New Café Flatwhite Launches Special Sets for New Zealand Week

It's been a while since we grilled Café Flatwhite owner Michael Hongfu for last year's Burger Festival and with a new venue under its belt, it was time to revisit the hearty café. Hongfu's newest branch sits on the first floor of the media center at Jianguomenwai DRC and its launch makes for a suitable occasion to try the café's new seasonal menu as well as a special set menu they've prepared for New Zealand Week.

The new branch has a large and heavy door that leads to airy rooms with high ceilings and decorated in bronze and metal. The new menu includes eggs Benedict (RMB 65), a "Big Breakfast" (RMB 68), smoothie bowl (RMB 42), oatmeal porridge with nuts and banana (RMB 28), three types of salad (RMB 55-68), barbecue pork ribs, and lamb shank (RMB 158). A few of the new dishes also sport a Southeast Asian and South Asian twist, such as popcorn chicken, chili lime fish fillet (RMB 120), curry laksa chicken (RMB 58), butter chicken with rice and roti (RMB 62), and lamb curry with rice and roti (RMB 58).

The Flatwhite house salad (RMB 55) comes with cherry tomatoes, orange, onion, and different veggies, with a generous dash of goat cheese and caramelized almond, making for a solid go-to, whereas the teriyaki prawn with black rice salad (RMB 68) had a little more oomph to it thanks to freshly cooked prawns with a rich, Japanese-style sauce, and slices of mango. The mussels cooked in spicy broth (RMB 68) had quite a kick and made us crave a bowl of rice to go with it.

We also loved the grilled salmon (RMB 68), with its crispy skin, tender and succulent fish meat, and rich sauce with basil. The chili lime fish fillet (RMB 120) was served with couscous and topped with mango, avocado salsa, and broccoli. We were surprised by how good the laksa (RMB 58) was – cooked and seasoned with abundant spices and coconut milk, the noodles were boiled to al dente, and tossed with bean sprouts, fried tofu, and a chicken leg.  

To round out the meal, choose from their popular carrot cake or chocolate brownie, as well as two new gluten-free cakes – a non-chilled blueberry cheesecake, with a thick texture, soft crust, and delicious blueberry topping; and a chocolate almond cake (RMB 25), covered with chocolate chips. Go nuts and order a chai latte, mixed with Ceylon tea, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and perfect for the frostier months.

The new location is everything we've come to expect from Café Flatwhite: comfortable, relaxing, and a great place to rest up, grab a nice coffee, and enjoy an afternoon treat.

Additionally, go before Nov 16 to try out Café Flatwhite's special set menu to celebrate New Zealand Week (Nov 8-18). During this time you can score a Big Breakfast with coffee for RMB 75; pancakes with bacon, banana or berry compote and coffee for RMB 65; or ice cream coffee with homemade cake for RMB 40.

Café Flatwhite
Daily 9am-9pm. 7-1-11, Jianguomen DRC, 1 Xiushui Jie, Dongcheng District (8532 2633)
东城区秀水街1号建国门外外交公寓7-1-11号

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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: courtesy of Cafe Flatwhite, Tracy Wang