Proper scones and cake

I was invited to try Little Nan’s new spot in the basement of the Rio Cinema in Dalston. As I said, there were all sorts of madness going on with the decor, but Instagram/Snapchat opps aside, the tea itself was wonderful: we’re talking proper scones with homemade jam, solid sandwiches, a choice of vicky sponge and carrot cake (both delish) and a very generous pot of those teapot cocktails we guzzled down with teacups.

As it happens, this ain’t the only place you can try this out 0n the East side at the mo. They’ve also popped up at the National Trust’s Grade-II listed Sutton House until the end of September, but they’ve toned things down a touch to include a tour of the house (it’s the oldest once in Hackney) and a bespoke cocktail with your name on it. Check out pics from my visit of the Rio Bar below – but for more info about Little Nan’s, head to www.littlenans.co.uk.

afternoon tea at Little Nan’s Rio Bar

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But recently, the only afternoon teas that have peaked my interest are the ones that aren’t steeped in the traditions of rich people from the 19th century. Buyagift offered me the chance to try out the afternoon tea at Rabot 1745 (the restaurant from Hotel Chocolat). It’s a promising alternative to the norm, with cocoa being the recurring theme from start to finish. Don’t want tea? There’s hot chocolate. Bored of Victoria sponge? This comes with a very good banana bread. And just when I thought I’d face another round of wimpy cucumber sandwiches, their tasty, pimped up version comes with cocoa nibs, along with dill and cream cheese.

Here’s the full menu: 

• Rare Beef with white chocolate horseradish
  Cacao Gin cured salmon & avocado
  Classic chicken club with chocolate aioli
  Cucumber, dill, cream cheese & cocoa nib
  House made banana bread
  Chocolate and orange scone, cocoa whip
• Served with chocolate spread, cocoa nib butter, strawberry jam
  Caramelised white chocolate cheesecake
  Mulled wine jelly

It’s not a bad spread for £20 each either (you can add a glass of prosecco for an extra fiver) – and even if you’re not a hard-core chocolate lover, it’s still worth giving a whirl (#doitforthegram). Check out a few more pics from my visit below:

For more details visit buyagift.co.uk. 

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Ginger and Lime: Hendrick’s Gin, Fresh Ginger, Lemon, Lemongrass Cordial, Apple Juice
Rosso Nobile: Hendrick’s Gin, Blueberries, Blackberries, Australian Shiraz, Cranberry Juice
Petali Di Rose: Hendrick’s Gin, Apple Juice, Lemon Juice, Elderflower Cordial
Fuoco: Hendrick’s Gin, Fresh Chilli, Raspberries, Apple Juice, Lime Juice, Lemon Bitters

They’re all intended to compliment a menu featuring classic finger sandwiches, scones with strawberry, red cherry and raspberry jams and rose scented macaroons.  Oh, and their hot exotic teas are incredible, while everything else has been influenced by essences of Hendrick’s Gin, uniquely infused with cucumber and rose petals.

Sound good? If you need further convincing, click  HERE to check out a photo gallery of our recent visit   – and for your  chance to win, simply fill in this quickie survey and you’ll be entered into our prize draw. The competition ends on October 31st, 2012. 

About Hush Mayfair
A warm welcome. Deliciously informal, all day dining. Comfortable, chic surroundings. Lovingly restored materials. No nonsense cocktails. The very best of British, French and Italian ingredients. Some of the most talked-about private rooms in London. All overlooking a delightful hidden courtyard in the historic heart of Mayfair. Hendrick’s High Tea is served  on Mondays to Saturdays from 3-6pm.  For more info about Hush visit www.hush.co.uk

For our competition terms and conditions, click HERE…)

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Confession:  I’ve never had Afternoon Tea until 3 days ago. That’s how you know that after 16 years of living in England, I’m still too American for my own good.   Nevertheless, the opportunity to engage in this British ritual arose during a day trip in Suffolk (you’ll be hearing more about the lovely county over the next couple of days). In London, I’ve heard about having Tea at the Ritz, and it struck me as one of those things I’d do once I grew out of wearing jeans 90% of the time (denim attire isn’t allowed) and wanted to prove that my faux-poshness could actually extend beyond dropping “but DAAAAAAAAAHLING!”, “How QUAINT!” and “can I have smidgen of Branston Pickle?” (pre-1993, this is how I though British people sounded. A decade and a half later of being immersed in multi-culturalism,  I have learned my lesson; many of them, in fact).

The event of Afternoon Tea in itself requires a level of modesty – sandwiches are nibbled rather than scoffed, tea sipped rather than slurped and if the temptation to ask for ketchup to accompany the bland cucumber sandwiches bites you in the neck, the subsequent antidote is to burn your tongue with the aforementioned tea and smack your hand for being so common. I did the latter.

Of course, I have every intention of doing Tea again, purely because I’m in love with cakes (a terrible, calorific affair) and I won’t be erasing the memory of that gorgeous, fluffy, delectable scone I savoured anytime soon.
(Thanks to Festivals Suffolk and The Swan, Southwald)

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