Tag Archives: Dukes Hotel

A festive afternoon tea at Dukes Hotel, St James

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Afternoon tea is a wonderful way to enjoy the Christmas spirit and I can’t imagine anywhere more romantic and cosy than Dukes Hotel in St James. Indulgent but sophisticated, this beautiful spread is presented in the PJ (Perrier Jouet) Lounge. Sit in the beautiful pink and green chairs and admire the plentiful bottles of champagne that surround you.

I have already tried the refined and delicious menu at the Dukes Thirty Six restaurant, and I was delighted to be returning for this special festive afternoon tea. The hotel sparkles with decoration and is an inviting venue especially in the chilly weather. After a day of Christmas shopping it is the ideal treat.

The Dukes Afternoon Tea is available from 1st – 31st December and includes:

Sandwiches: Smoked Salmon, cream cheese & cucumber, turkey & cranberry mayonnaise and roast ham & tomato.

Fresh Scones, tea cakes, madeleines and fruit cake with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Cakes: lemon meringue pie, chocolate brownie, plum pannacotta and chocolate eclairs.

A tea of your choice, and, of course a glass of Perrier Jouet champagne

All for £35 a person

I was very impressed with the freshness of every part of the Dukes tea. I find sandwiches are often a touch stale but these were delicious and soft with premium fillings. The scones were warm and smelt divine, just out of the oven I imagine. The picture perfect cakes were super sweet and I could only manage a few mouthfuls, I wished I could have taken them home and saved them for later, because it was all too delicious to leave.

The chilled glass of champagne was a refreshing and luxurious addition to the tea and my fresh mint infusion was soothing. Warm and comfortable, I could have stayed at the hotel all day.

Dukes Hotel may be small but it is just as special as the grandest hotels in London, and this festive afternoon tea proves it as a lovely venue, especially at this time of year.

More information here.

http://www.dukeshotel.com/christmas-afternoon-tea.php

Nigel Mendham Power Lunch at Thirty Six, Dukes Hotel, Mayfair

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The new Nigel Mendham Power Lunch at Dukes Hotel in Mayfair is the ideal excuse for a girly get-together in town. This perfectly structured meal ensures you cross off everything on your to do list, whilst enjoying a fine lunch… all without lifting a (perfectly manicured) finger.

We wandered through the beautiful, immaculately decorated hotel cooing at the pea green and pretty pink colour co-ordination… we were both totally enamoured of the romantic picture perfect setting. Lunch is served in a tangerine coloured dining room, petite and cosy with light streaming in through the windows.

Michelin starred chef Nigel Mendham serves gourmet cuisine for Londoners on the go at the new Thirty Six restaurant while the Dukes Hotel offers essential services for diners who have perhaps forgotten a friend’s birthday, need a battery for their camera etc – a personalised concierge service to meet every need. All you need to do is tick your desired extras on a nifty little list given to you on arrival. It just so happened that my blackberry was totally dead and so the phone charging facility was very much appreciated!

The staff were ultra attentive at all times, replacing the cutlery at super speed and topping up wine every five minutes. Food arrived very promptly (they can have you in and out in thirty minutes if need be) and was cleared away even quicker. Lucky for us, the restaurant wasn’t busy so we had the full attention of our waiter!

We were served a sensational meal… beginning with delicate little cups of Gazpacho followed soon after by hot freshly baked miniature loaves and butter. We chose Chilled Ham Hock Terrine and Fresh Artichoke Salad to start… both beautifully presented and utterly delicious, the ideal classic summer dishes. Steak and chunky stacked chips, and light perfectly seasoned fish followed, fuelling our fast paced gossip while we gulped the exquisite rose wine.

Traditional and stylish desserts arrived with frothy coffees. We were full but too greedy not to try the sweet treats. Wonderfully creamy Pannacotta for me and a spicy moist Carrot Cake pudding for my guest.

Brilliant concept and faultless food = the perfect lunch. You’ll expect the same service in every restaurant you visit!

My extras arrived right on cue as we were leaving… a bottle of Chanel rouge noir nail varnish and a scented Floris candle.

For more information look here.