The epicenter of any decent Long Table should be a well designed and executed menu that engages the senses and elevates your dining experience above that of just merely working yourself through a few courses. The table should be a hub, with a layered combination of good food, drinks, conversation, and laughter.
Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun has long been a staple for craft beer lovers and has always provided some of the best smoked plates of meat to partner your hoppy choice of beverage, along with an assortment of pickled and salty sides. Now their new Executive Chef Simone Thompson is taking it up a notch with a monthly Long Table Series, which combines her love for regional and fusion fare from around the globe with family-style dining.
Designed to provide an intimate but communal experience, “Long Table” dining has always been one of my favorite ways to enjoy a love of good food, and the new series at Jing-A provides just that and then some. Prepare to be transported into other worlds, as you take a seat to partake of a generous three-course family-style meal with expertly paired craft beer.
Communal dining makes for fun times
Perfect for date nights with a twist, a dining experience with out-of-town visitors, or just for the love of making new friends, these suppers, held once a month, are what Sunday evenings should be made of. The specially curated menu at the launch of the series was impeccable and the perfect opportunity for guests to break from the ordinary and enjoy some of Jing-A’s most interesting and complex beers.
The Lychee Xanadu
Artisan breads with woody and herby dips were a welcome treat that you had to be cautious not to devour before the epic mains.
Sourdough, pita, and burekas, served with muhammara, hummus, and beetroot and zaatar dips
The lamb shoulder was melt-in-the-mouth, and rather than the sides taking up residence on the table as an after- thought, they supported the heady and robust flavors.
Slow-Cooked Smoked Lamb Shoulder
Spinach, red onion, and almond salad, mint, rocket, and lemon salad, and kohlrabi, orchette pasta
However the rich cardamom and dark chocolate tart with stone fruit compote was the perfect ending to a wonderful set of plates. The tart was balanced with richness, bitterness, and sweetness, and for those wanting less of a hearty hit of cocoa; there were beautifully light mandarin wheat syrup cakes with mascarpone. There’s not much else to say but yum – and please madam, may I have some more?
Cardamom, dark chocolate, and stone fruit tart, and mandarin wheat syrup cakes with mascarpone
The Lychee Xanadu reminded me of an elevated citrus cider and had a dry finish; wonderful for midsummer Long Table dining or alternatively dining alfresco. The collaboration with Jordanian Brewery, Carakale, produced a beer that was paired with the second course and was my favorite. Not too dry, with each sip revealing new hidden depths, full of spice and leafy tea notes. The Dongbei IPA is not for the faint-hearted, and packed a punch served ice-cold with an unusual but enjoyable full-bodied tang.
Each month, guests will be taken on a culinary journey to explore different regional fare or experiment with unique culinary techniques. The stars of the gastronomic experience will be both the cuisine and the craft beer, and Thompson and the team have done well to create the right kind of atmosphere that’s ripe for conversation and silence-inducing morsels of delectable food. Get yourself over to Jing-A Brewingpub Xingfucun for the next Long Table. Table is limited to 16 seats. You can thank me later.
Adults. RMB 338. 6pm – 9pm. Once a month (next date TBC). Jing-A Brewery, 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Dongzhimen, Chaoyang District. www.jingabrewing.com/10 6416 5195
Photos: Nicole Bonnah, Pixabay
