Well, there’s Breadtalk around Singapore and Philippines..quite commercialized nowadays. However, during our stay in Beijing, we were craving for Tour Les Jours, a quite relaxing place to hang out. Actually, I notice more Koreans before. Later, I researched about it apparently, it wasn’t a French bakery like its namesake. It is operated by a South Korean company.

“Tous Les Jours means “every day” in French, and the name expresses the bakery’ commitment to making fresh bread every day.”

It still looks cozy inside…warm during the winter.

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In this chilly weather in Beijing, you’ll probably want to defy nature and try something adventurous! One autumn-turning-winter day in Beijing, my friends and I dared to eat ice cream outside in the almost negative temperature open. Crazy crazy but very good! I was jittering the whole time but eventually my temperature normalized as I force myself to believe that mind can rule over the body! Even if I think the effect was rather psychological contrary to what my friends said, I had a weird sensation like the feeling of blood rushing through my system…maybe doing crazy things make you feel more alive!

Must-try are:
1. Mcdonald’s sundae cone– Best Mcdonald’s version of ice cream (creamy-licious!)
2. Yogurberry - This one I wasn’t able to try but my friends went here to lounge. This originated in offering frozen yogurt, shaved ice desserts etc. The ambiance looks great! It’s located at 2/F, Bldg 8, Wudaokou Xijiao Hotel, Wudaokou.

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A student like me with an adventurous heart and a big appetite (on certain a season like Winter!) had gone up and down in this lovable district called Wudaokou. It was my home away from home for a while with friends that shared memories with me at that time. We skipped from restaurant to restaurant, trying out things until we find the best around town.

I recall having a hard time returning for one-last-taste/visit during February when we were about to leave. I wanted to immortalize the experiences and when I come back, surely I would be nostalgic.

Here are the places I love:
1. Milk tea station- Though I forgot the name of the booth, I remember it’s along the front part of Hua Qing Jia Yuan. It’s located along the store strips. It’s not comparable to the powdered ones, this one tastes sooo much better!

2. Cafe Bro - It’s also along the store strips, right beside the Mcdonald’s. I like their pastas and also their crepe cake is to die for.

3. Lion King KTV- If you just want to sing the night away, this is the perfect place because of it’s wide array of song choices (English songs too!).

4. Korean restaurants - there are quite a lot. We love Sarangbang, Fushion, the “Kimchi rice” restaurant we didn’t get the name. I never get tired of eating there.

5. Tous Le Jour- It’s French for “everyday”. You would see this just below the Lion King KTV building. It’s actually a Korean company so I guess that why a lot of Koreans hang out there. I love their Cream Baguette. Seriously addicting! They also serve cakes, pastries.

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Xijiao Hotel is one of the hotels near Haidian district. Walking distance from BLCU, you can opt to stay here if you want to walk around Wudaokou for a short while. This hotel is quite convenient and clean but not that great. It’s probably a three-four star hotel if I remember correctly. There’s a bowling place right beside the hotel and also swimming pool area inside. On the third floor of the activity buiding of Xijiao Hotel, there’s a store selling DVD’s which is cheap plus you can check if it’s working.

Though this is not the cheapest around the area, I feel that this one is quite value for money (for the quality of room facilities).

Here’s the address and phone number: not sure if it is updated though

Add: No.18 Wangzhuang Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China
P.C: 100083
Tel: 86-10 62322288
Fax: 86-10 62311142
E-mail:Public@xijiao-hotel.com.cn

You can also reserve through here:

SarangBang is one of my favorite Korean restaurants in Beijing. I first experience this quite authentic Korean cuisine during my trip with friends a year before I went to study in BLCU. The spicy food complimented the cold autumn weather.

Back in the old days, I had learn to love to Korean food when I was still in Manila, there was a really old Korean restaurant we often visit more than twice a month (it’s called Korean Village). I didn’t mind smelling like food (because of grilling by ourselves) after blissful dinner. I grow to love kimchi which I avoided years back.

But I didn’t expect Korean cuisine could get even better! (I sound like an advertisement already!) My friend J taught us the know-hows of eating Korean style in Beijing. There are quite a number of appetizers and sauces to mix together. You’ll get to love mixing rice with everything when you get used to the spicy-ness. Be ready to get your hands dirty! Wrapping everything (meat, appetizer, kimchi, sauces etc) with lettuce is a must try!
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When I was still studying in Beijing, we had this rule that we will eat cheap during weekdays and splurge on the weekends. As far as I am concerned, it didn’t bother me because eating cheap wasn’t that bad in our school restaurants.

Inside BLCU campus, there’s a Chinese restaurant at 2nd floor of the cafeteria, which is our favorite value-for-money treat. . Interestingly, we were never left dissatisfied with our orders. At around 10 RMB per person, we get to order 7-8 dishes for 10 people already!

Our favorites were the sweet crispy chicken and the fried mantou with condensed milk .

There is a standard taste to all entrees…for standard, i mean the entrees don’t just look the same, they sometimes taste the same too! Also take note that during lunch time, BLCU students flock to this area to eat. Service is bad (the fuyuan or waitresses are sometimes so nasty, you’d wish you can just get things by yourself.) (more…)

SPR Coffee seems to sprout in China like mushrooms. Looks a lot like Starbucks but it’s not. It’s a typical cafe but it lacks the distinct frapuccino I love in Starbucks…though I think it’s overrated.

SPR comes from the word SPRING, not the season but it’s the small stream of water flowing from the earth.

Around Wudaokou, there are 2 branches where we love to hangout when exams were near. The huge branch in Tsinghua Science Park is our favorite because of warm ambiance and unlimited WiFi access. The huge tables are perfect for a library feel where you can study and lounge around at the same time. Just bring all your stuff (laptop, books, pen) and you can stay for as long as you want (it closes at 12mn on weekend and sometimes earlier). Just of course, order 1 or 2 from the menu. There’s also free distilled water with lemon zest. and Order the Cheesecake! (more…)