Bread is the staff of life. Many imperial officials paid much attention to their daily food, thus forming an important branch of Beijing cuisine. The Official Food is not as particular about the shape of courses as the Imperial Court Food, but is more concerned with its dainty flavor. As rich officials didn't mind about the cost of the ingredients or the cooking process, so a homely meal often treated guests to delicacies.

The Official Food is characterized by its natural taste, lightness, softness and excellent cookery. For example, when chicken or fish is cooked, no additional peppers are used to preserve the original taste. Tan and Li Homely Food are the most prestigious official food at home and abroad.

Tan Homely Food is most typical of the Official Cuisine. It is a combination of Cantonese cuisine and Beijing cuisine, with equal salt and sugar added in the cooking process. It therefore agrees with all diners who like either salty or sweet food. Even though it is originally household food, it has developed into two hundred kinds. The seafood dishes are a great satisfaction for all seafood lovers. Also there are exquisite dishes specially cooked for vegetarians.

Li Homely Food attracts numerous domestic and overseas celebrities, including over sixty prime ministers and many VIPs, such as Bill Gates (an American computer tycoon) and Muhammad Ali (former boxing champion). There is only one restaurant that serves Li Homely Food. To enjoy the startling dinner, you should make a reservation a week beforehand. Li Shanlin, the restaurant keeper, is good at English while his wife is excellent in Japanese, so you needn't worry about the language barrier.

 Recommended Restaurants

Tan Jia Cai 谭家菜
Feature: Tan Homely Food
Location: 7/F, Building C, Beijing Hotel, No.33, Dong Chang'an Jie (东长安街), Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-65137766-1389

Li Jia Cai 厉家菜
Feature: Li Homely Food
Location: No.11, Yangfang Hutong (羊房胡同), Deshengmennei Dajie (德胜门内大街), Xicheng District
Tel: 010-66180107

Yu Zhuan Tang Restaurant 玉馔堂食府
Feature: Tan Homely Food
Location: In the east bank of Youth Lake Park (青年湖公园), Andingmenwai Dajie (安定门外大街), Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-84132035

Bai Family Mansion 白家大宅门食府
Location: In the Lejia Garden (乐家花园), No.15, Suzhou Jie (苏州街), Haidian District
Tel: 010-62658851