Time for tea at London's Dorchester
The tradition of afternoon tea dates back to the 1830's and is an heritage of The Duchess of Bedford. The ritual quickly spread and became so popular that by the 1840's tea time was considered as a meal. Platters of thin slivers of bread with cucumber and light sponge cakes were served in the new tea gardens. The Iconic London Hotel The Dorchester offers its visitors an authentic experience of this purely English tradition. Located in the beautiful Promenade Lobby situated on the ground floor of the hotel, the decor in itself is already worth the visit.
Time for Tea
If you are English than you simply know how important tea time is and The Dorchester gives you a good reason for never wanting to skip this fine tradition. Of the 3,000 meals served at the Dorchester each day, non receive more attention than the gracious service known as Afternoon Tea. In fact, The Dorchester has been awarded The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013 in recognition of its outstanding quality and consistently high standards in Afternoon Tea Service and has previously received this award a further four times in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2012. The Dorchester is the only London hotel to achieve this distinction.Afternoon Tea is served in The Promenade, a lobby on the ground floor, where potted palms and towering fountains of flowering plants surround plush couches. Afternoon Tea, Champagne Tea and High Tea all begin with savoury finger sandwiches. The delicate bread slices are filled with smoked samon, egg, chicken, prawn and cucumber. Warm scones arrive next, made from a recipe unchanged at the Dorchester for over half a century. They are served with glistening strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream. To add to your pleasure you will enjoy choosing from the Dorchester's selected grand and rare teas chosen by a Bristish Tea Expert and all beautifully described on the tea menu, so be adventurous and ask your waiter's advice!
Tradition lives on
The magnititude of The Dorchesters success has several cullinary artists to thank, including the tea time chef and his «Dream Team» crew of pastry chefs, headed by David Girard. Together they work to create top of the notch breads, scones, petits fours, biscuits, quiches, chocolates and patisserie for this quintessentially English ceremony. With a constant innovative mind and a true desire for creativity, the Association of Pastry Chefs' award for Best Tea Pastries was attributed to The Dorchester in 1997. At The Dorchester, tradition lives on, offering a truly elegant and luxurious experience, especially during the festive Christmas season, watching the beautiful Christmas decorations glowing in the grand hotel lobby while enjoying a cup of Dorchester Blend. A real 'must do' for any visit to London.
Novembre 2013
By La rédaction
