Small bites

Watchable soup pot

There is a touch of the mad scientist in every chef, but The Cut's Andreas Block caught us by surprise when we ordered soup and he presented a coffee cafeterie packed with mushrooms and other goodies. In this case, a rich beef consomme had been simmering for hours in the kitchen: Block then poured the soup into the glass apparatus for a slow steeping with the fungi and other vegetables. The result was "Wagyu beef hot pot", a fine winter warmer that has given way to a similarly prepared tomato consomme for springtime dining.

The Cut at the Fairmont Beijing, 8 Yongandongli, Jianguomenwai Daijie (Avenue), Chaoyang district. 010-8507-3617.

- Mike Peters