Rosa’s Afternoon Tea at The Cavendish London
Last weekend we were in London for a short break, hosted by The Cavendish London. While there, we were also invited to try out the hotel's brand-new afternoon tea - Rosa’s Afternoon Tea, served in the hotel's 2AA Rosette restaurant, Petrichor.
Inspired by The Queen of Cooks, Rosa Lewis (the hotel’s renowned former owner), the afternoon tea celebrates Rosa’s contribution to The Cavendish and to London.
The Cavendish London re-opened at the beginning of August and a number of social-distancing measures have been put in place both in the hotel and the restaurant. Hand sanitiser dispensers have been placed at various locations throughout the premises, the temperature is checked for all guests on arrival, permanent floor markers are in place, furniture has been re-arranged and even the number of tables in the restaurant have been reduced to maintain social distancing guidelines.
It was our first time out in London since the lockdown but we need not have been wary as the hygiene and safety measures implemented at The Cavendish London were good and we enjoyed our afternoon tea experience at the Petrichor.
First to arrive were the sandwiches.
And we were pleasantly surprised by the selection of sandwiches beautifully presented on a three-tiered tea-stand. While there was a classic one among the selection - cucumber sandwich with creamy buffalo ricotta & roasted black sesame seeds, all the other sandwiches were different from what we normally come across in an afternoon tea menu. For example, there was Caramelised fig with blue cheese and honeycomb on toasted brioche - different flavours coming together to create something special. We loved it. Then there was Kalamata olives with cream cheese on brown bread, Egg mayonnaise, chive & quails egg and Sun-dried tomato with balsamic pearls and mini croute (lovely texture and flavours and beautiful presentation). Wrapped in parchment paper and tied with red ribbon was a Lincolnshire Poacher.
The favourite though, for both myself and Bhavin, was the Compressed watermelon, feta & black olive tapenade. What a wonderful pairing it was! I would have never thought of using feta, watermelon and olives together in a recipe let alone in a sandwich. The watermelon sandwich not only looked beautiful but was also very flavoursome.
Next up was a palate cleanser - Cantaloupe melon sorbet with passion fruit and popping candy. It was lovely, with a delicate and refreshing taste. With our palates fully cleansed and our champagne glasses topped up, we were now ready for the sweet treats.
A plate of warm scones (served with Cornish clotted cream and wild strawberry preserve) arrived along with a three-tiered cake stand featuring an array of small and beautifully formed pastries.
There was deliciously decadent chocolate eclairs, Coffee gateau opera (a classic with the unbeatable flavour combination of chocolate and coffee) and mini Victoria sponge cakes. I loved the Lemon meringue tart, strawberry powder, lemon balm. It packed a real punch in terms of flavour. Bhavin's favourite was the Wild strawberry cheesecake - creamy, indulgent and lovely flavour. And then there was also a White chocolate & raspberry tart.
We enjoyed the afternoon tea. It was a relaxed and leisurely experience with a fantastic and delicious menu. The staff were attentive but not overbearing. And we never felt rushed making it a fabulous experience for us, overall.
Rosa’s Afternoon Tea is available every day from 2 pm-5 pm for £45 per person or £60 per person with a glass of Champagne or guests can get Rosa’s Afternoon Tea for two and a bottle of Champagne which is perfect for a celebration.
If you have any dietary preferences, you can inform the restaurant team at the time of booking and the menu can be adapted to your dietary requirements.
Booking in advance is recommended. You can do so by getting in touch with the hotel using the details below.
The Cavendish London | 81 Jermyn Street, St James's, London SW1Y6JF
Phone | +44 (0) 20 7930 2111
*We were guests of The Cavendish London, but all views and photos are our own.
Inspired by The Queen of Cooks, Rosa Lewis (the hotel’s renowned former owner), the afternoon tea celebrates Rosa’s contribution to The Cavendish and to London.
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The Cavendish London re-opened at the beginning of August and a number of social-distancing measures have been put in place both in the hotel and the restaurant. Hand sanitiser dispensers have been placed at various locations throughout the premises, the temperature is checked for all guests on arrival, permanent floor markers are in place, furniture has been re-arranged and even the number of tables in the restaurant have been reduced to maintain social distancing guidelines.
It was our first time out in London since the lockdown but we need not have been wary as the hygiene and safety measures implemented at The Cavendish London were good and we enjoyed our afternoon tea experience at the Petrichor.
Rosa’s Afternoon Tea at The Cavendish London
The afternoon tea is served in The Cavendish London's iconic Petrichor restaurant. Seated by the window (looking over Fortnum's) and sipping on a glass of Champagne (NV Brut Baron De Marck Gobillard) we perused the menu which was presented to us wrapped in a red ribbon.
We had informed the restaurant of our dietary requirements in advance and they had adapted the menu to suit our preferences.
There was a selection of black, herbal and green teas from award-winning British tea blenders, Birchall, on the menu. We chose Red Berry & Flower (a caffeine-free herbal tea with a blend of berries and refreshing hibiscus) and Green Tea & Peach (an aromatic green tea blended with real fruits pieces and marigold flowers). Both turned out to be great choices.
There was a selection of black, herbal and green teas from award-winning British tea blenders, Birchall, on the menu. We chose Red Berry & Flower (a caffeine-free herbal tea with a blend of berries and refreshing hibiscus) and Green Tea & Peach (an aromatic green tea blended with real fruits pieces and marigold flowers). Both turned out to be great choices.
First to arrive were the sandwiches.
And we were pleasantly surprised by the selection of sandwiches beautifully presented on a three-tiered tea-stand. While there was a classic one among the selection - cucumber sandwich with creamy buffalo ricotta & roasted black sesame seeds, all the other sandwiches were different from what we normally come across in an afternoon tea menu. For example, there was Caramelised fig with blue cheese and honeycomb on toasted brioche - different flavours coming together to create something special. We loved it. Then there was Kalamata olives with cream cheese on brown bread, Egg mayonnaise, chive & quails egg and Sun-dried tomato with balsamic pearls and mini croute (lovely texture and flavours and beautiful presentation). Wrapped in parchment paper and tied with red ribbon was a Lincolnshire Poacher.
The favourite though, for both myself and Bhavin, was the Compressed watermelon, feta & black olive tapenade. What a wonderful pairing it was! I would have never thought of using feta, watermelon and olives together in a recipe let alone in a sandwich. The watermelon sandwich not only looked beautiful but was also very flavoursome.
Next up was a palate cleanser - Cantaloupe melon sorbet with passion fruit and popping candy. It was lovely, with a delicate and refreshing taste. With our palates fully cleansed and our champagne glasses topped up, we were now ready for the sweet treats.
A plate of warm scones (served with Cornish clotted cream and wild strawberry preserve) arrived along with a three-tiered cake stand featuring an array of small and beautifully formed pastries.
There was deliciously decadent chocolate eclairs, Coffee gateau opera (a classic with the unbeatable flavour combination of chocolate and coffee) and mini Victoria sponge cakes. I loved the Lemon meringue tart, strawberry powder, lemon balm. It packed a real punch in terms of flavour. Bhavin's favourite was the Wild strawberry cheesecake - creamy, indulgent and lovely flavour. And then there was also a White chocolate & raspberry tart.
We enjoyed the afternoon tea. It was a relaxed and leisurely experience with a fantastic and delicious menu. The staff were attentive but not overbearing. And we never felt rushed making it a fabulous experience for us, overall.
Book Rosa’s Afternoon Tea at the Petrichor
Rosa’s Afternoon Tea is available every day from 2 pm-5 pm for £45 per person or £60 per person with a glass of Champagne or guests can get Rosa’s Afternoon Tea for two and a bottle of Champagne which is perfect for a celebration.
If you have any dietary preferences, you can inform the restaurant team at the time of booking and the menu can be adapted to your dietary requirements.
Booking in advance is recommended. You can do so by getting in touch with the hotel using the details below.
The Cavendish London | 81 Jermyn Street, St James's, London SW1Y6JF
Phone | +44 (0) 20 7930 2111
*We were guests of The Cavendish London, but all views and photos are our own.
Oh that looks so delicious and indulgent! Love the sound of the red berry& flower tea, but I have to say the white chocolate and raspberry tart looks so good, though I think I'd be in heaven with the Coffee gateau opera! All looks beautifully served, too. I'd definitely love to visit The Cavendish and enjoy their Afternoon Tea!
ReplyDeleteWow looks amazing! I've never had an afternoon tea
ReplyDeleteNever been to the Cavendish but it looks amazing! The melon sorbet with popping candy sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteThose look so delicious.
ReplyDelete