Red velvet cakes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Red velvet cake

Waldorf Astoria Beijing

Red velvet cake has a famous history with the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The pastry team at its Beijing sister hotel has taken it a step further, offering both a New York and a Beijing version of the treat in a collection of red-velvet inspired sweets. The original recipe is rich, moist dark chocolate with cream-cheese icing, while the Beijing spin has a white-chocolate center. Fanciful dark pink raspberry macaroons, light as air strawberry chocolate mousse cake, a picture perfect red-velvet cupcake and a parfait of Praline Paris Brest with raspberry puree and raspberry cream round out the offerings now available in gift boxes. A four-piece box is 168 yuan ($24); six-piece box is 218 yuan.

5-15 Jinyu Hutong, Dongcheng district. 010-8520-8989.

Contact the writer at michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn