoke tends to waft in through the restaurant entrance, so sit closer to the back if you want to avoid the smell.) ✓
– Clean bathrooms? ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? (High chairs available) ✓
– Healthy food selections? (The menu is designed by a nutritionist, and all the food is preservative-free.) ✓
– On-table distractions? ✗
– Kids’ play area? (Clean playroom with mats and a modest selection of toys. It has windows so you can keep an eye on your kids while you dine.) ✓
– Child-sized portions? (Has crowd-pleasing options like ribs, nuggets, burgers, and pasta, with plans to offer kid-friendly South African food in smaller portions.) ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✗
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✓
– Stroller-accessible? ✗
– Quiet atmosphere? (The further away you sit from the wine bar, the quieter it is.) ✗
– English menu? ✓
– Low prices? ✓
– Nearby parking? ✓
– Booth seating? ✗
– Diaper changing table? ✗
– English-speaking staff? ✓
– Live entertainment or floor show? ✗

Pinotage
Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-9pm; Sat-Sun 11am-10pm. Chuangyi Yuan (near Beidong Flower Market), 3A Shunhuang Lu, Sunhe Township, Shunyi District (8459 5868) 顺义区孙河顺黄路甲3号创意园内近北东花卉市

Dacha
Taking Russian roulette out of the food equation

Russian cuisine is characterized by relatively elaborate preparation methods. There are variations on each dish; for instance, the same pancakes can be stuffed or deep-fried. In addition, simple foods are often paired with rich foods such as red caviar.

One of the most common ingredients is milk, which is used in pancakes, cheese, and even cutlets. The latter, which are considered to be one of the most representative dishes, can be made of meat or vegetables. The meat is usually minced beef, pork, or lamb. Cutlets are usually served with rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta.

Maslenitsa, also known as Pancake Week, is a festival to celebrate the onset of Lent. During this time, meat is forbidden and the main staple is pancakes. The festival has pagan origins, as it also marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter.

At Dacha, a new Russian restaurant near Ritan Park, the dishes can range from very sweet to sour and tangy. There are few spicy options. The generous portions mean that a family of three can easily share mains. There is also a wide range of salads and vegetable dishes available for the health-conscious. Nimo Wanjau

Also try: The Elephant, Traktirr Pushkin

Recommended Dishes for Kids

As reviewed by Vasiliana Lustina (age 5, pictured to the left), daughter of Dacha Owner Svetlana Lustina:
– Blinchiki: Blinchiki (or Russian crepes) are served with sour cream, condensed milk, jam, butter or honey. “I can eat so many at any time. This is my favorite.” RMB 28 each.
– Posylka ot babushki: This chicken kotleta (cutlet) is covered with breadcrumbs, deep-fried, and served with mashed potatoes. “It’s yummy and if I am not full from eating pancakes, I eat all the pieces.” RMB 38.
– Cottage cheese with sour cream and jam: Many kids do not like cottage cheese, but the jam makes it a pleasant variant for even younger children. “This is not as bad as it sounds. Mama says it’s good for me.” RMB 32.

Family-Friendly Checklist:

– Non-smoking? (Smoking is allowed in parts of Dacha. However, there are private rooms available and the area around the play room is a non-smoking zone.) ✗
– Clean bathrooms? ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? ✓
– Healthy food selections? ✓
– On-table distractions? ✓
– Kids’ play area? ✓
– Child-sized portions? ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✓
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✓
– Stroller-accessible? ✓
– Quiet atmosphere? (Quiet during the day, but families are advised to leave before the nightly floor show.) ✓
– English menu? ✓
– Affordable prices? ✓
– Nearby parking? ✓
– Booth seating? ✓
– Diaper changing table? ✓
– English-speaking staff? ✓
– Live entertainment or floor show? (Yes, but we stress that it is not suitable for children. It starts at 8.30pm every night.) ✓