Product Review: Delimann Afternoon Cream Tea

Some people get Amazon packages in the post, some get postcards. Us? We get Afternoon Tea - its a hard life.

This week we were lucky enough to get our hands on one of Delimann's unique Afternoon Tea gift packages. Sent directly to our door and packaged super carefully in a neat box full of cream tea goodness, this is definitely the kind of mail we like to get.

Time for a cuppa.

Delimann offers several different Afternoon Tea packages, including; picnic hampers, champagne tea and even a special Birthday tea complete with a mini celebration cake - adorable. We tried their Devonshire Afternoon Cream Tea which included everything you need for a real Afternoon Tea experience in the comfort of your own home - two plain scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam, Tea Lover Biscuits, West Country Teabags and Devon Fudge.

Devonshire Fudge - yum!

For starters, the great thing about this Afternoon Tea is there's very little preparation. Just simply heat the oven, pop the kettle on and grab your favourite cup and saucer.

The scones smelled absolutely amazing whilst baking away and came out a lovely golden brown colour. They were a great size too, much bigger than I had anticipated which is never a bad thing where scones are involved!

Biscuits for dipping.

The scones really did taste just as good as they looked. Smothered in strawberry jam and Devonshire cream, they were absolutely yummy. I often find some scones to be a little heavy yet these were lovely and light and not too filling, even with lashings of cream - I may have gone a little overboard on that one but I think I my indulgence can be forgiven.

Warm scones.

I'm a huge fan of good old tea and biscuits too so I was very happy to see the packet of Tea Lover Biscuits tucked away in our gift box. This really gave the tea a charming, homely feel and there were plenty to go around. The biscuits were melt-in-your-mouth good and baked in cute bitesize portions - lovely.

Jam and cream - it's a must.

I must admit when I first spotted the Devon Fudge pieces I was slightly surprised as they're not a typical component to cream tea. However, they were in fact a very pleasant addition - crafted with organic clotted cream, they blended really well with the Devonshire Cream theme. The fudge cubes were really smooth and sweet - perhaps too sweet for some palettes but for me they were a wonderful, unexpected treat.

Bitesize treats.

Finally, included in the box is a full packet of West Country tea - 15 teabags altogether. I really liked this because once the scones were finished with I could still enjoy this tasty tea days later with my morning cuppa - definitely value for money.

I very much enjoyed Delimann's Cream Tea. It was hassle free, super fresh and each part was served in really generous sizes. I would definitely recommend it as a gift for any tea lover - you never know, they may even share it with you.

- Laura

Delimann provide a range of Afternoon Tea gift packages and deliver all over the UK. Prices start at £15.00 for a traditional Cream Tea. To find out more and to order go to: www.delimann.co.uk

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Fanny's Cream Tea by Post

As you know, we at The Afternoon Tea Club are partial to a couple of scones and a pot of tea so we were super excited when we received this yummy little package!

Afternoon Tea often conjures up images of grand hotels, perfect china and crisp white linen table cloths – which we highly approve of, of course! But sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to indulge in your favourite pastime, and after a busy day you might just want to curl up on your own sofa with a brew from your favourite teacup. Well, Fanny’s Farm makes that possible by bringing the best of Afternoon Tea to the comfort of your own home with their ingenious Cream Tea’s by Post!

Packaged to perfection in old fashioned brown paper and nestled rather creatively in a bed of popcorn, Fanny’s Cream Tea by Post has got your afternoon covered.

Tea for Two includes four fruit scones, a large jar Devon Clotted Cream of and two pots of homemade seeded raspberry jam along with two teabags, sweetly stamped with Fanny’s signature logo. There’s even a napkin each to complete the look – we loved the coordination.

There are handy instructions for tea too. The scones only take five minutes to warm in the oven whilst tea will take 3 minutes to brew for a cup that’s just right. The aroma from the oven was absolutely mouth-watering.

The jam and cream spread onto the scones very easily and there was a more than generous amount of both to go around. We loved that we each got our own jam jars and the labelling was extra cute with ingredient’s including ‘1% Fanny Magic’ – adorable.

The scones themselves were really lovely. We were anxious as to how the products would keep whilst in transit but they were extremely fresh and tasted great still warm from the oven. 

Cream Tea by Post would make a wonderful gift for any afternoon tea lover. You can treat yourself in your own time and have it exactly how you want it. It’s clear that a lot of love and care goes into each of these packages and that’s shown in the fantastic quality and faultless presentation. This really was a completely unique and very lovely experience – now who’s birthday is it next?...

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Annies, Manchester

Last week The Afternoon Tea Club were invited to Annies for an afternoon of delicious indulgence.

Annies

Environment

Laura: 

They have top hat light shades - I was sold there and then. Annie's is about mixing the theatrical with the elegant and they blend perfectly together under the guise of a traditional lounge style restaurant. Everything about the decor has been well thought out from the lavish chandeliers to the individual hand towels in the restroom.

The restaurant is split into several parts for daytime, evening and private dining. I very much liked the downstairs lounge area and it would make a great venue for a private party.

 Annie's is classy and stylish yet still incredibly charming and welcoming. There is no sense of superiority even though the level of sophistication at this place says there should be!

Hat Lamps

Caroline:  
Annies is the definition of a hidden gem. Tucked away just around the corner from Manchester’s bustling St. Ann’s Square, this little restaurant is the perfect city centre retreat - an almost home from home. Co-owned by Coronation Street’s Jennie McAlpine and Chris Farr, Annies offers its guests a comfortable homeliness which is uncharacteristic of many restaurants in the city centre - and a very welcome change. The furnishings at Annies are stylish yet familiar, comprising of brown hued armchairs and tables, elegantly accented with a variety of quirky paraphernalia, including bowler hat lamp shades and a decadent chandelier. The music choice was equally relaxing, with a selection of tunes from artists including, The Overtones and Michael Buble - as you can imagine, I was a very happy girl! 

The Full Feature

Food

Laura: 
I must admit, I didn’t know what to expect from afternoon tea at Annies as it is considerably cheaper than a lot of its competitors. But their gorgeous afternoon tea spread proved that price is definitely no indicator of quality here.

The selection of sandwiches was impressive with a good mix of salmon, beef, ham and mustard and cucumber, the ham being my fave. A very good start.

Speaking as a recently converted scone connoisseur – I realised this last week when I chose a scone over a slice of chocolate cake, my doctor’s appointment is booked for next week – I dove for the fabulous scones on our three tier tea. They were perfect, especially when layered with thick cream and strawberry jam, which came presented beautifully in mini jars. A nice touch.

And definitely saving the best ‘til last – the mini cake selection. Flapjacks, chocolate orange tarts and éclairs were on the menu today and made a refreshing change to my usual go to desserts. Naturally I loved the chocolate éclair but the chocolate orange tarts were a particularly wonderful addition and a pleasant surprise when the orange kicked in.

With generous helpings of tea and coffee delivered in traditional patterned china our afternoon was just perfect. 

Pretty Tea Service

Caroline:

This week we opted for the Standard Afternoon Tea which comprised of a selection of finger sandwiches (Ham and Mustard, Cucumber and Cream Cheese, Salmon and Beef) Fruit Scones with cute rustic jars of Clotted Cream and Strawberry Jam, and a selection of yummy cakes and pastries (Éclairs, Flapjacks and mini Chocolate and Orange tartlets with whipped cream)

For me, the highlight of this selection had to be the éclairs which were wonderfully light and filled with a delicious rich cream - indulgence itself. The tea was also lovely, served in abundance in pretty blue and white china which really added that extra little bit of sophistication. All in all a lovely spread!

Sandwiches

Service

Laura: 
The staff at Annies were incredibly attentive and made sure our cups were always full with fresh coffee. Extra thanks must go to the restaurant’s lovely co-owner who gave us the grand tour and gave us the inside story on Annie’s origins. Did you know that Annies was named after St Anne’s Market and also inspired by a famous musical redhead –no prizes for guessing which one! Just absolutely faultless service.

Time for Scones

Caroline: 
The service at Annies was both warm and welcoming with no request being too much for our generous hosts. As Laura said, particular thanks must go to Chris who really went that extra mile to make our experience memorable, answering all of our questions with great passion and enthusiasm. The love which all of the staff have for Annies is evident and it is this which will take them far.

Oh the choice!

Overall Thoughts

Laura:  
I can definitely see us returning to Annies in the future with a group of friends to enjoy their evening menu or even just for a quick tipple. There is a wonderful atmosphere and we were made to feel right at home - which is probably why we didn’t notice the afternoon pass us by! Oh, it’s a hard knock life. 

Caroline:
I loved Annies and will definitely be back soon to sample their evening menu in the downstairs dining area. If you’re looking for a relaxing environment with good food and friendly staff, then you can’t really go wrong with Annies. 

Cupcake Rating:

 





Annies is located on Old Bank Street in Manchester City Centre, at the back of St Ann Square. Afternoon Tea Prices range from £14.95 - £19.95 pp. For more information and menus please visit their website HERE

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.    

Cake Break: Lucky Days, Church Street, York

Feeling lucky? Then take a trip to the fabulous Lucky Days cafe in York.

Lucky 6? 

 

Situated in York's wonderfully traditional cobbled streets, Lucky Days is the perfect place to stop for lunch amidst all the shopping and sightseeing the city has to offer.

 

The format is geared towards modern lunching with a compact hot food counter that serves soups and baked potatoes and a canteen style dessert station - all ran by lovely, enthusiastic and friendly staff.

 

Scones with jam and cream.

 

The cafe boasts a rather inventive alternative to the typical loyalty stamp card. On your first visit you will be presented with a card that entitles you to a roll of the dice on your return. Should you roll a 6, every item on your bill will then only cost you £1 - how cute is that?!

 

Red velvet cake. Wow.

The food is just delightful. Perfectly fluffy baked potatoes and healthy soups (I chose both!) and amazing cakes and scones - well you've got to try it all haven't you?

 

For a quick bite or coffee and a cake, Lucky Days is definitely a must - and it may only cost you a quid - good luck!

 

(Laura)

The 'Baking Mad' Challenge - Afternoon Tea Menu Ideas

A few weeks ago we were challenged by our friends at bakingmad.com to attempt an Afternoon Tea challenge using recipes from their website.

Tea for Two

Being fans of all things Afternoon Tea, we couldn't resist this opportunity and so headed over to their site to see what was on offer. The choice was quite substantial - offering everything from cupcakes to pastries - but after lengthy discussions we decided to go for a simple yet elegant tea of Bite Size Brownies, Butterfly Cakes and Tea Time Scones

Two Tiers of Treats

These recipes were quick, easy to make and perfect on a budget - The whole thing cost less than £7 (plus we still have plenty of ingredients left over to make it all again!)

Check out their website for information on how to make cupcake recipes and more.

Yummy Gooey Brownies

How do you think we got on? Do let us know if you try any of the recipes above, we'd love to know what you think!

Love

Laura and Caroline

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Lunch Break: Watergate Tearooms, Hebden Bridge

When in Hebden Bridge, Lunch is an absolute necessity, and with so many different places to choose from you can be really spoilt for choice. On my most recent visit to the town, I decided to venture into the Watergate Tearooms (which have long been tempting me) to sample some of their lovely fare.

Scone and Jam

Offering extensive menus, which include both full afternoon and cream teas, this little cafe has something for everyone. The scones in particular are delicious, served warm with lashings of jam and cream - the perfect winter warmer by itself or with a cup of tea. Similarly the sandwiches are presented to a high standard, made using good quality products and garnishes.

Ham Baguette and Salad

However, there is one small downside to this cafe. On the day that I visited the service was particularly slow, with us being left waiting for the best part of an hour to be served our tea and sandwiches. In fairness, I must note that they were particularly busy, but I feel that even when considering this, the wait was a little longer than I would have otherwise liked. I wouldn't say that this is a reason not to pay them a visit, but just something to be taken into account if pushed for time.

Otherwise, lovely food and very pleasant staff!

(Caroline)

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Browns, Manchester

Last week, The Afternoon Tea Club was invited for an afternoon of champagne and sophistication at one of Manchester's premium restaurants, Browns Bar - what better way is there to spend a birthday!

Epitome of Sophistication

Environment

Caroline

Whether you’re ladies who like to lunch or on a business brunch, Brown’s is an idyllic location. Wonderfully calm, but bubbling with ambiance, this sophisticated Brasserie treats its guests to a little taste of the Art Deco past, whilst being firmly footed in the twenty-first century. Their dining area is comfortable and elegant offering just the right balance of historical charm and modernity, with the inclusion of some very impressive chandeliers and mirror lined walls which exude a ‘high class’ feel. The background music was appropriate for the surroundings, adding an extra element of atmosphere to the dining experience - Paolo Nutini is always a winner. I have no doubt that this restaurant can, at peak times, become as lively as every other in town, but for tea and scones in an afternoon this comparative serenity gives Browns that extra added charm - Perfect for escaping the city centre blues for an hour or two.

Dining Room

Laura
The overall design of Brown’s is all about grandeur. High ceilings, marble pillars and statement chandeliers are all elegantly put in place to produce the perfect get-away from busy Manchester life.

The aroma from the top class kitchen hits you the moment you walk through the doors of the former banking hall and the shine from gold accents and Edwardian signature pieces make you feel like you’ve just stopped for tea in the first class lounge of the Titanic. However, let us say, Brown’s is no sinking ship and has its feet firmly on the ground with a high class feel that compliments rather than overpowers its welcoming atmosphere. 

Food

Caroline 

Browns offer a selection of Afternoon Teas which include, ’Traditional’, ’Champagne’ and ’A Most Unusual Afternoon’ - which comes with a ’stylish glass of Hendrick’s & Tonic with a slice of cucumber’ - All sounded lovely, but on this occasion we both opted for the Champagne! 

High Tea

I must say that I was very impressed with the standard of all of the food which we were presented with. The tea itself consisted of a selection of finger sandwiches (Cucumber, Salmon & Cream Cheese and Egg & Watercress) presented on a lovely cake stand, with fruit scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam, a selection of mini cakes (Rich dark fruit, Chocolate Mousse and Lemon) and a choice of tea or coffee, with a glass of champagne on the side. The sandwiches were very fresh and made to order on good quality bread - complete with trimmed crusts - whilst the cakes were lovely and moist. My particular favourite was the rich dark fruit cake which was brilliantly dense and fruity and left me wanting more. 

As an added treat, we were given the opportunity to sample the Chef’s special of the day - a Passion Fruit Panna Cotta - which was a definite highlight of the afternoon and well worth trying if you pay them a visit in the near future!

Afternoon Tea

Laura
As you may be aware, we’re rather partial to a spot of tea and cake (and if you didn’t well … welcome!) so we were quite excited at the prospect of afternoon tea at Browns. Given the choice between Traditional Tea, Unusual Afternoon and Champagne Tea, we of course did not hesitate to select the champagne option.

Our champagne came presented with a slice of strawberry on the side – subtle but finishing touches like that really make the difference.

I chose to go wild and select coffee instead of tea for the afternoon – good choice too as it was noticeably great quality coffee accompanied by hot milk.

As Caroline said, the selection of sandwiches on offer was a trio of traditional favourites. Perfectly cut afternoon tea staples on particularly fresh bread - top marks for the salmon!

Moving down the stand were some lovely fruit scones complete with jam and cream. They were an absolute treat and if it didn’t break tradition I would have happily had several!

The final tier offered something for every palette with a choice of three miniature cakes – rich chocolate,zesty lemon and good old fruit cake. Of course, my favourite was the chocolate slice which had a lovely mousey texture and thick chocolate topping.

And as if all that wasn’t enough -  we were kindly offered the chance to try the chef’s daily dessert special – a passion fruit Panna Cotta. Delicious! So creamy and tangy at the same time –definitely worth a return visit.

Passion Fruit Panna Cotta

Service

Caroline
Service at Browns was very swift, friendly and professional, taking care of you without being over facing. We were made to feel incredibly welcome by all staff members from the second we stepped in through the door and couldn‘t have asked for more. 

Laura

Upon arrival we were greeted and offered a beverage whilst we chose our tea options. The lovely lady who looked after us was kindly attentive and as Caroline said was observant without being intrusive. Just the right balance.

Champagne

Overall Thoughts

Caroline
I had a very enjoyable afternoon at Browns Manchester and will definitely be returning in the near future to sample their a la carte menu and experience the evening ambiance. Full marks!

Laura

It would be easy for Browns touse its beautiful guise of grandeur to set itself aside with a sense of elitismbut this just isn’t the case. For me, that was its winning factor as it manages to separate itself from most establishments by simply providing a genuinely lovely experience. Browns is beautiful yet comfortable and if we could stop for afternoon tea here every afternoon, the world would be a wonderful place – now, just have to try and convince the other half to take me there for their Valentine’s special!

Cupcake Rating: 

Browns is located in Manchester City Centre near Rosso, on the corner of York Street and Spring Gardens. Afternoon Tea Prices range from £9.95 - £23.95 and are served daily from 2.30pm. For more information, menus and how to book a table please visit their website HERE 

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. 

Home Sweet Home, Edge Street, Manchester

Environment

Laura: Well when they named it ‘Home Sweet Home’ they got it spot on. Immediately we were welcomed into this lovely environment that felt like someone’s humble yet modern kitchen. A refreshing style based on home comforts sets the perfect ambience for an afternoon (or evening as it’s open ‘til late!) with friends. Little accents of household objects such as board games, books and even cereal boxes made me feel like I was dining in a really kooky B&B. I really loved it!

Caroline: This café is one of the loveliest places we've visited so far on our travels. Its off beat, homely style, blends the modern with the traditional, providing the perfect atmosphere to enjoy one of their numerous edible delights! This home from home is accentuated wonderfully with various quirky features, including book lined archways and an ever so cool Kit-Kat Clock!

Food

Laura: I was super excited about trying the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at Home Sweet Home. They take about 15 mins to be made but are most certainly worth the wait. Perfectly moist and still gooey warm from the oven, served with a glass of milk for dipping. For just £3 you get five cookies, now you can hardly argue with that! I also chose a cold drink to end our visit which came in the form of a retro Coca Cola glass bottle. A lovely touch and surprisingly cheap again at £2.20 a bottle.

Caroline: This week I moved away from cupcakes and opted for a traditional fruit scone with Jam and Cream - Needless to say it was lovely. I particularly liked the fact that it was warmed through before service, which made it extra delicious. Like the cookies, it was also very reasonably priced at just £3, and was definitely worth the money!

To drink I also had a bit of a change, opting for a sparkling water at £2 a bottle and as far as water goes it was very nice!

Service

Laura: I certainly felt right at home when we were greeted the minute we stepped through the doors. Our server was very quick to ask for our orders and made sure to inform of the wait time for my cookies. The friendly and enthusiastic staff were extremely polite and attentive to our needs. Smiles all round!

Caroline: The service at 'Home Sweet Home' was everything I could have asked for and more. All of the staff were incredibly friendly and greeted us as soon as we entered, offering prompt service and looking after us throughout our entire afternoon. Top marks!

Overall Thoughts

Laura: I will certainly be making another visit to Home Sweet Home. Where else can you get freshly baked cookies for such a great price in Manchester? Next time I’d love to try one of their fabulous sharer desserts which looked ever so tempting. Gorgeous place, a great mix of people, why wouldn’t I want to go again?!

Caroline: This has to be one of the best places to spend an afternoon in Manchester. Warm, friendly and comfortable - I can't fault it at all. I will definitely be back!

Cupcake Rating: