Time for tea |
The one time holiday destination of Mark Owen (I kid you not) Hotel De Orangerie is one of Brugge's premier residences. Decadently styled in rich plum themes, this boutique hotel offers guests a slice of sophistication at a very reasonable price.
Welcome |
Upon entry we were presented with a mini tray of aperitifs (incl. cakes, chocolates and biscuits) to whet our appetite for the meal to come. I always love it when you get extra surprises along the way, so this was a very welcome addition and really helped to take the edge off our hunger in preparation for the main event.
When the tea came, I was once again impressed. Served on crustless brioche bread, the sandwiches were lovely and light, coming in several varieties: Egg & Mustard; Salmon & Red Onion; and Cucumber. I very much enjoyed the addition of brioche to the sandwich menu, snaffling my way through them all quite happily - and perhaps a little too quickly - oops.
Brioche Sandwiches |
The scones, again, were delightfully light, served with an abundance of Strawberry jam and cream, which is always a winner, particularly when presented on a pretty silver tray.
Now the cakes. What can I say about the cakes? - Yum.
I sometimes find that afternoon tea can offer too much of a good thing. Whether it's pastry, creamy fondants or cake, there is often a noticeable bias towards one particular aspect of patisserie, which can be overwhelming. However, this is not the case at De Orangerie Hotel, with a menu that includes: Summer Fruit Tart; Chocolate Cream Meringue; Chocolate Pistachio Coconut Fondant; Apple Cake; and Toffee Nut Tart. Needless to say, everything was as delicious as it looks - especially the Chocolate Meringue which was lighter than air!
Tea and Cake - What more could a girl ask for? |
There's lots more that I could say about this place, but I think it's one of those you need to experience yourself before you can fully appreciate it. If you're ever in Brugge, go. You won't regret it!
To find out more about Hotel De Orangerie, please visit their website here:
A good reason to to Belgium apart from Chips and mayo.
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