High Tea – Burbury Hotel – Canberra – ACT – Australia – October 2017

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ACT, Australia, Burbury Hotel, canberra, Friends, High Tea

Top floor of the Burbury Hotel – overlooking the city!

I worked in Sydney many years ago with Steve who has remained my friend since that time (some twenty-five years ago), and he has moved on becoming a partner with a large international company and comes to Canberra regularly.  One day he invited me to High Tea with him and his family.  I have had High Tea at two other hotels in Canberra, but not having been to this hotel for High Tea, I was looking forward to seeing Steve and Maree and meeting Sara and Ryan their children…and of course tasting the treats offered at a High Tea.

 

 

I arrived early and went up to the top floor where a lovely entrance way greeted me.  At that point I knew the champagne of choice was going to be Mumm (and how fortunate it’s one of my favourites)It was so lovely to see Steve and Maree and I loved meeting Sara and Ryan; who are both very lovely children.  I felt an immediate connection with Sara as she has strong ethical values and is in the process of becoming a vegan.  We chatted about that and her reasons for changing to this way of life.

Us adults started off with a glass of champagne and then my plate of separate sandwiches, quiche and salad arrived – nice quiche and sandwiches but I didn’t eat much salad as I knew cakes and pastries were to arrive.And then they did…Steve, Maree and I shared a three tiered tray of warm scones, jam and clotted cream, all types of pastries, quiches and sandwiches [non vegetarian).Sara and Ryan decided to order from the menu instead of having the High Tea which of course meant more for us!!  So I tried the macaron, miniature pavlova and chocolate eclair – very nice!After our champagne we each enjoyed a pot of tea; mine peppermint which was so refreshing as it was a pretty warm day.   This was a great way to catch up over funny stories of working in Sydney and I think it’s very special to keep in contact with good friends. Steve and I might not see each other often but I know we have a lovely friendship and it was so special to meet his children.If I had a choice I think my ideal High Tea in Canberra would be the Hyatt Hotel even though this was nice, I prefer the buffet at the Hyatt.

 

 

Petite Feast – Buvette Restaurant – Canberra – ACT – Australia – June 2017

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ACT, Australia, Buvette Restaurant, canberra, Friends, High Tea, Petite Feast

Another High Tea in Canberra

One of the hotels in Canberra advertises for a high tea every Saturday, so my friends Jenny, Jane and I decided to try it out.  Jane and I arrived a little early and this caused much confusion with the waitress who couldn’t understand why we were ten minutes early.  We finally got to seat down after agreeing we were early (!!) and wait for our friend Jenny.  I had decided to forgo breakfast as we were meeting at 1130 and wanted to enjoy the spoils of the High Tea.  When we arrived, the restaurant was empty but it filled up by the time we left.We all started off with a pot of tea each and waited for the High Tea to arrive.  It really is a little different to the usual High Teas I have been to.  Firstly warm fresh sourdough rolls with house-made butter were brought to the table and then a large plate of savoury items arrived – a plate each. Jenny had advised the restaurant I didn’t eat cheese so I had a plate of mini pumpkin sandwiches, salad, olives, mini quiches and sun dried tomatoes – all delicious except the olives which I don’t like.The girls each had a plate of chicken wraps, smoked salmon finger sandwiches, mini beef pies, sundried tomato quiches, duck liver pate, and a terrine. Then there was a Tasmanian double brie cheese, olives, fig, lavosh crackers, salami from Queensland and an oyster – a rather large plate of food!Jane sort of forgot the sweets were yet to come and was a bit full when they arrived but then again she does not have a sweet tooth so it didn’t matter to her; Jenny and I tried most of the desserts; probably more than needed.  At this point Jane and I ordered a glass of champagne; none for Jenny who attends a yoga class on a Saturday afternoon.On the large slate plate, beautifully displayed and carefully arranged were passionfruit profiteroles, macaroons, chocolate tarts with popcorn, a coconut curd with a cream and fruit topping and a mini pavlova topped with strawberries – all so lovely but some never made it off the plate – too full!!

Lovely couple of hours chatting and eating – well worth the reasonable cost.

Hyatt Hotel – Canberra – ACT – Australia – April 2017

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canberra, French Champagne, High Tea, Hyatt Hotel

High Tea on a Sunday Afternoon

I think most people like a High Tea…well those of with a sweet tooth anyway.  I hadn’t indulged for many years so thought it was time to try the Hyatt in Canberra which has High Tea every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  So a couple of weeks ago my friends Ray and Natalie and I went to enjoy the delicious treats.

Parking is pretty scarce at the front of the Hyatt so we drove around the rear, parked  and entered through the back doors.  It’s a pretty fabulous old world hotel and we entered to an opulent lobby.  It’s really lovely and I think it really is a little bit nicer than the front foyer.

We were shown to our table [a reservation is a must] where we listened to some soft music and our efficient waitress offered us a glass of Australian, Lerida Estate Zenzi, sparkling wine.

Unfortunately the sparkling wine was very sweet so neither Nat nor I drank it but we did order a bottle of French champagne to share between the three of us.  And that was great!!

As we had arrived right on time of opening, we decided to go up to the buffet.  For those of you who have been to a High Tea, it’s usually brought out on a three tier tray with a selection of hot and cold foods. However, High Tea at the Hyatt is a buffet and what a fabulous selection of food there is, and so beautifully displayed.

It even has a range of sweets on the top shelf of the table; all available to eat.

As soon as I arrived I realised I had left my phone at home and knew I wanted to create a post on the visit, so lucky for me, Natalie follows my blog so kindly offered to take all photos. Thanks Nat!!

After a sip of champagne, we decided to make a start and chose the hot snacks; vegetarian samosa and mini meat pies.  The three of us said that the samosa were just delicious and we went back for a second plate later.

I had pre-ordered a vegetarian plate as knew the buffet cucumber sandwiches would contain cheese.  My plate arrived and contained a cucumber sandwich, avocado sushi, a pumpkin and rocket wrap and two small spoons of mixed vegetables.

My friends then chose an array of hot and cold savoury snacks.

We knew if we raced back to the buffet we would be too full to taste a little of everything so we decided on a twenty-minute break between courses.  At this time I ordered a pot of peppermint tea which was very refreshing.  This really is my favourite flavour of tea.

Our next course was the scones with fresh cream and strawberry jam, [a choice of plain or fruit), followed by a couple of other plates of different cakes, pavolva, mousse and pastries.  Again managing to wait twenty-minutes between each ‘course’.  As I mentioned the food was so beautifully displayed on the table and it was great to see nobody piling too much food onto their small plates.  You can go back as many times as you like, so there is no need!

I loved all the food but definite favourites were the vegetarian samosa and the strawberry mousse…absolutely delicious.  After a couple of hours, we decided we should leave, but the great thing was none of us were so overly full as I really think the twenty-minute gap between plates makes a huge difference.

A definite place for visitors to Canberra [and a must for those of us who live here].

Aman Resort – Summer Palace – Beijing – PRC – April 2016

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Aman Resort, beijing, High Tea, prc, Summer Palace

High Tea at the fabulous resort within the Summer Palace complex

Whilst in Beijing recently and staying with some New Zealand friends, I asked them to visit a resort I had read about near the East Gate of the Summer Palace.

We drove to the resort and intended only to take a look inside and leave but after we sat in a lovely little courtyard with Chinese umbrellas hanging from the trees.  At this time we saw a family eating a huge tray of cakes, scones and little sandwiches, so we decided to stay and order our own.

This courtyard was lovely but after we ordered our High Tea, I took a little  walk around and found a round stone table with four little stone stools in a wonderful spot overlooking a beautiful lake.  We moved there!

The resort is like travelling back in time to the land of the Empress, but with the amenities and services of modern times.

The High Tea arrived in a fabulous three storey tray and then we had a pot of Jasmine tea to accompany the food.  The little sandwiches were  lovely with one vegetarian containing tomato bread with grilled vegetables.  Then I tried a scone with jam and fresh cream – lovely then a few of the little cakes – delicious too. My friends said the meat and fish sandwiches were really nice and one was a mini burger which looked too cute.

 

Around the lake, there are pathways and gardens and the resort guest rooms were not available to look at but they look fabulous on the internet although quite expensive.  The rooms were previously used by guests awaiting an audience with the Empress, Dowager Cixi who used to go to the Summer Palace in the warmer weather to enjoy the lake and cooler surrounds.  I was really pleased I made the effort to visit the resort as it was very beautiful.