Tag Archives: afternoon tea

Afternoon Tea at Cake Boy, Battersea

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I originally discovered Eric Lanlard’s cake-making skills through the sad departure of Cox, Cake and Cookies, the eccentric café in Soho selling flamboyantly themed baked treats. Eric helped with the initial set up of this short lived shop, lending his expertise, but has always had his own cake kingdom at Cake Boy.

This man is a baking god, his school and cafe at Cake Boy offers classes and food to satisfy even the craziest of cake cravings. After visiting his venue and spying the shiny mixers, I’m very intrigued to review a class but I know they are booked up months in advance so it is unlikely any time soon.

Instead I experienced the decadent afternoon tea. I was quite taken aback by the array of spectacular hand crafted treats and immediately regretted wearing tight jeans. Bubbling champagne arrived to accompany our tea.

These are the treats on offer:

For savoury… we almost entirely overlooked this as the cakes completely stole the limelight. The sandwiches were light and fresh, I particularly enjoyed the Italian style stuffed croissant.

Mini filled petit pains with chicken caesar and smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Mini filled croissant with parma ham, roasted vegetables and bocconcini mozzarella.

Petit fours:

White chocolate teardrop filled with caramel mousse and roasted pineapple.

Chocolate teardrop filled with dark chocolate mousse and black amarena cherries and chocolate popping candy.

Mini Strawberry tart filled with vanilla cream.

Gourmet shot glass tiramisu.

Gourmet shot glass filled with tropical fruit mousse, mango coulis and pistachio.

Peruvian Dark chocolate mini tart.

Green tea cone filled with passion fruit mousse, raspberries and topped with coconut shavings.

Assorted French macaroons:

GREEN – lime and yuzu.
BLACK/SILVER – liquorice and vanilla.
GOLD – chocolate and praline.
RED – chocolate and raspberry.

So as you can see there was quite a lot to get through, and I thought we did marvellously well managing to both try at least (usually more) a mouthful of everything. My favourites? The whole afternoon merges into a sugary fantasy but a few particular delicacies stand out – the liquorice macaroon was an exquisite mouthful of flavour; the teardrops were very rich but absolutely delicious and the shot glasses were perfect mini desserts with every spoonful bringing out a new exciting ingredient. To sooth our sugar highs we relaxed with cups of fresh mint tea to finish.

The tricky location in Battersea might, I fear, discourage some visitors, but it is so worth the walk… I can’t vouch for the classes but the afternoon tea was certainly a sight to behold, beautiful beyond any cake mastery I’ve experienced before in London, and if that wasn’t enough… it tasted insanely delicious too!

Visit the CAKE BOY website here.

Afternoon Tease at Volupte, Chancery Lane

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Cakes and cabaret, it turns out, is a pretty good combination. Volupte is the sultry and fabulously sexy hang-out where vintage gals come to drink tea and be voyeurs in on the burlesque bonanza. While one butters scones and scoffs sandwiches, one is treated to performances from cabaret singers and beautiful burlesque artistes. Located down a side street in Chancery Lane, you would never expect such a fantastical place in the land of lawyers. The room is filled with small tables and a challenging small stage is set up for the performers and a drum-piano duo.

Upstairs the Bon Bon bar is beautifully decorated and is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or four! I adored this bar and the drinks the expert barman made for us: the ‘Miss Marshmallow’ is sugary but spectacular and the ‘Hard Candy’ comes customised with a sweet bracelet. My friend, who was suffering from a horrible cold was treated to a medicinal Hot Tottie cocktail which she said was delicious and very efficacious.

Showtime began at 3pm and our host sashayed onto the stage. Our compere for the day, Vicious Delicious, was more vicious than delicious and slightly scary especially from the proximity of the front row seats! Cackling and screaming abuse at the one and only male in the room, she introduced the acts for the afternoon. Each dancer or comedian was entertaining and fun though for real wow factor… we had to wait until the star act was introduced.

Miss Polly Rae provocatively stalked the stage, clad in a slinky crystal dress, a beautiful performer that one cannot help but fall in love with. Coy and cute, daring and delicious, I was utterly captivated by this fiery redhead who has established herself as a prominent part of London’s cabaret-burlesque scene. As the star of the show she performed twice, first singing-speaking a clever attitudey song about the misconceptions of a burlesque dancer then coming on at the end to delight us all with the fluttering birdlike dance for which she is known. She is divine and her performance spectacular.

I was too distracted by the titillating showcase to take much notice of the tea… though the scones and sandwiches were delicious… in particular the mini raisin scones with thick clotted cream and strawberry jam. It is the cocktails and wonderful alcoholic teas that really excited me… and I cannot wait to return to try more of the extensive and innovative cocktail list.

Volupte’s very special themed afternoon tea is a fun way to frolic and fantasise on a Saturday afternoon, I absolutely loved it.

Afternoon Tease costs £42 pp including show and full afternoon tea with a glass of fizz.

Visit the website to book here.

The Boulevard’s Chocolate Buffet, Four Seasons Hotel, Beirut

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Perhaps the highlight of our stay at the Four Seasons Hotel was the extravagant tea, ‘The Boulevard’s Chocolate Buffet,’ an absolute must for chocoholics, those with a sweet tooth or just people that like eating pretty things.

The display was beautiful, an array of carefully constructed cakes, truffles, mousses, lollipops, gateaux and every other cocoa treat imaginable. We stumbled across it after returning ravenous from our Walk Beirut tour and couldn’t believe our luck. Staring captivated like little kids, a waiter came over smiling and explained the assortment in detail offering to pick a selection for us to sample with tea.

It was quite honestly like a fairytale come true, every single mouthful offering new tastes and textures. It was the work of true artist, Pastry chef Charles Azar who has created a chocolate menu to rival the best Parisian patisseries.

So much chocolate… so little time. ‘The Boulevard’s Chocolate Buffet’ takes place at The Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Friday to Sunday, from 3pm.

5 USD per piece or 32 USD for unlimited buffet!

Visit the website for more information here.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with bmi, British Midland International. British Midland International flies direct from London Heathrow to Beirut offering ten flights per week. Flights are twice daily on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with a daily service on all other days.  Fares are available from £485 return including all taxes and charges. For more information and to book visit www.flybmi.com