Jazz Afternoon Tea at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane

The 1920s was synonymous with the popularity of Jazz music and it was also coincidentally the era when one of my favourite London hotels was established – in 1927 to be exact by Sir Bracewell Smith, and it is the hotel’s 90th birthday year! To commemorate the 1920s and its birthday, they have launched a limited edition Jazz Afternoon Tea, which myself, and my favourite bloggers assembled in the stunning Palm court to try.

I have tried Afternoon Teas at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane before and it was also one of the venues for the “Tea-athon,” which was one of the best events I have been to.

This tea, however, and its theme, were so perfectly executed and it was just served so beautifully. Whilst you have your Afternoon Tea in the gorgeous art deco surroundings, you are able to enjoy music by a Harpist or a Guitarist, Pianist or Jazz Band depending on which day you choose to go.

Our server, Paulo was a real gem and he entertained us greatly and gave us snippets of history about the hotel. First things first some champagne was poured and he patiently posed for us whilst we took all our shots. A big thank you to David too for keeping us hydrated with lots of refills!

Paulo explained the menu to us and what our choices were and then we patiently waited for our selection to arrive. The great thing about Sheraton is that they are so flexible with dietary requirements and so if you are a vegetarian you can get a full vegetarian afternoon tea selection too.

The selection arrived in a very impressive way – served in a birdcage!

The birdcage was a nickname given to the internal steel structure that was deployed during the construction of the hotel and I love all the associations and nods to its vibrant history.

Starting with the bottom tier, we enjoyed Plain and Sultana Scones which were served with homemade jams and Clotted Cream. I am a cream first kind of girl – how about you?

Our finger sandwich selection included Free Range Egg Mayonnaise Watercress, Chicken Curried Mayonnaise on Basil Bread, Honey Roasted Ham with Celeriac & Mustard Rémoulade on Beetroot Bread which was amazing and Smoked Trout and Pickled Cucumber, Horseradish Mayonnaise. We replaced a Salmon option with a vegetarian option.

Now the best part – the top tier!

My favourite was the chocolate tart with basil lime ganache and topped with an edible saxophone.  The Sable Breton biscuit base topped with a light honey mousse and blackberry gêlée with a chocolate music sheet was refreshing. A coconut dacquoise with piña colada crème and tropical compote decorated with a music note took us to a far flung tropical destination and finally, a rich red velvet cake with orange butter completed the perfect pastries which definitely hit all the right notes.

 

There are 27 teas to choose from to accompany your stand and I went for the Zanzibar Chai, which I have had before and love so much!

The limited edition afternoon tea is available Monday to Sunday 12:00pm – 7.30pm until 30 July 2017 so definitely get yourself booked in to try it.

The Jazz afternoon tea is priced at £39.00 per person plus a discretionary service charge of 12.5%.

Disclaimer: Our Afternoon Tea was complimentary but all views and opinions are my own.

A luxurious breakfast at The Lanesborough

When I walked into Céleste at The Lanesborough I was so wowed by the interiors that I couldn’t stop staring at the walls. The ornate details, the classy chandeliers and the grandeur absolutely took my breath away. It was the most magical venue for a long overdue catch up with a dear blogger friend over breakfast.

My friend’s blog name is Planes and Champagne so of course we had to have some Champagne to kick off our breakfast date. The charming waiter brought over a bottle of Tattinger and patiently waited whilst we took our various photos of him pouring 😉

Toasting to fond memories and exciting times ahead we excitedly caught up on all of Maggie’s travels and adventures and my transition in the months to come from a banker to a blogger. The dining room was magnificent and perfect and just the right amount of opulence to avoid being gaudy.

To re-hydrate whilst we sipped on our bubbly we both ordered fresh juices. Maggie went for Carrot juice whilst I went for Grapefruit juice. They were so refreshing and delicious.

The breakfast menu is incredible and I was torn between Truffled Scrambled Eggs or Boiled Eggs with soldiers and decided on the latter as if you know me you know that what I call “Dippy Eggs” are my absolute breakfast favourite.

The presentation was absolutely adorable and I had ordered a side of sauteed potatoes and Avocado, which were seasoned with a little bit of chilli.

I love and constantly need coffee so I also had a Cappuccino for the caffeine hit.

Maggie opted for the Lanesborough breakfast and for her eggs she went for Eggs Benedict after being stuck between getting poached or the former.

I loved the simple yet elegant presentation with the garnish of the vine tomatoes. I did have a little envy as I do love Egg Benedict!

To accompany our breakfast choices we had a basket of various breads and pastries which were freshly baked and all so heavenly. Out of sight in this basket was a pastry topped with fruits which Maggie and I shared which was absolutely divine.

Our breakfast was superb and the service was exceptional. Our waiter was even worried that my cappuccino was getting cold and offered to get me a new fresh one but I had to admit that I am one of those people who wait till their coffee is luke warm before downing it.

The choices are on the high end/pricier side but the location, service, choices make it a wonderful venue to toast to a special occasion or for a lovely treat. I absolutely adored every single moment we spent there and definitely want to come back to try some more dishes. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful and the definition of luxury!

If you are looking for a fabulous breakfast venue I highly recommend Céleste at The Lanesborough.

The Lanesborough can be found at Hyde Park Corner, Belgravia, London SW1X 7TA. Exit 4 of Hyde Park corner tube station is the closest.

 

A Celebratory dinner at Michelin Starred Hakkasan Mayfair

For our seven year wedding anniversary we decided to go back to an old favourite instead of trying somewhere new. This was pretty unlike us but we were both craving Dim Sum and fondly remembered our meal at Hakkasan in Abu Dhabi. That had been a truly opulent affair as the Hakkasan in Abu Dhabi is located in the glitzy Emirates Palace hotel. Our meal there had been excellent and faultless. As we hadn’t been to the Mayfair branch of Hakkasan yet we booked a table there.

You’ll have to excuse the photos as it was really dark and our table was quite small so a little difficult to take proper photos.

For drinks Amit went for a Beer and I tried one of the cocktails. They did have a Mojito on the menu but it was made with Tequila and I can’t handle Tequila at all so decided to try the Ginger Cooler. This is a rum based cocktail made with Diplomático Mantuano rum, and flavoured with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, apple and ginger ale. It was delicious! I just wish that the Mojito was a normal classic one as I would have been happiest having my favourite tipple on my anniversary.

 

To banish those Dim Sum cravings we selected the Vegetarian dim sum platter, which has crystal dumplings, yam bean and shiitake dumplings, water chestnut dumplings, and vegetable beancurd rolls. It was colourful, tasty and just exactly what we had wanted.

I loved that there was equal portions of each dim sum for us so we weren’t fighting over them!

We also tried the Salt and pepper tofu, for which they used homemade pumpkin tofu. It was incredible and my favourite dish of the meal. I loved the garnishing and scraped it all up and didn’t let any go to waste. Definitely a dish I would order again

 

Grilled Shanghai dumpling was our next dish to share and these are similar in taste and texture to Japanese Gyozas and they were superb.

For our mains we shared a Sanpei chicken claypot which was chicken cooked with sweet basil, chilli and spring onions. We had some egg fried rice to accompany it and we were pretty full after our selection of dishes and couldn’t manage dessert. It was really scrumptious and I think we has ordered just the right amount of food.

 

We loved our meal so we will be back to try some more dishes and hopefully dessert next time! I loved the ambience in the restaurant and it was buzzing, and obviously very popular.

It has trendy decor, has a real upmarket feel and it is easy to see why Hakkasan has retained its Michelin star. The Dim Sum was just gorgeous and even as I type this I already want to go back for another fix. I have seen some great deals on Bookatable for Hakkasan so will definitely be using one of those soon.

Have you been to Hakkasan? What were your favourite dishes?

My 11 favourite London Hotel Cocktail Bars

The best part about living in London is there are so many fabulous cocktail bars to choose from, and some of my favourites are housed inside luxury hotels. In the name of research (!!) I have tried lots of them and here are my favourites. I couldn’t cut my list down to ten so you have 11 choices instead!

I will caveat that at the majority of them I had a Mojito but I did try some other cocktails at some of them too. I have chosen these based on factors which include ambience, atmosphere, deliciousness of the cocktails and service and are listed in no particular order.

1. The Blue Bar, The Berkeley

With its plush, trendy interiors, the Blue Bar at the Berkeley is a really swish venue with delicious cocktails. It is all blue too! My favourite cocktail was the Toffee and Bubbles. The drinks are colour coded and it is definitely the place to bring a date to impress them!

For more info: The Blue Bar

2. The Connaught Bar at The Connaught Hotel

Ask anyone and this bar tops so many people’s favourite bars lists in London and I can see why! The Mojito was pretty damn good! It has won many accolades and is housed inside the iconic Connaught Hotel.

For more info: The Connaught

3. The Artesian Bar at The Langham

The Artesian is one of my favourite and most picked drinking establishments and as much as they perfect the Mojito, they also do some quirky cocktails too which are served in treasure chests, by example, and with so much flair and theatrical style. Perfect place to escape a crazy shopping day away from Oxford Street.

For more info: Artesian Bar

4. The American Bar at The Savoy

I visited here with some friends and we all ordered our classic favourite drinks and each one was just perfect and spot on! This bar tops international best bar lists and it is much deserved. I loved how the waiters were all so dressed up in tux’s and you would feel like dressing up to go here! Perfect for a special occasion.

For more info: The American Bar

5. The Churchill Bar and Terrace at The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

This is the first time I have seen a Mojito served with so much snazziness and it was definitely worth it! My friend had the Raj Mojito, which had some chillies in it, whilst I opted for the classic and we both enjoyed our drinks thoroughly. The comfy sofas were a massive plus point and the living room style charm meant that we could have sat there for hours!

For more info: The Churchill Bar and Terrace

6. The Amaranto bar at the Four Seasons London Park Lane

This has been our choice of venue for pre-dinner drinks on many the occasion and it continues to draw us in with its trendy vibe and superb service! It is an oasis away from herds of tourists in Mayfair and the perfect venue to catch up with friends. The food in the neighbouring restaurant is really good too!

For more info: Amaranto Bar

7. The Arch Bar at the InterContinental, London Park Lane

The best place to people watch from whilst enjoying a really good cocktail! They do a mean Mojito and they also do really good Pornstar Martinis, as the Dynamic Duo have tested rigorously! Lovely place to pop in for a drink and maybe then have dinner at Theo Randall’s restaurant after too.

For more info: The Arch Bar

8. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London

I adore the decor in the Scarfes Bar in Holborn and its library feel. It has a grand vibe with comfortable seats, a long bar that you can sit at and they serve some really good indian food too! It has a quintessential British feel and it is housed at the Rosewood London, which is such a beaut hotel. Go to the Mirror room first for brunch and then pop in to the Scarfes bar after for some refreshments!

For more info: Scarfes Bar

9. Smith & Whistle at Sheraton Grand Park Lane

Smith & Whistle is my secret absolute favourite from the list and is always my top choice when in the area for a quick drink or a pre-dinner tipple. I adore this bar and if you haven’t been you have got to go! It has a Mayfair mystery theme to it and has such a lovely relaxed and casual vibe for Mayfair that you feel like you are going home everytime you go in!

For more info: Smith and Whistle

10. The Courtyard Bar and The Long Bar at The Sanderson Hotel, London

The perfect spot for G&Ts or a glass or two of champagne – love the vibe in the Courtyard, especially on a bright day, you could easily forget you are steps away from the madness of Oxford Street! If you haven’t had the afternoon tea here yet it is a must!

For more info: Sanderson Hotel

11. The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel

I can’t believe how long it took me to discover this fashionable bar and boy is it a gem in Mayfair! I love the quirky presentation of the cocktails, the fun vibe, the ambience and it is the best place to forget a bad day or celebrate milestones over some excellent drinks. This cocktail was The Photographer and just loved that it was served inside a Camera Lens. The drink was Chase Marmalade mixed with Cointreau, fresh lemon juice, mango juice, fresh strawberries, fresh blackberries, homemade raspberry syrup and a few drops of Donovan bar Bitters. NOM NOM NOM

For more info: The Donovan Bar

There you have my favourites! What are yours? Would love to know in the comments below.

Italian Fare at Theo Randall at The Intercontinental, Park Lane

The Dynamic Duo have visited a lot of Italian restaurants lately, such as Padella Pasta and Fucina, but we were super excited to try out Theo Randall’s restaurant at The Intercontinental, having had a masterclass with the man himself as well as a brunch date earlier last year at his Theo’s Simply Italian.

To our delight, he came over to say hello, exclaiming “Binny! Aftab!” as he walked to our table, and posing for a photo too. Just a testament to what a lovely guy he is. So warm, friendly and welcoming.

The interiors were lovely, elegant and had a romantic air to the room. Theo talked us through the options on the menu leaving us wanting everything! However, we decided to be sensible and pick wisely.

To start off with, Theo sent some crunchy and crispy zucchini fries to the table for us to nibble on, which were so delicious. I had never tried zucchini fries before and loved them.

No Italian meal is complete without Bruschetta and Theo’s version was divine and exceeded expectations with the velvety slow roasted tomatoes, olive oil and infusion of garlic. Mamma mia!

The starters were pretty filling so we decided to be sensible and order light starters. I think Aftab and I have now realized our limit and capacity as we did have an incident last year where our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we possibly ordered what felt like the whole menu!

The Insalata Mista, which was mixed Italian leaves with datterini tomatoes, cucumber, fresh basil and caprino fresco, was so lovely, fresh and refreshing.

The Mozzarella di Bufala, which was Buffalo mozzarella with grilled marinated red peppers, farinata, cicorino, swiss chard and Taggiasche olives, was really tasty too and my personal favourite from the two.

As we were feeling a little full already, we opted to have the Primi as our mains choices. Starting with the incredible  Pappardelle con cavolo nero, a must order! I have never had Papparedelle in this way and it was heavenly.

The Ravioli di zucca, which was Ravioli of roasted delica squash, ricotta and marjoram with butter and sage, was equally as delightful and basically we devoured it all.

For dessert, Theo had arranged for a selection for us to try which included Amalfi lemon tart, Soft chocolate cake with crema di mascarpone, Rhubarb Panna Cotta and almond cake. The lemon tart and chocolate cake were my favourites and the perfect sweet end to a fabulous meal.

Paired with our dessert, was a glass of Moscato. I love dessert wine and it was the perfect drink to compliment the variety of desserts we tried.

The meal was superb and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a fantastic Italian restaurant, with a lovely ambience, for a date night or special occasion, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental is perfect.

We also had pre-drinks at the bar which were served up theatrically, and so definitely worth checking out the bar too!

 

 

Our drinks and meal were complimentary but all views are my own.

Michelin Star dining at Benares

I get asked a lot for recommendations on restaurants with great vegetarian choices. For my cousin’s birthday, we settled on Benares from our slimmed down list, as I had been before and knew they had a separate vegetarian a la carte menu.

Benares has been in Mayfair, in the heart of Berkeley Squarem for almost 13 years and had their Michelin star for 11 years, which is really impressive.

The cuisine is what is best described as a modern take on Indian food. Alongside their a la carte menus, they also offer a street food menu, and there is so much choice to cater for even the fussiest of eaters. The cocktail menu particularly impressed me.

The layout of the restaurant is slick – when you enter you arrive at a reception lobby, where you have your coats taken away and then you go up stairs to the main restaurant.

We had a lovely corner table, and the restaurant was already busy, testament to its popularity.

I decided to have a Pineapple and Ginger Mojito, which was absolutely divine. I am one to normally stick to a classic Mojito as sometimes flavoured ones render the drink too sweet, but this blend was just amazing.  

For the amouse bouch, we had an onion bhaji, which was crispy, crunchy and delicious.

We nibbled on mini Papad served with a choice of pineapple, tomato and gooseberry chutneys, which was unusual flavours but they really worked well. I particularly enjoyed the gooseberry chutney. What was lovely was that as we got through our generous portions, they brought some more out without us even asking which was fantastic service.

For this entire meal we ordered vegetarian choices. Starting with Chana Pakodi Chaat, which is black fried chickpea dumplings, this was scrumptious and my favourite from our starter choices.

We also had trays of Aloo Mutter Samosas (Potato and Pea) and Paneer Samosas (Cottage cheese and corn). I personally preferred the Paneer samosas.

Amit had really wanted to try the Haveli Kofta, which is a seasonal vegetable and green vhilli kofta served with sautéed spinach and a peanut and sesame Sauce. All the flavours worked perfectly together and it was a must order dish from my perspective.

For mains we chose a Paneer Rogan Josh, which is classic and contemporary cottage cheese, Rogan Jusa and served with a whole wheat parantha. It was good, but there was another paneer dish on our table, with a creamy sauce (possibly Makhani), which was even yummier!

We also ordered a Dal Makhni, which was really lovely and tasty. You could tell it had been cooked the traditional way for hours.

To accompany our mains, we had Pulao mixed vegetable rice and a variety of breads.

For a full vegetarian meal, we were really impressed with the food and the choices available. It was really enjoyable.

The desserts though, stole the limelight. On the table we ordered the Peanut Butter Parfait wit Almond Cake and Cumin Marshmallow, and served with Jaggery Ice Cream as one choice. The men actually chose this dessert and they were all blown away by it. It was served beautifully and the flavours were all genius and a marriage made in heaven.

The ladies went for the Raspberry Bhapa Doi, with Pistachio Burfi and Cardamom Shortbread. This was a lovely light, fluffy dessert and I loved the contrasting textures of the burfi and shortbread. It was really refreshing and enough to keep your sweet tooth satisfied but didn’t leave you in a food coma.

All in all we were pleasantly impressed with both the service and the food and I can see why Atul Kochhar has successfully retained the Michelin star for over a decade.

Next time we go I will try the non-vegetarian dishes, but if you are a vegetarian and looking for a special place to dine, Benares has a fantastic choice.

Benares can be found at http://www.benaresrestaurant.com

The ultra cosy Hennessy Winter Garden at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

I absolutely love the winter season and being snuggled and cosy with a mug of hot spiced mulled wine or a hot chocolate whilst relaxing and catching up with friends.

This winter I have found the perfect venue to do just that and no its not my living room! It is the Hennessy Winter Garden at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane which is just the cutest, cosiest and most instagrammable venue I have seen.

Complete with soft, plush ultra comfortable seating and even a VIP Hennessy Lodge, it is the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle that London is known for, and the chicest venue for winter themed food and drink. There is a no booking policy though so get there early and trust me it is the nicest place to escape for a few hours.

We were lucky enough to be able to be seated in the VIP Hennessy Lodge, and it was just absolutely adorable. With a wreath hanging on one wall, a Noel sign on the other and lovely super comfy seats, I was not willing to move for a couple of hours! To add to the atmosphere we had lanterns giving us a soft glowy light and thick rugs warming our feet. It really felt like you were far away from London.

Over mugs of the Park Lane mulled wine, it was a lovely hideaway to unwind and we were even given thick, soft blankets to snuggle up with to keep us warm.

The Four Seasons team have literally thought of everything to make it just perfect. There are also some heaters for additional warmth, so there is literally no reason to move.

The drinks menu is inspired by Hennessy and there are amazing options such as a selection of Hennessy infused Tonino Lamborghini hot chocolates, hot toddies, Park Lane mulled wine, and a Hennessy X.O Riviera cocktail.

We decided to try the Hennessy infused Tonino Lamborghini hot chocolate with Baileys and it was absolutely divine. I hear the Amaretto version is also nice so may have to try that when I go back.

If you didn’t get a chance to travel to visit the Christmas markets this year, fear not as the food on the menu takes its inspiration from classics and  favourites from Europe’s traditional Christmas markets.

We enjoyed a hot steaming bowl of onion soup, croque monsieurs with truffle (which were AMAZING), and Lidgate Butcher sausages with a caramelised onion marmalade.

It certainly got me in the festive mood and I am already planning when I can go back again for some more of that delicious Park Lane Mulled Wine.

If you are looking for a venue to take someone special on a romantic date TRUST ME this ticks all the boxes. It is also absolutely adorable and the loveliest place to catch up with friends and family so if you want something festive, seasonally themed and unique, this is the place!

The Winter Garden at Four Seasons is open daily (weather permitting) from 12:00 noon until 11:00 pm and operates a no-booking policy.

Our visit was complimentary but all views and photos are my own.

 

Jamavar London

There is a brand new Indian restaurant in Mount Street, Mayfair. Named after the vibrant 16th century  Kashmiri shawls, Jamavar is the sixth restaurant opened by Dinesh Nair, co-chairman and managing director of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and the first of the group’s venture abroad, outside India. He is running it alongside his daughter, Samyukta Nair.

The kitchen is at the helm of well loved Executive Chef Rohit Ghai, who has worked in many leading Michelin starred kitchens, including Gymkhana, Trishna and Benares.

The inspiration for the menu at Jamavr are from his travels to India. There are also a few signature Jamavar dishes, which feature in all six restaurants.

I went for Sunday lunch during the preview and as I walked in I couldn’t help be in awe of the amazing decor that adorns the restaurant. You could be mistaken for being in a modern Mumbai restaurant.

There are some fabulous art pieces, mirrors as well as the print of the signature Jamavar design across all the walls all in a spacious dining room with high ceilings. There is also a downstairs area which is equally stunning, and which houses a beautiful bar.

To toast the restaurant’s opening, Amit went for a classic Gin and Tonic, while I went for the Tree of life, upon recommendation from the waiter. It is also one of Jamavar’s signature cocktails. Made from a blend of Sipsmith gin, suze, almond and ginger falernum,  pimento bitter, lemon juice and absinthe spray, it tastes almost like bubblegum and delicious!

We enjoyed some Mixed papads with a variety of chutneys while we decided what to order from the menu. What I loved about the papad selection was that alongside fried and roasted papad, there was also banana crisps, which went amazingly well with the mango chutney.

The food menu is really good – the type where you feel like ordering everything! We had to control ourselves though and to start with opted for the Malabaar Prawns, which are sauteed king prawns cooked in white turmeric, onions and curry leaves. Loved this dish and it had a slight kick to it which was fabulous.

We also went for the Kid Goat Shami Kebab, spiced with black cardamom, served with a dollop of mint chutney and a side of chur chur paratha. I loved the presentation of this dish as well as the soft, melt in your mouth texture of the Shami Kebab. A dish I would order again!

The Lobster Neruli is one of Jamavar’s signature dishes, and it was epic. Cooked in a southern spiced coconut milk and pearl onions, it made me nostalgic about coastal holidays. It was amazing and went so well with our selection of breads.

Our other choice for mains is one of my favourites to order in Indian restaurants – Old Delhi Butter Chicken.  This particular dish is made with Suffolk corn-fed chicken which is char-grilled and pulled, cooked in a fresh tomato and fenugreek sauce. OMG it is amazing. Amit and I literally couldn’t stop eating it with naan bread and it was divine. I think it has become my number one butter chicken dish now!

To eat our mains, we went for the Mixed breads and Cucumber raita (pictured below), both of which were fabulous.

We also had mini rice dhosas which were really tasty.

The dessert menu was just as exciting and I couldn’t decide what I wanted. I know I will be back again and so on this occasion I went for the Jalebi Caviar. It was beautifully presented in the midst of masala pista milk, rabri and saffron. It was a decadent dessert and the perfect end to a gorgeous lunch!

To accompany it, I went for a cappuccino, made from the House blend of Medium Roasted Brazilian Monsoon Malabar and Tanzanian Coffee. Really nice coffee and the best kick start to the afternoon after that wonderful meal.

The entire meal was faultless, delicious and dreamy. There are so many dishes I want to come back and try! The Vegetarian selection is really good too and the desserts are fantastic. Well done to Chef Rohit Ghai for creating such a wonderful menu and dining experience. It is definitely worthy of a Michelin star in the near future.

The service was impeccable and massive kudos to our waiter who was actually on his first shift at lunch service and was simply amazing!

I can’t wait to dine at Jamavar again and I can’t recommend it enough if you are looking for a new Indian restaurant to try out. You will love the venue and the food, and the excellent service! The cocktails are a must have too.

My meal was complimentary but all views and photos are my own.

The Chocolate Afternoon Tea at the Intercontinental Park Lane

The Intercontinental Park Lane is a stunning hotel with wonderful views of Hyde Park corner from the beautiful Wellington lounge, where you can totally people watch whilst relaxing with a glass of chilled Moët et Chandon in your hand.

On a Sunday afternoon, we were reviewing the Chocolate Afternoon Tea, which is in collaboration with Paul A Young, master chocolatier. I already knew just from the outset that the Afternoon Tea promised to be something unique and out there, having had a chocolate masterclass with Paul earlier in the year.

A dashing man poured us glasses of champagne, which was very welcome. Sundays are for relaxing and I can’t think of a better way than with a glass of bubbly in hand!

The waiter recommended, and then brought over our first tea, a second flush Darjeeling, which was just gorgeous. He explained that it was a match for the savoury treats,  which were on their way shortly, and that the flavours of the tea would bring out the various flavours in the flat breads.

We were already loving the experience by this point as we had never had teas recommended to us during an Afternoon Tea before and having the right tea really does make a difference to the flavours of the food. It also removes that awkward decision of choosing a tea enabling you to fully relax.

While we people watched and chatted,  the savoury treats arrived and what treats they were!

Amit is not such a fan of Tuna and Salmon, and doesn’t eat beef, so he was given a plate of different vegetarian flat breads topped with decadent ingredients all to himself much to his delight.

The plate was so colourful and he had a generous assortment which included Cucumber and crispy kale on a lemon bread, Mozzarella, Tomato and Pesto on a sourdough bread and keeping in tune with the change of season, a Honey-roasted pumpkin, goats cheese and a sage crisp topping, which was my absolute favourite. I cheekily tried all of these too as there was thoughtfully two of each.

My selection included a Cocoa dusted seared tuna, with orange and fennel salsa, coriander served on rye bread, Roast beef with a white chocolate horseradish cream and baby watercress on a sourdough bread, Smoked salmon with lemon cream cheese on lemon bread and my favourite, Honey roasted pumpkin, red pepper, goat’s cheese and crispy sage served on focaccia bread.

Scones are a sensational part of an Afternoon Tea and these scones were so dreamy! There were Classic scones, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and Brown sugar scones, served with salted caramel (YES) and clotted cream.

 

All I can say is I have never seen scones being devoured so quickly! The waiter explained the 2 different ways of experiencing scones, and I have to say I prefer the Cornish way after trying both. Also may have eaten the remaining salted caramel with a spoon!

With the scones we had a wonderful tea named No 1 Park Lane tea. This was a blend of vanilla and custard, completed with cacao nibs. This is the hotel’s signature tea and it smelt like a dessert and tasted amazing. It was light and delicate and the perfect marriage with the decadent scones.

Then arrived the show stopping finale. Named Chocolate delights, and in tune with Autumn, and invoking a vision of an indulgent forest walk, lots of amazing treats served in a glass tray complete with chocolate soil, leaves and acorns.

This was Paul Young’s genius idea and so as you can imagine it was just AMAZING. We couldn’t get over the presentation and other parties who were having afternoon tea had equal squeals of delight when theirs arrived too.

Hands down, without a doubt, this is one of the best afternoon teas I have experienced in London.

Our selection, served inside a (very on trend) terrarium included an Autumn chocolate sphere, which was sat on top of the glass case, made from 72% Venezuelan chocolate, textured chocolate soil, salted caramelised hazelnuts, blackcurrant, thyme leaves and toasted walnut oil. DREAMY combination. I did save this one to eat for last as it was so pretty and I couldn’t bring myself to spoil it.

With a little bit of a fiery kick was a Bonfire cone with chipotle chili, a sugar ganache, sandalwood, cedar wood and chocolate twigs cocoa nibs. This was so cute and I loved the heat. After my time in Mexico City, I can handle my chilli!

The favourite, and mostly because it resonated with the Indian in me, was the Chocolate water ganache which was a white chocolate and green cardamom ganache filling
served in a half single origin 65% Grenadian Kalingo dark chocolate cocoa pod. Not only did it look stunning, it tasted incredible. Cardamom just went amazingly with the chocolate!

We had this selection with a tea called After Eight, which was mint with chocolate, and just so refreshing and a perfect flavour to combat the heat of the chilli cone.

Literally, I can’t recommend this enough. Especially if you are a chocaholic! It is a refreshing change from the usual afternoon tea and it is an experience in itself which is so worth having!

The limited edition afternoon tea is served in the Wellington Lounge at the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane until 20 November 2016.

For more information go to: http://wellington-lounge.co.uk

My blogger friends Ayushi and Aftab have also experienced and written about this afternoon tea and you can read their links by clicking on their names 🙂

My afternoon tea was complimentary but all views and photos are my own.

My 5 favourite bars in London for a classic Cuban Mojito

The Mojito is one of the world’s most popular classic cocktail, and a favourite of both Ernest Hemingway, who spent many days in La Bodeguita del Medio sipping mojitos during his time in Cuba, and mine, and this is the drink I order (majority of the time), whenever I want to relax and unwind.

So where in London can you be guaranteed to have a delicious Cuban Mojito?

W Lounge at W London

With uber stylish,  Contemporary decor, and ultra comfortable seating, the W Lounge is a lovely chic bar to enjoy really good cocktails in a vibrant and trendy venue.

Check out: http://www.wlondon.co.uk/w-hotel-bar

 

Drake and Morgan Kings Cross

With classy and unique decor, this spacious bar, spread over 2 floors, is a really nice venue for a catch up with colleagues, friends and to have some decent and delicious cocktails. Located in Kings Cross, a few minutes walk from the underground station, it has a really nice atmosphere and vibe.

 

 

Check out: http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/kings-cross/

The Artesian bar at the Langham

Voted the world’s best bar for 4 consecutive years, it is easy to see why with cocktails made with quirky but classy drama and one of the best Mojitos I have had in London. I love the relaxed vibe despite being located in a 5 star hotel, with neighbouring restaurants such as Roux at the Landau.

I love this bar and it is always the one I think of going to whenever I am near Oxford Street.

 

Check out: http://www.artesian-bar.co.uk

The Connaught Bar

With a luxurious upmarket feel, beautiful colours, and ultra stylish decor, The Connaught Bar in Mayfair, at the 5 star hotel, The Connaught, did have the best Mojito I have had in London. Not surprising as it has won many accolades, such as World’s Best Cocktail Bar.

 

Check out: http://www.the-connaught.co.uk/mayfair-bars/connaught-bar/

Smith & Whistle

Your Mayfair Local. Well at least mine if I am around Green Park! I love this bar, with its theme of detectives, mystery and missions, and it is such a lovely relaxed space, with amazing service. There is also an outside seating area if the weather plays ball!

Located at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane Hotel, it is a fantastic bar for fun catch ups with friends, family or work mates. The mojito is pretty spectacular too!

 

Check out: http://www.smithandwhistle.com

If you have had a really good Mojito in London I would love to know where (in the name of research) so let me know in the comments below!