Hop Like a Bunny to This Trendy Bakery for a Yummy Treat
There’s something about moms, dear reader – they’re always right. Mine has this lovely philosophy where she always encourages me to savor all simple pleasures in life – getting that cute notebook, going on a stroll, enjoying a cup of coffee somewhere nice. If I let myself fall prey to the line of thought that giving up said simple pleasures would maybe grant me riches (hah, nah) she’ll promptly roll her eyes and reply, “Ana, it’s the small things that make life bearable.”
Yeah, moms are always damn right. Mine is, at least. So, when a friend told me about this new bakery that opened just a little over a month ago at 104 Xixinglong Jie, well, I was game. I took the subway, hopped off at Qiaowan, walked some 12 minutes, and, sure enough, there was Bingoo Bakery (饼干铺子 bǐnggān pùzi) with its façade covered in red roses.
“A piece of homemade biscuit” – that’s Bingoo Bakery’s motto, written on a mirror sign presiding over the shop. It’ll take you a while to spot it, though, and who could possibly blame you when there’s so much yummy stuff around. Dianping users warned me online that this was a very fitting place to take pictures, and by golly they were right!
What a delightful shop. Jars and jars of smaller cookies line the shelves, both for drooling and decorative purposes, and you can expect plenty of wood and vintage accents here and there. The shop looks cosy and inviting, but not overtly busy. They have a few merch items for sale, such as a reduced selection of prints, wooden trays and spoons, and a pleasantly sturdy mug, but who’s here for the tchotchkes?
The cookies, ah, the cookies. I will be back to try that caramel disc of joy that is gloriously topped with a whole speculoos biscuit. Moderation in all things, dear reader, which is why I went for the Chocolate, Nuts and S’mores Cookie (RMB 14.8) – the standard cookie price at the shop – and the Chocolate and Peanut Cookie, fresh from the oven. The scones looked quite tempting, too – we’re talking Oreo, Sausage and Kale, Dried Pork Meat Floss and Cheese, and a couple more flavors, such as the Jasmine and Cranberry flavor I got (RMB 12.8). There were also flax seed buns, tiny pastries galore, artfully packed tea leaves, and some pretty interesting-looking coffee-bean shaped cookies. But, soon enough I was looking at the real stars in the shop…
Well, hey, it’s about to be the year of the rabbit! So, why not pick up some seasonal goodies? If you need a cute present for that courtesy visit you’re about to pay, or even if you’re only planning to gorge yourself in tune with the calendar, Bingoo Bakery has a series of aesthetically pleasant and highly edible items that you may want to consider. Those bunny-shaped madeleines are a steal at RMB 8.8 and almost (almost) too cute to eat. Be sure to check out those little square lemon cakes with frosting and holiday banners for RMB 22.8. Really going extra? Then grab yourself one of the adorable cheesecakes (RMB 68) decorated with adorable bunnies, cream, berries and red New Year messages, or just spring for their New Year Pastry Boxes, priced at RMB 127 for an assortment of bite-sized goodness. I spotted matcha bunnies, cookies printed with seasonal greetings in Chinese, and some sort of nougat-looking confection that looked highly promising. Très charming.
For the time being, Bingoo Bakery is walk-in only, so you’ll need to take their treats elsewhere to enjoy. But it hasn’t been that harsh of a winter, and by the time I walked out with my bag of goodies, there was still plenty of light to check out the maze of hutongs around the bakery. The area seems to be on its way to a small explosion of trendy shops, miniature galleries, and restaurants. I’ll keep you informed of whatever I spot next – serve the people, they say, and what wonderful pleasure I find in that service indeed.
Bingoo Bakery
Address: 104 Xixinglong Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区西兴隆街104号
Opening times: 10am-7pm
READ: Eat Your Ideograms at This Spiffy Café
Images: Ana Padilla Fornieles
