Try 80+ Dishes at the Beijing International Canal Arts Fest
It’s not long now until the 2024 Beijing International Canal Arts Fest hits Beijing, with everything set to take place Oct 2-4 at Funstown. We already took a look at all the diverse entertainment that will be gracing the stage, and now we’re going to turn our attention to one of our favorite parts of any festival: the food!
Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure with 80+ different dishes from canal countries across the world. We’ve got everything from iconic Beijing street snacks to Germany’s famous sausages, spicy Mexican quesadillas, fiery Thai noodle soups and more. It’s not just food we’ve got in store though; we’ve got an array of drink vendors plus some cultural market vendors, too.
CARPACCIO 卡巴乔
Italian restaurant Carpaccio will be bringing Genoa Old Port Style Pasta to the fest. A pesto-based pasta dish, it’s inspired by the famous Naviglio river market in Milan. Along with this, they’ll have other Italian offerings at the fest like lasgana and gelato too.
Pak Pak 喜悦泰餐
Thai restaurant Pak Pak will be injecting some Thai flavor into the fest with their offerings. First up is Tom Yum Boat Noodles, a spicy and sour Thai noodle soup dish that originated in Thailand’s water markets. The other dish is Som Tam, a Bangkok street-style green papaya salad that’s the perfect balance of sour and spicy topped with crushed peanuts for some added crunch.
Taiba Shawarma Middle East Restaurant Taiba Shawarma 土耳其烤肉
Taiba Shawarma specializes in Turkish and Iraqi cuisine, and, as you might guess from the name, they’ll be serving shawarma at the fest! They’ll have their signature Chicken Shawarma, which sees chicken, tomatoes, cucumber and other vegetables stuffed in toasted bread. They’ll also have an Iraqi Beef Burger that sees an Iraqi spiced handmade beef patty sandwiched inside a soft burger bun with a smear of mayonnaise. Juicy and thick this burger will get your heartbeat racing with each bite.
NASHVILLE 乡谣餐吧
Country music bar Nashville will have two meaty dishes up for grabs at the fest. The first is the Nashville Chicken Kebab, which features Tennessee-style barbecued chicken marinated in a mixture of spices, garlic and black pepper. The other is the Nashville Selected Rib-eye Steak, which sees slices of US rib-eye soaked in clarified butter and then cooked inside a special smoke box.
Deli NYC 纽约三明治
Sandwich shop Deli NYC will have their signature Philly Cheesesteak at the fest. It features thinly sliced, 300-day grain-fed Angus beef piled inside a baguette and topped with onions and melted cheese. The super juicy and tender beef mixed with the creamy cheese and crispy bread is the perfect combination.
Tribe Garden 部落花园非洲餐吧
African restaurant Tribe Garden will be showcasing their new Goat Meat Burger at the fest. It features shredded goat meat topped with cheese and coleslaw all sandwiched inside a soft burger bun. They’ll also have some of their classic dishes like Goat Meat Suya – deep-fried pieces of goat paired with red onions and covered in suya powder – and, of course, their famous Fried Plantains. Beautifully golden and crispy, they’ll just melt in your mouth.
Wawabeer Taproom 哇哇兔精酿餐吧
For those looking for a sweet treat, Wawabeer Taproom has you covered with their classic Italian Cannoli. This sweet Sicilian snack sees a crispy pastry shell stuffed with ricotta cheese, berries and whipped cream, and then sprinkled with pistachios and icing sugar. They’ll also have a special beer at the fest, the Almond Tofu Seda. A Beijing-inspired beer, it’s slightly sweet, with a silky smooth finish.
ITA RESTAURANT 意塔意大利餐厅
ITA Restaurant will be bringing a plethora of Italian delights to the fest, including calzones stuffed with a variety of fillings such as pesto, ham, black truffle mushrooms, bolognese, etc., as well as other classic dishes like pizza, lasagna and a range of snacks.
Latina Brazilian Steakhouse X Aussie Beef 拉蒂娜巴西牛排馆 X 澳洲牛肉
Latina has been providing the Brazilian Rodizio-style barbecue experience in China for over 20 years. At the fest, they’ll be cooking up Australian Rib-eye Steak and Australian Picanha. For those who don’t know, picanha is a triangular cut of beef taken from the top of the rump with a layer of fat on the outside that seeps into the rest of the meat to make it juicy and tender.
Hi-Town Bistro 海塘
Hi-Town Bistro is all about “no boundaries,” which is clearly reflected in their eclectic menu of dishes from a whole range of different countries. At the fest, they’ll be serving up Ecuadorian Grilled Shrimp, which sees fresh prawn marinated in a blend of Ecuadorian spices and then grilled. There will also be a range of Novosibirskian Style Barbecue – beef, lamb or chicken – grilled with pineapple, chili peppers, bell peppers and tomatoes, all seasoned with a special mix of Russian spices. Plus, they’ll also be bringing their signature dish: Smoked Lamb Kidney, a traditional Chinese barbecue dish in which they smoke the lamb with rosemary and other seasonings, lending it a woody, smokey aroma.
old dog 老狗
New restaurant old dog, which takes its name from the owner’s faithful pet of 15 years, will be offering a classic hot dog at the fest. A smoked Frankfurter sausage is stuffed inside a handmade hot dog bun then topped with sweet caramelized onion, secret sauce and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. They’ll also have their signature nachos, which see tortilla chips topped with their secret beef sauce, tomato pickles and jalapenos.
Slider Nation 小堡邦
Slider Nation will be serving up their signature OG Sliders made from 50g of Wagyu beef smashed with thinly sliced Vidalia onions then topped with American cheese, crisp pickles and their signature “crack sauce,” all sandwiched between their specially steamed Hawaiian-style buns. They’ll also have the Shirley Temple Slushie, a non-alcoholic drink made with 7 Up and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.
BRAUHAUG 甲丁坊
Specializing in German food, BRAUHAUG will have a variety of sausages at the fest, including a Bremen Veal Sausage and a German Cheese Sausage, both of which come with a serving of sauerkraut. Aside from sausages, they’ll have their intriguingly named The Fragrance of Cheesy Flows – Slow Roasted Hamburger at the fest. It features Angus beef brisket smothered in a thick sauce and melty cheese sandwiched inside a soft burger bun.
La Platea 兰蒂地中海餐吧
Mediterranean restaurant La Platea will have a variety of piadina, a round flatbread from the Romagna region of Italy, at the fest. They will have two savory options and one sweet option: Mortadella Piadina, which is filled with mortadella, mushrooms, mozzarella and truffle; Parma Ham Piadina, which is stuffed with Parma ham, arugula, mozzarella and parmesan cheese; and Nutella and Pistachio Piadina. They’ll also have Italian sausages, a great selection of craft beers from all over the world, and the beloved Aperol Spritz.
MORROW Grill & Cantina Taste of Mexico MORROW 墨佬墨西哥餐厅
Mexican restaurant MORROW will be serving their “Alien” Grilled Steak Tacos, which see a corn tortilla base layered with grilled fillet steak, various sauces and fresh vegetables. They’ll also have chicken and cheese quesadillas that come with a side of their handmade salsa that’s perfect for dipping.
LARRY THE BIRD
LARRY THE BIRD will be offering up some classic American dishes at the fest. First up is Boneless Fried Chicken, which takes premium chicken then marinates with secret sauces and fries it until it is beautifully golden. The second dish is Dirty Waffles, which they’ve paired with Chinese spicy peanuts and hot peppers. They’ll also have Larry Pink Lemonade. The perfect balance of sweet and sour, it’s the number-one drink of choice at their restaurant.
HUNGER DOG 饿狗
Hunger Dog will be bringing two burgers to the fest: the Hungry Dog Burger and the Classic American Street Burger, both of which feature handmade beef patties that are super juicy and tender. Aside from burgers, they’ll have their Texas Style Smoked Beef Ribs, too.
Han Seventeen 韩十七
Korean restaurant Han Seventeen will be serving their signature dish at the fest: Cold Noodles with Cheese and Turkey. Based on traditional Chinese cold noodles, it combines Korean samyang turkey noodles with Anja mozzarella cheese for a dish that is both spicy and sweet. They’ll also have Snowflake Cheese Chicken with Fries, which sees chicken covered in a fine cheese powder and then deep fried until it’s crispy on the outside but still perfectly tender on the inside, paired with fries all topped with more cheese powder. Lastly, they’ll have Colorful Beef Skewers, which combine fresh beef seasoned with black pepper skewered with a variety of vegetables and then grilled.
Tofu OCN 一来东豆腐店
As you might have guessed from the name, Tofu OCN is all about the Tofu! Specializing in vegetarian and vegan dishes at the fest they’ll have a range of dishes like Baojiang Tofu, Barbecued Dried Tofu, Braised Vegetarian “Chicken” and Soybean Milk.
Youleyuan Traditional Hotpot 友乐园涮肉
Youleyuan Traditional Hotpot will have a range of traditional Beijing dishes and snacks at the fest. There will be Vegetable Balls, which are crispy on the outside but soft in the middle, Pea Puree Cake, Tripe with Glass Noodles in a sesame sauce, douzhir and an array of pickled vegetables.
iGELATO i意大利手工冰淇淋
iGELATO only uses fresh, natural ingredients with zero additives in their gelato, which is made fresh daily. Their gelato is also low in sugar and fat and is made using traditional Italian methods. At the fest, they’ll have a range of different flavors including Pistachio, made with Bronte pistachios from Sicily, which are known for their smooth and rich taste and Tarocco Blood Orange. Native to Italy, this blood orange is slightly more sweet and super popular.
TUKTUK Thai Herbal Beverage TUKTUK泰式植物鲜萃饮
Specializing in lemongrass-based drinks, TUKTUK will have a range of refreshing Thai beverages that are ideal for cooling down. These are: Sparkling Water with Lemon Gress and Lemon, Thai lced Lemon Tea with Basil, Fresh Boiled Lemon Grass Juice, Lemon Grass and Lemon Americano and Handmade Lemon Grass and Lemon. For their drinks, they have an innovative technique, utilizing Thai plants like lemongrass, pandan leaf, etc. to brew a soup-like base, which is then used to make sippable concoctions.
CHEERS
CHEERS Wines will be bringing plenty of their great quality wines and carefully crafted cocktails to the fest. On the wine front, there will be South African wines de Liefde Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Tussock Jumper Chenin Blanc as well as the Fabulous Ant Pink Chardonnay from Hungary. In the cocktail department, they’ll have a refreshing gin and tonic, a fruity paloma, the tongue-tingling Spicy Sparkling Margarita and, to kick-start autumn, mulled wine.
Shanxi Pangquan Chateau 山西庞泉酒庄
As the foremost private baijiu enterprise in Shanxi Province regarding production volume, reserves, and tax contributions, Pangquan Winery is committed to a brewing process that utilizes 100 percent pure grain and 100 percent malted sorghum for its light-flavor baijiu. The winery aims to establish itself as the premier destination for light-flavor baijiu while positioning itself as the secondary brand within this category. By reinforcing the brand identity of 'Pangquan- Original Taste of Clear Fragrance,' it has emerged as a recognized leader in the market, setting new trends in light-flavor baijiu. This participation at the Canal Festival marks Pangquan Winery's inaugural entry into Beijing, promising an exceptional experience of light-flavor baijiu for all attendees.
Sozni
Sozni hails from the Kashmir region of Pakistan, and is named after the intricate needlework used in local pashmina embroidery. At the event, they will showcase Kashmir pashmina shawls, which are protected by GI (geographical indication) certification. The patterns on these shawls are largely inspired by the local flora of Kashmir. In addition to the shawls, they will also present Persian carpets and other culturally rich products that blend diverse influences from various regions.
Baltic Amber
The Baltic Amber Cultural and Creative Gallery will be selling Baltic natural amber ornaments and natural amber jewelry during the festival. All of the products are designed and produced in Baltic countries, such as Poland, Latvia, and Estonia. They have everything from exquisite ornaments, accessories, and jewelry to more practical items like pens and amber essential oil soap.
The 2024 Beijing International Canal Arts Fest will be taking place at Funstown, Oct 2-4, from 11am until 9pm each day. The fest is free to attend; you just need to register in advance by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
XIDIANJIYI FunsTown西店记忆funstown
18a Fangjiacun, Gaobeidian, Chaoyang District
朝阳区高碑店乡方家村甲18号
Sponsor: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Organizer: Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center, Beijing Chaoyang District Bureau of Culture and Tourism
Special Cooperation: Beijing Time, the Beijinger
Special Thanks: HELLMANN'S, 山西庞泉酒庄, 福临门, 悦活, 中茶, 长城葡萄酒, 家佳康, 中英人寿
READ: Joyside and More Eclectic Entertainment at Beijing International Canal Arts Fest
Images: courtesy of the vendors, the Beijingers
