"I hope this food festival will provide an excellent opportunity for people in China to enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine," said Leela Mani Paudyal, Nepali ambassador to China, at Wednesday's opening. He said the festival has invited two noted Nepali chefs, Suresh Chandra Basnet and Shree Ram Adhikari, to ensure the taste and representative nature of the dishes.

The festival will also include Nepali cultural performances on Friday nights, an Aug 3 theme day for Nepali festival foods, and an art day on Aug 10 showcasing works about Nepal.

The gourmet event, one of a series to mark the 63th anniversary of China-Nepal relations, is jointly organized by the Nepali Embassy in China, Nepal Tourism Board, the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Beijing Minzu Hotel.

If you go:
158 yuan ($23) per person. Buffet lunch and dinner, through Aug 15. Minzu Hotel, No 51 Fuxingmen Neidajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6601-4466 ext 162/188.