Watercress isn't something I usually look for in the produce department so I'm not even sure if it's available at Safeway or Fred Meyer, I'll have to look next time I'm there.
Friday, April 26, 2024
W is for Watercress
Thursday, April 25, 2024
V is for Victoria Sandwich
Not a traditional cake that is found on a tiered server, the Victoria Sandwich is a "cut cake", a cake that is sliced and served with tea (still in the afternoon but not in the sense that we have been discussing afternoon tea so far in this series). The sponge cake is named after Queen Victoria and would have been served in her time sandwiched with jam. These days, cream has been added. It is not iced or frosted but simply sprinkled with icing sugar, made more pleasing if it is sprinkled through a doily to make a decorative pattern.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
U is for Universal
U is another tough letter, so I chose Universal as one of its definitions is including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception.
Anyone looking at an afternoon tea table would probably think "gluten overload" as their first thought! Bread, scones, cake, pastry. How long has gluten-free been a thing? Thirty years? Forty years? It seems to me that when I was younger, it was not a term I ever heard. If something didn't agree with you, you just didn't eat it. Happily, things have changed, and afternoon tea is available in many venues to everyone.
Here's a look at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason with three menu variations.
Classic Afternoon Tea
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
T is for Tea Time Magazine
Monday, April 22, 2024
S is for Scones
Whether it's an afternoon tea at a posh venue or at home or a cream tea in a tearoom, there will always be scones.
There are usually two types - plain and rich. Rich scones have raisins or today, a variety of dried fruits or other additions.
I've always used the Be-Ro cookbook recipe for scones. Be-Ro is a food manufacturing business with products such as flour and baking powder and later a variety of other products. Thomas Bell, the founder, developed the world's first self-rising flour. My Mum had the Centenary Edition of the cookbook which I believe is from 1975 as Be-Ro was founded in 1875. I currently have the 41st edition which, sadly, is only available in the UK. I was fortunate to have a UK friend order and send me a copy.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
National Tea Day 2024
Saturday, April 20, 2024
R is for Royal Afternoon Tea
I briefly mentioned in A is for Afternoon Tea that adding a glass of champagne makes your tea a royal afternoon tea. It also increases the price considerably (from as much as £15 to £30 depending on the venue). So, unless it's a really special occasion, I'd save the champagne for another time.
However, this really does look delightful, doesn't it?
Friday, April 19, 2024
Q is for Quirky
ADJECTIVE
unusual in especially an interesting or appealing way
Yesterday's Peter Pan Afternoon Tea definitely falls into the quirky category and here are a couple more. Clicking on the photos will give you more detail.
Currently at The Lanesborough (London SW1X), the Queen Charlotte, a Bridgerton story, a special event until May 15th - (the menu is covered in F is for Finger Sandwiches)
Thursday, April 18, 2024
P is for Peter Pan at Aqua Shard
Aqua Shard's afternoon tea is inspired by the adventures of Peter Pan on the island of Neverland. Drawing on popular motifs from J. M. Barrie's much-loved novel, the tea is a fitting tribute to the author and his fictional characters. Innovative treats are served on a custom-made tea stand inspired by Captain James Hook's pirate ship, the Jolly Roger, which symbolized pirate ships in the 18th century.
To start, guests will enjoy a savoury selection of finger sandwiches with a creative twist, including a chicken sandwich topped with crispy bacon wrapped in paper denoting the four ‘Lost Boy Rules’, and an ‘Enormous Mushroom Chimney’ - mushroom-shaped bread inspired by the mushroom stools ‘of charming colour’ in Neverland. The ‘Codfish’ Captain Hook cod brandade croquette is named after Peter Pan’s nickname for his nemesis and will arrive complete with carefully crafted pastry hook.
Moving into the sweet section of the tea, quintessentially British warm scones will be hidden within a special treasure chest, accompanied by sweet apricot marmalade (or ‘mammee-apples’) as well as coconut clotted cream.
The sweet confections include a Tinker Bell Cookie, Peter Pan's Secret Hollow Tree Entrance (a chocolate log cake), Tick-Tock the Crocodile (a sweet dessert of raspberry and rooibos jelly with a crocodile gummy), and Hook's Perish Cake (lime green Victoria sandwich with coconut), all drawing on popular motifs from the book.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
O is for Orange
Oranges don't feature too prominently in afternoon teas. Only in the US would you find a piece of fresh fruit, on its own, on an afternoon tea tiered server. It's just not done in the UK. Orange would be confined to a macaron flavor, or as a complimentary flavor in a small cake or pastry, or as I recently found, in Orange Chantilly Cream.
I have to give you a little background here. Ever since I became a Great British Baking Show lover, I have learned that there are more than a dozen types of pastry cream - whipped cream, chantilly cream, crème anglaise, Bavarian cream, cremeux, pastry cream, crème légère, diplomat cream, mousseline cream, chiboust cream, almond cream, and frangipane.
Yesterday, as I was watched Jos Atkin's Festive Afternoon Tea at the Savoy on You Tube, she showed us a Christmas Spice Cake with Orange Chantilly, Candied Lemon and Orange, and Winter Spices which she proclaimed to be delicious. It looked like a great holiday treat which could even be modified to gingerbread, still with the orange chantilly cream on top.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
N is for Napkin
I love to experiment with napkins folds for special occasion meals. I have several books on the art of napkin folding and You Tube has brought the designs to life, making it so much easier to follow along with the intricate folding techniques.
One thing I found when researching afternoon teas is that almost all of the table settings feature a simple folded napkin. I think this goes along with "simple and elegant" and doesn't take away anything from the table setting that will evolve as the tiered server and tea pot(s) are brought to your table.
One thing all afternoon teas have in common is that the napkin will be a beautiful piece of cloth, freshly starched, and is most special when it is gently shaken and placed on your lap by your server.
Monday, April 15, 2024
M is for Macaron
A macaron is a sweet meringue-based confection made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond meal, and often food colouring.
Since the 19th century, a typical Parisian-style macaron is a sandwich cookie filled with a ganache, buttercream or jam.
Perfecting the art of baking macarons is not a simple task. Combining the ingredients is one step but making sure that the air is knocked out of the mixture when the circles are piped prior to baking results in the ruffled circumference (referred to as the "crown" or "foot" (or "pied")), a silky-smooth top, and a flat base. It is mildly moist and easily melts in the mouth. It's two bites of deliciousness (or one bite if it's a mini macaron) and there are as many varieties of macaron flavors as there are types of tea.
A macaron will often be found on the dessert layer of an afternoon tea server. They can be plain or highly decorated.
A post about macarons would not be complete without a mention of Ladurée, the French manufacturer and retailer of high-end pastries and candy, established in 1862. It is one of the world's best-known sellers of the double-decker macaron, 15,000 of which are sold every day.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
L is for Loose Leaf Tea
The sign of a quality afternoon tea is when they serve loose leaf tea instead of teabags. You get a strainer to put over your teacup to catch all the solids.
Don’t forget to use the strainer, otherwise you’ll get a mouthful of soggy leaves!
Friday, April 12, 2024
K is for the Orangery at Kensington Palace
Letter K was a tough one. Kiwi? Not really. Kornflakes? That would really be a stretch. Then I remembered that in my list of afternoon tea spots was Kensington Palace.
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in London. It has been a residence of the British royal family since the 17th century and is currently the official London residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and their two sons.
The Orangery at Kensington Palace is set to reopen its doors on 1st May, following an extensive period of restoration. This much-anticipated revival marks a new chapter for the restaurant characterized by a dining experience blending royal tradition with contemporary finesse. Situated within the scenic grounds of Kensington Palace, The Orangery is celebrated for its architectural beauty inspired by Queen Anne’s greenhouse, providing a stunning backdrop for its exquisite concept.
The Orangery’s Royal Afternoon Tea is set to be a highlight, with luxurious treats such as Castle Farm Lavender Éclair and traditional scones with Cornish clotted cream, for a taste of regal indulgence. The food offerings are accompanied by a selection of teas, as well as a range of premium wines and champagnes. The outside terrace allows guests to enjoy the views of the palace and its elegant gardens.
Sustainability is a key focus of The Orangery’s ethos, with a dedicated commitment to supporting local growers and responsible sourcing. This initiative not only ensures the highest quality of ingredients but also aligns with the growing demand for environmentally conscious dining options.
Guests at The Orangery can expect an immersive experience that transcends the ordinary, where each visit is a journey through the rich tapestry of time and taste, set against the scenery of one of London’s most iconic landmarks. The restaurant’s reopening is not just a celebration of its storied past but also a testament to its future as a destination where culinary excellence meets sustainable practices.
Source: The Upcoming
The Orangery's afternoon tea menu is £55, significantly less than many other London afternoon tea menu.
CHEF’S AMUSE BOUCHE
TOP TIER
Castle Farm lavender éclair
Strawberry, garden mint tartlet
The Orangery chocolate slice
MIDDLE TIER
Cornish clotted cream, blackcurrant preserve (alternative fruit preserves available)
BOTTOM TIER
English cucumber, dill infused cream cheese
Free-range egg, salad cress bridge roll
Chalk Stream trout, lemon bagel
Gammon ham, fresh vine tomato, mustard