The Churchillian Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is a brilliant invention. If done well, you'll be happily full for hours after and you'll be a little bit drunk as well. But here's my problem with afternoon tea: I don't have a particularly sweet tooth.

Well, that's not entirely true. Victoria sponge doesn't last five minutes around me, I'm partial to a macaron and brownies are often scoffed in as much time as it takes to make them. But when it comes to afternoon tea, I always prefer the savoury stuff. And it's almost always RUBBISH. So much effort goes into the dainty little cakes, little mousses, tiny macarons of perfection. And for savoury things? A few dull sandwiches and a bit of quiche if you're 'lucky'. I'm always left feeling a little uninspired by them.

But there might be a saving grace. The Hyatt Regency hotel in London offer a 'Churchillian' afternoon tea for £29, packed full of little British classics. So instead of cucumber sandwiches (yawn), their treats include potted shrimp and crumpets. There's little mini shepherd's pies. Baby Yorkshire pudding with roast beef! I want all of these things.

The theme continues through to desserts and instead of overly sweet cupcakes, you'll get tiny trifles and treacle tarts. And chocolate eclairs too - apparently a favourite of Sir Winston's.

Traditional afternoon tea is in danger of becoming dull and stuffy, but The Hyatt Regency have taken a classic and done something interesting with it, but without going over the top. It's still traditional, it's still British. And it sounds very tasty indeed.

Flickr image from me'nthedogs's photostream.