New look cafe zen brings out inner child (2)

Sauce is injected into cream puffs at Cafe Zen in Shenzhen. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The next little creation we choose to experience is the needle-cylinder puff. This time we are going to play doctor: Our "patients" are cream puffs. We are told to infuse the mulberry or vanilla sauce into the puff as a "treatment".

You can mix both sauces if you want to combine the fruity mulberry with some smooth vanilla. The fun of the needle cylinder makes a puff more than a puff.

The macaroon is a surprise, too, served on a mirror instead of a plate. That provides a top-to-bottom view, and the colorful layers are obvious, cream with fruits.

Then some envelopes attract our attention, which can be used for containing mini muffins for take away. Enhancing the artful experience during lunchtime, waiters and waitresses wear Zen-style clothing.

Lunch, of course, includes more than the lovely sweets: The chefs also prepare modern and traditional delicacies, include double-boiled soups with homemade taste.

Drinks include intriguing tomato and cucumber cocktails in the seafood area. Otherwise, ask the server to bring you a favorite drink - perhaps a latte in a baby-feeding bottle, a cute souvenir you can take home.

IF YOU GO

Cafe Zen

Futian Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen, 4088 Yi Tian Road, Futian district, Shenzhen. 755-88284088.

Buffet pricing: Breakfast 160 yuan ($26) weekdays, 98 yuan weekends; lunch 228 yuan weekdays, 268 yuan weekends; dinner 298 yuan weekdays, 358 yuan weekends.

Recommended: Nipple Chocolate, Tube Milkshake, Macaroon, Cream Puffs, seafood dishes.