What’s the best market for meat/vegetables in Beijing?
I often go to Sanyuanli Market. It’s very beautifully laid out, very fresh. As soon as things come into season, they have them. Most of my time is spent cooking and walking around markets. The Chongwenmen Market is small but good, while the supermarket in the basement of the New World Center (also in Chongwenmen) is very big with a big choice. What have you learned from your time in Beijing? The difference between Beijing and Hong Kong dishes is that Beijing’s are more home-style, using more soy sauce to produce a heavy taste. Everything is one colour. My starting point is Cantonese cooking; I don’t want to change it. Our clients want Cantonese, so we don’t mix it up. There are some slight changes at the edges, maybe, to fit local tastes. If Hong Kong or Cantonese people come to us, they may think the taste is not quite what they expect. Beijing people can accept dishes if they are told they are popular in Hong Kong. They feel that Hong Kong things have a fresh feeling. It’s a bit of a
