If your a regular reader of my blog you will know I've recently become a fan of that good old English tradition of afternoon tea. Delicate sandwiches, delicious cakes, tea and the sophisticated feeling, is something every gal (and guy) should experience at least once. After Kel introduced me to my first afternoon tea (read here) I instantly understood why afternoon tea is such an English tradition and such a special little treat. Therefore when I was invited to the Mad Hatters afternoon tea, something which appeared quite enchanting (and with a price tag of £33.00) I had high expectations.
We all arrived on time at 3pm and was shown into the dining hall, the tables were set neatly and I was excited to see just what creations were in store. The table settings were perfect and I was very impressed by the little touches on the table, how adorable are the mini milk churns.
The waiter brought over the "drink me" yoghurt drinks which was pineapple flavoured, it was delicious and tasted a little like cheese cake, the waiter also took our orders of tea and coffee. The "drink me" drink was small but just enough as it was rather sweet.
Tea and coffee arrived, I did not that everyone on the table who ordered tea had an individual tea pot but the coffee drinkers had to share one, this wasn't a big complaint but you all know I'm a little fuss pot.
The waiter bought us out scones for the table which were nice and warm and everyone enjoyed these, we were then told to start enjoying the display of enchanting food. I was really quite shocked that the event was a glorified buffet, not the traditional cake and sandwich stands served at the tables.
At £33.00 (one of the most expensive afternoon tea's in Yorkshire) I was expecting something special which included table service, not a help yourself, everyone piling up their plates just in case they may miss out on one of the treats, buffet! It really took away the concept of an afternoon tea. I was expecting sophistication and something magical not a buffet with a few props. Buffets are for children's birthday parties, not afternoon tea at 5 star hotels.
I'll begin with the "sandwiches" which were in fact little rolled up wraps. There was a good choice of salmon, cream cheese and cucumber, egg, smoked chicken and ham. However the "wraps" tasted gloopy and claggy and it was hard to actually know what you was eating as all I could taste was the dough. Been a savoury person the sandwiches are usually my favourite at afternoon tea and this was exceptionally disappointing. I can understand wanting to make them a little different for the theme of the day, however it appeared taste quality didn't cross anyone's minds.
Since there was such display of wonderful hand crafted deserts I thought this would be the highlight and wavered my disappointment from the dough tasting wraps. I was wrong, starting with the displayed cups of what appeared to be a green drinks was in fact a strawberry and vanilla tasting (almost panacotta like) creamy mouse. This was quite simply the sweetest thing I had ever tasted and was far to sweet to eat to the point it was inedible.
Moving on to the white chocolate and raspberry truffle pop things, there were even worse.To the point it was now becoming a joke at the table, its more edible than the cake, less edible than the green cup. After trying the chocolate cakes, the macaroon mushrooms and the white chocolate candles I feel would of given the healthiest of person diabetes. It was pretty clear the display was there to look good and it seemed actual taste was thrown out the window.
The only edible concoction on the table appeared to the be "queen of hearts strawberry jelly" which in fact contained pieces of fresh raspberry, not strawberry and tasted fairly bland.
It may have been a good thing that the deserts proofed to be non-edible as after 10 minuets it was only then the waitress came to warn one member of the group with a nut allergy some of the "cakes" contained nuts! I think checking if anyone was diabetic would of also been appropriate.
As a whole the hotel was stunning and I could see the idea behind the theme of the afternoon tea was good just not executed at all well. At £33.00 per person there are defiantly much better afternoon tea's to be had. Maybe the idea of afternoon tea needs to stay simple and elegant, I think to pull of a Mad Hatters tea party there needs to be some exceptional skills in presentation and taste which this unfortunately lacked.
Sammie