Tag Archives: champagne

Bettys Tea Room, York

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Bettys Tea Room is an institution in York, a beautiful cafe where you can enjoy the finest tea and cake.

Mentioning my upcoming visit to York, many friends recommended Bettys, reminiscing about this family run business with genuine fondness. The first Bettys opened in the fashionable spa town of Harrogate in 1919 and since has grown to six tea rooms (with shops) across Yorkshire, plus a cookery school and a home delivery service.

I visited the main branch of Bettys in York, situated in the heart of the city in St Helen’s Square. The elegant building demands immediate attention, with the ground floor adorned with huge curved windows. Inside the beautiful wood panelling and ornate decor reminded me of Breakfast at Tiffany’s… a golden era of vintage sophistication. We were sat upstairs in the aristocratic Belmont Room, where you can book for the afternoon tea at weekends. Here a pianist plays familiar classics and guests chatter while sipping from their china cups.

It was difficult to resist the champagne version of the tea… for an additional £7 you receive a glass of Hebrart Premier Cru or Moutard Rose Prestige Champagne. To accompany our food, we tried three of the more subtle teas: Ceylon Blue Sapphire, China Rose Petal and Bettys Tea Room Blend, each with its own delightfully delicate flavour.

Three tiers of treats arrived shortly after the drinks…

Sandwiches filled with smoked Scottish salmon & cream cheese, roast Yorkshire ham & mustard, roast free-range chicken breast with tarragon mayonnaise and free-range egg mayonnaise & cress.

Freshly baked sultana scones with strawberry preserve and Yorkshire clotted cream.

A selection of handmade miniature cakes.

The sweet items were better than the savoury. I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of the sandwiches, that though fresh, were rather uninspiring, lacking moisture and seasoning. The scones were absolutely divine, soft and delicious, especially good once topped with the jam and thick cream. The cakes were the highlight, unsurprisingly, an assortment of beautiful classic creations from the pastry chefs.

Whether you pop in for a quick cup of tea or spend hours over an afternoon meal, Bettys Tea Room is the first thing to put on your York visit itinerary, and the last thing you will forget.

More information here.

www.bettys.co.uk

Thanks to East Coast Trains and www.visityork.org

East Coast operates 72 services each weekday between London King’s Cross and York. Customers travelling First Class can enjoy East Coast’s complimentary food and drinks offer, plus unlimited Wi-Fi. Advanced return fares, booked online at www.eastcoast.co.uk: start from £26 Standard Class or £79 First Class. Times and fares can also be found via 08457 225225 or from any staffed stations.

Benoit, Paris

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Alain Ducasse is known for his prestigious fine cuisine, what I experienced at Benoit was not as posh but just as delicious. This restaurant is one of the few  remaining true Parisian bistros; warm and friendly with a welcoming atmosphere, it was the perfect place for the last meal of our weekend in Paris, but made me regret leaving the city even more.

There is something very special about eating in a traditional French bistro, a genuinely lovely ambience and a passion for food. Like many of his other eateries, Benoit has been awarded a Michelin star (the only brasserie with a star in Paris) – it is an accolade which many Paris restaurants can boast, but no other chef has achieved 3 stars on both sides of the Channel proving that the venerable Alain Ducasse is certainly one of a kind.

It is easy to spot the red Benoit restaurant sign from the street. On the corner of Rue Saint-Martin, the place has a glazed buttery glow; a foodie haven. Inside the tables are limited, the decor charming – white draped tables, mirrored walls and gold newspaper holders. The menu predominantly features rustic, typically French dishes: think snails and sweetbreads.

The head waiter was charismatic but professional… clearing a preferential table for us and immediately offering us white or pink champagne. When I picked pink bubbly he brought both, protesting that both were equally special, so we must try both! Flicking through the lovely Benoit cookbook helped us select our meal.

To start:
Snails with garlic butter and herbs
Sausage and pistachio brioche roll with baby lamb’s lettuce salad

For main:
Cassoulet
Fillet of Beef with macaroni cheese

To finish:
Benoit profiteroles
Tarte Tatin with fresh cream

This was the backbone of the lunch, alongside which we were given extra ornaments, appetisers and treats to whet our appetites and satisfy our senses. Everything was delicious, prepared using the highest quality ingredients and the most precise methods of cooking. Foie gras on toast, fresh crusty bread with an incredible slice of salted butter and tasters of terrine were first brought.

The starters could be smelt all the way from the kitchen. Dangerously buttery and garlicky snails, presented wonderfully on the special platter. It was the first time either of us had tried these little creatures, I was a little sceptical of the rubbery texture, but the garnish was undeniably tasty. The brioche encased sausage was very good, a simple dish which suited me well, complemented by the lovely crunchy salad.

The fillet of beef was full of flavour and incredibly tender, dressed with a sweet, rich onion gravy. The macaroni didn’t last long, painfully indulgent but irresistibly scrumptious, definitely the best we have ever tasted. Cassoulet is a peasant dish, a hot pot of different meats and beans. It was flavoursome and wholesome, though needed a touch more seasoning for my liking. Very filling but with little fat it is an easy recipe to cook for a group of friends.

Sommelier Pierre Charles Gandilhon selected exquisite wine to match the food, white to start and red to follow. It goes without saying that most good French restaurants have a brilliant wine list, but these were particularly well paired to bring out the flavours of our food, without being overpowering.

From the choice of French patisseries, we sampled the signature profiteroles and classic tarte tatin. The generous portions were initially alarming but we managed to make our way through, and even taste the final coffee chocolate pudding. Made with care and attention the sweets were faultless.

No meal is complete without a fresh-out-the-oven madeleine, and as we were getting up to leave our waiter brought a tray round, smelling of sweet vanilla. We left with Alain’s Benoit cookbook and a bag of petits fours in our hands, as our waiter waved goodbye.

Benoit evokes a flavour of France and all the things it represents. Our lunch here was truly unforgettable and the recipe book will forever remain with me as a souvenir of this perfect Parisian lunch.

More information here.

http://www.benoit-paris.com/

Thanks to the Paris Tourist Board, more information here.

Viva Forever cocktail party with the Spice Girls, Harvey Nichols

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I made the decision not to blog on my birthday. The 5th February was going to be my day off, that is until I was invited to a private party in Harvey Nichols. My thoroughly modern alter ego sprang back into action and I replied to the invite with a resounding YES.

A select guest list made its way up to the fifth floor of Harvey Nichols. It was only midday but heels were out in force, make-up applied and best party frocks zipped up – this was not an ordinary lunchtime cocktail party. In the smart bar champagne flutes awaited in a rainbow array and photographers lingered. With cocktails and cake, we all celebrated the new Spice Girls inspired mixtures which accompany the hugely popular Viva Forever themed afternoon tea. Girls gossiped and tottered about exchanging excited opinions on their favourite flavours.

The five show-stopping cocktails are all Champagne based and created by Fifth Floor Bar Manager, Dominic Jacobs, with each drink highlighting the Girls’ most famous traits.

Tied up in individual bows, from Union Jack to leopard skin, the VIVA FOREVER! cocktails are priced at £14.50 each and available until the end of April.

Baby Spice – Peach puree and fresh strawberries, Harvey Nichols Champagne
Ginger Spice – Domaine de canton ginger liqueur, rose syrup topped with Champagne
Scary Spice – Fresh chilli, lychee liqueur topped with Champagne
Sporty Spice – Amaretto, curacao bleu and lemon juice topped with Champagne
Posh Spice – Apricot brandy, sugar cube soaked in grapefruit bitters, topped with Champagne

The new cocktails accompany the VIVA FOREVER! Afternoon Tea, available until the end of February. My favourite was the exotic Scary Spice variety with lychee and chilli… a sweet drink with a spicy kick. The Baby Spice cocktail is a simple fruity cocktail and the Posh Spice recipe offers something a little more sophisticated.

To eat, the luxury department store has created food and drinks with specific references to each of the five girl’s personalities:

Ginger and lemon layer cake with Union Jack decoration
Scary chilli chocolate roll with leopard printed chocolate discs
Zesty and energetic orange chocolate chip cake pop, inspired by Sporty’s love of Chupa Chups
A Posh Victoria sponge shopper
A sweet and innocent vanilla and raspberry mousse presented in a baby bottle

Alongside these sweets, afternoon tea guests are given cured beef and onion chutney poppy seed bagels, smoked chicken and carrot roulade, creamed smoked salmon on pumpernickel bread, an egg mayonnaise bridge roll and homemade winter spiced and plain scones with Champagne strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Writer and Producer of the show Jennifer Saunders and Judy Craymer attended to celebrate the cocktail launch, as well as most of the cast of the musical. Everyone was most excited to witness the arrival of the pop group themselves. Geri, Mel B, Emma and Mel C all honoured us with their presence, making the gaping hole for a missing Victoria Beckham very obvious.

It was a girly event – a feast of fun, food and cocktails and an opportunity to taste the imaginative Viva Forever afternoon tea. The perfect party for my 25th birthday, and an epic celebration of girl power.

More information here.