So you can try various small, sophisticated dishes that satisfy the palate but that does not leave you feeling bloated, and save a little time along the way.

Ji founded Han Ting restaurant in The Hague in 2009, and it was awarded a Michelin star in 2012, an honor it holds to this day. It is the only Asian themed restaurant in the Netherlands to which the French culinary bible Michelin has awarded a star.

The new Beijing eatery is the first overseas branch of the Dutch chain Umami by Han, which Ji founded in 2004, the others being in cities such as Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The brand is the only one in Europe that owns a number of Michelin Bib Gourmand sub-branches. In Beijing Ji works with Cindy Zheng, owner of Cindy's Cafe, a Chinese-chain brand with more than 30 stores nationwide, thus accounting for the hybrid name Cindy's Umami by Han.

Ji seems to have a deep understanding of flavor pairings and a gift for combining East and West.

Fusion cuisine is not exactly new, yet in Beijing good fusion restaurants are few and far between.