Pining for a slab of meat that can't be tamed with chopsticks?
CRU Steakhouse (CRU), recently opened at JW Marriott Beijing,
offers a grill and rotisserie menu featuring a dozen different cuts
of meat. Steak lovers choose their meat from the restaurant's dry
ageing room, with a glass wall so that the fresh meats are visible
to customers.
"The dry aging process takes three weeks. It will increase the
flavor of meats and make it more tender," said young American chef
Jadan Sheive.
According to the chef, the restaurant's beef is chosen to be
medium-range marbled so that the meat is savory and tender. The
steak is served with the customer's choice of two from seven
vegetable options, plus sides and sauce.
CRU's dcor is elegant and comfortable, with wooden floors and
rugs and leather sofa. Open only for dinner, the dimly lit
environment with a beautiful red candle bottle on the table is an
ideal venue for a relaxing business dinner, or a romantic date.
Chef Sheive is from Maine. At 23, he's worked at Florida, and
finished Culinary School of America in New York. His last job was
in Los Angeles.
Sheive prepares a menu that is simple but comprehensive,
offering plenty of choices and flexibility. Besides the salads,
main courses and desserts, there is a Churrasco set menu, a seafood
bar menu, and a DIY grill and rotisserie menu.
At 458 yuan per person, the Churrasco menu has six different
spit-roasted meats including prawn, chicken, lamb, pork sausage,
beef ribs and beef tenderloin, as well as a coconut and sour cream
cheese cake. Located near the entrance of the restaurant, the
seafood bar is visually tempting, with its beautiful display on
ice. The bar features at least nine types of seafood including
oyster, lobster, crab, shrimp, clam, scallop and mussels.
For the true beef devotee, membership to CRU's LaGuiole club
includes discounts on steaks, a bottle of wine, and a handmade
traditional LaGuiole beef with your name engraved on it. A grand
VIP show with the best Wagyu striploin costs 1,888 yuan. The menu
is designed to allow a wide range of options from 300 yuan per
person. A 3-course meal costs 400-500 yuan per person.
Below are some chef-recommended dishes:
Charred cabbage with arugula; shrimp bisque with seared scallop;
rib eye or Wagyu beef
fillet with potato slivers, Chinese broccoli, and demi glace; warm
honey and thyme apple pie.
Location: 2/F JW Marriott Beijing, 83 Jianguo Lu, China Central
Place, Chaoyang District
Opening hours: 6-10pm
Tel: 010-5908-6688 Ext 8530
(Beijing Weekend January 30, 2008)