Beijing Boyce

OK, that post title might be a little misleading, but the thing is that Olaf Kristoffer Bauer aka “Kro” of Kro’s Nest fame says he wants to meet with the man with whom he started this chain of pizza joints, Yuan Jie, and with whom relations have been somewhat less than amicable of late. Bauer says he has tried to contact Yuan Jie, even to the point of calling his family and acquaintances, but has had no luck reaching him. “Basically, I want him to come out and talk,” says Bauer. So, if Yuan Jie or his acquaintances read this blog, Kro says give him a call.

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See also:

As the Kro flies? Partner troubles at Kro’s Nest Pizza

Socket to me...

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So, I just bought a new cord for my computer and one of the prongs is round and that generally makes it harder to find an outlet at restaurants, cafes, and bars. Just how hard is it? Less a matter of hardware and more a matter of the staff making an effort…

Goose and Duck: The waitress looked at my plug, then at the nearest outlet. No fit. She looked at the outlets on either side of that initial outlet. No fit. Her verdict: They had no outlets that could fit my plug. I then walked around the bar and within one minute found an extension cord with two outlets that fit. (The waitress otherwise did a good job.)

Kro’s Nest: Pretty much the same process. A waiter looked at my plug, then at a few outlets, and told me they had none that fit. I looked around and could not find any, either. Then I mentioned that on my last visit, there was an extension cord. He said he didn’t know where it was. I  kept mentioning the extension cord and he eventually reached beneath the counter, felt around, and brought out a box that contained several adapters, including one that fit my plug. (The staff otherwise made its usual near-minimal effort.)

Salud: I wanted to quickly check my email and saw that none of the outlets nearby would fit my plug. The guy behind the bar — Ah Hui — and I looked around to no avail. Then he checked near the DJ booth and found a socket that worked. I had to move my computer near the door so the cord would reach the outlet, but it didn’t matter since I only needed to use it for a few minutes.

The result: The staff at all three places could have found an outlet that fit, but only one guy–and the one at the place where people are least likely to pull out a laptop–made that little bit of extra effort to do so. And that’s usually all it takes: A little bit of extra effort.

Lao Beijing up top, Shroomy below

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Kro’s Nest (map) is rolling out eight new pizzas – two per week – as former Element Fresh kitchen wizard Jeffrey Powell puts his touch on the menu. I tried a slice of Lao Beijing, which includes smoked duck breast, leeks, sauce, garlic, and – after it is out of the oven – a light topping of cucumbers (a bit savory for me), and the Shroomy, with four kinds of mushrooms plus thyme (tasty). Pies already available include the San Fran Special (pesto sauce, mozzarella, clams, and fresh garlic) and the Mexican Holiday (enchilada pizza sauce, re-fried beans, mozzarella, spicy beef, tomatoes, and more), that Powell describes as an “authentic taco on a pizza“.

Look also for about 15 new appetizers. By the way, two long-time Kro’s specials endure: on Tuesdays at six, the first key of beer is free, and on Thursdays, a bucket of six beers is just RMB80, with the choices including Red Seal, Brooklyn Lager, and VB.

Also of note, Powell is behind the menu at Tube Station Bistro (map), with the creations including the Himalayan black truffle pizza. Have yet to visit, but intend to do so soon.

City Weekend and beer distributor Dxcel, known best for its Australian and American brews, are teaming up with a dozen Beijing establishments in October for the innaugural Beer Jing festival.

When you drink a Dxcel-distributed beer – say a Brooklyn Lager, Crown, or VB – at one of these dozen spots, you get a stamp in your passport for that place.  Be among the first 20 people to get eight stamps and you will be invited to the Beer Jing party on October 29 at Danger Doyle’s at 7:30 PM*. According to the press release, participants will  “taste some of the most exotic microbrews the world has to offer.”  The doors open to everyone at 9:30 PM and for RMB100 you can drink beer to your liver’s content.

To participate, pick up a “passport” at one of these bars: Danger Doyle’s (map), Rickshaw (map), Kro’s Nest (map), Ned’s (map), Frank’s Place (map), Westside Café, Union Bar and Grill (map), Unconditional Love Coffee (map), The Den (map), Nola, Vineyard Café (map), and Tim’s Texas Barbecue (map).

You can also find good deals on the Beer Jing brews during October at Kro’s Nest every Thursday (five beers for RMB80), at The Den every day (RMB25), and at Nola where prices range from RMB30 for VB to RMB26 for Blue Star. All 12 spots will offer a 20 percent discount on these beers during the “Beer Jing weekend”, October 16 to 18.

* You need at least eight stamps to qualify. Send a scan of your passport to Lee Mack at leemack@cityweekend.com.cn by October 26.

Note: This is the first post on this blog to include pop-up maps (click the word “map” listed beside each place) and the ability to forward bar addresses to your mobile phone (see here for details).

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In the latest installment of the Top Five Watering Holes series, Andrew Schorr and Ellis Rahhal of Mobile Native give their top picks for drinks in the city, including a convenience store, a pizza joint, and a Bar That Shall Not Be Named.

The Wudaokou 7-ELEVEN (map)

Ellis: Amazing people-watching. There’s always dozens of people hovering inside and outside regardless of season because of the proximity to the dance club Propaganda. Students from every corner of the world, lurkers, beggars, can collectors, chuanr stand workers, police, and locals from all over the city stand out front either taking a breather from mad hip hop exercise or spending most of the evening drinking relatively cheap foreign beers purchased in the store. There’s always a story developing here. Best hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 PM to 4 AM.

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Lugar (map)

Andrew: The cocktail menu is an interesting read – he’s really doing some creative things with his alcohol. Look behind the bar and you’ll catch various herbs steeping in alcohol bottles like a project for the adult science fair. The place is rarely busy which means the nice pool table and big screen TV are usually up for the taking. The complimentary bar snacks and the Vietnamese / Taiwanese menu are also unique. I miss the original entrance,: an unmarked steel door down the alley on the side of the building. It had much more character than walking through the store in front of the bar.

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B _ _ _ _ _ s
Ellis: I won’t reveal the name of this place because it’s small and no one knows about it, and I don’t want to ruin it. Anyway it’s a Japanese-run bar on the 12th floor of an office building, and the front door has no obvious signage. It’s black and loungey with a great view and consistently made designer cocktails.

Andrew: Ellis told me, but I swore I would keep it a secret. But I’ll give you a hint: the office building is in Haidian and the name of the bar rhymes with klarphlips.

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Kro’s Nest (map)

Andrew: Something magical happens when pizza and beer get together.  Kro’s has always had some of the best deals in town on great imported beers, including Thirsty Thursday buckets of five beers for 80 RMB. While this deal has not been offered lately, it will hopefully return once a new batch of beer arrives.  This place is also getting some great Australian beers: Crown, Redback, VB, and Boags.  Those and the Brooklyn beers are all 30RMB normally, and I was told recently they have a new joint China-Oz beer called Lucky coming in soon for 20RMB/bottle.

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Salud (map)

Ellis: I seem to come to this place with a different group of people every time. The warm reddish and brown tones and intimate seating along with good music at a reasonable volume always lead to interesting conversations. The wooden loft gives the setting a more immediate feel, and people are often dancing downstairs in front of the bar.

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Top fives:

• Andrew Schorr & Ellis Rahhal
• Pete Demola
• Shane Crombie
• Ben Shaw
• Kaiser Kuo
• Bjorn Stabell
• Phoebe Wong
• Diane Fermin
• Badr Benjelloun
• Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff & Katrina Arndt
• Paul Adkins
• Chandler Jurinka
• Kevin Shen
• Steven Schwankert

Those looking to bulk up for the winter should check out the lunch special at Kro’s Nest near Workers Stadium: RMB50 gets you a soda, a salad, and a small pizza. By small, I mean four slices with enough toppings to fill the average noontime diner. By the way, according to regular contributor The Village Grouch, this place has the best fountain cola in town.

The next time you pick up booze in the T3 terminal, thank Kevin Shen: he’s in charge of picking the wines, Whiskies and other whistle-wetters there. Here are his Beijing bar picks:

Kro’s Nest
I am not a beer drinker, but I would not say no to Kro’s on a Tuesday night when Tsingtao flows for five kuai (sometimes into paper cups!) and goes well with the New-York style pizzas. At Kro’s, I can just be myself, talk sh*t, and nobody cares much. That’s how I like it.

Face
I simply adore the place: the interior design, the attentive staff, the wine selection, the food, and the gourmet chocolates.

Intercontinental Hotel (Financial Street)
Oscar Wilde, who famously said, “Work is the curse of the drinking classes”, repeatedly expressed his love of Champagne. I totally agree with him. With Champagne prices up 10 to 15 percent per year, a Sunday brunch that includes free-flow Moet Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Laurent Perrier, and Mumms is a bargain! Who needs food, when each glass contains 150 calories, no fat, and no carbs?

Q Bar
The cocktails here are about fresh ingredients, quality spirits, and the right garnishes by bartenders with know-how. Q Bar simply has it all. On top of that, they have the best vodka and Whiskey selection in town.

Awana
OK, it’s more restaurant than bar, but the lovely Chris lets me work behind the bar when I’m in the mood to make my own Martini. And let’s not forget the authentic Malaysian food!

Those seeking pizza at The Kro’s Nest yesterday went pie-less as this spot, along with Vics, Mix, and The Outback Steakhouse, has been closed ahead of this weekend’s Brazil-Ghana game to decide the final Olympics’ soccer qualifier, states The Beijinger blog. Ghana! It all brings back memories of my difficulties finding Ghanian flags for the 2006 World Cup…

The city’s plan to ban public smoking has seen revisions, according this story:

Restaurants, bars and Internet cafes will be exempt from a recently announced ban on smoking in public places to start May 1, the China Daily reported.

They will now be asked only to have separate smoking and nonsmoking areas, it said.

“Originally, we wanted restaurants to keep 70 percent of the areas smoke-free, but owners of Chinese restaurants – both big and small – worried the plan would hurt their business,” Zhang Peili, an official with Beijing’s municipal government supervising the rule, told the paper.

“It is difficult for us to control smoking in restaurants. It’s just part of the culture,” he said.

Cast-iron cookware fans – Pantry Magic is set to open within the next week in the New Nali Studio. The decor is finished, it’s just a matter of getting in the pots and pans.

An Obama Slammer, a large Kro’s Nest pizza and victory is ours.
((c) Obama for America)

Some notes on places visited over the past month or two…

Kro’s Nest
Everyone talks about the huge pizzas at Kro’s Nest, but also impressive is the service. The staff is consistently efficient and good-humored, the drinks and pizza tend to arrive on time, and the bill, change and doggie bags come without delay.

Kro’s Nest is one of my default venues when I am a) hungry, b) meeting a group, c) looking for somewhere informal, and d) seeking to keep control expenses. With plenty of seating, a laid-back atmosphere, and the modestly named “medium” pizza starting at RMB 80, the place works on all counts. The Kro’s Nest Special, a hearty but not overly heavy meat and vegetable combination, has grown on me, and I can slap the other pie’s half with the Greek Mama, Philly Special, or, if with big eaters, Mighty Meat.

Also you never know who you’ll meet Kro’s Nest. One my last visit, I sat beside the Beijing for Obama fundraising group and suggested that they, a la the Alabama Slammer, come up with a shooter – the Obama Slammer or Barack Attack - and charge RMB 25 per shot as a fund-raiser. Sell 250 of these and you have a thousand bucks. For those willing to pay for a double shot, up the nomenclature to the Whamma Bamma Thank You Obama Slamma. People, I’m giving out this advice for free! (Remember me when the ambassadorships to safe and sun-soaked Caribbean countries are handed out.)

About the only downside to Kro’s, besides it destroying many a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, is the mafan hike down that dimly dirt path behind the place.

(Note: Kro’s Nest is closed during the Chinese New Year festival and on every Monday.)

Bellagio
Bellagio is a restaurant that maximizes its potential. The staff is not particularly friendly, the seating arrangements are nothing special, and the Taiwanese food doesn’t take me back to the island, but the place is usually hopping. The situation is no doubt helped by the place’s prominence, by business from nearby clubs, and by a good rep for late-night eats.

p3wong and I found the gongbao jiding pretty good, while the Taiwanese oyster pancake and string beans were OK. Where the place does well is desserts, particularly those shaved ice creations, if that’s your dish.

By the way, if you have not been to Hsin Yeh, the “other” Taiwanese restaurant on that same Gongti West strip, give it a try. It comes off as more formal, but the food is good value and among the most authentic Taiwanese fare I’ve found in the city.

I enjoyed a beer with Olau Kristoffer, partner in the newest branch of pizza joint Kro’s Nest, and asked a few questions about the spot, besides Vics on Gongti North (for more, see yesterday’s post – Kro’s Nest branches out to Gongti):

Your base is in Wudaokou – why locate downtown beside Vics?

This is a great central location and we can do the most delivery here. We are also close to customers in the Chaoyang area, especially around Gongti.

What’s the philosophy behind Kro’s Nest?

Real pizza. I’ve been cooking for about 13 years and can make about 200 dishes, but the one thing I make really well is also the one thing Beijing is lacking – good pizza.

Who are your typical customers?

When I lived in Atlanta, I was at a pizza place and we had punks, golf pros, homeless – everyone – coming in. I wanted to have that same diversity in Beijing. In Wudaokou, we have Koreans, Chinese, students, working people, and so on. It was a kind of pipe dream and it actually worked out.

When you’re not at Kro’s Nest, what are favorite bars?

I don’t go out. The problem when you are in the restaurant industry is you know how cheap everything [alcohol] is, so you usually go to the supermarket and buy beer. I hang out at home.

Why did you spell it “Kro’s” instead of “Crow’s”?

Because my English name is spelled Kristoffer (with a “Kr”). Who likes W anyway? It’s just M upside down.

What’s hot, round and 15 inches… wait, no dirty jokes here, my friends, we’re speaking of the medium (yes, the medium is about that big) pizza at Kro’s Nest, the newest branch opening yesterday beside Vics on Gongti North. Downtown denizens may now discover what Haidian hangers know – this outfit serves up some of the city’s best pies. It also has nine drafts on tap, so let’s hope they keep that beer fresh.

I met GB there and our Kro’s Nest Special (80 kuai) had a tasty combination of meat and vegetable toppings that we washed down with draft Stella (35 kuai). Good crust and good sauce - and I say that as someone who tossed pizza as a high school job. Spicy olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Tabasco sauce, and ketchup are available for those looking to add to their pies.

The place covers 700 square meters and is dominated by wood and brick. Downstairs holds the bar, several booths, and an area with high tables. The upstairs wraparound balcony includes more than 25 booths that seat four to six people, and two larger dining areas that hold a dozen. The ovens can handle up to 24 large pizzas at a time, says partner Olau Kristoffer. “It’s awesome. This really is a pizza parlor,” said one in our party.

Outside is a spacious deck, done in rough bricks and sprinkled with green areas and pine trees. A large semicircular bar out there will later open to serve the nature lovers.

Draft (glasses slightly more than a pint): Tsingdao at 15 kuai; Stella Artois, Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger and Hoegaarden at 35 kuai; Newcastle, Boddington and Kilkenny at 55 kuai.

Mixed drinks: 60 to 90 kuai.  Sounds pricey, but the same beer glasses are used, with the Jack and Coke including three oversized shots of Whisky (around five ounces). This is one you want to nurse for a long while. Two straws are provided for those who prefer to share.

Soda and water are 10 to 15 kuai, coffees 20 kuai, and juices 25 kuai.

As for food, in addition to salad (45 to 50 kuai) and appetizers (20 to 30 kuai), there are more than 20 different pizzas. Most range from 75 to 100 kuai for the medium (really a large) to 95 to 140 for the large (really a huge). House pies include the Garbage Pail, which has all toppings save for salmon. It is billed as “The heaviest pizza ever! … Warning: May induce severe food coma!” Others are the Player’s Layer and Kiss of Death.

Note 1: Kro’s Nest is closed Monday, and open Tuesday to Thusday, noon to midnight, and Friday to Sunday, noon to 2 AM. Pizza delivery is not yet available.

Note 2: Look tomorrow for my interview with Olau Kristoffer, who explains why this place is called “Kro’s”, not “Crow’s”.

Note 3: After Hooters, this is the second place with a bird-themed name to recently open in the area. What’s next – The Thirsty Sparrow? Bai Bai Blackbird? And what’s the link between these birds and The Tree? Work with me people!