Review: The Arch Hotel Street Food Afternoon Tea

Tucked round the corner from Marble Arch, The Arch Hotel offers a modern take on Afternoon Tea, Street Food inspired in their Hunter 486 restaurant. Inspired by the International Street Food Scene, classics like scones and sandwiches are given a little upgrade.

A combination of two of my favourite things, I'd like to be able to say that I had the dedication to polish the lot off myself, as this photo suggests. Of course, I was more than dedicated in eating as much as possible, with the help of Boy who had booked this treat as a Birthday present to me (Boyfriends take note, if you're looking for something a little less girlie that you'll both enjoy, then this is your place!)

Stowed away in a little booth, Tattinger poured and camera out. 

We started with a selection of their savouries all beautifully presented and steaming hot.

Mini cheeseburgers with onion marmalade in brioche buns

Smoken chicken, chilli, avocado and mango tortillas

Homemade scotch quail eggs

Chicken satay with dipping sauce

Mini fish and chips with tartare sauce

The cheese burgers were perfectly cooked with a tangy marmalade, so good I would have managed a full-sized one in addition to everything else. The mini fish fingers were packed with steaming, fresh and flaky fish encased with crispy batter. One of Boy's favourites, the satay chicken was generously sprinkled in sesame and a nice chilli kick.

Next up, a board of miniature sweet treats. 

apple and cinnamon doughnuts

chocolate and pistachio macarons

coffee eclair

lemongrass, mango and coconut rice pudding

strawberry and pistachio tart

raspberry and victoria sponge

As much as I love scones, cinnamon doughnuts are pretty good contenders for a replacement. The Victoria sponge was gloriously light and fluffy. And my favourite, the coffee eclair. I was so glad to see these was much larger than everything else!

It was great to see a modern update on the traditional sandwiches of Afternoon Tea, not usually my favourite part. Both Boy and I loved it and would definitely love to go back again to have everything again in both miniature and full sized versions.

Love Street Food as much as we do? - Bookings and more information, here.

 

  We dined at Hunter 486 of our own accord, and therefore all views expressed are my own.

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Review: Patisserie Valerie Afternoon Tea

There's always time for tea and cake, well in my book at least.

Hailing back to the 19th Century, Afternoon Tea was enjoyed by our foodie ancestor, Anna Duchess of Bedford. Deeming dinner time too late, and short of a green juice as a 3pm pick-me-up, Anna was known to nibble through tea and snacks in her room to tide her over till dinner. This developed into the Afternoon Tea we all know and love now.

I'd consider myself to be an almost direct descendant from Anna as I'm usually pretty good at the whole afternoon snack thing. My work locker and handbag are never void of a selection of snacks and tea.

To launch Patisserie Valerie's new Afternoon Tea Menu, their Soho venue hosted an Afternoon Tea Party.

Complete with finger sandwiches, mini quiches, scones, mini patisserie and a choice of tea or coffee for £25 for two, or £30 with a glass of Prosecco each. Possibly one of the most value for money Afternoon Teas I have come across - £25-30 for two people is pretty darn good.

My favourite parts include the chicken, pesto & sunblazed tomato sandwiches and mini tomato & mixed pepper quiches - I could have quite happily scoffed my way through a whole plate of those.

It goes without saying that the patisserie tier was also pretty special. Light and airy mousse slices of mixed berry and double chocolate. Perfectly formed mini Victoria sandwiches. Indulgent chocolate eclairs and fruit scones that Mary Berry would be proud of. 

I also did some window shopping on the way out and am looking forward to trying out their new custom cake creator tool when ordering celebration cakes (you can't make you're own birthday cake, can you now?!)

To see a full list of participating cafes, visit the Patisserie Valerie site. No reservation is needed for Afternoon Tea, but is advised for larger groups.

What's your favourite thing about Afternoon Tea?

Thank you to Patisserie Valerie for inviting me, all opinions are my own.

Pret-a-Portea, The Berkeley

   Whilst backing up my beloved iPhone to ios7 I found these cake-dreams from a few weeks ago. This was of course whilst I was desperately trying to free up the obligatory 3gb of memory.

   Like the Queen, I managed to celebrate my birthday this year over two months. So I thought I'd share a little of my Amazing Monday (where I became a real grown up...but I'll save that for another time).

   On Amazing Monday, Boy Loves Food and I toddled down Knightsbridge hidden from the showers under my teeny umbrella. Not a fan of rain, usually I'd be a little grouchy. But on this amazing Monday, I was wearing my Wednesday Addams dress and off to drink tea and eat cake at The Berkeley.

   Pret-a-Portea at The Berkeley gives a fashionista twist to a traditional English afternoon tea inspired by fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen, Prada and Oscar de la Renta. Here, designs fresh off the catwalk are translated into a tea stand full of gorgeous cakes and fancies.

   Coming to the close of the Spring/Summer there are many a photo of these treats circulating round the Interweb by now, I'm sure. But my absolute favourite was the Alexander McQueen whimsical yellow honeycomb cream oversized dress topped with marzipan bee. Or the lovely Jason Wu coconut 'Carolyn' hatbox shaped cake bag sandwiched in retro leopard print chocolate. All washed down with the loose leaf pear caramel tea blend.

   I promise those cake descriptions are fresh from their menu, enough to make any cake eater sound like a fashionista!

Pret-a-Portea, The Berkeley London.

Afternoon Tea at Momo Cafe

   Excuse the phone pictures, but just thought I'd quickly share some treats I enjoyed on the weekend with my brother's better half, April...her first afternoon tea!

   After choosing a 7 citrus fruit green tea and April a Lord's tea, we received an impressive tower of British/Moroccan inspired treats. I've been to Marrakech before but, embarrassingly, didn't get to try much of the food. So was excited to give it a try.

The savoury plates included Moroccan chicken wrap, Zaalouk & Mechouia on toast, smoked salmon & cream cheese sandwich and cheese Briouats.

My favourites were the Briouats and Zaalouk on toast.

Next up, scones with clotted cream and strawberry and fig jam.

A selection of Maghebine pastries followed by lemon cream pain de gênes, pistachio macarons and chocolate brownies.

I've had a number of afternoon teas over the years so find myself being very critical. This one is definitely in my top 5, a nice balance of sweet and savoury, brilliantly presented and all very fresh.

Find Momo here.

Podium, Hilton Park Lane: Afternoon Tea

   What better way to end a busy week than with cake? Yesterday Harriet and I ventured to Podium Restaurant in the Hilton on Park Lane for a glass of fizz and Anthony Marshall's 'Confessions of a Chocoholic' Afternoon Tea. When I say 'ventured' I mean walking through what felt like the Hurricane level winds we'd experienced during our time in NYC with Hurricane Sandy.

   I'd purchased a Travel Zoo voucher and booked months ago, without realising I'd booked for Mother's Day! With 'Mumma Loves Food' away sunning herself in Dubai and Harriet's mum kindly excusing her for the afternoon we enjoyed a Mother's Day version of the 'Confessions of a Chocoholic' Afternoon Tea.

      Upon arrival we were presented with a tea menu and some samples for a quick 'sniff' of their favourite blends. We opted for Earl Grey with lavender flowers which was the perfect fresh blend to accompany the sugar overload that was to follow. Shortly after a glass of fizz and our sandwiches arrived.

   I went for the vegetarian sandwich option which included: asparagus, parmesan and balsamic vinegar; cucumber, cream cheese and chives; egg and cress; tomato, mozzarella and pesto; emmental cheese and grapes (walnuts as listed on the menu were missing). I wouldn't say that they were some of the best sandwiches I've had, but all perfectly fresh and a good selection of flavours.

   The next course, the start of the three-tiered 'stand of sugar', was mini chocolate chip scones served with a chocolate praline spread, clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam. Harriet enjoyed the strawberry jam and chocolate spread as a combo on her scone. I enjoyed chocolate, chocolate and a little more chocolate!

   Next up, a raspberry and lemon cupcake topped with heart-shaped shortbread. The cupcake was filled with raspberry jam and has inspired me to try something like this myself...watch this space! I felt that the lemon buttercream was a little too on the sweet side and not enough lemon. The cupcake was beautifully decorated with glitter, pearls, white chocolate, raspberry and the heart.

   For the final course we enjoyed a selection of delicate miniature fancies. These included a Louis Vuitton Victoria Sponge handbag; pistachio macaron, white chocolate and cherry cheesecake topped with a heart-shaped shortbread; lemon and raspberry marshmallow cone; a dress-shaped iced shortbread (which got eaten too quickly for its close-up).

   Which leads me to the final discovery, the entire top tier of the cake stand was in fact a white chocolate plate! Which they kindly boxed for us to bring home. I've yet to tuck into my chocolate plate as it's pretty hefty.

   This Afternoon Tea was girlie in every way and so beautifully presented. I can proudly say that the two of us cleared each cake and crumb, unlike the other diners surrounding us who seemed to fill their boxes for home with the entire miniature fancy course. Who doesn't eat cake, especially when one is taking tea?