Two for Tea

...make that seven for tea!





The girls and I like to spoil oursleves every now and again and on a lovely sunny day in February what better way than to go for Afternoon Tea at the epitome of  English glamour, The Ritz!

Our slot was for 11.30am (when I say 'Afternoon Tea' it was actually 11.30am that we were booked in for - word of warning, slots book up fast!), we arrived at 11.25am , checked our coats in and were shown straight to our table.  The afternoon tea is held in the exquisite Palm rooms, ornately decorated, light and airy and with the relaxing tunes fluttering through from the resident pianist.

Our table was a large round one, seating the seven of us, set to the far left of the Palm Court against the mirrors (it was fantastic location and the mirrors provided the whole table with a good view of the room!)  Once seated we were swiftly offered a range of loose leaf teas (17 to be exact!), I opted for Royal English (to suit the occassion!), as did a couple of others,  Silver Needle and Morrcoan Mint were also enjoyed.  We all agreed it was refreshing and much needed!

The sandwiches were displayed on beautiful cake stands , already laid out on the table for when we sat, and after polite chatter of how pretty they looked, we quickly tucked in.  The ham sandwich with grain mustard mayonnaise was to die for! I have to stick to a wheat free diet yet this didn't hinder me in the slighest, the wheat free bread was just divine and the fillings of each were so tasty!  The waiters didn't leave me out at all, in fact I feel they overcompensated, not that I was complaining!  I didn't want to stop eating the sandwiches as they were just too good, yet I knew there was more to come...

Next a seasonal treat was offered of rhubarb compote layered between yogurt and topped with fresh rhubarb and crumble.  This was too heavy to be a palette cleanser, it was sweet and creamy, looked elegant and was a nice alternative to just the usual pastries and cakes.

Next warm, freshly baked scones were laid onto the table, served up with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam, one word, divine.  They were just how english scones should be, heavenly.  Sometimes the traditional way really is the best.

As our tummys were starting to get full a waiter appeared with a trolly laid with fresh lemon drizzle cake and a coffee, date and walnut cake.  I was brought out a plate containing a mixture of three different wheat-free cakes as a generous substitute.  The girls 'mmm' and 'ahhd' over their cakes and all was quiet for a few seconds so they must have been as good as mine!

Just as we were sufficiently full and thought we had died and gone to heaven, the waiter reminded us of the cakes topping the cake stand, delicately decorated and as elegant as the room they were placed in.  One was a fun macaroon with a pink traditional base and white chocolate mousse topping, one a classic vanilla slice and the third a rich-looking-chocolate-gateaux-slice-of-heaven.  Sadly, as much as we would have loved to, we just couldn't fit them all in, although we gave it a good go!

My only one dissapointment of the whole tea...? I couldn't fit it all in!!

Looking back I really regret that I didn't take more pictures of the actual food for you to see just how beautifully delicious it was, unfortunately I was just too busy tucking in, whoops!  I guess that's a sign of a good tea....

K x

N.B.  You do need to book in advance for the Ritz as their Afternoon Tea is a popular now as it was when The Ritz first opened in 1906, however if you are not fussy on time there is more chance that they can fit you in - we booked on the Tuesday for the upcoming Saturday!  They do advise however to book 3 months ahead.  High Tea served daily from 11.30am - 7.30pm Book here