#52 The FIRST FESTIVE TEA 2017

The First Festive Tea 2017 – Saturday 9^th December 2017

The Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Grasmere, Cumbria £22.50 for Festive Afternoon Tea

Christmas is fast upon us and my Facebook feed is laden with images of festive Afternoon Teas. What better excuse do I need to pile into the care with W and A and head up to The Daffodil at Grasmere to sample their gloriously pretty offering? Plus, and I must say this was not obsessing me for two weeks AT ALL, there was a special festive cocktail menu and the Mince Pie Martini looked right up my street.

It was a cold drive up, lots of threats of snow and sleet, and being the careful driver I am I didn’t go too fast as I was keen to get there rather than have an accident! Due to my impeccable skills I got us there in plenty of time and we had a spare few minutes to admire the surrounding hills wrapped in their frosty shawls.

This is the second time I’ve had a Tea here and this time we were in a small ante-room rather than the main dining area, but it was still decorated in keeping with the theme (lots of photos of British stars from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s) and the table was set with the jaunty addition of Christmas crackers which were soon cracked to get us in the spirit of the season.

We all ordered a Christmassy drink as well as our tea, and whilst the pots of tea arrived rapidly the drinks took a little longer. I personally didn’t mind the wait as my much anticipated Martini did not disappoint. Fruity, spicy and warming, and a great addition to my food. Pots of tea and refills were plentiful and brought in rapid succession throughout the meal by helpful, jolly and interested staff who tried hard to meet every request.

All of us requested a non-meat Tea, but A and I are both partial to a bit of smoked salmon so we asked for two with the fish part left in and W asked for a completely fish free serving. After recent disappointments with the standard of veggie savouries I was hoping for a better selection here, and the arrival of the food was hotly anticipated.

As the food was set down we were given brief tour of what to expect and we were left to dive in. Given the variety on offer I adopted a savouries strategy to help me pick a way through, so I started with a smoky salmon and cream cheese roll which was a perfectly balanced combination of the two. W’s roll was goats cheese and pesto which she enjoyed but said could possibly do with a tad more seasoning. Two sandwich fingers were next, both on fresh bread and generously filled with egg mayo, which could have done with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a lovely balanced cheese savoury that was rich with red onion flavour. I moved on to the warm cheese scone, which had a good cheesy flavour but definitely needed butter, which we had to request. Finally, the star of the savouries, was a warm cheese and caramelised onion tart. Crisp pastry with a filling that was not too overpowering. A great culmination to the savoury section.

Our greedy eyes turned towards the cakes now, and what a beautiful display it was. Plenty to choose from so the cake strategy came into play. I began with a mouthful sized mince pie, crisp short buttery pastry, warm fruity filling and an absolutely lovely start. Next was a firm set pannacotta in a shot glass topped with a fruity tart jelly and redcurrants. I found it a bit thick for my taste but A thought it was just right. We all went for the cake pops afterwards, there was a light fruit cake, that was a bit dry and a coconut and white chocolate sphere with an oozing white chocolate centre. Neither I would have said was a cake pop but both perfectly nice. Moving on I went for a mincemeat macaron, and again I would not say it was what I expected from a macaron. The filling was the right buttercream type of consistency but the shells were too crisp and meringue-y, not chewy on the middle and far too sweet.

Still, we were only half way through and whilst we weren’t slowing down we were certainly feeling we had had a good variety of sweet things so far. The next thing that took my eye was a frangipan tart, the lovely pastry from before filled with a warm, soft, flavourful frangipan. The fruit layer underneath not too overwhelming but tart enough to cut through the sweetness. This was swiftly followed by a slice of chocolate log that was wrapped in layers of rich chocolate buttercream, the cake itself was dry but I thoroughly enjoyed the cream. The two delicacies I had been saving until last were the meringue snowman and the chocolate mousse Christmas tree. Both beautifully decorated and very Christmassy. The snowman was a powdery meringue with an overriding taste of the strawberry lace scarf he was wearing and not as good as I had expected, but the Christmas tree was delicious and a good choice to finish with. It was beautifully made and tasted of a strong bitter chocolate, W was not so keen on it but I found it just right.

And so we arrived at the scones, a plain and a cranberry one each. The little pots of jam and cream were barely enough for the three of us, and as we had asked for butter earlier we still had some left, otherwise we would have had to ask for it. Given the amount of accoutrements, fat scones were not in order, and the scones themselves were not overly sweet and a bit chewy. It was a bit of a lacklustre end to the tea really.

Now I’m not sure if we are just very greedy, or other people are politer than us, or after all this time we have a pre-tea strategy of starvation, but there was not much left at our table, whilst the next table had boxes of stuff to take home. We were full, but not unpleasantly so, and comfortable enough to not feel queasy on the drive home.

Equally I don’t know if we are seen as demanding guests or if venues are trepidatious when someone tells them I write a blog (looking at you A, the poor waiter turned a bit pale and went off to have a look mid way through the afternoon) but when we had finished they were keen to tell us that snow and freezing fog was forecast and the journey home might be tricky. Perhaps I am over thinking good service, perhaps I am paranoid.

Overall marks (out of 5 stars)

Service:                                ***1/2    Attentive but slow at times

Amount of Food:                ***1/2 We weren’t over full, just pleasantly so

Quality of Food:                ***          A savoury triumph with a less strong sweet range

Value for money:              ***1/2    A definite festive treat

Comments:                         ‘lovely artistic spread’ ‘ so pretty’

The website is here   https://www.daffodilhotel.co.uk/  they are on Trip Advisor here https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186324-d3331515-Reviews-The_Daffodil_Hotel_Spa-Grasmere_Lake_District_Cumbria_England.html

 

They are also on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram

 

And my suggested track for today’s tea is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VfYKmJkxl0

#25 The SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY TEA

The Significant Birthday Tea – Monday 15^th February 2016      

Betty’s Tea Rooms, Leeds, £39.95 for the Lady Betty Champagne Afternoon Tea

This has been a much anticipated day. Last year my lovely friend W suggested a Birthday jaunt to York with a celebratory tea thrown in at Betty’s. Her equally lovely other half had come up with the idea and as our birthdays are coincidentally in the same month we agreed with him that it was a magnificent plan and it was all booked quick smart. As it is rude to ask a lady her age, and she would never tell you anyway, I will not enlighten you as to my age. Let’s just say it was a significant anniversary.

For those of you who are unaware of the charms of Betty’s (and to be frank I am a little slack jawed at that, is it not world famous??) this bakery, tea room and café mini empire has been ruling Yorkshire for nearly a century. Delicious handmade fancies and savouries served with quality teas (other beverages are available) or a glass of something fizzy if you are lucky. And I was a VERY lucky girl today.

We were seated in the Art Deco elegance of the Belmont Room where light flooded in highlighting original features (including, sadly, my own), a talented and versatile young pianist and food of the most delicious kind. A lovely atmosphere of unhurried enjoyment about the whole room. Staff sailed grandly around the room, seating customers with charm and an unhurried air.

Our choice of Champagne was very easy. Pink and frothy please! Just right for the jubilatory mood we were in and when it came it was frothy and sparkling like a blushing cascade. The tea choice was somewhat trickier, there was a vast choice and our lovely waitress had tried them all. Both of us decided to try something other than our usual afternoon blend selection. W went for a robust Rwandan Gisovu with milk whilst I went for a more delicate and sweeter Ceylon Blue Sapphire without milk. Both were most excellent.

After ascertaining our dietary requirements (regular readers will know W is vegetarian and I don’t eat meat but occasionally do eat fish) our Starter was swiftly presented. A teeny prawn cocktail on lettuce and avocado puree for me and a tomato salsa on the same for W. Both a mere mouthful that left you wanting more, and just a little bit salty for my taste. It gave us an opportunity to discuss the inherent eroticism of the shape of avocados, which is somewhat marred by their tendency to be textured like soap.

Bobbing in its wake came a side plate of Savouries. Cold mushroom frittata for both, very stongly tasting of mushroom too and not wet as some eggy things can be, then a Smoked Salmon Roulade for me and a Red Pepper one for W. Both were presented on a crunch crouton base and both strongly tasting of their designated flavours. Lovely!

As we finished the last little nibble we eyed our tea stand hungrily. Sandwiches, tiny scones in two flavours and three fancies each. Considerately they had ensured that all cakes were vegetarian friendly so we each got one of each cake offered, rather than sharing the 6 different ones from the usual tea served. Our sandwiches were all veggie friendly too – and best of all extras were available!

First up were cucumber roses laid on a nutty salty sourdough bread and dotted with crème fraiche, the saltiness of the bread accentuated the flavour of the cucumber and even W, who is not a cucumber fan (I think I’ve noted before that she generally thinks it is a waste of good sandwich space), tucked in enthusiastically. Next was a squidgy egg mayo, nice balance of egg and mayonnaise on a lovely chewy crusty bread. Finally a long finger of cream cheese and red onion marmalade. The marmalade was delicious, sweet and savoury at once but my only note is that it over powered the cheese which could have been layered a little more thickly for my taste. Still a nice sandwich though.

All this while the pretty cakes had been flirting with us, demanding our attention and brazenly shouting ‘Eat us, eat us!’ and we were about to oblige when the pianist did a little taradiddle and  broke into Happy Birthday whilst a waitress came and presented us both with a surprise brownie cupcake adorned with a lit golden candle. A lovely thoughtful touch which whilst it made my cheeks a little rosy also made my day.

The cakes could be restrained no longer and a delightful coffee religieux leapt onto my plate and quickly was demolished. A crisp biscuit base balanced a stack of choux buns decorated with coffee icing and cream. Every single element could be tasted and Mary Berry would have been in raptures. A chewy meringue basket was blousy with softly whipped cream and studded with plump fresh fruit and when eaten was squishy, light and fruity and utterly gorgeous. It was topped with a white chocolate lattice that gave it a rakish air. The final of the cake choices was before me. This is always the point where I wonder if I have chosen my cake strategy well, the delicate little Apple Caramel macaroon had all the appearance of amazingness but would it live up to it? Worry no longer dear reader for it was magnificent. Fruity, chewy, lovely butter cream filling and utterly more-ish.

Before the scones it was time to blow out the candle on our brownie birthday cupcakes and tuck in to our little surprise addition. They were also delightful, melt in the mouth and not too heavy either.

And so, with the cake stand emptying we turned to our scones. A lavender and a sultana one each. Two sweet little rounds on which to finish, but which first? As a traditionalist to the end with my choices I went lavender first, light buttery (and buttery enough not to feel the lack of an extra smear of the stuff on top) and ample lavender to pack a punch but not taste like hand cream. The final titbit was another buttery sultana scone, moist with a crisp outer shell on which to heap a fresh strawberry conserve and the holy grail of clotted cream. Perfect ending in my opinion, with a final slurp of champagne.

Desolately we looked in vain for more treats. Not one scrap remained. Probably a good job as we were both full and needed a good walk afterwards to help our digestion. However we were presented with a lovely little tin of loose leaf afternoon tea as a parting gift and in indulging in a short chat with the staff to thank them we realised that, once again, we were last to leave. Laughing. Raucously.

I fear we will never make it in polite society….

Overall marks (out of 5 stars)

Service:                                *****      Knowledgeable, chatty, funny, observant with impeccable manners

Amount of Food:               ****1/2  Not a crumb left over (only being critical as I might have wanted something for a doggy bag to eat later but we had scoffed the lot)

Quality of Food:                ****1/2  Almost every flavour present and popping

Value for money:              ****1/2  Excellent value for the food, service and surroundings

Description:                       ‘Special treat tea’ ‘Do you think they’d mind if I sang along with the piano?’

Their website is here https://www.bettys.co.uk/tea-rooms/locations/york

They are on Trip Advisor here https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186346-d698157-Reviews-Bettys_Cafe_Tea_Rooms-York_North_Yorkshire_England.html     they are also on Facebook and Twitter

 

And my suggested track for today’s tea is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-ikhnLNiyM