Beijing is a culinary wonderland where noodles float lazily on oceans of hearty soup broth, mountains of fluffy baozi reach into the heavens, and the smell of barbecue wafts through the streets like a dense morning fog.
Navigating your way through this illustrious landscape of traditional Chinese foodie bliss is enough to keep anyone’s belly full for a while. But once your sojourn is complete, or if you just feel like taking a detour every now and again, there’s always an eclectic mix of expats eager to share a new dish from their culture, and find fresh ways to spice up your palette.
On Sunday, Sep 22, local cooking-enthusiasts Sarika Dhami and Sharon Dekel will be hosting an Indo-Israeli Brunch Fest at Zhonghe Art Center (No. 190, Gaobeidian Ancient Furniture Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing).
Beginning at 11.00am, guests will be treated to a culinary adventure through India and Israel while indulging in some of the regions’ most classic fare. What’s more, given that Israel’s metropolitan hub, Tel Aviv, is known as the world’s most vegan-friendly city, the event promises to be a hit with all of our plant-based friends as well.
Indian favorites will include samosas, chicken lollipops, and tamarind and green chutney with Indian tea to wash it down, while the Israeli spread will consist of falafel, pita bread, two types of hummus, and Chinese tea. Tickets for the event run RMB 150 for adults and RMB 80 for kids, which, given the exorbitant prices usually charged for imported delicacies, seems like a particularly savory deal to us. In addition to the tasting, kids and parents will have a chance to bake some fresh pita bread, and be given the recipe so they can replicate this staple of Israeli cuisine at home.
“I feel like food connects people from all around the world,” Dekel tells beijingkids. “They can explore different flavors [and]histories around food, so it’s a really major experience in any culture that you are interested in getting to know. By doing Israeli food and Indian food in China, all the cultures come together, and we’re bringing our homemade food to your table, so it’s quite unique.”
As for Zhonghe Art Center as the event’s host, Dekel says, “it’s a great opportunity for people to explore Chinese art alongside delicious dishes. The space has a fish pond as well so kids can enjoy that while making some new friends from different cultures!”
For more information, and to reserve a space, you reach out to Sarika Dhami directly using the QR code above.
Photos: Shutterstock, Sarika Dhami & Sharon Dekel,
