EAT: Mosto Reopens, New Menu at Ling Long, Snorkel Challenge at Diving, Iftar at Turkish Feast
EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.
Mosto finally reopens
After months of sitting idle on the third floor of Sanlitun's Nali Patio, South American-leaning restaurant, Mosto, will finally reopen its doors this Friday, May 8. Having long been a favorite for its "contemporary casual fine dining" as well as boozy lunches, the Mosto team admit to having considered "closing Mosto’s doors for good" via a WeChat post sent out on Wednesday. Luckily, they will instead relaunch with a revamped space and menu, incorporating a "back-to-the-basics approach, featuring some of Chef Daniel [Urdaneta]’s signature dishes like seared foie gras risotto and charcoal-grilled Australian beef tenderloin, along with new creations like the black bean foam with short rib stew and mascarpone mousse or the warm tuna tataki." Expect it to be packed throughout the weekend. Click here for details on how to book and the full menu.
New menus at Ling Long
Fine dining contemporary Chinese restaurant Ling Long has also revamped its menu for spring/summer. In keeping with Taiwanese Head Chef Jason's objective to utilize flavors from throughout China unbound by any particular cooking method, standouts include the wild tilefish in sour soup and the incredibly sumptuous Shandong wagyu A4 steak with homemade oyster sauce (pictured above). They've also recruited the help of master sommelier Li Meiyu to oversee the wine menu and pairings, which spans local selections like Kaishan 9 Years baijiu from Suqian, Jiangsu (paired with herbal bone marrow) to Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Zinfandel from California (with the marinated duck). The six-course dinner costs RMB 700 (plus RMB 398 for wine pairing), while the special weekend lunch menu costs RMB 468 (plus RMB 198 for three wine pairings).
Snorkel beer bong at Diving Restaurant
Having opened amid the coronavirus outbreak, new Shuangjing eatery Diving Restaurant is desperate to get people through the door and tasting their food, so much so that they're giving away free meals to anyone who can successfully complete their snorkel beer challenge. What's a snorkel beer challenge, you ask? Well, it's basically a beer bong with a snorkel instead of a standard funnel and pipe (not a terrible idea given that unsuccessful attempts usually end in explosive bouts of spitting all over one's own face). The rules are as follows (unedited): "drink beer through the snorkel while the waiter pours the beer without spilling it. If the challenger can complete this task without resting, vomiting, or cheating, the challenger’s beer and meal are free of charge. A picture may also be taken as a souvenir." Fun for the whole family. If that wasn't enough, they also have a "buddy package" for two (original price RMB 672) now down to RMB 188. More here.
Iftar at Turkish Feast
Throughout Ramadan (Apr 24-May 23), Turkish Feast is serving a special set menu to help Muslims and non-Muslims alike celebrate iftar. Iftar marks the traditional breaking of fast at sunset each day (as opposed to sahur, the start of daily fasting). Turkish Feast's set costs RMB 128 and rotates daily but usually includes dishes like dates, soup, salad, cheese pide, a main course with rice or bulgur, and fruit as well as tea to drink. See the full timetable and details on how to book here.
Dining Week continues
If you're wanting to eat some of the city's best restaurants at seriously discounted prices (lunches for RMB 78/108/138 and dinners for RMB 118/198/288), a reminder that it's Dining Week until the end of the month. The event features deals at over 50 Beijing restaurants, including the likes of TRB Forbidden City (pictured above), Opera Bombana, Maison Flo, Char Bar & Grill, Rive Gauche at the Puxuan, Bistrot B at the Rosewood, and Frasca at The Opposite House. Simply sign up and browse the participating restaurants and discounts online via Dining City's website or their mini-app, which can be accessed via this link.
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Images courtesy of the venues, Tom Arnstein
