Pret-a-Portea
The Berkeley
Hotel, London
As far as afternoon
teas go this one has to be at the top of my list. FASHION, FASHION, FASHION,
that’s all that this tea is about. Just as the fashions change twice a year
with AW and SS as do the themes for this afternoon tea. The menu, within this
beautiful setting, is reviewed after each fashion month and picks out several
different iconic pieces of the season, to which the cakes and treats are made
too.
(A list of the menu is
added below).
With plates, cups and
saucers all designed by Paul Smith, this smells of fashion right down to the
last crumb of cake; the name place is even a bright pink shoe! My personal
highlight was being given a bight pink doggy bag that was full of more treats
to take home.
Cake wise the Jimmy
Choo bag of this season was incredible and Matthew Williamson also tickled my
taste buds. I think mostly that this afternoon tea is just a little bit of fun
for anyone who is into fashion. Image references and descriptions are also
provided for those who are a little less fashion savvy and just want to enjoy a
great afternoon out.
Hurry! This menu won’t
be around much longer as it is time for the new season. The restaurant has also
added two new additions to the menu in correlation with the ‘McQueen: Savage
Beauty’ exhibition being held at the V&A museum. So get your forks at the
ready, and eat, eat, eat…
Mathew Williamson sequin
macaroon with Mont Blanc cream ganache and psychedelic swirl of black &
white.
Jimmy Choo monochrome chic
Cayla zebra print bag in Dulcey chocolate moelleux topped with a rainbow of
meringue drops.
Moschino’s quirky ‘Yellow M’ handbag of blood orange victoria sponge
swathed in red quilted chocolate.
Charlotte Olympia ‘Sarah’ knee
high dark chocolate biscuit boot covered in sultry scarlet and black.
Diane von Fürstenberg’s iconic golden gown ginger biscuit with a sprinkling of sparkle
highlighting 40 years of Hollywood glamour.
Manish Arora pink lady apple,
cassis jelly and crème de menthe mousse crowned with a marzipan candyland apple
cap.
Valentino’s sexy sixties mini
dress chocolate tartellette filled with caramelia cremeux, whipped ganache with
red and pink chocolate polka dots.
Dolce and Gabbana’s whimsical night owl with blackcurrant bavarois and star anis
pannacotta savouring the designers’ Sicilian forest fantasy.
