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A refreshing cuppa is one of the most consumed beverages around the world for any occasion and many cultures have even created ceremonies and traditions revolving around it.
Spectacular Christmas tea parties are particularly popular in the UK featuring warm cups of leafy goodness with tiny, tasty treats.
Snacks and bites like mince pies, sausage rolls and three-tiered trays of desserts have become the norm and while many households host their own intimate gatherings, nothing compares to sitting in a plush hotel sipping Earl Grey or Chamomile.
The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is helping to keep the merry spirit alive at its Bay View Lounge with its Festive Afternoon Tea offering a selection of sandwiches and cakes to be devoured whilst admiring the relaxing sea setting … ideal after a busy day shopping.
The five-star-hotel’s Executive Chef Hyung Gyu Kim and Executive Pastry Chef Imad Boukli have created a special tea time menu to delight and tantalise the taste-buds, combining classic bites such as cucumber sandwiches and minced pies with modern takes on Yule logs and gingerbread scones.
Korean-born Chef Hyung Gyu spent 18 years in the UK relishing the custom firsthand and said: “I wanted to offer our diners a similar experience, capturing the same feel and atmosphere, serving them a presentation that is visually pleasing as well as flavoursome.
“The sandwiches include classics such as chicken with apple sauce, cucumber and smoked salmon which are seasonal for December. We have even presented the mini cakes on a new tea stand that suits the setting beautifully.”
A team of 14, including Syrian Chef Imad, also wanted to ensure guests sampled something special during the high tea extravaganza by whipping up traditional desserts with a twist.
“Our tea time is completely different this year,” said Chef Imad who specialises in pastries, baked goods and desserts. “We created a concept that is easy to share. There are two of everything. This menu is our masterpiece and the presentation is like a work of art too.
“Feedback from guests has been great and the first thing they say when they see the presentation is ‘wow’!”
This is without a doubt a sharing experience. I gathered two of my good friends, Vesta Popova and Tamara Suleiman, for an impromptu tea party.
Two of each six bite-sized desserts were placed prettily on a golden-coloured display stand in the shape of branches that captured the festive spirit.
It was accompanied by Christmas cake on a black platter with a pine tree sprig covered in powdered sugar which looked like snow. No one cared about their waist line that day!
The winter theme continued with a side of ginger and plain scones, apricot jam, Chantilly cream and honey. The sandwiches included a walnut bread roast turkey with cranberry sauce, a smoked salmon with capers, gherkins and sour cream on whole meal bread, roast beef English mustard with water cress on white bread and a slow cooked chicken with applesauce on thyme bread.
Included in this delectable menu is an assortment of tea to choose from, as well as coffee. After Vesta and Tamara picked out their tea, I opted to sample one of the lobby’s specialty coffees which was launched on the same day as the high tea called Hawaii. The lounge’s assistant manager Pierpaolo Faggiano said this coffee, described on the menu as ‘100% Arabica - extra fancy’, was hugely popular.
The Christmas cake was love at first bite. Usually I find these cakes to be a bit dry but this was moist with the right amount of spice, fruits and almonds. Tamara was so happy and said it reminded her of home. Meanwhile, Vesta devoured the scones with dabs of cream while I helped myself to cinnamon star cookies and my favourite mince pie.
The dame blanche snowman was tarty and sweet and unlike the usual paraline yule log it was vertical, flaky and fudgy. The caramel chocolate macaroon was delicious and the red velvet cupcake was yummy too.
I chased the coffee with a lemongrass ginger tea which mellowed me out and helped me enjoy the bay view even further while chatting away my with my friends. We sat outside at the terrace, which can seat 60, instead of inside in the lobby which can seat 90 diners comfortably. The lobby was full of the festive spirit with golden reindeers, garlands and a four metres tall marzipan Christmas tree.
After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about – to share festive food, great conversation and merry laughter with friends in a beautiful setting? It will be an experience we shall not ever forget and a great start to the jolly season.
The Festive Afternoon Tea will be served until December 28 from noon to 9pm and is priced at BD12++ per person or BD22++ for two people.
For details, contact 17115000 or follow them on Instagram @fsbahrain.
