Monday 3 August 2015

Mad hatter's afternoon tea

Hyatt Regency London
"Eat Me" and "Drink Me" two of my favourite phrases, but they also appear in the much loved book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. This year the book celebrates its 150th anniversary and as it was one of my most loved books as a child anything Alice inspired gets my vote.  
Hyatt Regency London
The Hyatt Regency London is celebrating the special occasion with the creation of their very own Mad Hatter's Afternoon tea
Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea
We are seated overlooking the wonderful Portman Square Garden's, to peruse the menu.    

We begin with the "Drink Me"cocktail, incorporating gin, vanilla, cherry liqueur, pineapple juice, red grenadine and "buttered toast" pineapple foam. 
Afternoon Tea
The addition of the eat me pocket watch and a toffee cherry sitting on top of the cocktail shows great attention to detail. Actually this attention to detail runs throughout the entire afternoon tea as you will see. 
Afternoon tea
Can we just take a minute to look at how wonderful and true to Alice and Wonderland the sweet treats look but more of that to come.  

Savoury "Eat Me" Treats:
We start with a Cucumber gazpacho soup, which has the perfect balance of cucumber and garlic. Great for cleansing the palette and no one flavour is over dominant. 
Afternoon tea
Now whilst I love traditional afternoon teas and their savoury sandwiches, sometimes it is nice to also have alternatives.

The Montagu certainly doesn't disappoint. 
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea
Afternoon tea
The dressed crab sandwich for me was delicious and a definite highlight. It was packed with flavour and to be honest I could have happily eaten a few more. 
Afternoon tea
Salmon and cream cheese is a regular on an afternoon tea, but the replacement of bread for pancake meant that it was all about the filling and less about the bread, perfect. 
Afternoon Tea
Our savoury tier was followed by a "Drink Me" treat, of raspberry elderflower sparkling tonic. 
Afternoon Tea
We took this as the perfect opportunity to order our tea. 

I opted for the whole rosebud china black tea. I have never had rosebud in a tea previously but will definitely be having it again it was wonderfully refreshingly with floral notes.
Afternoon Tea
My dinning companion opts for Jing Organic Bohea Lapsang, on pouring you can instantly smell the smoky aroma. The tea comes all the way from a 400 year old farm in the Fujian's Wuyi mountains. If within a tea you could smell history then for me this definitely encapsulates it. 

Sweet "Eat Me" Treats:
Normally there is an even balance between savoury and sweet on an afternoon tea, not here this afternoon tea is definitely weighted towards the sweet. 
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea London
To be honest I was expecting a dry biscuit with jam but the base was soft and wonderfully crumbly. The addition of the naughty white chocolate flower was very welcomed. 
Afternoon tea
Afternoon Tea
Will you find a key to open the door?
Afternoon tea london
Once a week, one lucky guest will find a small golden key hidden in their tea set.
Afternoon tea
If your lucky enough to find one make sure you let the team know as you have won the chance to experience The Montagu’s Saturday New York Italian Style Brunch for two; while once a month, one lucky winner will have the chance to win an ‘Explore London’ overnight stay.

Our lovely afternoon tea came to completion with freshly baked scones. Now by this point I was spent and probably a good job, as scones for me are a highlight and the consistency of these were more like sweet bread. 
Afternoon Tea
The Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea is priced at £38 per adult, with children receiving a 50% discount. Add the drink me cocktail to your tea and the cost will be £45 per adult.  

Available until 8th September 2015 from 1:00pm to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and from 3:30 pm to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday. 

A very sweet challenge that's all a bit mad! But one things for sure, your guaranteed an afternoon tea that will please your inner child.  

What is the maddest thing that you have done recently? 

Hyatt Regency London
020 7299 2037

30 Portman Square, 
London, 
England, 
W1H 7BH
Click to add a blog post for The Montagu - Hyatt Regency London The Churchill on Zomato Square Meal

Thank you very much to Hyatt Regency London for a tasty afternoon tea. Our afternoon tea was complimentary for the purposes of a review, but this is an honest and fair reflection of the restaurant and our experience.

 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

28 comments:

  1. Looks fab, I love jam tarts! Which was better this one or the Sanderson?
    Lots of love,
    Angie

    SilverSpoon London


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    1. The jam tarts here are especially yummy. They are both totally different, the Sanderson I loved that I could eat outdoors and it had a wonderful mix of sweet and savoury. The Hyatt had considerable imagination and was very true to the book, the sweets were a highlight Lucy x

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  2. Wow! Looks like such a treat. Love afternoon tea, esp when there's a theme to it!

    Paula | Lifestyle & Laffs
    www.lifestyleandlaffs.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. The theme is brilliant they have given considerable thought to each element was delicious Lucy

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  3. I love the "drink me" tags, this looks like a lot of fun and it's a great location

    Suze | LuxuryColumnist

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    1. Perfect location right next to Hyde Park. It is definitely a fun inspired afternoon tea Lucy x

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  4. Amazing! Hope the Hyatt Regency near me starts doing this...
    Great, detailed review and lovely pictures.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Helen, was great fun. Hopefully the Hyatt near you will start doing it, such a treat Lucy

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  5. I do love a themed afternoon tea and this one is so well presented .. not sure about the soup though!

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    1. A considerable amount of thought had gone into every element. The soup really work although appreciate not a normal accompaniment to an afternoon tea Lucy x

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  6. Aww, this is adorable! I love the soup in the glass tea pot. I'd love to go to something like this, I love Alice!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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    Replies
    1. The little glass tea pot was supper sweet. I am thinking of doing a post about how to do an afternoon tea at home with friends. Does this appeal? Lucy x

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  7. Oh my, that afternoon tea really does look Alice in Wonderland inspired, especially with the Cheshire Cat making an appearance! I think the maddest thing I did lately was putting sea salt crisps in to brownies... mad but tasty! Hope you're well Lucy! x

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    1. The Cheshire Cat inspired moose was superb, looked wonderful and tasted divine too. Sea salt crisps in a brownie I bet that was interesting. Hope you and baby bump are well Lucy x

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  8. I love all your tea afternoon posts. This is amazing and I adore Alice, too.

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    1. So do I and they have really replicated the book in an afternoon tea Lucy x

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  9. Oooo! I am in love with this! I adore all things to do with Alice and Wonderland, possibly my favourite story. I'm so gutted I won't be back on that side of the world until after mid-September. I hope they do it again!

    Ash | Liakada

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    1. I am sure that there will be other ones that they will create that will be just as tempting Lucy x

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  10. This sounds like the best afternoon tea ever, I love all the twists on the food! The savoury stuff looks especially delicious :) xx

    Toasty

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    1. The twist on Alison and Wonderland was brilliant and very well executed Lucy x

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  11. Yay, I love your afternoon tea posts, and this one could possibly be my favourite! They've mastered the theme throughout perfect, plus now I'm super intrigued by cucumber & garlic soup!

    Style Sunrise☀

    :)
    x

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    1. The soup was really nice and they definitely had mastered the theme really well Lucy x

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  12. I love that it´s Alice In Wonderland Inspired, it´s such a cute and fun place to go!

    https://mythoughtsthroughthelens.wordpress.com/

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  13. woaahhh!! fancy and fabulous!! everything looks so good! :D

    Have a great week!
    Animated Confessions

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  14. This looks utterly delightful! x

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  15. Woah! Everything looks so yummy, I love afternoon teas that don't just serve up the standard boring sandwiches, but that are a little innovative in what they present.

    C x | Lux Life

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  16. I love an afternoon tea that is weighted towards the sweet! The way it should be. Congrats on the jam on top scones as well - the way it should be! ;)

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