Thursday 30 May 2013

Company Magazine #StyleBloggerAwards - A fab night and a huge thank you!


Last night The Afternoon Tea Club ventured to London to attend one of the hottest events in the blogging calendar - Company's Style Blogger Awards!


Situated in the city's bohemian Shoreditch area, it was Champagne and glamour all the way at the super trendy (and super secluded!) Corbett Place venue. 

Throughout the night we met some lovely people and it was lovely to hear about all of the different nominees' blogs. Be sure to take a look at our new friends: 


We had a fantastic time and there were lots of exciting things going on all around. We had so much fun crafting personalised sunglasses with Pinned it! Made it! and trying out gorgeous lashes with The Vintage Cosmetic Company. Plus we got to show all of this off in the Dream Booth - very bloggy indeed!


Congratulations to all of the award winners. Unfortunately we didn't win Best Blogging Duo this year but a huge thank you must go to all who voted for us - it really does mean the world to know so many of you love the blog!


But we didn't leave empty handed - check out the fantastic goodie bag we received packed with beauty products, sweeties and of course the latest issue of Company. We could definitely get used to this!


Don't forget! We're running for Best Food Blog in the Cosmo Blog Awards too. If you like what we do we would love for you to vote for us. Find out how here.
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Afternoon Tea News: Coronation Afternoon Tea - London Hilton on Park Lane

Enjoy a right royal tea's up this summer at the Hilton, Park Lane, London


As self confessed cake-lovers and part time royal fangirls, we can't think of anything more perfect (or British) than a Coronation themed afternoon tea - So join us in our excitement as we present to you the Park Lane Hilton's brand new Afternoon Tea extravoganza!

Here's a little of what you can expect:
Guests can raise a toast to The Queen’s Coronation, celebrating 60 years since she was officially crowned Queen of the Commonwealth, with a  regal Coronation Afternoon Tea at London Hilton on Park Lane. Located on Park Lane and overlooking Hyde Park, the landmark hotel is only a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, making it an ideal location to celebrate the coronation weekend.

To commemorate this historic event, Podium Restaurant at London Hilton on Park Lane has created a limited edition Coronation Afternoon Tea. Created by Executive Chef, Anthony Marshall, this delicious variation of the hotel’s celebrated afternoon tea includes an elderflower jelly diamond presented on a purple cushion made of chocolate mousse and praline; a vanilla and blueberry macaroon; a dark chocolate edible picture frame encasing an image of Her Majesty’s coronation; a 1953 Queen’s Coronation stamp on a cupcake; a crown-shaped sable biscuit iced with the royal colours and a blueberry cupcake finished with gold leaves.
Now we don't know about you, but we think that sounds pretty marvellous - especially the edible Chocolate Mousse and Praline. What do you think? Will you be toasting her Majesty with a glass of bubbly and blueberry macaroon? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or at @TeacupReview!

The Coronation Afternoon Tea is available from 11 – 14 July 2013, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, priced at £32 per person or £40 including a glass of Champagne. For more information or to book the Coronation Afternoon Tea, please visit hilton.com/londonparklane, call +44 20 7493 8000 or email reservations.parklane@hilton.com
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Tuesday 28 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Mon Beau Papillon Afternoon Tea by Eric Lanlard, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London

Eric Lanlard has launched yet another beautiful afternoon tea collaboration with the Jumeirah Carlton Tower!

Mon Beau Papillon

If you've read the blog before, you'll know that we're massive Lanlard fans - so you can imagine our excitement upon hearing the news of his brand new Chelsea Flower Show Tea!

Here's a little about what you can expect:

London’s iconic Jumeirah Carlton Tower continues its collaboration with master patissier and star of Channel 4’s Baking Mad series Eric Lanlard with the launch of his new Mon Beau Papillon afternoon tea.
Eric’s new afternoon tea is inspired by his observation of butterflies flitting between beautiful flowers and the different petals they select to land on, inspiring him to include a variety of flavours and colours to replicate the mixed beauty of nature. Working closely with Executive Chef Simon Young, the two have united their creative culinary minds to deliver an inspiring take on afternoon tea, which will be available in the Chinoiserie from 8th May.

The menu begins with a section of savoury delights including a mini raspberry macaroon with smoked duck and smoked chilli jelly, a mini brioche bun with thyme blossom and grain mustard smoked chicken and jasmine smoked salmon and goats curd tart, finished with an asparagus and pea shoot wrap. Then, to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth, a selection of pastries, cakes and desserts that combine elegant and subtle flavours to delicious effect. From a mini raspberry and basil tart with white chocolate, dark chocolate spoon with morello chocolate mousse, white chocolate macaroon with strawberry marshmallow ice cream and a pear and walnut choux bun, the Mon Beau Papillon afternoon tea is a decadent and memorable experience. With remarkable attention to detail, Eric ensures there are miniature white chocolate butterflies on the dark chocolate spoon and white chocolate macaroon, to combine his initial inspiration with the complete afternoon tea experience.


Commenting on his new Mon Beau Papillon afternoon tea, Eric Lanlard says: “Every year one of the most beautiful temporary exhibitions in the world takes place in London, The Chelsea Flower Show. For a short time the most beautiful flowers and plants are on display to the public. This afternoon tea is inspired by an elegant butterfly, hopping from flowers to plants, enjoying their delicate scents, taste and textures.”
Will you be popping over to the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to sample these summer delights? Have you been already? Let us know your throughts!

The Mon Beau Papillon afternoon tea by Eric Lanlard will be available at Chinoiserie from 8th May and costs £40 per person or £50 per person with a glass of champagne. To book, visit www.jumeirahcarltontower.com or call +44 (0)20 7858 7181
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Sunday 26 May 2013

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Leaf on Bold Street, Liverpool

Back in March we named Leaf on Bold Street as one of our top picks in The Independent's 50 Best Tea Rooms. Last weekend we were invited back to spend an afternoon at Liverpool's coolest venue and indulge in their gorgeous Afternoon Tea - here's why we love it...


Environment

Laura: 
Leaf is the ideal spot for creative types. It's arty, modern and home to crafty events like the arts fair taking place during our visit. It's also a great venue for Afternoon Tea with apt space for dining and various seating options to suit large families and casual diners.

I love the huge windows in the upstairs dining area, they let in great natural lighting give the venue a real fresh feel. The blue walls and high ceilings are just gorgeous and they're accented with beautiful grand plasterings, toned down by rustic chips in the paintwork which make it all the more loveable. 

It should be impossible for ceiling glitter balls to look good but somehow Leaf pulls it off - and completely affirms it's cool. 


Caroline:
Fully adorned with nineteenth century cornices and accented beautifully with an array of glitter balls, Leaf's first floor tearoom is a triumph of contemporary and traditional fusion. Personal highlights include their lovely full length windows and subtle blue decor which create a wonderfully calm environment, perfect for relaxation and a gossip with the girls!

(As a little added extra, there was also a lovely craft fair running on the day that we visited, providing a great opportunity to support local enterprise whilst indulging in our favourite past time.)


Food

Laura:
Presented on pretty cake stands with a cute Swallow decoration on top, this is a very attractive Afternoon Tea - and it's super reasonably priced.

To start there's a selection of 4 sandwiches; hummus, cheese, chicken and tuna. The chicken was gorgeous, really chunky and served on wonderfully soft bread. My favourite however was the hummus, a rather unusual sandwich filling but worked really well.

Instead of traditional scones our second tier was filled with strawberry shortcake. Topped with fresh strawberries and filled with jam and cream, these were a great alternative to classic fruit scones.

Finally our dessert selection had just the right combination of creamy cakes, chocolates cakes and well, cakey cakes. We had; a traditional Victoria sponge which was gorgeous and light, two mini profiteroles, again really light cream and the chocolate was a real winner for me, and finally a mini lemon posset topped with blackcurrants. Fantastic selection and just the ideal amount of food. 

The tea selection was also presented really nicely in cute cornflower blue wooden boxes with labels for each flavour. I chose Blue Sapphire Earl Grey - partly because it smelt lovely but largely because the name sounded cool. Topped with milk and sugar, it was wonderful and my pot was consistently refreshed.


Caroline:
Afternoon Tea at Leaf offers a good selection of cakes and sandwiches, at an exceptional rate - £10.95 pp. Upon arrival guests are presented with a beautiful wooden tea caddy full of leaves to smell and sample, offering an exciting start to the meal. I very much enjoyed the caddy experience and loved having the teas on hand to help with the tough decision making process. On this particular occasion I opted for the Cherry Blossom tea which was wonderfully fragrant and fruity.


Presented on a lovely ornate stand, the tea itself comes equipped with all of the essential afternoon tea ingredients. To start we were treated to a finger sandwich selection which included: Tuna; Chicken; Cheese & Pepper; and the unusual Hummus. Being the cheese fiend that I am, the cheese & pepper sandwich was always going to be a clear winner, but as Laura said, the Hummus was a welcome addition and added an interesting slant to the meal.

The strawberry short-cake-scone twist was similarly surprising but incredibly delicious. I particularly liked the presentation of the second tier with each scone being decorated with whipped cream, jam and a half strawberry - just the way I like it.

As with everything else on the menu, the cakes were also delicious, offering a good selection of flavours and variety. The choice included a zesty lemon posset, Victoria Sandwich and profiteroles - my favourite by far was the posset which was fabulously refreshing!


Service

Laura:
The setup at Leaf is great as the downstairs area is primarily a bar space and upstairs is reserved for food and bookings so staff are readily available to assist diners. Our server was really friendly, leaving up with enough time to select tea options and checking our table regularly. 

Caroline:
The service at Leaf was swift, efficient and knowledgeable, with the staff being readily on hand to explain the menu and offer top ups as required/desired - very pleasant!



Overall Thoughts

Laura:
I really do like Leaf. It's modern yet very relaxed at the same time and has so much going on which keeps it vibrant and fresh. It's a popular venue and the prices are great. If you're after city chic and a value for money Afternoon Tea - look no further than Leaf on Bold Street. 

Caroline:
I really enjoyed our afternoon tea at Leaf and wouldn’t hesitate to go back again. Its off-beat environment is ideal for anyone in search of an informal tea with a hint of glitz.

Cupcake Rating:








Leaf is located on Bold Street Liverpool. Afternoon Tea is served from 12pm-5pm Saturdays and Sundays. Booking essential. £10.95 or £13.95 with a glass of sparkles or Iced Champagne Cassis. Please visit their website for menus and more information.

DISCLAIMER: As is common in the catering and leisure industry, we were provided with complimentary services for review purposes. Whilst this has not influenced our review, we believe in the full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. 
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Afternoon Tea News: Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea, Browns, London


If you're still looking for the perfect Chelsea Flower Show tea, then look no further. Visit Brown's today to celebrate the centenary in style!


Here's a little about what you can expect:

The English Tea Room will be serving a specially created Traditional Afternoon Tea with a Chelsea Flower Show twist. Indulge in warm scones with rose and strawberry jam, a selection of home-made pastries including violet macaroons, carrot and jasmine cakes, raspberry and white chocolate mousses, rosewater éclairs and Pimms jellies along with a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches. This will be served with a choice of 17 different teas which include both Rosebud or Jasmine Tea. 

You had us at Pimms... 

What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts or tweet us at @TeacupReview!

The cost of this special afternoon tea is £39.50 per person and will be available from the 21st – 27th May 2012 from 3pm - 6pm Monday to Thursday, 2pm - 6pm Friday and 12noon – 6.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
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Friday 24 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea at the Corinthia,London

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Chelsea Flower Show at the Corinthia!


Ever wondered how the garden would taste if it were made of cake? Of course you haven't, but now you don't have to because the Corinthia has created a an Afternoon Tea garden for your delectation. Celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show in style with a chocolate bamboo skewer and edible flower pot.


Here's what you can expect:
In celebration of the RHS Chelsea Flower show our dedicated pastry team at Corinthia Hotel London have created a unique Afternoon Tea with a floral theme.Almond and poppy cake raspberry mousse will take the guise of the delicious “Wild Meadow Garden” or a chocolate fudge cake with chocolate frosting and fresh cherries, decorated with a trowel and hose pipe will be referred to on the menu as “Potting shed”.You will be sure to leave the experience feeling very floral indeed!
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or at @TeacupReview!

For more information and booking, please visit the Corinthia website at:
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Saturday 18 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 'Not Afternoon Tea' at OXO Tower, London

Prepare your taste buds for the launch of OXO Tower's brand new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 'Not Afternoon Tea Experience' - Be sure to book your golden ticket today!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Ever wanted to step in a great glass elevator and fly away to a world of sweets? Well now you can with the OXO tower's brand new 'Not Afternoon Tea'. Here is a little peek at what you can expect:
It may not be the Great Glass Elevator, but from the moment you step out of the lift on the Eighth Floor of the OXO Tower we promise an adventure for the taste buds to rival Willy Wonka’s very own creations.
Choose from the four Not Afternoon Tea plates on offer (featuring a selection of delicious desserts perfectly partnered with a bespoke cocktail) and opt for the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory experience for the ultimate taste sensation.
A naughty but very nice Neapolitan Hot Shot sets the tone mixing Celaya hot chocolate with vanilla syrup and layered with white chocolate and strawberry foam. Sip on a Snozberry Slurp as you enjoy your choice of desserts and revel in sensory pleasure and childhood nostalgia with homemade ice cream jelly flowers, candy floss garnish and marshmallow twirl.
The happily-ever-after ending comes in the form of a Box of ‘Children’ Truffles, which features delectable treats characteristic of the lucky Willy Wonka Golden Ticket winners – such as the Violet Beauregarde blueberry macaroon with violet ganache. Enjoy at the theatre as the musical unfolds, or take home to experience later.
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Not Afternoon Tea Experience:
Neapolitan Hot Shot
One Not Afternoon Tea Plate with Bespoke cocktail
Snozberry Slurp
Box of ‘Children’ Truffles
So what do you think? We're loving the sound of those Snozberry Slurps - yum. Comment below or tweet us at @TeacupReview with your thoughts.

Priced at £39.50 pp, The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Not Afternoon Tea Experience will be available in the OXO Tower Brasserie from Thursday 23 May, Sunday to Friday 3pm until 5pm and Saturday 2pm until 4.30pm. For reservations please call 020 7803 3888, email oxo.reservations@harveynichols.com or visit their website HERE
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Friday 17 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Great Gatsby Tea, Prima Donna, Brixton

Get a glimpse of the glamorous Charleston era with this fabulous Great Gatsby inspired Afternoon Tea!
 
Great Gatsby Tea

Today marks the launch of The Great Gatsby Experience at Prima Donna Brixton to coincide with release of The Great Gatsby movie which opens in cinemas today. To celebrate, why not engage in the traditions of a by-gone era and treat yourself to the elegant past time of Afternoon Tea with the launch of Prima Donna's brand new tea menu.
 
Located within Market Row, Brixton South West London, the restaurant is a fusion of Latin and European cuisine, served within a beautifully decorated environment and is the perfect place to enjoy a luxury coffee and a slice of cake - minus Leonardo Dicaprio!
 
Here's what you can expect on the new menu:

The launch of the new tea menu includes very affordable Afternoon Tea, unlike the traditional pricing plans which usually charge per person, Prima Donna will charge per quantity of food ranging from just £8.50 for 2 sandwiches, 2 slices of cake, 1 scone and one biscuit. Other larger menus are available the largest costing £28 for 5 slices of cake, 3 scones, 2 biscuits and 6 sandwiches. All the cakes are hand made by the Patissier and include Lime and Pistachio cake, Tart au Citron, Blackcurrant macaroons, Sea salt caramel and Fruit gateau. The Afternoon Tea menu will launch Friday 17th May 2013 and will run from Mon-Thurs 12-4 and Fridays 12-7.


We're already donning our flapper dresses and dreaming about Blackcurrant macaroons!

Are you feeling inspired? Let us know your thoughts.

The Great Gatsby Experience is available from today, 17th May and will be available Mon-Thurs 12-4pm and Fridays 12-7pm. Prices start at £8.50. For more information and to book visit http://www.primadonnabrixton.co.uk/.
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Wednesday 15 May 2013

Nominate the Afternoon Tea Club for a Cosmo Blog Award 2013 (Best Food Blog)

We're asking for your support... again!


To begin with, we'd just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for us in the Company #StyleBloggerAwards2013. We really appreciate the support and feel very lucky to have such a lovely lot following us - we'll be sure to keep you updated on how it all goes (and of course celebrate with you if we win!)

Now to ask for your help again...

Whether you've just found  The Afternoon Tea Club or have been following for a while now, we’d be thrilled if you could nominate us as 'Best Food Blog' in the Cosmo Blog Awards 2013.
If you'd like to support us, simply visit the Cosmo website HERE and fill in a short form, including our URL when prompted. (www.theafternoonteaclub.com)
Thank you so much for all of your support - we can't wait to welcome you back to the site soon!
Laura & Caroline

X
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Tuesday 14 May 2013

Breast Cancer Care Strawberry Tea

Breast Cancer Care is encouraging people to host a Strawberry Tea this summer to raise money to support the 55,000 people, and their families, diagnosed with breast cancer every year


A Strawberry Tea is a fun and easy way to support Breast Cancer Care. Simply get together with friends and family, buy or bake the cakes, add some strawberries, put the kettle on and away you go!

Whether you host your Strawberry Tea at work in your tea break or have a picnic at a local park – a Strawberry Tea can be as extravagant or as simple as you like! It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with friends, family or colleagues and tuck into delicious treats, all the while raising money for people affected by breast cancer.

It’s a fun and easy way to support Breast Cancer Care and it doesn’t matter if you raise £20 or £200 at your Strawberry Tea because every penny will help them support more people affected by breast cancer today.

Strawberry Tea

Here are just a few easy ways to fundraise:

- Ask your colleagues to make a donation for each strawberry treat they eat
- Organise a quiz or raffle with a Strawberry Tea theme
- Have a bake-off and get everyone to vote on their favourite cake!

Why you should support Breast Cancer Care:

A diagnosis of breast cancer and the treatment that follows is a devastating experience for anyone. Breast Cancer Care provides expert information and skilled support through a range of services for anyone affected.

Their free helpline, website and online forums offer a friendly ear and expert information for those dealing with this life-threatening disease. Across the UK we offer a range of confidential, face-to-face services for people living with and beyond breast cancer.

Will you be hosting a Strawberry Tea? Comment below or tweet us with your menu ideas and photos!

To get your free fundraising kit full of ideas, recipes and much more or to find out more about Strawberry Tea please email or call lisa on 0114 263 6481 lisa.brown@breastcancercare.org.uk, http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/fundraising-events/strawberry-tea
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Monday 13 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea at the Landmark Hotel, London


Celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show's 100th Anniversary with the Landmark!


Here's a little about what you can expect: 

The world’s greatest flower show – RHS Chelsea Flower show celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and to mark this historical mile stone, our Winter Garden restaurant will be featuring an exclusive floral themed afternoon tea in London inspired from the enchanting gardens and vibrant horticulture displays.

Like an exotic green house with palm trees, our Winter Garden restaurant beneath an eight storey atrium offers the perfect setting to enjoy a Chelsea Flower show themed afternoon tea. Stars of our floral themed afternoon tea comes in the guise of tempting jasmine cheesecake, shortbread, mango truffle; lavender and strawberry tiramisu as well as the lychee and rose macaroon. Also sample our exquisite Guanaja chocolate mousse with saffron tomato jelly. You will be bound to be surprised as this is one of the best afternoon teas in London.

They had us at lavender and strawberry tiramisu - how inventive?!

The Chelsea Flower Show teas are lining up fast. Which has been your favourite so far? Are you thinking of trying the Landmark's delicious interpretation? Let us know your thoughts.

The Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea is available from the 20th May - 27th May 2013 and is priced at £45.00 per person, including a glass of elderflower Champagne. For more information or to book, please call 020 7631 8000 or email restaurants.reservation@thelandmark.co.uk
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Friday 10 May 2013

Cake Break: Cote How, Rydal

If like us, you're partial to a good scone, then you'll love what we have to show you today. Boasting 'the best scones in the world' (and a lovely pot of Earl Grey) Cote How Organic Tea Rooms are a real must if you're ever in the Rydal area.

'Best Scones in the WORLD'

Located a stones throw away from Rydal Water, Cote How is one of only three Organic guest houses in the UK and my favourite place to visit when in the Lake District. With comfortable indoor seating and a beautiful out door terrace, this tea room is the perfect place to relax with friends after an invigorating walk in the hills. What's more, all of their products are entirely ethically sourced, meaning that all you have to worry about is the calorie count (but who worries about that really?)

Be sure to pay them a visit of you're ever in the area - like the sign outside says, they really do have 'the best scones in the WORLD!

(Caroline)

Jam and Cream

Their ethically sourced Cream teas start at £5.00 and are served daily inside their tearoom or on the terrace. For more information about Cote How and the various Afternoon Tea Packages available, please visit their website.
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Thursday 9 May 2013

Cake Break: Grandy Nook Tearooms, Hawkshead


A few weeks ago, I headed off to the Lake District in search of country settings, cagoules and cake - Luckily I found all three in abundance.

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Situated in the heart of Beatrix Potter's one-time-home, Hawkshead, Grandy Nook Tearooms offer traditional English food (and cake, lets not forget the cake) in relaxed-country settings. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a quick afternoon tea in Hawkshead. 

(Also look out for the Minstrels Gallery which is simply amazing)

(Caroline)


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Wednesday 8 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: Charlie and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea, The Chesterfield Mayfair, London

Can you imagine anything more perfect than a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired Afternoon Tea? No? Neither can we. In celebration of the new Willy Wonka Musical, the Chesterfield Hotel is launching a brand new chocolate inspired tea - If you love Roald Dahl this could be just the (golden) ticket! 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea

Here's what the Hotel said about this exciting new tea:
"Roald Dahl’s deliciously dark tale of Charlie Bucket and the mysterious Willy Wonka comes to life in a brand new West End musical directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes – and to celebrate we've introduced a wonderful Willy Wonka inspired twist to our Traditional Afternoon Tea Menu.

Tea here is already legendary – for the third year running we’ve received the "Award for Excellence" from The Tea Guild for an 'Outstanding Afternoon Tea'. We serve a delicious selection of home made cakes and pastries prepared by Tom, our chef pâtissier – you can tuck into a selection of finger sandwiches, cupcakes, scones, macaroons.
For our Charlie and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea we’ve added Wonka Bars, Oompa Loompa cupcakes, fizzy lifting drinks and candy canes of all sorts to our Traditional Afternoon Tea. And as well as our extensive selection of the finest loose leaf teas you can enjoy hot chocolate and ice cold milkshakes."
Have you got a golden ticket?

We can hear those Wonka Bars calling our name already! What do you think? Will you be securing your golden ticket soon? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Charlie and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea will be served daily from Monday 13th May until Sunday 1st September 2013 at the Chesterfield Hotel, London. Booking is essential. Call +44 (0) 20 7491 2622, email bookch@rchmail.com or visit their website for more information or to make a reservation.
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Tuesday 7 May 2013

Afternoon Tea News: The Great Gatsby Roaring 20s Afternoon Tea at Harvey Nichols, London

Ever wished that you could step back in time? Harvey Nichols' Great Gatsby* tea may be just the thing for you! 
*Leonardo Dicaprio not included

Great Gatsby Tea

For a heady, whirlwind of delicious pleasure that embodies the antics of the infamous, albeit fictional, opulence of a Great Gatsby party then head to the Fifth Floor for a truly unique afternoon tea experience.

Hedonistic and luxurious, the menu incorporates the key symbols of the jazz era with Lobster rolls, prohibition cocktails and peanut butter roll-up ‘Gatsby’ cigars.

So transport yourself back to an era of decadence and toast to the twenties with our stunning Roaring 20s Tea.

Choose either a coupette of Champagne with gold leaf, or a prohibition cocktail from the trolley.

Savouries
Pigs in a blanket
Chicken Caesar roulade
Blini ‘gribiche’
Lobster roll

Summer Fruit and plain scone, clotted cream and Champagne jam

Sweets
White chocolate and coconut pearl macaroon (in jewellery box)
Bootleggar rum, coffee and chocolate cake garnished with fireworks chocolate transfer
Pineapple upside-down cake, garnished with jewel
Gin Rickeys (mini martini glass), finished with crème de menthe jelly and a cocktail cherry
Harvey Nichols peanut butter cigar (from cigar box)

Are you as excited about this as we are? Let us know your thoughts!

The Roaring 20s Afternoon Tea will be available at SEASON at the Fifth Floor from 1 May. Served daily from 3pm – 5pm. Prices start at £30 for Afternoon Tea and £40 to include a prohibition cocktail or 125ml coupette of Champagne with gold leaf. Visit their website for more details.
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Monday 6 May 2013

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Fortnum and Mason, Diamond Jubilee TeaSalon, London

Last week The Afternoon Tea Club was invited to spend the day at Fortnum and Mason's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. With Royal links and a menu to sing about, this was certainly an experience to remember.

Time for Tea

Environment

Caroline:
As a self-confessed Royal enthusiast, you can imagine my delight at being invited to spend the day tracing HRH’s footsteps, at the prestigious Fortnum and Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Located on the store’s fourth floor and decorated throughout in calming pastel hues, this pretty tea room is the image of refinement, with clean white tablecloths and comfortable leather armchairs completing the look, whilst also adding a touch of luxury for good measure.

The Salon

The wonderful pianist who accompanied our tea was a particular highlight, playing a selection of movie classics from bygone days - as well as a touch of Andrew Lloyd Webber for variety. I found this aspect to be quite enchanting and thoroughly enjoyed humming along to the Phantom's ‘Think of Me’ whilst eating my scones - All they need to do now is getJohn Owen Jones on vocals and they’ve got the perfect entertainment package!

Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon

Laura:
Just a ten minute stroll from Her Majesty’s humble abode, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon serves to create an atmosphere of high class elegance and luxury dining. Put on your best tea dress and pearls (or trousers for you gentleman tea lovers out there!) and get ready to experience how London does Afternoon Tea.

With ocean hues cascading through the lounge and minimilistic white and cream to set the scene, there’s something quite understated about this grand Tea Salon which makes it all the more admirable.
Everything from the chairs to the china to the coffee cakeis woven together under a pastel colour palette and done in such a way that it seems effortless. There’s even a live pianist to entertain guests whilst dining which definitely added to the stylish tone.

I loved the paneling on the walls and the ceiling beams by the large window bays which let in the perfect amount of natural lighting onthis particularly sunny afternoon.
This tea room is the absolute picture of British AfternoonTea.

Tea for Two

Food

Caroline:
Presented in a minimalist fashion (but with unlimited refills and replenishments) the Fortnum and Mason Afternoon Tea presents simplistic elegance at its best. Displayed on two Tiffany-blue cake stands (one for food and the other exclusively for jams and conserves) The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon provides one of the most gentile experiences that we have encountered to date. The menu itself is very traditional, with a selection of mixed finger sandwiches to start, followed by scones (plain and fruit), before the final patisserie piece de la resistance

Top Tier

As you might expect, the sandwiches were lovely and fresh, being served on a variety of white, brown and seeded breads, in a selection of flavours (Ploughman‘s: Ham, Cheese and Pickle; Salmon and Cream Cheese; Cucumber and Mint; Egg and Mustard Cress; and Coronation Chicken) Out of this choice, my favourite had to be the hearty Ploughman’s, which was filled with lovely carved ham, good quality cheese and pickle, making for a very substantial finger sandwich. In at second was the Cucumber & Mint, which was incredibly refreshing and the perfect palate cleanser between tiers - definitely one to try again at home!

The scones on the second tier were the closest to perfection that we’ve had so far, with a great rise and lovely sugary after-taste which is perfect for those with a sweet tooth (like myself). I also particularly appreciated the inclusion of Lemon Curd in the preserve selection, which although unexpected, turned out to be a taste revelation and something which I definitely want to try again soon. 

Scones

Visually well balanced and perfectly formed, the top tier of  Fortnum and Mason’s afternoon tea was a treat to behold, with selections that included: a Raspberry and Violet éclair (with floral decoration); Pistachio and White Chocolate Moose Cake; Coffee and Chocolate Cake; and Apricot Mousse. The winner by far, on this occasion, was the Coffee Cake, which had a brilliant consistency being wonderfully creamy and crunchy all at once - yum!

In addition to the food that we sampled, Fortnum and Mason also offer a very good selection of alternative Afternoon Teas which include a children's option (boys and girls), as well as Savoury and High teas for those looking for something a little more substantial.

Sandwich Selection

Laura:
This afternoon tea was probably the most quintessentially British tea we have experienced. By concentrating on quality and keeping thespirit of traditional Afternoon Tea alive, we indulged in a selection of afternoon favourites that were the epitome of class and sophistication.

Presented on Tiffany blue china with a worn effect that gave it a sense of history, I absolutely fell in love with the arrangement – what a sight to behold!

To start we had a selection of fine finger sandwiches. What I really appreciated about these were the different breads each flavour was presented with. The different textures of poppy seed and wholegrain loaves really made the difference and were just one great example of the added details here at Fortnum and Mason. Like Caroline said, there were 5 varieties of sandwich on offer, all of excellent quality. My favourite was the Coronation Chicken, bursting with flavour and a good amount of filling. Of course I wasalso a fan of the salmon which was wonderfully tender and served on perfectly fresh bread.

Tea Cup and Saucer

Next up and with the award for ‘Best So Far’ were, drumrollplease … the scones! With a choice of both fruity and plain I almost rushed past the sandwiches to get to them. Just the right size and lightly dusted with sugar, they were my idea of perfect. We even had a choice of preserves too which was a nice surprise. Classic raspberry jam and also Lemon Curd, particularly great with the plain scones and a nice contrast to have such a zesty flavour in between courses.

For the finale we had some of the most beautiful desserts I have ever seen. Each as special as the last, we had a choice of four including Raspberry Éclair, Coffee and Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Mousse Cake and Apricot Mousse. The coffee cake was amazing, it had so many different textures with a creamy centre and biscuit base but my favourite was the Apricot Mousse. My only suggestion would be that maybe there could have been a slightly more cakey option or possibly a tart as all of the desserts were primarily cream based and this was quite filling after our unlimited sandwiches!

However, Fortnum and Mason’s signature cake stand certainly made up for this as we were given the choice of special bakes including Battenberg and Chocolate cake. Obviously we chose the chocolate and oh my did we make the right choice – a generous size too!

Chocolate Cake

Service

Caroline:
From the lovely lady on reception, to the charming waiter and assistant manager who chatted to us after our tea, everyone at Fortnum and Mason was incredibly welcoming. Their service style was attentive, without being at all imposing and we were made to feel very much at home throughout - a real treat!

Laura:
The service at Fortnum and Mason was immaculate. From being greeted at the desk right up to collecting our coats, we were attended with the upmost care. Particular mention must go to our server David who was really friendly and professional and also assistant manager Christopher who was extremely personable and kept this very busy tea room running smoothly.

Tiffany-Blue Stand

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:
The great thing about Fortnum and Mason, is the flawless approach to hospitality which is presented in every aspect of their Afternoon Tea. I very much enjoyed the afternoon tea experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion in style. (Also try their Queen Anne Blend Tea - it's lovely!)

Laura:
If you’re looking for somewhere to really treat yourself and experience Afternoon Tea at its very best then Fortnum and Mason is your go to place. Everything is done to the highest of standard and really takes you to a completely different world of relaxation and class. I would return even just for the scones. This is exactly how Afternoon Tea should be.  


Afternoon Tea is served daily from 12pm in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Fortnum and Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London. Prices start from £40.00 pp. For more information, menus and how to book a table please visit their website HERE

DISCLAIMER: As is common in the catering and leisure industry, we were provided with complimentary services for review purposes. Whilst this has not influenced our review, we believe in the full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. 
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