MUGA Day #29: My final meals in Beijing

This will be a particularly long posting covering a day and a half.  My quest for the perfect Shanghai dumpling failed.  For breakfast at the St. Regis I had...

...dumplings, but none was a Shanghai dumpling.  I might add that the St. Regis here has the best toilet system in the world, better than even Japan:

The options to clean your bottom are extraordinary.  Plus the seat is warm.  In Australia, must be the material used, but there is a shock to your system every time you sit down.

I took the following photo today from my room:

There were no clouds nor fog, only air pollution.  Here is the Beijing real-time air quality:

Beijing AQI: Beijing Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)

219

Very Unhealthy Updated on Monday 10:00

	Last 2 days	Current	Min	Max
PM2.5 AQI		219	126	223
PM10 AQI		116	57	126
SO2 AQI		22	6	44
NO2 AQI		27	16	49
CO AQI		19	10	19
O3 AQI		16	2	52
Temp		14	7	18
Dew		4	-3	4
Pressure		1016	1013	1021
Humidity		50	29	68
Wind		1	0	10

What does that 219 index mean?

API	Air Pollution Level	Health Implications
0 - 50	Excellent	No health implications
51 -100	Good	No health implications
101-150	Slightly Polluted	Slight irritations may occur, individuals with breathing or heart problems should reduce outdoor exercise.
151-200	Lightly Polluted	Slight irritations may occur, individuals with breathing or heart problems should reduce outdoor exercise.
201-250	Moderately Polluted	Healthy people will be noticeably affected. People with breathing or heart problems will experience reduced endurance in activities. These individuals and elders should remain indoors and restrict activities.

So 219 is not good.  Well, I do need to have lunch at Maison Boloud, but do I dare walk around?

Getting anywhere in a taxi in Beijing can be an adventure.  At the hotel, the doorman carefully explained to the driver where to take me, with a map in Chinese.  I was dropped off at least a mile away on the wrong side of Mao's Mausoleum.  So I caught another cab, for my map showed that Maison Boloud was close by.  He dropped me off across the street, and crossing streets near Tiananmen Square is a challenge.  Anyway, a uniformed person at the hotel was not sure, but pointed to the right.  So I walked for ten minutes and showed another uniformed person my map.  After checking with someone, he pointed further right.  As I was getting close to Mao's Mausoleum, it occurred to me that I might never find this restaurant, when I came across a concrete compound with another uniformed individual.  There was nothing indicating Maison Boloud, but, thank heavens, this was it.

Hidden in the back is what looks like a French mansion.  I was warmly welcomed.  To the left is Jarrod Verbiak, Chef de Cuisine, who came by to chat before the meal:

There was the usual first amusement, followed by foie gras courtesy of Jarrod:

An impressive start, with French Rose and Rhone.  Next, the best pesto soup I've ever had in my life:

The Caesar salad was exquisite, with the anchovy almost fresh and a nice avocado touch:

The pasta was perfectly prepared:

Interesting that this was mostly an Italian meal.  Staci Chen, the Manager, dropped by a couple of times, but didn't want her photo taken unless I was also in it:

I wondered why she spoke better English than me, until she mentioned that her previous stint was at Daniel in New York, which ranks #25 in the Pellegrino Best World Restaurants list.  Daniel's last name, of course, is Boloud.  She must live an interesting life.  Dessert of creme brulee was wonderful, with a cappuccino and Calvados:

Unfortunately, this was not the end, for they served petit fours and a special baked mini something:

The whole meal cost less than $100, and this much only because the drinks were not exactly cheap.  However, I wonder if there was a decimal point problem in my favor, for all the food above cost around $30.  This is easily, by far, the best $30 French meal I've ever had.  I paid this amount for a bento on the Shinkansen.  If the charge was $300, this would have been more in line with other top restaurants, and I would have been satisfied at that price.  The whole dining experience with the ambiance, service and cuisine I would rank among the top three on this trip.  Coming back here will be a must.

On the way back to my hotel, I caught the subway, where the station was only five minutes away if you know which underground tunnel to take.  I saw a "green" massage opportunity, so I went in.  I was talked into a manicure and pedicure in addition to the foot massage,  which extends up to and including the knees.  I now have the shiniest nails I've ever had, for they apparently place nail polish on men here in this country.  Note how well my right thumb looks now.  Don't click on the problem I had a few months ago.  The last remnant of the old nail fell off last week.

I then went over to the Press Club for a champagne and cigar, which is allowed in this section of the bar:

There was a group at the table to my right, and one of them began talking to me, for we both had an interest in biotechnology.  David Elmaleh is chairman and founder of AZTherapies.  He is affiliated with Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a molecular imaging expert.  His team is on the cusp of delaying the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.  He is in China to work out a financial partnership for his therapy.  As I say, you meet the most interesting people in this bar.

After all that eating today, I noticed that both 7/11 and Subway chains were across the street from my hotel, so I trotted over and bought a large can of Harbin beer plus a 6 incher as my final dinner in China:

The sandwich and beer cost less than $4.  The fruits came with the room.

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