Beijing brunch at Maison Boulud

Beijing, CHINA — After one week at home anchored by the flu, brunch at Maison Boulud welcomes my taste buds back to life.

Options starting at one course to however many you can consume allow me to ease into well being. Without surprise to my husband, I order the Moroccan lamb chops served with couscous and a mint cream sauce. Whether it’s a dirty martini at a bar or chops at the table, I have my habitual requests and they help me gauge how stellar an establishment is. My two lamb chops were two-for-two delicious. I love lamb chops, obviously! My husband ordered the braised short rib and foie gras burger which neither impressed me nor tempted me beyond two bites. I returned the burger half to his plate.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Mary 23, a Bloody Mary bursting with ginger and cilantro. I gag after three sips of tomato juice or soup and when amongst friends giddy with excitement for Bloody Mary’s I’m the killjoy opting for a Mimosa. Next brunch, watch me call a royal order, “Can I have my Mary blended with ginger and cilantro?” Hey, at least now I can hang.

Just after I told our server I’d pass on dessert, a 1″ square of Tiramisu, six bite-sized varieties of more sweet nothings, and a linen basket of freshly baked Madeleines arrive within two minutes of each other. It was like Christmas and I was popping one morsel-sized gift after another into my mouth!

I’ve left the paradise in Ch’ien Men 23 but very happy knowing that a mere 98 RMB can buy my way back into Saturday brunch heaven.

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