Capital Bites: Chi Fan for Charity, Fuchsia Dunlop, Grill 79's New Menu

Lots of eating coming up, some of it even for a good cause. Chi Fan for Charity has opened up reservations for their upcoming benefit dinners on November 10, the UK's Chinese food maven Fuchsia Dunlop is in town, and we've got lots of new restaurant reviews plus a peek at Grill 79's new menu at China World Summit Wing.

This year's Chi Fan for Charity benefits two great organizations: The Starfish Project, which helps exploited women seeking a new start in life; and the Little Flowers Project, which provides care for abandoned infants and disable orphans. We'll have lots more information for you in an upcoming blog post, including interviews with the folks behind both organizations. But until then, you can take a look at the CFFC website and start thinking about where you'd like to book a table.

the Beijinger (and by this I mean myself and our dining contributor, Josh Ong) will be hosting a table at Pavillion Grill. We apologize beforehand for our atrocious table manners and the compulsion to photograph everything before we eat it. Don't mind us. Joking aside, I'm actually quite excited, as I have close friends who've worked at Starfish for years now, and I also greatly respect the Little Flowers Project, so it's great to be involved. But please, have a look at all the great restaurants participating, and let me warn you, it won't be easy to choose!

For a giggle (mostly at his accompanying photo), check out what CFFC founder Michael Crain would do for his imaginary final meal in Beijing.

We've talked before about how sometimes Beijing's best restaurants get overlooked because of pricing or its hotel location. But some, like Aria, still get a fair bit of distinction once people sniff them out. Grill 79 is another such place worth your attention. Their chef, Ryan Dadufalza, has put together some amazing dishes and if you're looking for your next great dining experience (sitting about as high as you can get in Beijing), then do yourself a favor and look into Grill 79. Our favorites: his roasted foie gras with peanut butter powder and dried berries (pictured above), which went down like the best PB&J you'll ever taste and was lots of fun to eat, and his David Blackmore wagyu with a tart, spicy Finadene sauce from Guam, where he grew up. Top marks all around.

As for events this week, don't miss Fuchsia Dunlop at Capital M. She'll be cooking up a delicious Chinese meal, then settle down with a cozy audience to talk about her work as one of the world's best food journalists. This takes place Friday, October 12 at Capital M, at a cost of just RMB 188 (great value for feasting on a three-course meal and some great discussion).

Green T. Living periodically hosts wine tastings paired with art exhibits, with another one taking place tomorrow, October 10, from 7-9pm. This time it'll be artist Yang Liming with a series of Californian wines. These events are free so if you're looking for a place to feel cultured and viticultured, this is your stop.

Cypriots in town might be bummed there's no restaurant featuring Cyprus food here in Beijing, but this week you can cheer up a bit. The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus has brought over some of their best chefs from the island, and they'll be serving up their Mediterranean delights tomorrow (Oct 10) through Saturday (Oct 13) at the Gallery Hotel inside the Gongti complex. Get your fill of haloumi and kibbeh.

Also, if you haven't seen them already, check out the new reviews that have gone up in the last week since the holiday: Bar Veloce's new lunch menu, Korean super food market CJ Foodworld, gelato shop Vai Milano and udon at Marugame Seimen.

Enjoy!

Photos: Marilyn Mai, Colin Bell (via Fuchsiadunlop.com)