The Milestone’s Moving to Mars Afternoon Tea (above)
1. Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea – Afternoon Tea has been an institution at Fortnum & Mason for centuries. After all the London flagship has been brewing and importing tea since 1707! Served in the award-winning Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, guests are served an array of classic sandwiches, such as Rare Breed Hen’s Egg Mayonnaise with English Cress, Norfolk Cured Ham with English Mustard, Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese, Rooftop Smoked Salmon with a Tartar Dressing and Coronation Chicken. Freshly baked scones are presented with clotted cream along with Fortnum’s Strawberry Preserve & Lemon Curd. On the highest tier – like the cherry on top – you’ll find a delicious plate of patisserie, while a dessert trolley serves exquisite cakes. The latest addition on the menu is Fortnum’s Sparkling Tea! A non-alcoholic blend of eight of Fortnum’s finest and rarest teas, mixed with grape juice and lemon juice.
For more information visit www.fortnumandmason.com/restaurants/diamond-jubilee-tea-salon
2. Adam Handling’s Afternoon Tea at the Cadogan – Winner of the ‘Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea’ at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2019, this is another great notch in Belmond’s enviable belt. The luxury group has just two properties in the UK, Le Manoir and the Cadogan, and while the two Michelin star restaurant at Le Manoir is run by Raymond Blanc, the relatively new Belmond Cadogan hotel has at its helm Adam Handling. Formerly the head chef at St Ermin’s Hotel, Adam went on to launch his own restaurant called Frog, which last year won best newcomer at the Food and Travel Reader Awards. Cadogan’s afternoon tea begins with an amuse-bouche of egg custard topped with shaved black truffle served in a white eggshell set in a pretty silver eggcup, alongside a glass of Adam’s own label sparkling wine from West Sussex. There’s a wide variety of Newby teas on offer, each of which is served in an individual teapot that wears a charming tea cosy hand-knitted by Adam’s mum! The food is served on a stunning gold tree – a tribute to one of the trees in Cadogan Place Garden – and along with the traditional finger sandwiches you’ll find other savoury delights like black pudding sausage roll, salt cod croquettes and cheese gougères. Homemade scones and beautiful-looking cakes make up the sweets, with a palate cleansing lemon and elderflower chiffonade with basil sorbet served in between.
For more information visit www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/london/belmond-cadogan-hotel/dining
3. Town House Kensington Afternoon Tea – Following the hugely successful, record breaking Tale As Old As Time Afternoon Tea, after two years Kensington’s Town House has launched its much anticipated London Landmarks Afternoon Tea. Taking inspiration from London’s most recognisable and historic landmarks, Town House at The Kensington’s London Landmarks Afternoon Tea leads diners on a tour of the capital’s architectural feats and culinary traditions, with tributes to London’s most famed structures. Town House’s new skyline of scones, sandwiches and sweets pays homage to the capital’s iconic buildings and is presented on a London Eye-inspired tea stand. Celebrating the capital, savoury treats nod towards pub menu classics such as steak and ale pie, Colton Bassett stilton and broccoli quiche, and crab cake served with tartar sauce and capers. The highlights here though are the sweets, each of which is in the shape of iconic London landmarks, including a little red phone box made from rhubarb mousse, the Gherkin made of white chocolate filled with dark chocolate ganache, the Shard which is a delicately spiced carrot cake with milk chocolate and of course Big Ben, which is a lemon curd tart.
For more information visit townhousekensington.com/london-landmarks-afternoon-tea/
4. K West Hotel’s Retro Afternoon Tea – An innovative new afternoon tea was launched at the fun-loving K West Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush this summer. The retro theme includes delights such as berry trifle with vanilla cream, custard & berry compote; and marzipan & plum bon bon coated with dark chocolate. Savoury lovers will relish the beetroot infused devilled egg filled with coronation chicken; mini halloumi sliders with sundried tomato & guacamole; and mini prawn cocktail spiked with Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Even the traditional scones have been given a cheeky little twist, with guests able to indulge in some apricot and ginger varieties served with the usual clotted cream and strawberry jam. The K West crew have also carefully crafted a daring blend of floral flavours and sweet spices to complement this quirky afternoon tea. They have a bespoke white tea that includes jasmine, lavender and mullein flowers with lemongrass and ginger for that extra twist. The best part though is that all guests get to take away their own Pick ‘n’ Mix bag full of classic sweets including Liquorice Allsorts, Assorted Rainbows and Coloured Candy Canes!
For more information visit www.k-west.co.uk/offers/retro-afternoon-tea
5. Moving to Mars Afternoon Tea at The Milestone Hotel & Residences – The exquisite Milestone Hotel & Residences in Kensington has created a very special Mars themed afternoon tea to coincide with the launch of the nearby Design Museum’s new Moving to Mars exhibition, which begins on 18th October 2019. The afternoon tea is served with delicious classic finger sandwiches (the best being the roast chicken sandwich served in a peanut-crusted white bread), freshly baked scones, a pot of chosen tea and Mars-themed pastries, which are aesthetically amazing. The delectable ‘Red Planet’ is comprised of Valrhona caramelia chocolate mousse sprayed with red cocoa butter and flickered with a darker orange to give a Mars like effect. The ‘Asteroid’ coffee cake piped with chocolate ganache is clever and tasty, while the coconut and passion fruit mousse ‘Star’ is another highlight. Having just had a successful short run, the Moving to Mars Afternoon Tea returns to The Milestone on 18th October and will be available until 25th November.
For more information visit www.milestonehotel.com/food-and-drink/afternoon-tea
