Tea at Waddesdon Manor, 1st January 2016.
A visit to see Waddesden Manor decorated for Christmas and Bruce Munro’s light art show and the son et lumiere could not be done without finishing off with afternoon tea (well no visit to a NT property can ever be done without at least tea and cake!). Afternoon tea needs to be booked several weeks in advance for this time of year at Waddesden, £18.50 per person for a tea they describe as ‘inspired from a sumptuous French royal feast during the reign of Louis X11, the Sun King’.
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| Veggie French Savouries |
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| French Savouries |
It certainly did not disappoint and was very different from anything we had experienced previously. There was a good range of teas served and staff made sure our pots were replaced at regular intervals with a smile. After our first cup of tea (yes served in a cup and saucer) a plate of very tasty French savoury treats was placed in front of each of us. They had remembered I had ordered one vegetarian and one ‘normal’, and it was refreshing that the vegetarian mirrored more or less the meat one but with suitable and imaginative adaptations. For the ‘normal’ person it was a warm croque monsieur, duck confit with mustard and pear on crispbread, roulade of cream cheese, French onion tart and smoked salmon dauphinoise with soured cream and chive.
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| Pots of tea.... |
Time for a little breather and more fresh pots of tea. Then came the tiered plates.
We started at the bottom with the very fresh light scone with thick cream and lemon curd – an absolutely delicious combination that I must have again!
Followed by a range of cakes: Gateau Opera; Flans patissier brulee, Macaroon framboise and a madeline. All absolutely delicious and so fresh.
A beautiful setting and good value and different tea, I would thoroughly recommend Waddesdon for afternoon tea.
Sue
The lights and legends afternoon tea is for the Christmas season only but you can book a normal afternoon tea for the VERY reasonable price of £18.50 or with Champagne for £23.50.
Sue it sounds and looks amazing, only slightly upset you didn't invite me ! I must confess a liking for lemon curd on a warm scone too.
What's YOUR favourite scone topping with your cream ? Share it with us here !
it has to be strawberry jam doesn't it ??? and jam on top ....
ReplyDeleteNOOOOO Jam underneath !
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