Lebanese Hummus

I have been following a Lebanese food blogger, Anthony Rahayel, on youtube, which showcases authentic and traditional Lebanese food.

One restaurant that has been featured multiple times on Anthony’s channel is Ghosn Breakfast. The hummus looked mouthwatering!

After watching Elie Ghosn, owner of Ghosn Breakfast make hummus by hand,  I thought I would give this traditional method a try. There was no recipe given so I had to make a rough estimation of the amount of each ingredient needed.

These are the ingredients I used:

1 1/2 cup can chickpeas, cooked for twenty minutes to soften

1 garlic clove

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp of salt

a pinch of sumac

2 1/2 tbsp of olive oil

In the video above, Elie shows how he makes it step by step, and I followed accordingly.

The hummus turned out a little dry compared to Elie’s but nonetheless delicious! I really enjoyed the making process and I will continue to use this method to make my hummus in the future.

 

Yun Summer Lounge

This beautiful chic oriental-inspired lounge, located on the 15th floor of the Peninsula hotel, offers classic and craft cocktails with sweeping views of Wangfujing. Guest can also enjoy an up-close view of the traditional pagoda roof design of the original building, which was constructed in 1987.

My friend and I visited the lounge on a weekday, so there were very few people. I love the quiet ambiance and upbeat lounge music.

I love the spacious layout and the simple yet sophisticated décor with color schemes that match the pagoda roof.

 

Drinks and food we ordered: Frozen Strawberry Margarita, Virgin Mojito, Passion Cloud (Fresh Passion Fruit, Jasmine Tea, Jasmine Syrup), and Tortilla Chips (Avocado, Coriander, Lime, Chili).

My favorite mocktail is the Virgin Mojito (I don’t take alcohol). In my opinion, Peninsula’s Virgin Mojito is one of the best in Beijing. The sweetness and the lime are well-balanced with just the right amount of ice.

My friend enjoyed her frozen Margarita, it was like a sweet berry slushy. The Passion Cloud was sweet and refreshing with a lovely jasmine aftertaste. The tortilla chips with the avocado dip were a good accompaniment to the drinks.

This is an ideal place for sundowner drinks and socializing.

 

Yun Summer Lounge

Website: https://www.peninsula.com/en/beijing/hotel-fine-dining/yun-summer-lounge

Opening hours:

Sunday to Thursday from 5:30pm to midnight

Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm to 1:00am

Telephone:  +86 10 8516 2888 Ext 6752

The Baker’s Table

This German-owned bakery is the place to go for good German bread and pastries in Seoul. They also have a brunch menu, a variety of sandwiches, and soups. It is located in a quiet, beautiful neighborhood, a short walk to Bukchon Hanok Village and Samcheong Park.

We were greeted by the smell of fresh bread when I entered the bakery. There was a mouthwatering display of bread by the counter. The staff was friendly, and we joked with the German bakers.

 

The Baker’s Table (Samcheong-dong)

Website: https://thebakerstable.co.kr/

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Telephone: 02-725-0777

Address:  126 Samchong-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Korea

The Peninsula Hotel

 

I treated my parents to a one-night stay at The Peninsula for their 37th anniversary. This is my first time staying at a Peninsula hotel.

The Peninsula Hotel Beijing is an all-suite hotel located in Beijing’s historic Wangfujing area. This luxurious hotel has two restaurants and a rooftop lounge. Jing restaurant and bar is a Michelin starred French restaurant, and Huang Ting offers Cantonese cuisine. The Yun summer lounge is located on the 15th floor, with views of the historic area.

I was slightly disoriented when I entered the hotel; the lobby resembled a mall because you’ll first notice the high-end boutiques. The reception desk is small and tucked in a corner; however, we were greeted by a friendly receptionist.

One highlight of the Peninsula is the “Peninsula time,” which allows guests to check-in as early as 6:00 a.m. and check out as late as 10:00 p.m.

The hotel has its own gallery showcasing a curated collection of specially commissioned paintings, sculptures, and photography. In addition, contemporary paintings and photography are also displayed throughout the hotel.

The gym is well equipped, and the pool is spectacular. It was clean, well-lit, with instrumental music playing in the background and comfortable deck chairs.

I corresponded with the hotel’s guest relations manager Katherine for my parent’s anniversary room arrangement. She was attentive when inquiring about my parents’ preferences. The flowers and cake prepared were based on my parents’ liking, and they even made a short video that played their favorite song. There was also a handwritten card. It was a lovely surprise for my parents.

I booked the deluxe suite with twin beds. The rooms are luxurious and spacious with a separate bedroom and living room and tastefully decorated with warm neutral and black color schemes and beautiful contemporary Chinese paintings. The big marble bathroom has a tub, an inset 19-inch TV, and a separate shower. In addition, the minibar was complimentary.

A feature in the room that stood out is the tablet technology. One can control lighting, room temperature, multimedia, TV, and order room service with a touch of a button. There is also a docking station that allows guests to connect their own media to the TV.

The only downside was the size of the twin beds. I thought they were a bit small.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In-room dining

Oven Roasted Half Spring Chicken (RMB 160), Herb Roasted Potatoes (RMB 50), and Laksa Noodles (RMB 160)

The laksa noodles came in a rich, creamy, spicy coconut milk broth served with yellow noodles and rice vermicelli and a generous serving of prawns and clams. The flavors were spot on!

The roasted chicken and potatoes were well seasoned and cooked perfectly.

Breakfast at The Lobby

Breakfast is served in The Lobby. I was excited at the availability of gluten-free bread, which elevated my breakfast dining experience (I found out a few months ago that I am gluten intolerant). The buffet had a small spread. There was an assortment of bread, cheeses, cold cuts, fruits, cereals, congee, sausages, and bacon. There is also a made-to-order a la carte menu of hot dishes such as beef noodle soup, pancakes, eggs benedict, omelets, etc.

The poached egg with smashed avocado on gluten-free toast was done well. The beef noodle soup was packed with umami, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the beef was tender.

 

Hotel staff from all departments were friendly and polite. Everyone greets you with a smile. And not to mention the impeccable service.  The guest relations manager Katherine and her assistant Ludi made an effort to make our stay comfortable and memorable. The Peninsula exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait to visit the other locations.

 

The Peninsula Hotel

Website: https://www.peninsula.com/en/beijing/5-star-luxury-hotel-wangfujing

Telephone: +86 10 85162888

Address: 8 goldfish lane, Wangfujing, Beijing, 100006