The Dorchester
From May 18 – 24, The Dorchester will be serving its Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Garden insprired afternoon tea and will be held in The Promenade at The Dorchester, where Dan Pearson’s 2015 Laurent-Perrier Chatsworth Chelsea Flower Show garden will be referenced through floral arrangements and woodland inspired bouquets on each table and The Promenade’s famous palms replaced by native trees.
The special Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea will include hand-crafted delights such as a flower basket hazelnut sponge with praline chocolate cream and chocolate mousse soil, a chocolate sweet tart beehive with a caramel lemon and honey cremeux, and a flower-pot almond financier with a blackberry and currant mousse. These cakes will be served with a selection of finger sandwiches and scones complemented by the exceptional freshness and soft berry flavours of the Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé. Revered by wine-lovers and style-setters throughout the world, this outstanding cuvée is the benchmark rosé to which all others aspire.
Priced from £59 per person, The Dorchester’s Laurent-Perrier Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea will be available in The Promenade during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Booking can be made through their website HERE.
The Landmark London
The five-star Landmark London hotel has introduced a decadent Chelsea Flower Show inspired afternoon tea, available throughout the RHS Chelsea Flower Show between the 18-24th May 2015.
If you haven’t been inside to look around the The Landmark London’s stunning Winter Garden – then you should add it to your list. This year the garden will be the setting for guests to indulge in chocolate and violet macaroons and an adaptation of a traditional spiced carrot cake with ginger icing. To continue the floral theme, other sweet treats include an elderflower and wild strawberry bavarois and a jasmine cheesecake made with shortbread and a mango truffle. Accompanying the offering is an assortment of sandwiches, freshly baked scones as well as an extensive selection of freshly brewed leaf and herbal teas from the Tea Palace. And why you’re at it, why not add a little decadence in the way of some Champagne?
The Landmark Hotel’s Chelsea Flower Show Afternoon Tea starts at £45 per person. Booking can be made through their website HERE.
Maison Blanc
Strictly speaking this afternoon tea hasn’t been inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show, but it does however represent good value and some devilishly good dainty cakes to work your way through. Maison Blanc is a French artisan bakery renowned for its freshly baked breads, pastries and all things French. Dotted around the UK they conveniently have a branch on the Fulham Road – perfect walking distance during the Chelsea Flower Show.
Maison Blanc’s afternoon tea includes a selection of patisseries and freshly prepared sandwiches; such as salmon with cream cheese and the signature Maison Blanc egg & cress. For those looking to liven up their afternoon you can wash it all down with a glass of their chilled champagne. If that wasn’t enough to tempt you then maybe the price will? The afternoon tea here is only £19.95 for two people.
Maison Blanc’s Afternoon Tea starts at £9.95 per person and is available for walk-ins only. You can visit their website for more information HERE.
The Berkeley
This year The Berkeley is set to wow fashionistas showing off creatively crafted couture cakes and gorgeous bikini biscuits inspired by some of the world’s leading fashion designers, all happening in the run up to the Chelsea Flower Show. A favourite for fashion aficionados, Prêt-à-Portea adds an innovative twist to the traditional English afternoon tea celebrating the latest catwalk trends.
This season’s Pret-a-Portea at the Berkeley takes inspiration from an array of distinguished fashion designers with two special editions inspired by Alexander McQueen, paying homage to his celebrated Savage Beauty exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mirroring the famous footwear that put the fashion flock into frenzy, the Berkeley has recreated Alexander McQueen’s “Armadillo” shoes as a heeled vanilla biscuit with cream icing and edible sparkles. The second addition reinvents the much adored feather Butterfly Hat by Philip Treacy, blending a deliciously dark chocolate mousse set on a sablé breton glazed with a chocolate mirror and delicate red sugar butterflies. Floral and leafy prints are taking this season by storm, Oscar de la Renta’s iconic princess gown with a coconut and lime mousse set on a sablé Breton with delicately placed green leaf icing is a key ingredient to a refreshing runway. Continuing this ode to nature is Jean Paul Gaultier’s sheer floral ensemble of deep green Crème de Menthe cremeux with dark chocolate ribbon and mint jelly finished with a white orchid meringue, rhubarb crisp and edible purple petal.
Prêt-à-Portea is served in The Caramel Room at the Berkeley from 1-6pm every day and is priced at £45 per person (£52 including a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne or £58 per person including a glass of couture champagne). To book call 020 7235 6000 or visit their website HERE.
The Cross Keys
If you’ve come across my review of the newly revamped Cross Keys in Chelsea before, then you’ll have a good idea of the capable hands you’ll be left in during the Chelsea Flower Show. The Cross Keys is located only minutes walk from the Chelsea Flower Show and will be putting on a special afternoon tea, which will run throughout the spectuacular floral event.
The Cross Keys CFS inspired afternoon tea will feature a selection of freshly made sandwhiches and delicious sounding cakes such as; chocolate & beetroot sponge with a hibiscus & white chocolate topping and a lemon & blueberry sponge with a thyme & lemon glaze. On top of these beautifull sounding cakes, they’ll also have an array of sweet treats such as rose sorbet with champagne jelly, jasmin & mango macaroons and savoury delights in the form of quail scotch eggs and scones served with clotted cream and jam. The bar and main menus will also feature flower-infused treats, from The Cross Keys sunflower salad and pouissin with wild garlic flowers, to gin & cucumber lollies encasing an edible flower.
The Cross Keys Afternoon Tea will be served bewtween 16-23 May and is priced at £30 per person (or £35 with prosecco/bellin) and booking is strongly advised. You can visit their website for more information HERE or call them on 020 7351 0686.
Sofitel London St James
To celebrate the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and for the whole month of may, Sofitel London St James will be serving an exclusive themed Le Tea en Rose in the stylish surroundings of the Rose Lounge.
In honour of the Chelsea Flower Show, the Executive Chef here at Sofitel specially created a series of floral themed pastries. These include mimosa, hibiscus and poppy cakes as well as rose macaroons.
These delicious flaral inspired pastries will be served alongside homemade sandwiches and a selection of scones, rose scented strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream. Complemented with a range of Dammann teas, including Coquelicot Gourmand, a black tea blended with flower petals and poppies or Macaroon, Cassis, Violette, a Sencha green tea with blackcurrant, and violet flavours.
Following with the Chelsea Flower Show theme, Bar Manager, Emilio Moscati has created a signature cocktail La Fleur en Velours. A mixture of Tanqueray gin, wild strawberry liqueur, lemon juice and cranberry juice is topped up with rosé champagne and finished with delicate rose petals.
Prices start at £30 per person. To book a table or for more information contact the St James Bar on 020 7389 2238 or email: h3144-fb10@sofitel.com
