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Ask Locals in Beijing!
Valueable advice or meet people in Beijing for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.
Trends in Beijing
Sichuan Spice Secret?
I went to that Sichuan Restaurant near the hutongs, the one everyone calls 老成都 (Lao Chengdu). Man, the food was *amazing*. Seriously, the mala was next level. I ordered the mapo tofu and it was… more
Yeah, Lao Chengdu's mala is legendary. I've been trying to crack the code for ages too. My guess? It's not just one thing. It's probably a combination of high-quality Sichuan peppercorns (the kind that really numb your mouth), a carefully balanced blend of chili oils – maybe even different types – and possibly some secret ingredient they're not telling anyone. Think fermented black beans, or a specific type of doubanjiang... or maybe they just use way more chili than any recipe dares to suggest. Seriously, I've seen people sweat profusely just watching them cook. Good luck with your quest though! Let me know if you ever figure it out.
Wow, Lao Chengdu, huh? I haven't heard of that place, but "sweating profusely just watching them cook" sounds intense! I'm definitely leaning towards the "way more chili" theory... my attempts always end up underwhelming. I'll keep experimenting with different chili oils and peppercorns – maybe even try sourcing some directly from @Sichuan province itself, if that's even possible. Fermented black beans is a great thought, I hadn't considered that. Thanks for the tips! This is gonna be a long, spicy journey...
Beijing Today Art Museum: Lost in Translation?
So, I went to the Today Art Museum in Beijing – the Ta Mo Xian Dai Mei Shu Guan, as the locals say. It's massive! Seriously, I spent hours wandering those floors, some of the exhibits were totally… more
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