Every drink on the menu at Forbidden City Bistro has a story to tell, whether an ancient Chinese legend or a mini history lesson. The original Forbidden City in Beijing serves as the namesake of the restaurant and inspiration for one of the bar’s most popular cocktails, the Beijing Story.
“When you talk about Beijing’s story, they have some happiness, some sadness, some war, everything,” says owner Eric Leong. “When you drink the Bejing Story, it’s a little bit sour, a little bit sweet … the thousand year story.”
To capture those emotions in each sip of this martini, bar manager Mario Wong combines citron and lime vodkas with a lime-and-honey simple syrup and a splash of sour mix. It is shaken, poured into a martini glass and garnished with a lime.
“In the bar we try to mix everything with Asian influence,” says Wong, who is originally from Indonesia. Wong never expected to be a bartender until he was suddenly inspired at a previous serving job.
“One day … a thought came across my mind. … ‘I wish I could make that drink.’ So I went to bartender school.”
He was working in a New Hampshire bar when a former coworker left Forbidden City Bistro.
“He gave me a call and said ‘Hey, why don’t you work with this guy?’ So, here we go, 12 years later.”
Forbidden City Bistro, 335 Main St. in Middletown, is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9:30 p.m. 860-343-8288, forbiddencitybistro.com
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