First Hutong Food Week Takes Place Dec 23-Jan 6; Win Tickets to the Opening Party

Beijing has never failed us, and even when it feels like winter might be endless, there is always something to keep you from giving in completely. This week that savior is the first ever Hutong Food Week, which runs from December 23 to January 6, organized by our new favorite hutong restaurant Fu Tapas & Wine (read our first impressions here).

The 13-day foodie event will see more than 10 restaurants and bars, spread out over 14 hutongs, tempt us in from the cold with their best deals in the form of discounts, a set menu, or a prolonged happy hour.

The whole event starts with an opening party from Beijing party organizers Street Kids on December 23 (9pm-midnight) at Aotu Studio. RMB 100 will get you entry as well as international finger food from 13 restaurants participating in the Hutong Food Week as well as one beverage, so as to give you a taster of the goods to come. DJs Dirty Dishes and Vodkasoda of the Street Kids crew will provide live music during the three-hour event.

The team were kind enough to give us a pair of free tickets to the opening party, which you can win by sending an email to win@truerun.com with the title "I Want Tickets to Hutong Food Week!" before midday on Thursday, December 22. Please also include your name and phone number. 

As for the promotions that you have to look forward to throughout the week, it's looking a little bit something like this:

Fu Tapas & Wine – special menu, including a starter (octopus salad or beef meatballs), en papillote or crepes, a main dish (pan-fried cod or turkey), and chocolate panettone with canilla cream as dessert (RMB 238 for three courses or RMB 258 for four).

Ramo – special menu for one (RMB 150), including a winter salad, poutine, and a four-flavored pizza.

MoxiMoxi – menu for two (RMB 100), including two pitas, two snacks, and two beverages; or a single menu (RMB 55) consisting of a pita, a snack, and a beverage.

White Tiger Village – deals on seafood pots with rice, and chuan'r.

Saveurs de Coree – special menu for holiday, including two starters, three mains, and a dessert.

Takaya – half price on a special dishes designated on the day.

Slow Boat Brewery (Dongsi Batiao location) – Monkey’s Fist IPA begins at RMB 20 and increases by RMB 5 every half hour until 7pm, from the Monday to the Friday.

Santoor – 25 percent off from December 24 to December 30, and a buffet on December 31.

Cafe Sambal – TBD

Cu Ju – TBD  

We interviewed the organizer of the event and owner of Fu Tapas & Wine, Sohan, who told us “There’s a saying that Beijingers know nothing about food, or that the food and beverage scene in Beijing is not as developed as in Shanghai. But I think the creative industries such as music, art, and fashion are developing now, same as the food and beverage scene here.”

Sohan said that she also likes to “cooperate with the restaurants and bars who are dedicated to their business, to gain more attention, appreciation, and support, since recently a lot of policies have forced them to shut down.”

Food Week encourages people to walk or ride a bike through the hutongs so as to feast on some of the alleyway's tastiest little nooks and crannies – when you're not filling your face, of course.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos: Hutong Food Week