Beijing

Puerta 20 Spanish dish

The new Spanish restaurant Puerta is located next to the 20th entrance of Beijing Worker's Stadium. The ingredients and technique here are both very good. Many gourmets who have eaten here have sung the praises of the food quality. Begin with good ham and bread with tomato sauce for an appetizer, and a nice salad. Seafood risotto has very fresh and tasty lobster in it. The poached egg, foie gras and beef are flawless. The first floor is dimly lit, while the second is brightly illuminated, with a lot of space. The restaurant has some connection with the soccer association, so people can often see Chinese national-level soccer players dining there. -Ye Jun

Next to the 20th entrance to Beijing Worker's Stadium, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6508-2020

Let the good times roll!

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is on the horizon. You don't have to be French or even Catholic to join the pre-Lent party the week of March 4, judging by the drunken goofs already showing up in New Orleans, where the festivity has become high theater. Beijing offers a taste of New Orleans at NOLA, the Jianguomen eatery where jambalaya, beignets, eggs Benedict and Southern Comfort ice cream are the heart of the menu. (Order something with white-cheddar-cheese grits or a mint julep if you really want to fit in.)

- Mike Peters

9 am-midnight daily. Daily happy hour 3-8 pm. NOLA, A-11 Xiushui Nanjie (South Street). 010-8563-6215.

Hong Kong

New head chef at Masu

Masu Robatayaki & Sushi has a new head chef, Michael Chan, bringing more than 10 years of Japanese culinary experience to Masu.

Chan will bring a creative and cutting-edge menu of fusion-inspired dishes to Masu. "I'm fascinated with utilizing Japanese ingredients and presenting them in a Western fashion," Chef Michael explains, "It's a fun and exciting way to enjoy Japanese cuisine." A few highlights include: Masu shooter, a jazzy concoction of bonito stock, sake, ponzu, spicy ground radish, quail egg and sea urchin all mixed together to kanpai (toss back); caviar-covered seared salmon, a sweet surprise with juicy black pepper seared salmon topped with caviar and dipped in a sweet mustard miso dressing; and eggplant, abalone and uni bomb, a crowd-pleaser with slices of grilled eggplant, abalone and a generous layer of uni deliciously drizzled with sweet miso sauce.

- Donna Mah

Masu Robatayaki & Sushi, Shop A, G/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central, Hong Kong. 852-2537-7787.