EAT: Hulu Thanks Teachers, New Menus at Bottega and Forno, Hot Pot at Superfly, Early Christmas Brunch at Zarah

EAT: Your bite-sized guide to the best eats to be had in Beijing this week.


Hulu Next to WAB gives back to teachers

It's been a tough year for all of us, but especially for Beijing's international education community, who not only had to comprehend what COVID-19 meant for them and their families in real time like we all did, but also had to cut their vacations/family time short and create a whole new way of learning online overnight, often across multiple timezones. Well, Hulu Next to WAB is recognizing their contributions, offering free-flow drinks (draft beer, Hulu G&T, house red and white wine, and soft drinks) to all teachers with a minimum spend on food of RMB 98. Simply show your teacher pass/badge to redeem.

Superfly introduces new hot pot menu

Fend off that winter chill with Superfly at The Opposite House's new hot pot menu. Choose from three different bases: a sour and spicy bullfrog and pickle soup, a light and refreshing Yunnan mushroom soup made with pu'er tea, or a hot and spicy Sichuan-style soup filled with "eagle tea," made from the leaves of a tree native to Sichuan. Treat yourself to hot pot for two for just RMB 238, including a choice of one of the soup bases, edamame beans to start, two meat add-ins (hand-sliced lamb, beef balls, fish balls, etc.), and four veggie and tofu add-ins (mushrooms, kelp knots, sweet potato noodles, or firm tofu, to name but a few). 

New winter menus at Bottega and Forno

Sister restaurants Bottega and Forno have both launched new menus packed with hearty dishes that are sure to keep you warm on chilly days. Firstly, Bottega, who is currently fighting for a place in the final four of the 2020 Pizza Cup, have created four new pizzas, including a new twist on their namesake Bottega pizza, swapping out a white mozzarella base with anchovies for a combo of three different types of tomatoes, all crowned with whole burrata cheese. The other pizzas are the polpette, with teeny tiny beef meatballs, the mortazza, a pesto base covered with fior di latte mozzarella and sliced mortadella, and the parmigiana, with roasted eggplant slices and plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. 

Over at Forno, they're actually straying away from pizza with a selection of new appetizers such as homemade meatballs, truffle parmesan chicken wings, and zuppa di pesce (seafood soup), as well as new main courses like lasagna al forno (pictured above). The new menu has already launched at Forno Sanyuanqiao and will be available at Forno Sanlitun from Dec 17. 

Festive Weekend Brunch at PuXuan

Every weekend is Christmas weekend at PuXuan through Jan 17. After your choice of a healthy egg dish, they'll take classic french cuisines like duck confit and aparagus bearnaise before the turkey finisher, cut before your eyes and topped with freshly made gravy and cranberry sauce. 

The brunch can be served for a minumum of two people for RMB 976 (add an additional RMB 128 per person for free flow mulled wine and soft drinks or RMB 308 per person for free-flow champaigne) but the amount of food may simply be too much for a pair, so they recommend adding a third or even a fourth. That makes it a perfect set for a family outing. 

Dec 20: Early Christmas brunch at Zarah

Get a head start on Christmas with Zarah's festive brunch on Dec 20. The Christmas inspired brunch buffet will feature special treats from around the world, such as Yorkshire pudding, German lebkuchen, and freshly baked Christmas cookies, as well as Zarah’s usual brunch offerings, including a selection of different cheeses and cold cuts, smoked salmon, freshly baked bread and croissants, an egg-cooking station, artfully prepared salads, and homemade snacks. Brunch is priced at RMB 198 per person and includes one drink, or choose the free-flow food and drinks package for RMB 298, including gluhwein, prosecco, and more. 

READ: 2020 Year in Review: 12 Restaurant Openings that Tickled Our Taste Buds This Year

Images: courtesy of the Restaurants, Unsplash