Sunday, 29 September 2013

Fashionista Afternoon Tea At The Palazzo Versace, Australia


Fresh off the runway, Palazzo Versace’s New Season Fashionista High Tea will be incorporating the trends, colours and designs inspired by the latest House of Versace couture collection. The range features bright colours, bold textures, brave prints and unabashed hemlines. Think fashion, think fierce, think fabulous. 

Guests can enjoy brightly glazed éclairs and home-made macarons, eclectic flavoured pots de crème, layered fruit salad with white chocolate mousse, bakewell tarts, colourful cake pop and freshly baked scones with double whipped cream. The savoury selection includes toasted bread crisps with roasted dip, petit quiche and a variety of sandwiches including curried egg, Tandoori chicken and Salmon.


Fashionista High Tea 
$45 per person 

Sparkling High Tea 
$55 per person 

Includes a glass of Cloudy Bay ”Pelorus” Sparkling Wine 

Champagne High Tea 
$70 per person 
Includes a glass of Ruinart “R” Champagne 

Couture Champagne High Tea 
$110 per person 
Includes glass of Dom Perignon Champagne 

Little Fashionista High Tea (4-12 years) 
$25 per child 

Includes fizzy lemonade spiders, chocolate frog in a pond and cake pops lavishly coated with hundreds and thousands. 

Each child will also receive a complimentary colouring book and crayons. 

Palazzo Versace Fashionista High Tea is held daily in Le Jardin lobby bar from 11am until 5pm. Reservations are not required unless there are over 6 guests. 

Group bookings required for more than six guests. A table will be reserved in Il Barocco Restaurant from 12.00pm until 4pm. 

To make a reservation, please contact the hotel on 07 5509 8000 

or email rsvp@palazzoversace.com.au

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Afternoon Tea at The Palm Court, Plaza NYC


From the moment the doors opened in 1907, The Plaza became an international icon of splendor and luxury. With a heritage rich in history and history- making events, the legendary quality of The Plaza is unmatched. Over the past 100 years, The Plaza has hosted a variety of celebrated personalities, including the mischievous Eloise, George M. Cohan, Truman Capote, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and The Beatles. Long a part of Plaza tradition, the romantic and timeless Palm Court has served as a setting for scenes in many popular novels and films, most notably, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

Carved from with in the great castle-like landmark, it’s The Plaza’s magnificent public spaces that set it apart as the quintessential grand palace of urban democracy. The authentic Palm Court has been lovingly restored to its original grandeur following a $6.5 million dollar renovation. Known as the heart and soul of The Plaza, this vast, airy landmark space remains bordered by mirrored doors, fleur-de-peche marble columns and is crowned with a domed yellow- and-green skylight. The spectacular re-creation of the Palm Court’s luminous 1,800 square foot stained-glass lay light, like The Plaza itself, continues to contribute to the life, vitality and culture of New York City.



Today, New York’s most fashionable address defines the next generation of style. The Plaza, the ultimate luxury lifestyle destination, is a cultural oasis amid a bustling metropolis. The Plaza continues the tradition of defining luxury through unmatched five star service, with a contemporary spirit. Afternoon Tea, a famous tradition at The Plaza, blends an innovative menu with a formal tea service to provide guests a balance of service and flavorful cuisine.


www.theplazany.com

Monday, 23 September 2013

230 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar, NYC


This classy rooftop bar boasts some of the best views in the whole of New York. Located on 5th Avenue and 27th Street, the rooftop garden offers a close-up view of the Empire State Building and the other Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers. There is plenty of seating at this 22,000 square foot bar, both outside on the terrace and inside in the Penthouse Lounge. 230 Fifth is open year round, and on colder days the rooftop garden is partially heated. You can even ask the servers for a bathrobe to keep you warm. It’s quite a sight to see so many well-dressed people wear bright-red robes! This classy bar is strictly 21+, so be sure to bring an ID. Admission is free, but if you want to try one of the delicious cocktails do keep in mind that the prices can be steep.

230 Fifth is open from 4 pm to 4 am, and can be reached by taking the N or R train to the West 29th Street & Broadway subway station.



www.230-fifth.com


Room with a view! THE RITZ-CARLTON, MILLENIA SINGAPORE


Hide away in a seven-acre garden oasis and experience spectacular hotel accommodations.The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is the ideal place from which to marvel at the city’s skyline or explore the wonders of Marina Bay. You won’t find a more interesting mix of commercial, retail, entertainment and recreational options anywhere.

Strategically located in the heart of Marina Bay and a 20-minute drive from the airport, the luxury accommodations feature:

Unobstructed views of the Singapore skyline or Marina Bay

One of the largest guest rooms and accommodations of any hotel in Singapore, averaging 550 to 650 square feet

Hotel design by Pritzker prize-winning architect Kevin Roche with a 4,200 piece contemporary art collection including works by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol and Dale Chihuly

Award-winning, landscaped gardens featuring tropical plants, rocks and waterfalls around the swimming pool

Within a short scenic stroll to exciting attractions such as the Integrated Resort, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer and Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay









They also serve and amazing Afternoon Tea! 

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Asia de Cuba Afternoon tea at St Martins Lane London


From its dazzling location in the West End of London, at the hub of Covent Garden, West End theatres and Trafalgar Square, St Martins Lane is a dramatic and daring reinvention of the urban resort.

Smart, witty and sophisticated, this luxury boutique hotel is a luminous jewel whose glowing yellow glass revolving doors and widely popular Light Bar reveal Philippe Starck's brilliant collision of influences - from the modern to the baroque - that suffuses the hotel with energy, vitality and magic.

Afternoon Tea is served in Asia de Cuba, where the sleek and eclectic design features minimal white surfaces, juxtaposed against bare bulbs and luxurious pillars adorned with quirky pictures.

Restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow has created a dynamic Asian inspired Afternoon Tea menu including a hot smoked salmon tart with quails eggs & chipotle hollandaise and a chocolate chilli cream and pistachio crumble, served with a selection of teas to accompany the savoury and sweet courses.





ASIA DE CUBA AFTERNOON TEA

APERITIVO
Mango, kiwi and strawberry layered bottle

SAVOURY
Hot smoked salmon tart with quails eggs & chipotle hollandaise
Cubano pressed sandwiches with BBQ pulled pork, Swiss cheese and ham
Beef and vegetable empanadas with Caribbean hot sauce
Fresh green mango, cucumber & mooli summer roll (v)
Hot and sour chicken & avocado spring roll

Tea to accompany Savoury
Traditional Iron Buddha
Dragon Well
Bohea Lapsang

SWEET
Chocolate chilli cream and pistachio crumble
Banana spring rolls filled with white chocolate and coconut ganache
Freshly made doughnuts rolled in cinnamon sugar with butterscotch sauce
Key lime pie topped with a soft meringue
Savoury scones served with Mojito butter

Tea to accompany Sweet
Wuyi Big Red Robe
Lychee Red
Vanilla Black

FINISH
Lemongrass and Ginger
Phoenix Honey Orchid
or
Cafecito

COCKTAILS £13.50

Asian Passion Martini
Finlandia Vodka, Creme de Fraise, Fresh lime, passion fruit

Old Cuban Martini
Black grapes, fresh mint, Havana rum, fresh lime, Elderflower cordial, champagne

Passionate About Tea
Appleton VX tea infused rum, Passoa Liquor, fresh lime, Creme de peach, passion fruit

Afternoon Tea £25 per person

Afternoon Tea with one cocktail £35 per person

Monday, 16 September 2013

Botanical Afternoon Tea At The Intercontinental - Park Lane


The five-star InterContinental London Park Lane is situated between Mayfair and Knightsbridge in view of Buckingham Palace. Set on the ground floor is the visually stunning Wellington Lounge, with a view of London's Wellington Arch promised from every seat.

The Wellington Lounge is also the place to indulge in a new Afternoon Tea menu that cleverly evolves with the seasons and always brings to Park Lane the best products within the British Isles. This hotel has been awarded 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013' in recognition of its outstanding quality and consistently high standards in Afternoon Tea service.


The Botanical tea Celebrates the hotel’s location overlooking the iconic Royal Parks, this delicate and whimsical tea mixes citrus, berries, spices, and herbaceous botanicals. The sensory awakening begins with a botanical palate cleanser made with Kentish pears and sprinkled with juniper. Four generous open-face sandwiches including guinea fowl in a mustard seed and mayonnaise dressing topped with fried celeriac are followed by warm citrus peel scones served with quince and cardamom preserve, fresh English strawberry jam, and clotted cream. The cakes, which were created by InterContinental London Park Lane Pastry Chef Luis Meza, are inspired by the colours of the season and include a not-to-be-missed blueberry crème brûlée macaroon. Botanical Tea is paired with a Champagne cocktail that blends homemade vanilla bean syrup and cardamom bitters with very dry NV Brut Moet & Chandon 


Wellington Lounge, a London Afternoon Tea experience fit for Royalty

Botanical afternoon tea, £35/person, minimum of 2 persons
Intercontinental London Park Lane
Wellington Lounge
1 Hamilton Place
London W1J 7QY

Sunday, 15 September 2013

London Fashion Week Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel


Enjoy London Fashion Week in true style with Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel. With deep sofas and studded armchairs, scarlet velvets, and kingfisher blues, The Drawing Rooms is where English heritage meets the 'salon de thé' - the whole instilled with a contemporary Ampersand feel.

London Fashion Week Afternoon Tea

Savoury Gougères:
Gloucester old spot ham, sauce gribiche
Seven & Wye smoked salmon, dill & cream cheese
Coronation chicken and cheese with fruit chutney

Homemade white chocolate scones, jams & clotted cream

Pastries:
Mango, orange & blueberry 'perfume'
Cookie heels on top of a chocolate catwalk
Raspberry & rose mousse, sugar diamond handbags

London Fashion Week Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel is available from the 13th until the 22nd of September 2013.

£27.50 per person

Thursday, 12 September 2013

London Fashion Week Cocktail - 'Coco Chanel' At The Beaufort Bar The Savoy


Coco, Coco Chanel Cocktail
Created by Chris Moore and Fabrizio Fiorito. Coco changed the course of fashion history and she also loved to drink. She was known for believing that red wine and caviar would keep her young. Champagne was also a favourite tipple.

Grey Goose infused with rose and jasmine, Lillet Blanc, Red Wine and Blackberry Reduction, Moët & Chandon 2004. Served in an 1890’s wine glass and garnished with jasmine and rose tea spray and black sugar pearls presented in a small caviar tin.


www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/

MAD HATTERS AFTERNOON TEA PARTY, The Dorchester


MONDAY 28 OCTOBER - SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
The Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea Party in The Promenade at The Dorchester is a must! with performances by English National Ballet School’s young dancers in collaboration with English National Ballet. The Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Dormouse and Alice herself will be found pirouetting, plié-ing and jeté-ing amongst The Promenade tables, stopping to share magical tales with younger guests.

From Monday the 28th of October to Sunday the 3rd of November Afternoon Tea will be served at 2.15pm and at 4.45pm daily.

£51.00 per adult including a glass of champagne
£56.50 per adult with Laurent–Perrier Rose champagne
£30.00 for children aged 5-11

£1 from every booking will be donated to Cancer Research.

Prices are inclusive of VAT and exclusive of service charge at 12.5%.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Art Decadent Tea At The Beaufort Bar, The Savoy London


The Beaufort Bar exudes an unashamedly old-fashioned glamour. In a theatrical, Art Deco interior of jet-black and burnished gold décor, the bar is all about champagne, cocktails and cabaret. The bar stands on the hotel's former cabaret stage that was graced by luminaries such as Carroll Gibbons, the Savoy Orpheans and George Gershwin. This tradition is continued by nightly live entertainment with occasional appearances from cabaret legends and up and coming talent. The bar offers one of London's most extensive choices of champagne by the glass and by the bottle including rare vintages from Louis Roederer and Cristal. These are accompanied by classic and new cocktails served with a witty and playful presentation. Nightly live music and entertainment complete the atmosphere.

The Beaufort Bar, with its dark luxury, gold leaf and champagne, has inspired an indulgent new afternoon tea. Available on Sundays, the Art Decadent Tea has all the ingredients for a lazy afternoon; chilled champagne, Tipsy Tea cocktails, interesting savory selection, warm scones slathered with cream & jam and a tempting array of gorgeously wicked tea pastries.















Menu
Art Decadent Tea 

Glass of Moutard Prestige Rosé NV Champagne 

Savoury

Beetroot and cerney goats cheese macaroons,
Crabmeat salad "black & White"
Gravalax cone and premier cru caviar,
Foie gras ballontine served with pistachio shortbread and rum cherries,
Devon red beef tartare and soft quail eggs

Refresher
Champaign sorbet
Freshly baked raisin and plain scones with home made jam also served with
cornish clotted cream and lemon curd.

Decadent Sweets

Verrine of hazelnut and cremeux with mango passion raspberry crunch
That was Amazing!!

"black & white" battenberg

Grand finale

An Art deco Tower that showcased some devine chocolates made at the hotel.
Includes selection of teas

The Art Decadent Tea is priced at £42.50 per person and is served in the Beaufort Bar on Sundays from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m -- Bookings can only be made for the Art Decadent Tea by email or phone.

Albertopolis Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel, London


For a taste of Britain’s rich cultural heritage, there are few better locations than South Kensington. From the V&A to the Royal Albert Hall, the streets are overflowing with imposing artistic institutions.

Nicknamed Albertopolis – after its royal patron, Prince – the area is also home to The Ampersand. This privately owned boutique hotel, just off the main road, offers Victoriana with a modern twist. Interiors are inspired by botany, music, geometry, ornithology and astronomy.

The Albertopolis afternoon tea is served in the Drawing Room. It’s a riot of bird prints; on the chairs, cushions, walls and light-fittings. While the menu – created by pastry chef Ji Sun Shin – is a gastronomic stroll down Exhibition Road.

Sweet, floral Jasmine Silver Tip tea is accompanied by an Opera cake topped with edible sheet music (never has Beethoven's Fifth been so tempting). A piece of gingerbread, cleverly shaped like an artist's palette, with colourful blobs of 'paint,' is deep, peppery and delicious.

The Feuilletine tart – a praline shell, filled with mango mousse – features painted tuiles. There’s the Royal Albert Hall (on a square of delicious dark chocolate) and the Albert Memorial (on tasteless, too-thin white).


Albertopolis Afternoon Tea: £27.50 per person or £39.50 per person with a glass of Champagne

www.ampersandhotel.com

Friday, 6 September 2013

BB Bakery County Hall - Tea Salon, London



As you enter the rather beautiful BB Bakery County Hall, you're immediately hit with the sweet smell of baking as your eyes fall upon the most wonderful and seemingly endless cake counter in front of you.

London meets Paris with this quaint, yet modern boutique bakery. All cakes are baked daily by an expert French team of pastry chefs.

Guests can enjoy a full Afternoon Tea experience with a selection of sandwiches, cakes, mini cupcakes, freshly made scones with clotted cream accompanied with a great choice of loose tea from Bartjeman & Barton.

Located just a minute walk from Big Ben, London Eye, London Dungeons and Duck Tours, BB Bakery County Hall is an impressive venue for anyone seeking a delicious Afternoon Tea.


BB AFTERNOON TEA

Finger sandwiches

Freshly baked scones

Sweet pastries

Mini cupcake

Macaroons

Natural orange juice

Choice of teas

£22.00 per person, 
£29.00 with a glass of Rosé French Champagne

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

BUTTERFLIES AND ALL THINGS SWEET...THE STORY OF MS B’S CAKES



Bonnae Gokson’s book Butterflies and All Things Sweet opens a window into the inspiration and ideas behind her extraordinary cake designs. Unique in the world, these cakes encapsulate the creative vision of the woman who made her name working with luxury brands including Chanel, Giorgio Armani, W Hotels and Ritz Carlton.

Butterflies and All Things Sweet is not a cookbook, but a visual feast, exploring the ingredients, ideas and inspiration behind the works of edible art through lush photography shot on location in Hong Kong—the home of Bonnae Gokson’s cafes and restaurants—and internationally.

The ruffles of a petticoat. The petals of a delicate peony. Rolls and rolls of satin ribbons in a dozen shades of red. The startling purple hue of taro at the market. The juicy citrus cells of a pomelo, the jewel-like seeds of a pomegranate. Fragrant ripe raspberries at the height of their perfection. The gold luster of a butterfly’s wing, glimpsed and then gone. “When there’s a lot going on, it is the simple things in life that are the most powerful,” she says.







Bonnae Gokson’s privileged upbringing exposed her to fine dining, grand entertaining and extensive international travel, and these influences shaped her destiny as the Hong Kong style icon she is today.

Yet it is her quest for authenticity and joy that drives her creativity, resulting in cakes that taste as extraordinary as they look. “A little flour, a little sugar, a little butter and the power of the imagination: that’s what it takes,” she says. From pure raw ingredients to the last bite, when all that remains is a few crumbs on a hand-painted porcelain plate, each cake is a celebration of all that is sweet and transient in life itself.

Bonnae Gokson’s Hong Kong cafes and restaurants include Ms B’s Cakery, Sevva and C’est La B.






Ms B says “The cakes I create for my customers are like butterflies, here and then gone, devoured in a few sweet bites. This book is the story of my cakes. It’s my thinking cap in a visual form. Spools of brightly colored ribbons, the seeds of a pomegranate, a fragment of handmade lace that holds memories of my years in fashion, the petals of a peony : all these things inspire me to create cakes that give pleasure to my customers. My cakes are also the story of what’s important to me in my life. I value creativity and integrity. I’m fortunate to have had a lifetime of exposure to beautiful things all over the globe, from fine art to high fashion, and now cakes are the medium in which I express all that I’ve absorbed and all that’s important to me“