Fusion Mediterranean Tapas and Organic Wine at Fu Near Nanluogu Xiang
The closure of the once traffic-heavy Nanluogu Xiang at the beginning of November appears to have given the once relatively quiet Ju’er Hutong a chance to shine. Opening last month, Fu Tapas luckily wasn’t torn down during the massive renovations occurring nearby, quite the opposite, with its three floors whisking diners away to a dreamland where floating umbrellas hang outside, inviting you in with their warm lights.
As described by the owner, Sohan, “Fu" has four meanings: 府 (fǔ, house) as in an atmosphere where Old and New Worlds meet, a place created for discovering fine culinary art, style, and innovation; 赋 (fù, poetry) as in the frame of the picture, made up of the people who meet there; 福 (fú, fortune or blessing) as in to share a passion for all the senses right in the heart of Beijing; and 浮 (fù, to float) as in to flow and float.” That's quite a lot to take in, but Sohan grounds herself by informing us that she's not a trained interior designer, but that she does enjoy putting a lot of effort into small details.
The menu isn’t flooded with 100 dishes, but takes a more innovative design, offering fusion cuisine in traditional tapas bite-sized portions. We start with the Australian beef carpaccio with parmigiano chips (RMB 78), the crispy chips proving particularly moreish.
These are the main dishes available: 200-day grain-fed beef tenderloin with vegetable tempura and béarnaise sauce (RMB 168); seared tuna fillet with red quinoa, feta cheese, kalamarata olives, and onion (RMB 128); fried scallops in pasta kataifi served with a truffle and yuzu sauce (RMB 128); and gnocchi with chorizo and blue cheese sauce (RMB 68). We would first recommend the fried scallops, which had a golden and crisp pasta crust, and balanced well with the truffle sauce, while the gnocchi with moist slices of chorizo and crumbled blue cheese added sharp and savory kick.
The man behind the dishes and manager at Sanlitun's La Dolce Vita, Fabio Falanga, spoke at the event, explaining, “Fu is mainly my idea of Mediterranean dishes, including North Africa, Spain, Greece, and more, and when compared to La Dolce Vita, Fu has more of an international flavor and we have the opportunity to play with ingredients that are not solely Italian.”
As for drinks, Fu has a great wine selection with a line of 100 percent organic grape wines “from classic to innovative, from Old World to New World,” selected by Michael Ohlsson of Dada. Prices range from RMB 45 a glass to RMB 990 a bottle. They also offer Jing-A beers, three types of spritzes, and six classic cocktails.
As we have said previously, people, never take a date out to have burritos, instead Fu provides the perfect spot, with its modern, quiet, and relaxing atmosphere coupled with delicious bites. The first floor bar and dining area is especially suited towards a more intimate night whereas the larger second floor with its longer tables is good for larger groups, and the third caters for private parties. All in all, Fu lives up to the hype, and we're glad to see a new, elegant venue open in the hutongs, and can’t wait to see how it grows.
Fu Tapas & Wine
Tue-Fri 5pm-midnight, Sat and Sun 12pm-midnight. 25 Ju'er Hutong, Dongcheng District (188 0113 6781)
东城区菊儿胡同25号
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Fú, Tracy Wang