" Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!" said Agatha Christie, summing up in a few words the innate pleasure and eternal love that the Brits have for a cup of tea.
But there are places and instances where the relaxing and traditional ritual of Afternoon Tea is anything but ordinary. And one of these is the splendid hotel The Lanesborough in London where, in the wake of last year's success, this year again guests can sit down for pastries and cups of tea inspired by the hugely popular Bridgerton series. Coinciding with the launch of the third season - which tells the impetuous love story between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) - the head pastry chef of the Pierre Morvan-Benezet hotel in collaboration with Netflix and Shondaland has created a menu that pays homage to the key families of the series with a gastronomic riot of flavors and colors.
The magical Lanesborough Hotel in London and below, the table setting for Bridgerton afternoon tea
The setting could not be more suitable for the Regency era, the period in which the story takes place: a
refined and bright dining room (thanks to the glass domed ceiling), dominated by imposing crystal chandeliers, stucco and art objects but also sofas, plants and flowers that make the atmosphere welcoming yet sumptuous.
The experience begins with a delicious mocktail, served in a glass with a feather skewered in a black cherry: the color is amaranth, the taste is sweet and intensely cherry, raspberries and currants forward, and the edge dotted by coconut flakes. Inspired by Penelope Featherington, the white feather on the alcoholic version (with tequila) represents the iconic pen of Lady Whistledown, her alter ego. Among the teas on the menu (and there are many, from classics such as Earl Grey to those "with surprise" (for example a chocolate brownie-flavored tea) there is the one prepared for the occasion, the Bridgerton Blend Afternoon Tea, a black tea with delicate tones of fruit and rose petals that pairs impeccably with the selection of delicacies on offer. The imposing three-tiered tray arrives decorated with many flowers and leaves, that make maintaining eye contact with table companions a little challenging but certainly have their effect and perfectly recall the theme of the new series, whose key phrase is "even the shyest flower blooms sooner or later".
The mocktail inspired by Penelope Featherington
The lower tier is for sandwiches, the savory part of every
afternoon tea, and those at The Lanesborough are really excellent, in particular the truffle reinterpretation of the classic with hard-boiled eggs and watercress, and the spicy addition of horseradish in the smoked salmon option.
Up a level there are three pastries, similar in type (a centre of mousse and, in two cases out of three, a thin and perfectly crunchy short crust pastry base) but with distinct tastes (and chromatic visuals), each inspired by a character from the series. Very nice is the book-shaped one called "The Book of Eloise", a tribute to Eloise Bridgerton's passion for literature; very apt in its bittersweet flavour the pink grapefruit bite homage to the equally bittersweet character of "Lady Whistledown". The highlight is the one on the top tier - "The Social Butterfly" - to share: bright green, resplendent in its mirror glaze and decorated with a very delicate butterfly-shaped tuile. The pistachio flavor is clear without overpowering, and the sweetness perfectly balanced.
The majestic three-tiered tray
The highlight is the one on the top tier - "The Social Butterfly" - to share: bright green, resplendent in its mirror glaze and decorated with a very delicate butterfly-shaped tuile. The pistachio flavor is clear without overpowering, and the sweetness perfectly balanced.
To top it off, there are the elegantly traditional scones, served hot with thick clotted cream, jam and a tasty lemon cream.
Recommended for all those who want to have a uniquely British experience and not just Bridgerton fans, available from May 16, 2024 (from £85 per person).
And if Bridgerton isn't for you...
Wizard Afternoon Tea®
Suitable for Harry Potter lovers, wizards and sorcerers, this
afternoon tea requires magical skills (with your wand you will have to solve riddles and create your favorite tea), all with the classics, themed scones and "sand-witches", it is definitely an option to please the youngest members of the family as well.
Price from £34.99
https://www.wizardexploratorium.io/tea
“Much Ado About Tea” Afternoon Tea
Spectacular views of St Paul's Cathedral, the River Thames and the historic The Globe theatre, this new experience at
The Swan restaurant takes inspiration from Shakespeare and offers menus for vegans, vegetarians and allergies but above all a "Gentleman's Tea" with predominantly savory dishes including
scones with mozzarella and olives and
fish & chips.
Price from £39.50
https://swanlondon.co.uk/menu/afternoon-tea-by-the-river-thames/
Chinese Whispers at Kai
Chinese Whispers at Kai
China is the common thread for the afternoon tea in the starred Kai in Mayfair, inspired by the "Chinese Whispers", the famous game and the hilarity it generates. Very accurate in concept and visual identity, the menu includes Pandan Crème Brulee with Milo powder and bao with crispy duck.
Price from £52
https://www.kaimayfair.co.uk/afternoon#new-page-30
Science Afternoon Tea
If you are close to the two fantastic museums of Science and Natural History, why not create an afternoon tea that allows you to continue in the themes they covered? The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington has two afternoon tea options that earned them the Best Themed Afternoon Tea award at the Afternoon Tea Awards in 2018. Choose between an experience that blends physics, chemistry and gastronomy (Science Afternoon Tea, also in a children's version with space rocket-shaped cookies) or one dedicated to dinosaurs (Jurassic Afternoon Tea). Fun.
Prices start from £37.50 children, £54.50 adults.
https://ampersandhotel.com/eat-drink/the-drawing-rooms/science-afternoon-tea/
Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea
One of the longest-running themed afternoon teas in the capital is at the Sanderson Hotel, all based on the characters and colors of Alice in Wonderland. Potions, riddles, cocktails and mocktails, and even a gluten-free menu, is still fun and able to delight the audience. Here, too, there is the option for children with peanut butter sandwiches and milk-shake.
Prices start from £55.
https://morgansoriginals.com/sanderson/restaurants-bars/mad-hatters-afternoon-tea/?utm_source=google-gmb&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb
