COVID Gourmand: Restaurant Guide Issued By Beijing CDC

Last Friday, both gourmands and restaurateurs on my WeChat moments were holding their breath after Beijing's CDC released the travel history of an individual who came to Beijing from Shanghai and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19, worried that this unexpected news could lead to yet another round of tightened restrictions over the capital's already suffering F&B industry. Luckily, as they've done so many times in the past, after identifying where the traveler had dined during their stay, the city took swift action, doling out nucleic acid tests to restaurant staff en masse. At press time, all of those tests have come back negative, and the requisite two-week incubation period has since passed, meaning it's relatively safe for these restaurants to reopen.

Perhaps more surprising, however, is that the list of restaurants visited by the infected individual and their travel group wound up drawing even more attention than the case itself, given that it was part of a meticulously arranged itinerary. Many of my friends thus decided to replicate their tour through Suzhou, which includes various museums, communities featuring traditional architecture, and immaculate gardens. Amusingly, instead of continuing their tour de culture through the capital, this particular group decided to roam the city, stopping at several hidden gem restaurants where they partook in delicacies and booze. Despite the fact that Beijing is often dubbed a culinary desert, these adventurers clearly knew their way around the city's food scene, and where to find some sparkling oases within it. So let’s go through this list and see what the restaurants have to offer.

Nuoyan

Still think baijiu is the end-all-be-all of China's libation culture? Then you may want to pay this little bistro a visit. Hidden in the hutongs near Beixinqiao, Nuoyan is a go-to place for people who want to get lost in the diverse world that is rice wine, which can be much milder than its famously strong cousin. This slightly sweet drink is altogether smoother and could even be considered weekday-friendly for those who want to drink socially. Not to mention, it's more versatile when paired with food. At Nuoyan, you can order a tasting flight featuring a panoply of both classic and new products.

For instance, they boast a rose rice wine that truly lives up to its name, with a floral scent that blossoms from the infused beverage. With a sip of this slightly sour, slightly sweet flower dew, its aroma hits the tip of your tongue and courses through the body. Conversely, if you prefer a more traditional flavor, clear rice wine and osmanthus-scented rice wine are also available on the menu.

Aside from the drinks, Nuoyan offers a tapas menu with food specifically designed to enhance the flavor of the rice wine, such as stir-fried conch, marinated tofu, or roasted chicken. No wonder those travelers stayed here from 5pm till midnight.

M Natural

Located on the third floor of Taikooli's Nali Patio, I don't suspect that M Natural is a strange name to capital foodies or those who live in Sanlitun. It's known for a daring, fun menu inspired by diverse culinary cultures from around the globe. And in an age when the word “fusion” is nothing more than a gimmick deployed by restaurants that are too lazy to deliver authentic regional flavors, M Natural is one of the few that plumbs the depth of its meaning, igniting secret chemical reactions between ingredients of different cultural backgrounds.

Besides the seasonal wines featured on their drinks menu, M Natural is also – as its name suggests – famous for its natural wine selection. This emerging new trend for winemaking is still something of a rarity in China, but has gradually expanded in the market with unique and wild tastes that are a product of manual harvesting techniques, as well as other requirements such as, minimal human intervention in the fermentation process, and minimal or no artificial additives used during production.

Solitude

The name of this restaurant is derived from the owner’s experience with completing four quarantines in a year due to frequent travel between France and China. Fear not, however, as you won’t be made to feel isolated in a quarantine cell when dining here. Rather, the food served is a familiar home-style with heart-warming service to boot, all of which makes you feel like you're dining at the home of a good friend.

Browsing through Solitude’s menu, you may notice the influence of French cuisine and inspiration that's come from the owner's globe-trotting adventures. However, it's probably the impressive wine cabinet that catches everyone’s attention when entering the restaurant – a wide collection that ensures there is always a prime choice for any occasion.

Hai Jing Ge

Finally, a restaurant located in the west side of the city earned its spot on this list. Compared to the previous restaurants and gastropubs, Hai Jing Ge stays closer to the diverse landscape of traditional Chinese gastronomy. Their menu features many regional treats, especially from southern China, like Anhui bamboo shoots and steamed grouper from Guangdong.

Given that it's located further from downtown, the dining experience at Hai Jing Ge offers diners a rare sense of tranquility that's often difficult to find in a booming metropolis like Beijing. And it's but a short ride to the Summer Palace, making it the perfect place to spend some quality leisure time when you're out and about.

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Images: Dianping