Take a Bite of China at Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace

Eating at five-star hotels is more and more popular nowadays and hotel restaurants are no longer considered a pricy dining option for most people. Instead, the preferable environment and service quality of hotel restaurants make them the first choice for many people, whether for a business lunch, an intimate dinner or a relaxed gathering. When it comes to Beijing hotels, Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace has always drawn the attention of Beijing foodies’ for its extraordinary Yunnan cuisine but now diners can also enjoy elements of Beijing cuisine as JUN Chinese Restaurant. 

Rainbow Yunnan Restaurant 
The hotel's specialty restaurant, Rainbow Yunnan Restaurant, offers a wide range of unique Yunnan flavors including wild mushrooms and traditional fruit wines. The most authentic Yunnan flavors that the restaurant offers have won many compliments over the years. This year has so far seen massive growth for the restaurant, building a loyal customer base that returns for their culinary magic, friendly service, and elegant atmosphere.  

As a province home to a large number of ethnic minority groups, Yunnan cuisine is incredibly varied. Rainbow restaurant serves numerous well-known Yunnan specialties, including crossing the bridge rice noodle soup with chicken, rubing and rushan goats cheese, the freshest wild mushrooms, and several dishes cooked with edible flowers. Combining the traditional with the innovative, Rainbow has won many accolades from the Beijing dining community over the years, including Best High-End Yunnan Dining from the Beijinger in 2017. 

Head chef (Richard) Zhang Jianhui from Dali, Yunnan and is from the Bai ethnic minority. He joined the industry when he was 17 years old and he is no stranger to the gourmet festivities during the Kunming International Fair. He has a talent for cooking with Yunnan flowers, herbs, wild vegetables, and mushrooms, and he insists on delivering the essence of Yunnan cuisine by carrying on traditional cooking styles while also adding his own touch through creative presentation. He sets up a live station in the dining hall to make rice noodles, which will make diners feel like they are in Yunnan. 

JUN Chinese Restaurant
After focusing on Cantonese cuisine for the past few years, JUN Chinese Restaurant underwent a successful transition in 2017. The restaurant now incorporates northern Chinese cuisine, in particular, local Beijing flavors, offering the freshest local produce carefully chosen by their culinary team by working closely with local organic farms. Dim sum lovers don't lose out, however; they can still enjoy an authentic dim sum buffet every weekend. JUN also flys in Yunnan’s finest wild mushrooms and cooks them Beijing-style for a captivating and lively experience.

Chef (Andy) Zhang Zhaohui was recently appointed head chef of JUN Chinese restaurant. Chef Andy entered the hospitality industry in 1997 and has over 20 years’ cooking and kitchen management experience. He is skilled in several Chinese cuisines, including Cantonese, Beijing, and creative fusion. He has been responsible for the food and beverage offerings during many political leaders' visits to China and has participated in the food and cooking TV show like The Chef's Choice and Shi Quan Shi Mei (食全食美). 

Chef Andy transfers culinary magic from kitchen to dining table. He believes that food should delight guests’ heart and soul rather than just filling the stomach. He pays attention to the selection of seasonal fresh ingredients, supplemented by traditional cooking methods, and provides delicate and delicious dishes to suit the majority of diners. No matter where the cuisine originally comes from, ingredients are essential and the method of cooking meets the needs of health-conscious diners. Chef Andy combines the essence of other cuisines with his own creative ideas to come up with an extensive selection of exquisite delicacies. The new menu covers everything from traditional Beijing dishes such as roast duck, mustard cabbage, and kung pao chicken to fresh seafood delicacies and high-end feasts. 

JUN Chinese restaurant is decorated with traditional Chinese elements. In addition to the main dining hall, there are three private rooms that accommodate six to 20 people, making them an ideal choice for either family or business gatherings. 

This post is provided by Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace
Photos courtesy of Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace