This was published 10 years ago
I know this great little place ... Michelle Garnaut
By Simon Thomsen
Michelle Garnaut.
MICHELLE GARNAUT
BEIJING
Expat Australian Michelle Garnaut opened her first restaurant in China, M on the Bund, in Shanghai in 1999. In 2009, she opened Capital M in Beijing. See m-restaurantgroup.com
A Michelle Garnaut offering.
WHERE'S THE BEST TABLE IN BEIJING?
Da Dong is famous for its Peking duck. Bldg 3, Tuanjiehu North Road, Chaoyang District.
THE LOCAL FOOD FIND OF THE PAST YEAR?
Seasonal, local street food, closely linked with festivals. Dishes change during the day - breakfast on jian bing, savoury pancakes with egg, spring onion and chilli sauce; have fried noodles late at night.
WHAT IS BEIJING'S BEST-KEPT FOOD SECRET?
Deyuan [restaurant], in the Dashilan Qing Dynasty quarter. No one speaks English, it's cash only, amazing value, and the duck, with every single scrap used, is brilliant. Deyuan, 57 Dashilan West Street.
WHERE DO YOU GO FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT?
I'm too old, but probably Chocolate (Russian) or Salsa Caribe (great Cuban bands) and Pyongyang Guan, a cheap North Korean restaurant in the Chaoyang embassy district. See club-chocolate.ru; salsacaribebeijing.com
WHERE TO ON A DAY OFF?
The Ming tombs and Great Wall, a late lunch at the Aman Resort's Chinese restaurant and a walk through the Summer Palace. See amanresorts.com/amanatsummerpalace/home.aspx
FAVOURITE INDULGENCE IN BEIJING?
The St Regis or Ritz-Carlton for a swim and spa. There are also 24-hour bathhouses where you can get a massage, eat, watch TV, play cards. Try Shunjingwenquan. See shunjingwenquan.com/en/Room.aspx
WHAT TO AVOID, FOOD-WISE, IN BEIJING?
Avoid any dumpling shop serving a foie gras filling.
BEST TIME TO VISIT AND WHY?
Definitely autumn. It's absolutely beautiful.
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