Desserts

Strawberry tarts full to overflowing with the fruit ... Swiss Roll enhanced by butter ... cheesecake inlaid with chocolate - and even plain old bread and jam, a tea-time staple for kids the world over because it keeps them going until mum puts dinner on the table. All such goodies are the creations of pastry chefs, whose imagination seems to know no bounds. You can always bet that if you have a passion for something sweet, these masters of the oven will cater to it with everything from fruit breads to irresistible cream buns. So if you want to indulge yourself (and possibly put on a little weight), you will find a superb choice at Beijing's growing number of patisseries, four of which we profile.

The Patisserie

Located in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Beijing, this patisserie posi-tively breathes the classical stan-dards of excellence of a top French pastry shop. Cross the threshold, and it is virtually impossible to resist any of the creations conjured up in the hotel's kitchens by top chefs. Tradition, authenticity and wit abound in the freshly baked breads and rolls, cakes, pastries and hand-made chocolates that together make up a paradise for gourmets. There is an excellent choice of international wines, too. The choice is yours, once you hurdle the problem of where to start.

As at all top-class patisseries, the temptation to just keep on choosing and buying is hard to resist. Some lines have quickly proved particularly popular among regular customers, examples being the hazelnut cake and green teacakes. Like all else, they are works of art as well as desserts. The range of chocolates, some of which even bear their own "paintings" literally are too good to eat, as the saying goes. From Mona Lisa and your lover's photo to Louvre Palace and ancient Chinese gardens, these chocolates are inspired indeed.

Hotel pastry chef Christoph Reinthaler unhesitatingly answered "fresh" when asked for one word to describe the delicacies that crowd the shelves of The Patisserie, explaining that he and his colleagues start work at 6am each day. "This guarantees that every piece of cake and other items remain fresh and of high quality," he added.

The Patisserie's adjacent patio is the perfect spot to enjoy your buys, all washed down by a cup of fragrant tea.

KempiDeli

This magnet for the sweet-toothed is among the most popular outlets at the Kempinski Hotel. Although it occupies only 100sq.m., the Deli rates among the best in terms of its huge choice and services. Regular customers, many of whom buy their takeaway lunches here, justifiably call it a "mini restaurant" in part because of its rich range of sandwiches, salads, hot snacks and superb home-made pastries. You will also find home-style sausages, cold cuts and a selection of fresh meats. Further lures are that the breads available are freshly baked, and the chocolate pralines equally out of this world.

Kempi Deli is particularly popular among western airline stewards who regularly stay at the Kempinski Hotel. This is where they often gather to talk shop, and to stock up on snacks, including desserts.

Le Chalet

Lovers of French cuisine now have another restaurant from which to choose, this in Sanlitun. Called Le Chalet, it is a no-fuss venue offering authentic dishes in the informal environment of a two-story, chalet-like building. The lower floor is taken up by a well-stocked, stylish deli and coffee shop, the latter doubling as a cigar divan in the evenings.

Boasting a French chef, Le Chalet's main restaurant is upstairs, a cozy retreat from the bustle of Sanlitun, or Bar Street as it's more commonly known. Visitors will find a good menu with some nice specialties, not least delicious desserts also created by the highly experienced chef.

Mediterraneo

It goes almost without saying that this popular restaurant/patisserie is a Mediterranean-style venue, the emphasis being on Italian. Step inside and you are immediately transported into a typically Mediterranean ambiance, right down to terra cotta walls and ethnic artifacts that enable you to pick up the Med vibes.

The desserts here are extra special for their originality and high quality, so much so that diners often forego their main meal and just get stuck into the beautifully prepared "afters" the likes of which one rarely sees in Beijing. The ice-creams are of special note, and equally recommended are the chocolate tart with caramelized pineapple; panna cotta with mixed wild berries; the tiramisu; and ricotta tart with citrus fruit sauce.