Hatchery's New Tel Aviv Outing Piles on the Meat, Dips, and Veg in Time for Winter
In an effort to fill Beijingers' seemingly chickpea-shaped heart following the closure of our hummus and falafel go-to Moxi Moxi, Hatchery has launched their latest project to add to a growing and accomplished arsenal of foods that are not readily available in the capital: the so-called Tel Aviv.
Given that Israeli cuisine and the myriad of Middle Eastern ingredients, spices, and textures that it is comprised of being quintessential summer food, the rich meats, hearty vegetables, and smooth dips and hummus make for the perfect spread to rescue you from Beijing's drab winter. The dishes themselves are infused with the inspiration that Hatchery's General Manager Ben Mankarious garnered during a trip to the Israeli capital earlier this year.
Highlights on the menu include the dips, which can be bought separately (RMB 20) or in a trio (RMB 55) and come with a choice of bread or dukkah fries which will go a long way in mopping up every last ounce of these creamy blends (don't be surprised if your fingers end up in the dish). Of those, we'd recommend the minted labneh – a mix of strained yogurt, mint, and chili; the roasted pumpkin, tahini, lemon, and dukkah; and the spicy harissa with grilled chili and cumin.
If you're lucky enough to be dining as a group, it would be wise to skip the nonsense and opt straight for the pragmatic Meat Mountain (RMB 280), a combination of the various individual mains, glorious not only in name but also in stature. In it, sizzling lamb chops are arranged neatly atop a base of chicken shawarma, beef kofta meatballs, a massive grilled cauliflower wedge, and a side of Israeli salad (tomato, cucumber, and chickpeas), and more bread and dips (in case you didn't get your fill the first time around).
Couple it with a lighter option like the spiced and grilled mackerel with roasted beets and minted labneh and you're set for a quiet and groan-filled sit-down, as your stomach struggles handle it all and you work over your options for waddling home.
To keep you seated, the team have also concocted three new alcoholic beverages: a harissa bloody Mary (RMB 50), a pomegranate mojito, and our favorite, a rosemary and cardamom gin and tonic (RMB 40) – a simple combination made fit for the season by a sprig of rosemary that catches your nose with each sip.
Best yet, if none of these options tickle your fancy, Hatchery now stocks a selection of dishes from every one of their incubator projects since the opening of their original Tuanjiehu location early last year, including clams from their first endeavor, Mighty Mo's, as well grain bowls from Soul Bowls, and Peruvian delights from Buena Onda. Go on Throwback Thursdays and get a sizable 50 percent off any of these dishes with a purchase of a drink.
Photos courtesy of Hatchery