Taste of spring and the sea

A new Beijing eatery devoted to authentic Mediterranean cuisine seeks to transport guests in the Chinese capital to a far-flung corner of Europe with its surf-and-turf dishes, Li Yingxue reports.

When you walk into this restaurant, the mix of orange lighting, wooden tables and blue velvet chairs all seem to conspire to transport you to some far-flung corner of the Mediterranean.

And while it's actually located in Beijing's Dongzhimen area-and not Dubrovnik or Barcelona-Fresco is still a perfect spot to sit down and enjoy some Mediterranean-style seafood and steak, even if the fresh breeze blows in from the oyster bar rather than the sea.

After its opening in October, Spanish chef Aitor Olabegova was asked to design a brand-new spring menu in March, aimed at bringing the fresh tastes of the region to customers.

Olabegova was the first-prize winner at the International Competition for Young Chefs in Spain in 1999. He studied his craft under legendary Spanish chef Ferran Adria and has worked for several Michelin-starred restaurants.