British Baking in Beijing at The Paddington Kitchen
The Paddington Kitchen was created by baking enthusiast Lottie Murphy. Hailing from the UK, Murphy has lived in Beijing since 2010, and now spends her time whipping up delicious and creative cakes and biscuits. All of her cakes are freshly made, so orders require at least 48 hour notice. Personalized and custom made cakes can be made to suit any occasion, from Birthday’s to Weddings.
Cakes come in a range of sponge flavors, including extra zesty lemon, rich chocolate, vanilla, carrot, or a rich fruit. Toppings and frostings include lemon cheesecake, orange cream cheese, white or dark chocolate ganache, and different soft icings. Try a passion fruit mascarpone filling, with fromage fraise, a more traditional vanilla or chocolate buttercream, or double cream with seasonal fruit.
My daughter had made it explicit that the cake she wanted for her third Birthday had to be pink, sparkly, and have lollipops. A search on the internet came up with a few designs that made her squeal with delight. I sent a few pictures across to Paddington Kitchen, along with a request for vanilla sponge, layered with pink buttercream, to be encased with pink icing, and of course a bit of glitter.
The cake was perfect, exactly as I had requested and as my daughter had imagined. The sponge was incredibly light and moist, the buttercream had a lovely subtle strawberry flavor, with just the right amount sandwiching the layers together. The icing was soft, not too sweet, and more importantly a nice bright pink. A sprinkle of glitter, a scattering of sweets, tied with a ribbon, and with the wonderful addition of lollipops. The cake was still very moist and fresh several days later, due to the good quality of the ingredients used.
Prices for celebration cakes range from RMB 280 for a two-layer cake of 17cm diameter (feeds 8-12), RMB 500 for a three-layer 20cm diameter cake (feeds 14-16), and RMB 650 for a three-layer 23 cm diameter cake (feeds 18-20). Extra-large cakes can be made, and mini cakes are RMB 300 for 12.
As well as celebration cakes, they make a range of different cakes and biscuits. Scones are one of my favorites, but it is hard to find an authentic tasting English scone in Beijing. The Paddington Kitchen gets theirs just right, light and fluffy, with a perfect crumbly texture. Served with strawberry jam and cream, they make for a perfect afternoon treat. Scones cost RMB 150 for 12, and come in different flavors including plain, traditional fruit, and cheese. If it’s a full-on tea party you’re hosting, why not serve up a banana loaf, apple and cinnamon loaf, lemon drizzle cake, and a delectable raspberry, coconut, and lime cake. Prices range from RMB 120-200.
Pretty pots of biscuits make an ideal gift, or a treat to enjoy at home. For RMB 60 per pot, you can choose from gingerbread, lavender and lemon shortbread, passion fruit or lemon melting moments, chocolate chip flapjack, dark chocolate chip cookies, five seed granola bar, or their chili cheese savory biscuits. Bespoke iced biscuits can also be made to order, and I am really hoping Murphy will be making her wonderful mince pies again this Christmas.
The Paddington Kitchen
Call Lottie at 1371 8575 931, or email paddingtonkitchen@gmail.com. Visit The Paddington Kitchen website at www.thepaddingtonkitchen.com.
All cakes and biscuits must be collected from Dongzhimen.
This article first appeared on beijingkids.
Photos: Courtesy of The Paddington Kitchen, Sally Wilson, Benson Kua (flickr)
