Explore Icelandic Cuisine at Peninsula's New Dome Experience
Foodies of Beijing, if you're looking for the most exclusive culinary experience of the season, then look no further than The Peninsula Beijing's Icelandic Dome! This brand-new concept offers groups of four to eight people the opportunity to dine in one of only two private domes, where you'll be served a five-star Icelandic-inspired menu. Only available for a few months, it's a rare chance to try a cuisine that, to our knowledge, has yet to be properly represented in Beijing.
The concept was all born from The Peninsula Beijing Managing Director Cameron Cundle's personal trip to Iceland. Upon his return, he hunkered down with the Peninsula team to create an experience that not only showcases some of Iceland's culinary delights but also immerses guests in the land of ice and fire.
Each dome has been meticulously designed with a rustic tree trunk table at the center surrounded by couches covered in faux fur, beautiful photographs of the Icelandic landscape taken by Cundle himself and even an electric log burner stove to really create the coziest of atmospheres. The domes are also fully equipped with cleverly disguised AC heating, so you can adjust the dome's temperature to your liking, which is definitely an important feature during Beijing's coldest months.
The attention to detail even extends to the crockery, with blue, white and red plates and trays representing the colors of the Icelandic flag, while other tableware has been chosen to evoke images of Icelandic scenery.
Moving on to the food itself, the menu has been carefully curated by Cundle and the culinary team to ensure that the dishes are as authentic as possible, so much so that they've even passed muster with senior members of the Icelandic delegation. As you'd expect from any Icelandic menu, fish features heavily, and the selection of dishes showcases it in many distinct and unique ways.
To start the experience off, guests are welcomed with an Iceland-inspired Snack Assortment Platter, which includes a colorful selection of pickles, dried-cured salmon bites and crispy slices of cod skin. Next come the mains, with five dishes available, including some lighter bites and more hearty offerings.
We started with the Rekjur ¡ Rugbrauði, an open-faced rye bread sandwich smeared with butter and topped with Icelandic shrimp, boiled egg, sour cream and chives. This was followed by Smørrebrød, another open sandwich, this time featuring pumpernickel rye bread layered with succulent slices of salmon gravlax seasoned with dill. It's all finished with a generous dollop of caviar, adding a little touch of luxury to the whole ensemble.
The next dish was the Bakaður Silungur Með Dill Sósu, which sees baked arctic char paired with potato in a creamy dill sauce. This was a personal favorite of ours, with the flaky fish and soft potatoes just melting in your mouth. Delicious flavors aside, it also comes beautifully presented in individual bowls with mother-of-pearl spoons on a tray scattered with bright blue salt crystals, invoking images of Iceland's icy landscape.
Now, for one of the biggest surprises on the menu, Pylsa, aka lamb sausage hot dogs. For the uninitiated, this might seem like an unusual choice, but lamb hot dogs are actually one of Iceland's most popular and famous street foods, especially in Reykjavik. The Peninsula makes their own lamb sausages in-house, and they're nestled in a beautifully soft bun with onions, rémoulade sauce and a drizzle of mustard.
To round out the mains is the wholesome Plokkfiskur. Salted cod is slow-stewed in a creamy sauce and topped with mashed potato and cheese, then grilled until beautifully crisp and golden. It's a little similar to a British fish pie, but the salted cod packs a much bigger punch of flavor. It's served with thin slices of crispy rye bread for dunking, and we found it to be an incredibly moreish dish.
Finally, to finish, each package comes with a helping of Rye Bread Ice Cream, which may sound strange on paper, but the flavors were incredible. The rye bread gives the ice cream a nutty, caramel flavor, and a sprinkling of tiny rye bread cubes on top adds a nice, chewy texture, all combining together for a dessert that is truly one-of-a-kind and which you won't find anywhere else in Beijing.
Each dome can accommodate four to eight people, and there are two Icelandic Packages to choose from:
Volcano Package (RMB 2,888)
- 3 hours' usage of the dome (available from noon, with last booking at 9pm)
- Iceland-inspired Snack Assortment
- Rye Bread Ice Cream
- Food selection (choose three of five main dishes)
- Beverage selection by bottle (choose two of seven: champagne, white wine, red wine, vodka, tequila, gin, whisky*)
Aurora Package (RMB 3,888)
- 3 hours' usage of the dome (available from noon, with last booking at 9pm)
- Iceland-inspired Snack Assortment
- Rye Bread Ice Cream
- Food selection (choose five of five main dishes)
- Beverage selection by bottle (choose three of seven: champagne, white wine, red wine, vodka, tequila, gin, whisky*)
*All spirits include mixers
Exclusive Discount for Beijinger Readers
We have great news for Beijinger readers! The Peninsula is offering an exclusive 30 percent discount to the first 20 people to mention the Beijinger to The Peninsula Beijing when booking (call: 010 8516 2888 or contact via WeChat ID: 185 1352 1646).
The dome experience truly is the perfect indulgent splurge for a one-of-a-kind birthday, night out, or, with the festive season approaching, holiday gathering all within your own private, heated sanctuary. With just two domes available for only a limited time, don't miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the most exceptional and unique culinary experiences in Beijing.
The Peninsula Beijing
8 Jinyu Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区金鱼胡同8号
Dome hours: Available from noon, with last booking at 9pm
Phone: 010 8516 2888; 185 1352 1646
Images: the Beijingers
Sponsored by The Peninsula Beijing
