just desserts
SWEET AND SWEETIE SWEETNESS AND LIGHT
Wed-Mon 10am-10pm, closed Tue. 2-201, China View, Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District (8587 1561) 朝阳区工体东路中国红街2号楼201室 800m west of Tuanjiehu (Line 10)
E
32
As for the cakes themselves, chocolate fondant, that washed-up 1990s starlet, is out of retirement and ready for another turn in the spotlight at Sweet and Sweetie. The version here (RMB 58) has a heart so molten the whole thing almost collapses at the touch of a spoon, yet there is no trace of rawness – a difficult balancing act to pull off. We would have preferred that the chocolate were a touch more bitter but the portion is big enough to share, which should help alleviate the sweetness. The desserts change seasonally (the chocolate fondant is part of the autumn menu), but a regular fixture is the fraisier (RMB 48), a rich tower of sponge, strawberries, and vanilla pastry cream, inspired by the chef’s recent visit to France. If you have a particular confection in mind for a birthday or event, Sweet and Sweetie also offer catering services. Robynne Tindall
october 2015
photo courtesy of sweet and sweetie
very business evolves over time and Sweet and Sweetie, a diminutive café hidden away at the back of the second floor of the China View building just along from Hooters, is no different. They started out their journey selling Hong Kong dessert soups (the pastry chef-patron hails from Hong Kong), before realizing that northern Chinese palates were more suited to the richer flavors of Western desserts. They decided to make the switch to French-style patisserie and never looked back. With just a handful of tables inside and outside on the terrace, Sweet and Sweetie is the perfect quiet spot to while away an afternoon reading or tapping away on your laptop, set just on the fringe of the hustle and bustle of Sanlitun. The drinks menu runs from standard coffees (RMB 22 for an espresso) to sweet wines from French brand JP Chenet designed to complement the desserts.