Just over a year since my last visit to the renowned Dukes London to review their MarTEAni Afternoon Tea, I was delighted to return to this charming venue, this time to review Selasi Gbormittah’s Signature Afternoon Tea, a collaboration between the Great British Bake Off semi finalist, and Executive Head Chef, Nigel Mendham, in GBR Restaurant.
In celebration of the British Food Fortnight, this a one-of-a-kind collaboration celebrates the great tradition of British Afternoon Tea, showcasing an array of delicately-designed sweet treats with Selasi’s signature contemporary twist and Nigel’s signature focus on utilizing exceptional ingredients.
This quintessential afternoon tea was served in the tranquil setting of the lovely Drawing Room, a beautiful space with a fireplace feature that overlooks the peaceful Cognac and Cigar Garden. We were sat in the stunning conservatory, classic watercolour paintings lined the soft pastel blue walls, the ambience lifted by the natural light that flooded through glass exteriors.
We were welcomed with glasses of chilled Pommery Brut Royal NV Champagne followed by our pots of freshly brewed of tea infusions, sourced by The East India Company.
The sandwiches were cut to precision with just the right amount of fillings that included:
Poached chicken, tarragon mustard mayonnaise on malted grain bread
H. Forman’s London cure smoked salmon, dill cream cheese on beetroot bread
Baked ham, smoked cheese, tomato relish on onion bread
Free range egg mayonnaise, autumn truffle, watercress on white bread
The smoked salmon filled sandwich was my favourite, of which they graciously topped up upon request. There was also a miniature warm broccoli, parmesan, and avocado tart that was a delicious mouthful.
The plain and fruit scones were warm and buttery, with a nice crumble to them, served with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and a tangy lemon curd.
The decadent array of pastries tasted just as good as they looked. There was a rich chocolate cluster that consisted of a smooth chocolate mousse, orange cream, sponge, and chocolate feuilletine which added a nice crunch and texture. The blackberry yuzu financier was as moist as it could be with refreshing citrus notes, topped with a soft whipped Crème Chantilly, whilst the fig and almond tart was a classic combination of flavours, finished off with toasted almonds and a sweet honey glaze. The highlight for me was the Choux Surprise – a vibrantly coloured green choux, filled with white chocolate mousse, pear, and a cheeky caramel centre.
Thank you to Dukes London for being such friendly and accommodating hosts as always – I look forward to returning soon for more tea and an overdue visit to the Dukes Bar for one of your legendary martinis.
The Signature Afternoon Tea will only be available to order from 21st September to 6th October inclusive, from 12pm to 6pm, and is priced from £35.00 per person. To tempt you even more, for a limited time only, you can enjoy 15% off this special afternoon tea when you book via the AfternoonTea.co.uk website.
- My afternoon tea experience at Dukes London was complimentary – views and photos are my own.
