AFTERNOON TEA AT PARK CHINOIS

Park Chinois has been on my list for a while, but I never realized that they did afternoon tea until a friend of mine suggested it. Walking through the heavy red velvet curtains, we are greeted at the front reception desk before being led through another set of doors, above it hung a notice with the words ‘On Air’.
The red colour theme continues throughout, with interior decorations and furniture that give a 1920’s Chinese dance hall feel to it.

The place is rather lavish looking, with floors lined with red carpets, sparkling chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, and waiters smartly dressed in white jackets. A string quartet starts to play, which adds on to the ambience.

There was the option of having the afternoon tea with tea, coffee or hot chocolate – there was quite an extensive variety of teas, from which I chose the Rare Earl Grey tea. 

We started off with a Selection of Traditional Sandwiches:

Cucumber, cream cheese, pickled cucumber, tomato, shiso, whole wheat bread

Norwegian smoked salmon, crème fraîche, dill, whole wheat bread

Egg mayonnaise, mustard cress, whole wheat bread

Chicken coronation, buckwheat bread

Each one neatly cut and filled with generous fillings, like they should be. 

 The warm raisin and plain scones were served with homemade strawberry and bitter orange compote, and organic Cornish clotted cream.

And finally the selection of pastries and cakes were brought over to the table, and what a scrumptious looking selection it was:

 Apple crumble

Hazelnuts & apricot sacher

Honey & pistachio financier

Vanilla, saffron & mango mousse

Lemon Victoria cake

Chocolate duo

Fior di fragola

Religieuse

Each one of them were really tasty, but my favourites were the honey & pistachio financier, and the religieuse which had a light and airy choux pastry.

I also have this thing about fancy toilets, so if this floats your boat too, I would recommend a visit, even if you didn’t have ‘to go’…

The afternoon tea experience was one of pure indulgence that I would add to my list of recommendations if you are looking to treat yourself. The dim sum menu also looks pretty tantalizing and reasonably priced, so I will definitely be visiting again soon.

The Cheekster, signing out x