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afternoon tea

Shopkins Afternoon Tea at The Langham Hotel Sydney

November 11, 2018 / High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Do you have a Shokins fan in the house? We do! I don’t know who was more excited to head to The Langham Sydney this weekend to check out the new Shopkins Afternoon Tea, me or the kid!

The Langham is renowned for their excellent high tea (or afternoon tea), which is always elegantly served on tailor-made “Langham Rose” Wedgwood teaware made exclusively for the hotel.

I love so much when hotels such as The Langham put on a special kids’ afternoon tea or kids high tea. They give families a chance to experience a high tea with the pressure off. No one expects kids to be perfectly behaved when the tea is especially put on for them! The kids’ high teas also give kids a chance to dress up in their fanciest outfits and spend quality time with their parents, while feeling very grown up and sophisticated.

For a short time only, kids can get fancy and head to The Langham Sydney to enjoy the special Shopkins High Tea.

The afternoon tea is adorably designed to feature beloved characters in sweet form! Kids will get such a kick out of trying a D’lish Donut, Twinkle Cupcake, Macca Roon, Suzie Slice, Molly Cake Pop and many more delicious treats.

Kids are presented with a special Shopkins gift bag on arrival, which includes two special edition Shopkins, a Shopkins magazine and a Pikmi Pop.

Shopkins-themed colouring-in supplies are available, too. We didn’t need them because we brought our own Shopkins from home to play with.

The really special moment of the high tea for most of the kids was the Shopkins character meet and greet (available between 1pm-4pm). We met Kooky Cookie when we entered the tea room and then again when she came around the room to each table to say, “Hello”.

Kooky Cookie and her good natured minder entertained the kids for a solid half an hour with an impromptu dance party and answering some of the kids’ pressing questions. “Can Kooky do a cartwheel?”, “Can she stand on her head” and “Who took a bite out of her?” featured highly.

Savoury Snacks

Cheesy Popcorn
Brioche cheese and beef slider *
Mushroom arancini, Napoli sauce
Mini cheese and smoked ham pizza *

* We received the following vegetarian substitutes:
Cucumber sandwich
Veggie burger
Mushroom sandwich

Something Sweet

D’lish Vanilla Donut
Twinkle Strawberry Cupcake
Lemon Macca Roon
Suzie Chocolate Slice
Molly Raspberry Cake Pop
Yvonne Scones with homemade jam and cream

Beverages

Watermelon Melissa Sips (add’l $12)
Hot chocolate with marshmallows
Tea & coffee

The food is delicious and absolutely suited to adults as well as the kids. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh sandwiches on light, fluffy bread, little sliders, warm scones and mini pizzas.

With our stomaches groaning we tried one of everything, including the sweets. They’re so delicate and delicious, and particularly adorable for this tea with the beautiful theming.

For my tea I ordered an iced tea, which was delicious and refilled as part of the package. Cheese chose chamomile which was served in a delicate silver pot with real chamomile flowers inside, and later a hot chocolate.

As always the tea never looks “that big” but we struggled to finish it all.

Adults young at heart (ahem like me) can indulge in the Shopkins Afternoon Tea or choose to enjoy Palm Court’s Spring Afternoon Tea.

The Shopkins Afternoon Tea is only available on Sunday 18th November

Session 1

12pm-2:30pm

Session 2

3pm-5:30pm

The Shopkins High Tea costs $45 per child includes Shopkins gift and activities and $80 per adult. $95 per adult includes glass of sparkling on arrival.

To make your booking or for any enquiries please contact Langham Service on +61 (2) 9256 2222 or email tlsyd.rsvn@langhamhotels.com
http://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/sydney/offers/dining-offers/shopkins-afternoon-tea/

We were hosted by The Langham Sydney. All opinions and cake-eating antics are our own. We genuinely love high tea at The Langham.

The Langham Sydney: Afternoon Tea With Mr Rabbit

March 19, 2018 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

This Easter, take Sydney kids to the Langham to experience an elegant Afternoon Tea with Mr Rabbit.

We love the Langham. It’s been our go-to hotel for a touch of luxury in Sydney since we were dating and Cheese was just a twinkle in our eyes. The Langham, Sydney has always put on a gorgeous high tea that we enjoy but, when there’s a special theme involved, like Easter, it’s always just that bit extra special.

Afternoon Tea with Mr Rabbit

Until the 31st of March, families can enjoy a rabbit warren of Easter delights in the ever-so-elegant Palm Court at the Langham, Sydney.

The Afternoon Tea with Mr Rabbit is a beautiful treat to enjoy during the Easter season. It includes three tiers of savoury and sweet food and a little Easter gift to take home.

Included in the high tea is your choice of tea, coffee or a hot chocolate.

Savoury
Chive cream cheese, dark ale soil, beetroot
Chicken and leek pie
Smoked trout rillettes, brioche
Curried egg sandwich
Pastrami, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut finger sandwich
(As vegetarians we received a Mediterranean sandwich and pumpkin pie as a substitute)

Langham Sydney, Afternoon Tea With Mr Rabbit, Australia

Sweet
Chocolate nest with mini eggs
Passionfruit baby chick cupcake
Carrot macaron
Ginger bread and chocolate sable
Orange and coconut egg
Mandarin and white chocolate bonbon
Carrot and vanilla scones with jam and cream

The food and service were impeccable as always. The scones fresh from the oven as well as large and fluffy, and the ribbon sandwiches divine. We adored the attention to detail in the sweets and particularly loved the bonbon and coconut and orange egg.

Seated in the elegant Palm Court, Cheese remarked to me that the hotel is “so pretty” and “beautiful” (that it is!). You might think such a refined establishment might not be the best place to take kids, but I would say the opposite – that if you expose kids to beautiful things and environments where the expectation is that they will sit quietly, even if while they are sitting they are drawing or playing a game, that they will learn to appreciate and to behave in different settings.

I was once a nervous parent who took her baby, then toddler and preschooler to high tea and prepared for the worst – which invariably did happen. Crying, tears, tantrums, the works. This high tea outing I really realised how far we’ve come together as Cheese and I walked around the lobby with her taking pictures of the “amazing painting” and “gorgeous flowers”, and as we read through the tea menu together to see which kind of tea we would try.

After the tea was finished Cheese made a score chart of what items she liked the most, which the chefs apparently found hilarious when they saw it later. She ranked the scones as highly as her love for her parents (say what!!), followed by the quiche, tea and hot chocolate.

I think we have another high tea connoisseur in the family!

Afternoon Tea with Mr Rabbit

Monday – Friday

12pm-5pm

$45 per child

$70 per adult

$90 per person includes a glass of Champagne

$100 per person includes a glass of Rosé Champagne

Saturday – Sunday

$45 per child

$80 per adult

$100 per person includes a glass of Champagne

$110 per person includes a glass of Rosé Champagne

The Langham, Sydney is also putting on an Easter Sunday Buffet Lunch on Sunday 1st April 2018.

The lunch features a buffet spread, including a chocolate fountain, and the hotel lobby will transform into an Easter wonderland with colourful chocolate egg displays. Guests also receive their very own Easter gift to take home on departure.

EASTER LUNCH MENU

Seatings from 2pm until 3pm

$95 per adult

$50 per child

Get more info on Easter at the Langham, Sydney here.

The Langham Sydney
89-113 Kent St
Millers Point, Sydney
Bookings: +61 (2) 9256 2222

Read about the Afternoon Tea with Wedgewood offered by the Langham, Sydney here.

Thinking of staying the night? Read our hotel review of the Langham Sydney here.

Find more high teas in Sydney here.

We were hosted at by the Langham, Sydney for our afternoon tea. All opinions are our own.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Afternoon Tea at Park Hyatt Sydney

October 3, 2017 / CBD, High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food, The Rocks / 0 comment

With floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking Sydney Harbour, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better outlook for a high tea in Sydney than the Park Hyatt in The Rocks.

Afternoon tea is served daily from 2:30pm-5:00pm on an elegant three tiered platter, with a selection of teas by La Maison Du Thé.

Savoury
Smoked salmon with dill mascarpone and keta caviar
Beef pastrami with celery & green apple remoulade and watercress
Aged cheddar on malt bread with quince & toasted hazelnuts
Provencale quiche with sundried tomatoes, olives & pine seeds
Truffle & ham “croque monsieur”

Sweet
Valrhona chocolate crhunch
Raspberry choux
Lemon myrtle cheesecake
MakMak macaron
Freshly baked scones with homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream

We enjoyed the afternoon tea, particularly as it had a large amount of savoury items. The food was all delicious. Freshly made using high-quality ingredients. The scones were fluffy and fresh (although not warm).

As a vegetarian I received a slightly different list of savoury food including a mediterranean style of sandwich.

Hot water for tea pots and extra jam or cream is available upon request.

The Park Hyatt offers a high tea for kids which is the same as the adult one but for a slightly cheaper price. It would be ideal if instead they had some more kid-friendly sandwiches and pastries instead of serving the same tea.

We opted instead to have some extra scones and then regretted it as they were super expensive – we were charged $14 for two small scones. I found out when I emailed later that the charge was doubled and it should have been $8 for the two scones, but this is still too expensive in my opinion for the tiny scones received.

Classic Afternoon Tea
$55 per person including tea or coffee (or a Valrhona chocolate, served hot or cold).

Champagne Afternoon Tea
$70 per person including the above, plus a glass of NV Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rosé.

Afternoon Tea at the Park Hyatt Sydney
Served Daily, 2.30pm-5.00pm
$55 per person, $70 with a glass of Champagne.
Park Hyatt Sydney 7 Hickson Road
The Rocks Sydney NSW 2000 Australia.
Telephone: + 61 2 9256 1234
Online

Beauty and the Beast High Tea and Stay at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

April 11, 2017 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

A tale as old as time has captured the imagination of a new generation. I never thought when I sat down to watch Beauty and the Beast in a movie theatre in 1991 that 16 years later I would be sharing the same classic experience with my own daughter.

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth hotel is heritage-listed 5-star hotel located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD and shopping district. We often stop by for high tea because they are brilliant at theming them to current cultural events such as the release of the new live action version of Beauty and the Beast. (In the past I’ve enjoyed their Sleeping Beauty and Archibald high teas, run in collaboration with the Australian Ballet and the Art Gallery of NSW).

This tea could not have been a more perfect fit for my little Belle-want-to-be. She is deep in the “Disney princess” stage and was enchanted at the beautiful decorating inside the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth hotel.

I couldn’t hold her back as she fluttered from one themed area to the next – from the gorgeous rose inside the glass dome at the check in desk to the roses and books in the foyer and the gigantic rose inside the Soiree, where the high teas are served.

Our table was made up with exquisite attention to detail: rose-shaped napkins in the tea cups, themed menus and a gold leaf runner that all hinted at the enchantment to come.

A Beauty and the Beast activity pack kept the little one well and truly occupied until our food arrived. The look on her face when she saw the platters of rose-themed goodies? Priceless. The smile says it all.

Savouries
Tomato tartlet
Roasted Angus beef on whole wheat bread
Salmon gravlax and tomato on Viennese baguette
* Vegetarian alternative to these were two avocado and tomato sandwiches

Desserts
Strawberry tartlet
Rose and Raspberry Religieuse
Passion cheesecake
Berry macaron
White chocolate dome

Homemade scones
Cream and homemade jam

The children’s high tea was almost the same as the adult one, with one less sandwich and the white chocolate dome replaced with a more kid-friendly cupcake with a rose on top.

As the high tea is light on savouries with more of a focus on the sweets, I would recommend having this high tea as an afternoon tea rather than as a substitution for lunch.

We both really enjoyed the variety of sweets. My favourites were the passion cheesecake with its tart notes of passionfruit and the exquisite rose and raspberry religieuse topped with delicate gold leaf, while Cheese loved the berry macaron, the rose cupcake – not to mention the avocado and tomato sandwiches, of which she ate all, even mine.

After the kid polished off her food and completed the activity book we took a walk around the hotel to see the rest of the Beauty and the Beast theming. A Belle-inspired dress rests in the back of the foyer, near the entrance to the Wentworth Library, where a special corner has been set aside to become “Belle’s Reading Corner”.

We sat and read through all three versions of Beauty and the Beast that were available, then decided it was time to check into our room.

I’ve never had a hotel check in into a room feel like a special experience before, so it was a first for me, too, when we were presented with a gorgeous silk rose along with our room keys.

Inside our junior suite on the 12th floor, another surprise awaited us – a delightful display of rose cupcakes, a Beauty and the Beast book and activity pack, plus the masterpiece of the theming, an Enchanted Rose Bluetooth Speaker that played music from our phones and lit up like magic.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that we spent a lot of time that evening just playing with the speaker ….

After a night sleeping on some of the most comfortable beds ever, we head down stairs for breakfast in the Garden Court. A buffet breakfast is included in our package, as is a complimentary dinner for kids up to age 12. The buffet has a fantastic array of breads, cheeses, meats, cereals, fruit and yogurt, with a hot section where you can also order eggs, waffles, French toast and pancakes to order.

We check out of the hotel rested and enchanted after our special Beauty and the Beast night at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. Most of our hotel stays are purely functional, but this one has been special. As we walk out of the lobby, Cheese turns to us and says, “We have special memories here”. That we do.

Beauty and the Beast High Tea prices:

$69* per adult
$29** per child

$79* per person including a glass of sparkling wine
$89* per person including a glass of Veuve Clicquot

*Subject to availability and conditions apply. Available daily in Soirée 11am till 5pm until 30/06/2017. Bookings are required. Accor Plus discount does not apply.
**Available for children aged 3-12 years, includes “Beauty and the Beast” activity kit.

Offer available during the promotional period 9 March – 30 June 2017

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney
Contact 02 9228 9188 for reservations

Thanks so much to Disney and the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth for hosting us for this magical experience. All opinions are my own.

Vegan High Tea at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney

March 27, 2017 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 1 Comment

I’m thrilled to be trying what I think is the first 100% vegan high tea in Sydney, at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. While I’m not vegan myself I am vegetarian and more than happy to eat vegan where available, so this high tea was an exciting one to try with a friend who is lactose and egg-free.

Eating high tea when you have a dietary requirement like this is often a major hassle (it’s even a major hassle if you’re vegetarian!) and it’s wonderful to see hotels like the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney cater to people of all dietary requirements (they also serve a gluten-free high tea and kids’ high tea!).

A new vegan chef is behind the additional high tea menu. Chef June Liu joined the Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney after working for several years in other iconic vegan restaurants in Sydney and Sydney’s Inner West. She is passionate about vegan cuisine and healthy eating, which is evident in the new menu.

High tea is served on an elegant three tier stand in the relaxing Lady Fairfax lounge area. We are first brought a “welcome drink” of watermelon and red berry that is delightfully refreshing and a touch fizzy.

Tea orders are taken and we select from a menu that includes classic choices as well as more interesting ones such as the Queen Of Hearts Tea that I select. The menu describes it as Light spice of delicate, young rose buds atop the sweet full ness of China black tea.

Soon after, both the tea and food arrive.

Savoury items
Spiced lentil pies
Stuffed Moroccan pumpkin flowers
Sweet potato and cashew empanada
Grilled zucchini, asparagus and hummus sandwich
Avocado, alfalfa sprout and Spanish onion sandwich

The savouries are excellent. I’ve commented before on how well the Radisson Blu does these, and the vegan delicacies were no exception. It was so novel to have three entirely different pastries I could eat! My fave was the empanada – a touch of spice and filled with creamy pumpkin. The sandwiches were delightful triangles of light produce on fresh bread, exactly what should be served with a high tea.

Sweet treats
Chocolate cake with beetroot frosting
Salted caramel cheese slice
Mango passionfruit cake
Chocolate and hazelnut slice with lychee and raspberry
Tutti-Frutti jelly

Roasted pumpkin and herb scones with soy cream and jam

I was pleased to see the scones were large and fluffy, with the same dry taste and texture that a scone should have. The soy cream was a wonderful addition as it’s rarely possible for people who can’t eat lactose or dairy to be able to enjoy whipped cream when dining out.

The sweets section was a delight for the senses with the gorgeous chocolate cupcake topped with the most delicious beetroot (again, SOY!!) frosting, and a mango cake that packed an incredibly fruity punch. The jelly was a bit tougher than I had imagined it would be (not sure what it was made with – pectin perhaps?) I don’t eat gelatine and was happy to know I was able to eat the jelly, even if it was a bit unusual texture-wise.

The salted caramel slice was very much like a little mini banoffee pie with the banana on top – a delectable morsel that was also super creamy even with no dairy in it.

The vegan high tea at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel is a fantastic addition to the Sydney food scene. I can’t say how wonderful it is to be able to sit down to a high tea and be able to eat everything on the menu, for people who don’t eat animal products for ethical reasons such as me, or for food intolerances and allergies such as my friend.

Traditional high tea
Served with tea and coffee, $54pp

Sparkling high tea
Served with a glass of sparkling wine, $64pp

Champagne high tea
Served with a glass of Moet & Chandon, $74pp

Please note that the vegan high tea requires advance booking. Walk-in guests with no booking who would like to order the vegan high tea may have to wait up to 45 minutes while the dishes are prepared.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
27 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 8214 0000
Online
Reservations required: communications@radisson.com or 02 8214 0400.
High tea is served daily from 10:30am-4:30pm
Get Directions

Produced in partnership with the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney. All opinions are our own. Additional images thanks to the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney.

Burnt Orange, Mosman: Sydney’s Best High Teas

February 19, 2017 / Mosman, North Shore, Sydney, Sydney Food / 1 Comment

“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, 1880.

The above inscription inside the menu at Burnt Orange could not describe our afternoon any more perfectly. High tea is one of my favourite guilty pleasures that I love to indulge in with friends and family to celebrate basically every occasion possible – in this case, it was a baby shower for a friend.

Burnt Orange is a cafe known for it’s delicious food and stunning views from the wraparound verandah. It’s a popular place for celebrating special occasions, and it’s common to see groups of hens or baby showers on the verandah taking in the view with a delectable high tea offering.

High tea is served from 3:30pm onwards. The cafe closes at 5:30pm on weekends, so the only time slot is actually 3:30-5:30.

Each member of the party was served their own large tea pot that gave around 3 full cups of tea. The tea menu was on the basic side compared to some high tea venues, but it still included all the popular favourites like English Breakfast and Earl Grey, as well as options such as Orange Pekoe (which we all chose), Organic Berry and Russian Caravan.

The food is the focus at Burnt Orange, and we found the high tea to be a perfect size for mid afternoon tea – a great mix of savoury and sweet without being cloyingly sugary.

Savoury
Pumpkin & goats cheese tart with carrot jam
smoked salmon on brioche with avruga caviar and herb ricotta
Poached chicken & tarragon on Avoca brown bread

Freshly baked scones with homemade jams and cream

Sweet
Salted caramel and chocolate tart
Moroccan orange & almond cake with sugared almonds
Classic lemon tart with blueberries & cream

As the token vegetarian I was served the same tea with a different sandwich option – a really delicious vegetable medley on its own plate.

The food was of the high quality one expects from a venue such as this. The sandwiches were fresh, the scone a good size and fluffy inside, a delicious jam and thick cream, plus the perfect amount of deserts with a variety of flavours. I really enjoyed how different each was – a tart lemon, a salted caramel combined with dark chocolate and an orange cake. The perfect flavour combination.

The tea is reasonably priced at $40 per person. An additional $10 for a glass of bubbly.

High tea is available by reservation only, and a deposit must be paid over the phone equal to 50% of the booking. Deposit is refundable for cancellations made up to 24 hours prior to scheduled booking.

A 10% surcharge applies on weekends and public holidays.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Burnt Orange
1109 Middle Head Rd,
Mosman NSW 2088
Phone: 02 9969 1020
Prices $$$
Hours: Daily 8:30am-5:30pm
Get Directions

The Tearoom QVB: Sydney’s Best High Teas

November 23, 2016 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

No high tea pilgrimage is complete without an afternoon tea at the QVB Tea Room. Located in what was once the original Grand Ballroom of the landmark Queen Victoria Building, The Tea Room oozes style and grace. The addition of custom designed Baccarat crystal chandeliers in 2014 gave the interior a burst of glamour and sparkle.

Tea at The Tea Room is served on on authentic British silverware and classic Royal Albert china. I particularly love the heavy silverware. It feels very old world and classy.

The Tea Room serves three kinds of afternoon teas – traditional, Oriental and gluten free. We chose the traditional, but with a twist. Mine had to be vegetarian, and my dad’s needed significant adjustments due to his dietary restraints. Our server was one of the kindest, thorough waitstaff I have encountered. He went back and forth between our table ad the kitchen several times to make sure that my dad was being given a full afternoon tea that suited his diet. I wish I’d asked for his name to commend him to The Tea Room afterwards. He made the experience hassle free, while also ensuring that my dad was able to enjoy the tea entirely. Most importantly, my dad wasn’t make to feel like his requirements were a hinderance or annoyance, so the whole experience was very enjoyable, before we’d even tasted the tea.

Speaking of the tea, it arrived quickly in large pots. Once we’d poured all of our tea, helpful staff returned sporadically throughout our meal to ask if we would like a hot water top up in our little teapots. Very thoughtful.

Our selection of savoury and sweets came shortly afterwards on tiered platters. My dad’s arrived on its own platter (pic above), and the others all combined on another.

The vegetarian tea was very similar to the regular one. The only difference was the sandwiches – mine were cheese and tomato chutney and cucumber and cream cheese, while the regular sandwiches included ham.

The sandwiches were delicious. Fresh, light bread, and tasty fillings. We were offered extra sandwiches later on and were given an entire extra serving, including egg (yay!). The egg was actually my favourite. Also on the sandwich plate were a little cup of XX and truffle oil, and a bite of pastry with explosively tasty tomato and avocado on it.

One large scone per person was allocated (my dad scored two with his special menu). The scones were a mix of plain and sultana.The scones were warm, right out of the oven and the delicious mixed berry jam and thick cream were generously portioned. Also on the scone plate were spinach bites in pastry. Freshly cooked and so good.

Onto the sweets. Four tiny perfect desserts: a berry macaron, chocolate mousse square, berry tart and mango and strawberry mousse square. All four were perfect. Light, elegant, beautifully presented, and all bursting with flavour.

I couldn’t fault anything about our experience. From the staff to the food, it was perfect. This is why we will be back, and keep on coming back, year after year. Thank you Tea Room for making this such a special afternoon for me and my family.

The Tea Room QVB
3, Queen Victoria Building,
455 George Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9283 7279
Prices: $$$
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm
Get Directions

Reservations are recommended.

Sydney’s Best High Teas: The Radisson Blu Hotel

November 23, 2016 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 6 Comments

In the heart of Sydney’s CBD lies the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney, housed inside a gorgeous 1850s Beaux Arts property. It’s old world elegance at its finest, including the Lady Fairfax lounge area where we were seated for our high tea.

The room is lovely and spacious, with large windows allowing plenty of light to stream in. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet afternoon with family and friends.

We enjoyed sampling both the Traditional and Festive High Teas at the Radisson Blu, both served on a classic silver-tiered stand. The Traditional High Tea is available year-round, but the Festive High Tea is a limited edition, and only available until January 3.

Traditional High Tea

Savoury Items
Cucumber and dill cream cheese sandwich
Feta, ricotta and spinach roll
Smoked salmon toast
Chicken curry puff
Barbecue pork filo pastries
(Because I’m vegetarian, I was given an extra cheese sandwich, tomato and avocado sandwich and a mixed vegetable sandwich as a substitute for the meat pastries.)

The sandwiches and savouries were among the best we’ve had of any high tea in Sydney. They were just delicious, with fluffy bread, delicious fillings, and pastries that were mouthwateringly good. Often high teas are all about the sweet, but I find I really need the savouries to be a strong component too, or I get sugar overload.

Sweet Treats
Double chocolate cake
Citrus tart
Spiced cake
Salted caramel swans
Decadent chocolate mousse (with mint)

Vanilla scones with cream and preserve

The scones were served hot, fresh and fluffy with vanilla bean cream, which was a really refreshing change. Each of the sweets was a perfect bite-sized portion, with the salted caramel swans as the stand out item on the platter. Not only did they look amazing, they tasted exceptional, too.

Festive High Tea
Celebrate the Christmas season with a Festive High Tea from 1 December until 3 January.

Savoury Items
Roast turkey sandwich
Ham and cheese sandwich
Chicken curry puff
Pork, apple and thyme roll

Sweet Treats
Chocolate mint mousse
Fruit Mince Pie
Christmas cookie
Spiced cake
Christmas chocolate slice
Rum balls

Vanilla scones with cream and preserve

The sweet treats served with the Festive High Tea had the cutest hand-made sugar decorations attached, such as a santa or snowman. You can see my daughter’s delight as she spots them when they arrive.

We found the mint in the mousse a refreshing change, quite a bright, strong flavour, that was a good contrast to the sweetness of the other items on the platter. Often the sweets are all so sugary that you can feel quite ill after eating them, so having this mint mousse, and also savoury fruit mince pie on the Festive Tea and the salted caramel swans on the Traditional Tea, were very welcome components to balance out the sweetness.

Both high teas are served with a choice of handcrafted teas from La Maison Du Thé. There is wide range of teas to choose from, from a standard English Breakfast to some exotic varieties of black and white tea with fruity and flower flavours added in.

Prices:
$49 per person with tea or coffee
$59 per person with a glass of sparkling wine
$69 per person with a glass of Champagne

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel also serves a Kids in the City High Tea which we will be trying on our next visit. It’s described as including ham and cheese sandwiches, dotty blue fairy bread, sparkling lemon meringue, laminations, mini sausage rolls, mini beef pies, seasonal jelly shots, a specially mixed ‘Out of the Blu’ mocktail, marshmallowy hot chocolate and freshly squeezed fruit juice for $25/per child.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
27 O’Connell St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 8214 0000
Online
Reservations required: communications@radisson.com or 02 8214 0400.
Get Directions

Produced in partnership with the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney. All opinions are our own.

Sheraton On The Park High Tea: Sydney’s Best High Teas

September 4, 2016 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Sydney’s Sheraton On The Park has given their Gallery dining area a major refurbishment, and with it, their high tea offerings too.

Recently reopened to the public, the new Gallery dining area is modern and cool, with a silver backdrop representative of the adjacent Hyde Park. When ordering a classic High Tea stand at the Sheraton On The Park, you’ll notice an elegant twist on their traditional stands of old.

The indulgent High Tea is now served on a silver three-tiered stand that is elegantly designed to reflect a tree. It’s a thoroughly modern stand and quite a unique offering in the world of high teas.

The tree High Tea stand is served daily at Sheraton On The Park from 12pm. Included in the classic High Tea is a selection of savouries, scones and sweet treats, plus a choice of Vittoria espresso coffees, fragrant Dilmah teas or hot chocolate made with Lindt chocolate, milk, dark or white.

Sheraton On The Park have partnered closely with Dilmah to deliver a selection of quality teas. I chose the recommended Uda Watte from the Watte range – Sheraton On The Park are the first high tea establishment in Australia to offer this particular tea range to the public.

The Watte tea range is grown at different elevations in Ceylon’s central highlands. Strong, robust teas are supplied from the mid country, rich, rounded tea from the high country, with delicate, subtle tea found at the highest elevations.

My Uda Watte tea was classified as “high grown”, at 5000 feet above sea level, and described as “Rich and lively, with intense aroma and well-rounded flavour”.

The tea stand is served with the savoury and sweet treats first, the scones following after these are finished.

Quiche
Warm serrano ham, caramelized onion and ricotta dip (vegetarian substitute dried tomato)

Sandwiches
Red pepper hummus with pita – grilled zucchini, chickpeas & feta
Duck & currant pate brioche – cranberry, mache & orange (vegetables used instead of pate on vegetarian substitute)
Hot smocked salmon dark rye – avocado, fennel & chives (pumpkin used instead of salmon on vegetarian substitute)
Schinkenspeck schiacciata – bush tomato, fig & goat’s curd (zucchini used as substitute for vegetarian option).

Sheraton on the Park high tea via christineknight.me — Vegetarian savoury options.

The savoury food was delicious. Fresh, fluffy bread, a warm quiche and delicious ingredients. My favourite was the pumpkin sandwich, while my dining companion loved her quiche.

Sweet Treats
Green tea cake
Decadent passion fruit truffle
Pampa jelly tart
Hazelnut cream eclairs
Raspberry macaron
Carrot cheese cake

The sweet treats were the perfect size for sampling. I really enjoy the colour and variety of the treats, with a variety of ingredients highlighted, from creamy hazelnut to refreshing berry. Each treat was decadently good, with my favourites being the pampa jelly tart (I loved the bright fruit jelly in the centre) and the passion fruit truffle, with its layers of cream and jelly. Just delicious.

Scones
Fruit and plain
Strawberry jam and devonshire cream

The scones are served last, warm and fresh. They come with a variety of toppings – butter, jam and cream in plentiful amounts, but I find the scones to be a bit on the hard and dry side, more like biscuits than the big and fluffy scones I prefer.

The Sheraton on The Park is one of Sydney’s iconic high tea venues for a very good reason. Their consistently high quality of food and service make an afternoon in the Gallery a memorable affair.

The Gallery High Tea is served daily from 12pm and includes one coffee, tea or hot chocolate, $49 per person. The Sparkling Tea Stand includes one glass of sparkling house wine and is $59 per person.

Sheraton On The Park High Tea
161 Elizabeth Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9286 6000
Prices: $$$
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Thank you to Sheraton On The Park for hosting us.

Peppers Convent High Tea, Hunter Valley: The Perfect Girls’ Weekend Away

May 25, 2016 / Australia, Hunter Valley, NSW, Travel / 4 Comments

The Hunter Valley is known for its decadent food experience and sumptuous wines – but perhaps not as renowned for its delicate high teas. It was a surprise to me to learn about the delightful high tea offered by the Peppers Convent in Pokolbin.

Peppers Convent is a gorgeous Victorian-style manor house surrounded by vineyards. Devonshire Tea and High Tea are served Wednesday to Sunday:

Traditional High Tea: $42 per person
London High Tea: $56 per person (includes a glass of Peacock Hill Sparkling)
Paris High Tea: $64 per person (includes a glass of Champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve)

I enjoyed the high tea with my book club. I’m not sure if a book was discussed, but the delicious food and wine certainly was. I really enjoyed that this tea offered a good variety of sandwiches and the “sweets” weren’t overly sweet. The price was also very reasonable.

Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber and Watercress
Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Salmon Roe
Curried Egg Salad and Spinach

(As sole vegetarian I was also given an extra plate of vegan sandwiches at no extra charge.)

Sweets
Petite Meringue
Chocolate Mousse
Coconut Sago and Macerated Fresh Berries
Almond Cake

Scones
Lemonade Scone
Lightly Sweetened and Clotted Cream
House Made Jam

The ambiance at Peppers invokes the feeling of a bygone time filled with elegance and luxury. There is no need to rush, to eat quickly, to attend to other matters. There is just the beautiful light pouring through glass windowpanes, a stroll through the manicured gardens and a delightful afternoon filled with cake and conversation.

High tea at Peppers was the perfect girls’ outing. It’s a fantastic stand-alone activity, or you could do what we did, and have a weekend away with the high tea as the kick off point. After our delicious high tea we visited a few wineries, our tummies fortified with delicious cake and sandwiches. Me with a few of my book club gal pals below:

Peppers Convent
88 Halls Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
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Credit Card details are required to secure a booking. Cancellations within 24 hours of the reservation or in the event of a no-show, a $20 per person fee will apply.