Being a teacher is rewarding. On your best days, you feel emotionally fulfilled knowing all the hours of planning, prepping, and instructing are helping shape the next generation and move humanity forward. On your less-than-best days you have a migraine, are covered in every possible bodily fluid, haven’t eaten or used the bathroom in the past 12 hours, and your significant other is feeling neglected because you still have four hours of homework to grade before tomorrow. And because so many teachers work weekends coaching games, leading rehearsals, and hosting speech and debate competitions, we often miss out on some of the finer experiences Beijing has to offer on the weekends.
That’s why I was so excited when I saw that TRB Forbidden City would be hosting brunch six days a week! So I grabbed two of my favorite educators and prepared to let TRB founder Ignace Lecleir and his exceptional team pamper me.
In my opinion, a great restaurant is not just about the food. It is also about creating an environment and an overall feeling. TRB Forbidden City not only creates a feeling of high-end luxury enjoyed with casual ease, but also takes advantage of its surroundings to give you a true sense of place. This is a meal that could only happen in Beijing. And the view of the forbidden city through the full-length window, juxtaposed with the pristine white and gold tables inside, sums up the Beijing experience. This is the crossroads of the ancient and the modern.
We were offered a welcome glass of champagne to sip as we chatted and looked over the menu. The four-course brunch is RMB 488 per person and free-flow options are available. Prior to ordering, three lovely surprises appeared on our table. A picture-perfect cone of tuna and caviar filled with wasabi cream, delectable cheese puffs, and a pumpkin truffle soup. All were as delicious as they were photogenic, and were followed up by an incredible basket of bread and pastries accompanied by fresh jam and lemon butter so good that I nearly ate a spoonful of it on its own.
But of course, there was more. My inner New Yorker cheered when a stunning tray of gravlax was wheeled out and carved tableside as we enjoyed foie gras terrines, asparagus salad, and duck ham brought to life by just enough citrus to keep everything fresh and light.
Then came the egg course. I love eggs Benedict. So much so that it would be one of the dishes I would choose for my last meal, but fairly often it is disappointing in its execution. This was an absolute triumph. A perfectly cooked egg with a runny center was covered in exactly the correct amount of hollandaise (I always need to ask for extra so this was impressive) and sitting on top of a soft, yet evenly toasted English muffin.
For the main courses, we each selected a different dish. The yellow croaker was light and well cooked, the rib eye a perfect medium rare and very well-seasoned, but my favorite was by far the pigeon. Juicy with a crisp skin and sitting on top of a mushroom puree that complimented the richness of the meat.
The best course, however, was dessert. I love soufflé, mostly because I am an abject failure at making them myself. This chocolate soufflé was rich and decadent and worth every second of cardio I will need to do to work it off. The entire meal had been elevated by the wine pairings presented with each course. Light, crisp whites and deep, unguent reds paraded past our table, each better than the last, until desert culminated in choices of moscato, limoncello, and cognac. As I sat sipping my post-meal port, chatting with my friends, and starring out over an iconic view I couldn’t help but be grateful to the TRB team. What they offer is so much more than food for the body, it’s food for the soul. All of these educators are separated from their families and spend their days and many of their nights and weekends serving children and parents. It’s rewarding, and it’s exhausting. But for a few hours, we were the ones being taken care of. All the extra touches normally reserved for VIPs were gifted to us, and as I looked around, I noticed all the other tables were greeted with the same care and attention to detail.
If the pressures of the past few years are taking their toll and you find yourself needing a little extra TLC, find a few educator friends and book a table. It won’t make up for the family events missed or make the pile of homework you still need to grade disappear, but it might recharge your battery enough to go back to your work as the best version of yourself. TRB Forbidden City offers brunch service every day except Tuesday. To make a reservation scan the QR code below.
Images: Ana Lourenco, Julie Wolf
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