Eat Beat

1 Is that a hungry fish? No, just a ravenous crocodile

"Satisfying stomachs and souls" is the mission Nathan Zhang has set himself for his new eatery called Cravings, with a witty Chinese name, eyu, literally meaning hungry fish, but which is also a homonym of the word that means crocodile.

"It's more than just a restaurant," Zhang says. "We have high hopes of becoming the neighborhood's new social life joint." That neighborhood is the Yaojiayuan area of Beijing.

Cravings will be a venue for creative crossover cultural events covering arts, design and exhibitions, he says.

This is Zhang's second restaurant after he opened White Tiger Village in Xiang'er Hutong, near Beijing's Jiaodaokou area, a little more than two years ago.

Cravings' interior design is ingenious and unpretentious with a touch of mischief. In terms of ambience, it strives for a reserved and comfortable vibe, and offers a casual fun dining experience with cuddly crocodile-themed decorations, and a large colorful mural stretching across the ceiling.

Zhang says Cravings' visual design is inspired by the late American pop artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, using the techniques of "crayons, collage, scribbling, doodling, vandalizing on found imagery".

The restaurant has a play area, and a children's menu that cater to family gathering.

The food at Cravings features a European bistro concept, and the menu was created by two talented young chefs, Starry Xiao and Alicia Zhou, who were both educated and trained overseas, and are at once adventurous and gratifying with a subtle sense of surprise amid the familiar. Its wines are selected by Yonan Xu, a wine educator.

A strong recommendation goes to shakshouka (158 yuan), a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions, and with meatballs. The generous serving of this luscious treat could make a hearty, and healthy breakfast or brunch for two or three.

We tried one dessert that is impressive: a gooey fried marshmallow touted as a house specialty (48 yuan), which is served with a side of dill granita and pickled berries. It was sumptuous, sticky and delightfully sweet.

Cravings offers craft beer including Jing A and Goose Island, and freshly brewed coffee and delectable drinks sourced from all over the world.

Monday to Sunday: Brunch 10 am-2 pm; dinner: 6 pm-11 pm

50 meters west of South Gate at Park Avenue Compound, Chaoyang district, Beijing

010-5719-2684

2 A hearty Spring Festival treat

The popular Beijing eatery Country Kitchen that serves northern Chinese and Beijing-style cuisine is celebrating the holiday season with a mix of hearty traditional and creative dishes. Two Spring Festival menus, both for groups of six or more, are available from Feb 15 to 21. The first costs 568 yuan per person and features Country Kitchen's renowned Beijing roast duck along with traditional cold dishes and soup and finishes with glutinous rice cake and dumplings, traditional symbols of family togetherness. An expanded menu with even more scrumptious delicacies costs 666 yuan per person.

Feb 15-21: 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30 pm-10:30 pm

3/F, Rosewood Beijing, Jingguang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang district, Beijing

010-6536-0066

3 Food on table and love in the air

The executive chef of East Beijing Hotel, Tim Hunt, has crafted a special Valentine's Day menu for two at its stylish contemporary Japanese restaurant Hagaki, featuring its signature rolls, sashimi and grilled entrees, in a light and delicious fashion. There will be refreshing appetizers including boiled plum with capelin, spicy burdock and katsuobushi, a sashimi platter of tuna, salmon, surf clam, sweet shrimp, assorted tempura, main food of black dragon rib eye steak and panfried sea bass, and dessert of passion fruit and mango ice cream. The special set menu costs 688 yuan for two, inclusive of house wine and free-flowing draft beer.

February 14, 5:30 pm-10 pm

Hagaki, 1/F, East Beijing Hotel, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district

(China Daily 02/10/2018 page20)