During a recent stay at the Rosewood Beijing hotel, we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to dine at their Country Kitchen restaurant. Having heard exceptional things, we were excited to be dining there and we arrived in great anticipation of our meal ahead. The restaurant’s decor pays homage to its surroundings and it is the perfect way to begin a trip in Beijing.
We were greeted warmly on arrival and shown to our table. We were impressed with the open plan layout of the restaurant, which features the kitchen as a real focal point. We loved the theatrics of watching the talented chefs at work, whilst we sipped on our aperitif of two fine glasses of Veuve Clicquot, and slowly browsed the menu.
To begin our culinary experience, we decided to share the Huairou Farm roast duck which was prepared table side and was served complete with chopped cucumber, spring onions, Montcalm sugar, lettuce leaves and sweet plum sauce. This dish was exceptional. The meat was so succulent and the accompaniments brought the perfect balance of flavours and textures. Honestly, we could have eaten the whole thing again, perhaps even twice. It was outstanding.
“We loved the theatrics of watching the talented chefs at work, whilst we sipped on our aperitif of two fine glasses of Veuve Clicquot, and slowly browsed the menu.”
For our main courses, my partner went for the crispy pork belly, which was well cooked. The meat was perfectly soft and tender in the middle, and the crackling was impressively crisp. I decided on the simmered king prawns which came served with a sharp tomato sauce. The prawns were equally delicious and wonderfully prepared. We also added a side dish of their egg fried rice complete with crisp spring onion. The wealth of flavours these dishes delivered was nothing short of impressive, and it all worked beautifully together.
For our wine choice, we decided on a bottle of the 2014 JJ Hahn Homestead, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley, Australia, which turned out to be a great choice. With a deep garnet colour and notes of blackberries and cinnamon, this wine also offers savoury tannins and a dark chocolate finish. It provided the perfect accompaniment to our meal.
We were suitably impressed with our visit to Country Kitchen, and can recommend it to anyone looking for a superb meal in Beijing. As well as fantastic food, this restaurant boasts friendly staff throughout, and a bustling crowd creating a fantastic atmosphere. We simply cannot fault it.
