So this week I discovered the greatness of a westerner type of hangout near where I live called Wudaokou. This is a bustling region in Beijing where expats gather and can experience some of the comforts from home. My first knowledge of Wudaokou was that it is home to the nearest subway station from our campus. It is about a 35-40 minute walk from where I live, so definitely manageable if the weather is nice. Having the subway there is great because the subway can take you to pretty much anywhere else in the city that you would like to go. However, I hadn't taken much time to explore this little area much myself.
Wednesday came and went and soon enough it was dinner time. An economics professor here named Claire and her husband John invited me to go with them to Wudaokou for an Italian dinner. We walked down and it was great to get a little bit of exercise (and work off the upcoming meal). When we arrived at the restaurant I immediately knew this was going to be a new favorite. Run by some actual Italians who speak English in the restaurant I knew this could be home to some great Italian food. We all decided to go for a half portion of their specialty ravioli (I chose a butternut squash one with sage and brown butter sauce) and a slice of their proscutto fungi pizza. Oh wow...delicious...and not just for Italian food in China. It was really great Italian food, period. We each also had a glass of wine and a dessert (I chose tiramisu...and it was delicious...and even was sweet...a rarity in China!). The total for everyone's meal was about $12...gotta love prices in China.
After dinner they showed me the local DVD store which I hunted for during a past adventure to Wudaokou for seemingly an hour. I was embarrassed to find that I had literally walked right past it before...however it was easy to miss because you have to walk right through a restaurant to actually get to the DVD shop which is in the back of the restaurant...so I didn't feel so bad. To my surprise you could get just about any season of U.S. television shows there...and cheap. All of the new seasons too. I looked through all of the deals and decided that I would have to wait and decide what I really want and go back again. Anyone have any ideas? They had the complete series (i.e. all of the seasons) of things like West Wing, Sopranos, True Blood, everything...so if anyone has a series recommendation...I'd love to hear about it :-) They also have all sorts of movies. New movies too. I wonder if some of them are pirated...but I guess there is no way to tell unless you buy one and try it out.
After our DVD adventure we walked home and it was a great way to end the evening. At home after work I would typically drive and lightrail home...maybe go out to dinner or make dinner at home, watch some television, maybe visit a friend or too and then go to bed. I actually really like not having a car here though. The walking is nice and it is relaxing to end the day like that (we will see if I am still saying this once it starts to get cold :-)
So after my successful venture to Wudaokou I decided the next night...that I should try it out again! I teach until late on Thursday nights and everyone else has already eaten dinner by the time I get off work. So I decided that I would just walk myself to Wudaokou and eat at a restaurant I had already tried out previously. This particular restaurant is a Japanse Curry restaurant and the food is to die for. I have literally had several dreams of this food since I first tried it during my second week or so here...so I decided it was time to find this place again! I headed out and before I knew it was at my favorite little spot. I ordered the dish there that makes my mouth water just thinking about it...a huge breaded pork cutlet with tumeric rice and the best curry sauce that comes in a gravy boat to pour over top of the whole thing. This time I think my stomach had shrunk because I could only eat about half of it...but no problem...I know how to ask them for to go boxes now so it would make for an awesome lunch (or breakfast) the next day as well.
This place is always interesting because it is a Japanese place in a westerner hangout (Wudaokou) in Beijing, China. So the crowd around me went something like this: a table of two chinese women, a table of about 8 foreigners from a local language school...probably 4 french, 2 german, and 2 italian (who were having the most interesting conversation that schools around the world were pulling English programs and instilling Chinese language programs instead...I kind of doubt this, but that is what they were talking about), a table of 4 japanese people speaking in english, and a table of about 3 american students. Lots of interesting conversations to be heard. At any rate, my belly was filled so I decided to head out (and perhaps look for dessert...because it really wasn't THAT full).
I was looking down the street to see if there was perhaps a pastry shop nearby when I saw it...and heard it. American football. No mistaking it. I haven't heard or seen American football since moving here and that is one of the things I really miss right now from back in the states. I approach the direction of the sound and find a little t.v. outside one of the restaurants playing a New England Patriots game...I am immediately drawn in and the people inside immediately spring into action. Something is said in Chinese and a girl drops what she is doing from the back and runs outside. 'Hello, you like football. You probably feel at home here. We have good football food. Hamburgers, hotdogs, doughnuts...really fresh doughnuts, you should try some.' O.k. I have to admit. BEST marketing ploy ever. These people at this little shop have this thing DOWN. That girl who speaks English is worth her weight in gold to this restaurant. And for what it's worth...she did convince me to buy some doughnuts (dessert...which was fresh and delicious). I think I'll be back...if nothing else the whole situation just made me smile...and...it couldn't hurt to watch a little more football right?
At any rate, with my doughnuts in hand I decided this would end my adventure in Wudaoku for the evening and I headed home to do a little research. What I found is that there are a few more places which are known around Beijing for such things as 'Best Burger' and 'Best Pizza'. I will definitely be back.
Zaijian,
Gary
Lean Chinese: De-tia...Subway.
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