Dessert delivery is a piece of cake

If you walked past Opposite House in Sanlitun recently, you may have noticed a red Smart car with the word "Colibri" painted on. If you haven't, it's probably because it's out on its rounds: for it is the delivery car for Colibri Café, a new eatery in Village North featuring one of Beijing's growing food crazes, the cupcake.

"We deliver any order over a dozen free within five kilometers," Kelly Wang, Colibri Café manager, told Lifestyle. But though the delivery service costs nothing, many customers prefer to wait over a cup of coffee while their cupcakes are wrapped.

Stepping into its glass-walled space, Colibri's showcase counter is perhaps its most striking feature. The delicate and colorful cakes are carefully displayed on a recessed white-board shelf, more reminiscent of a jewelry store than a cake-and-coffee shop. Designed by Eight Inc, whose clients also include Apple and Coach, the cheerful and bright interior puts one in a relaxed mood to take a seat.

Opened just over a month ago, following a trail already blazed by Lollipop Bakery and CC Sweets, Colibri has drawn attention for its almost-unique eats. Open Monday through Sunday, they offers six flavors daily: carrot and zucchini, mocha, double chocolate, green tea and chocolate ganache, raspberry and lemon, orange and poppy seed) and four daily specials (the almond and cherry special was an excellent choice). "Basically, every two days we have a different flavor," Wang said.

Colibri's cupcakes are fresh, light and full of flavor. "We bake them in the morning and afternoon, to make sure the ones customers buy are two-to-three hours fresh. Sometimes we will bake another in the evening. Our cakes don't stay overnight," Wang promised. Malaysia-born pastry chef Lam Karyen trained in Le Cordon Bleu and has worked in Paris, London and Sydney.

As for its name - a type of humming bird - Kelly thinks it symbolizes the café. "A colibri is a delicately shaped and beautifully colored creature. And its favorite food is sweet nectar. All in all, quite like our café!" she quipped.

While the cupcakes are the creations of Lam, Colibri's freshly ground, flavorful Arabica Roaster coffee beans are Wang's own choice. "I spent almost half a month choosing the beans and trying different ratios for three straight days," she smiled.