2010 May 12 Capital Bites: SALT's Secret Sanlitun Project
Lido stalwart SALT have added a rather special luxury beer - Estrella Inedit - to their menu, created by El Bulli maestro Ferran Adria. Enjoy this beer (specially made to pair with food) for RMB 128 a bottle on SALT’s terrace when it opens May 20. Even more exciting is the recent cryptic announcement of Gaby’s new secret “Sanlitun project” to open June 8 – the blog title was a bit of a tease - we’ll keep you posted as soon as we get more info!
Lots of new menus around town to get your teeth into. Red Capital Club has introduced some tasty new Northern Chinese influenced dishes, Union Bar & Grille are unveiling a new snack menu, and The Olive have released a new lunch menu, to name a few.
The other big restaurant news this week is all about that debacle over at Kro’s Nest – read our latest coverage of the ongoing dispute here and here. Another round Italian icon having problems this week is Claudio Sadler, celebrity chef behind Ristorante Sadler in the Legation Quarter. Volcanic ash delayed his recently scheduled visit to Beijing. He hopes to touch down later this week.
Another delay … yes, you’ve guessed it! ROOMbeijing are enjoying their soft launch period so much they plan to stay soft for just a bit longer. Well, as long as they get everything looking spiffing before revelers come and trash the place, we can’t really complain.
Coming up, Michelin-starred French chef Julien Machet will be cooking at Le Pre Lenotre at Sofitel for five days from May 24th. Also, look out for Cabaret, a new German-owned Mediterranean restaurant opening at Solana next month.
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It's Confirmed: SALT Moves in to The Rickshaw
Kro Wins Battle Over “Kro’s Nest” Brand?
It appears Olaf Kristoffer "The Kro" Bauer has won the battle to us the “Kro’s Nest” name following the breakdown of his relationship with business partner Yuan Jie, with news this morning that the existing pizza restaurant chain will be changing its name.
Kro's Komeback
Kro’s Nest, a Beijing dining institution since 2006 and winner of The Beijinger’s 7th Annual Reader Restaurant Award for “Outstanding Pizza,” has been news since this spring over the legal battle between partner’s Olaf Kristoffer – “Kro” – and Yuan Jie. Kro was ousted from the Kro’s Nest restaurants he helped found, and there were even reports of an assault on Kro, not to mention police involvement and other drama.Capital Bites: TERRA Opens!
At 6pm Sunday night, there was a crowd of people waiting on Sanlitun Nanlu, watching as the finishing touches were being made to TERRA, the new cocktail bar/cevicheria opened by Gaby Alves, owner of the popular SALT in Lido. Once the doors opened, a flood of people swarmed in for TERRA's opening party. The space was formerly occupied by Rickshaw, and the construction on TERRA over the last few months has been a cause of much speculation.Sanlitun Stirrings: Agua Returns and Mosto makes a move next door
Last December, we reported on the problems and subsequent closure of Aqua in Ch’ienmen 23. Today we received word via Chef Jordi Valles’s Facebook page that Aqua is preparing to re-open on the fourth floor of Nali Patio in Sanlitun.This is welcome news for the many Beijing foodies who voted for Agua in Beijing’s various and sundry annual restaurant awards, and it is a fitting addition to a location already filled with some of the finest Spanish themed venues – including Spanish Deli Taste Spain, and tapas restaurants Carmen and Niajo – in the city.
A press release from 
