29 September 2006
Okay, so, Claridge's. A quick introduction for non-Londoners: Claridge's is a five star hotel, first opened in 1898, and has three different restaurants and bars (including Gordon Ramsay's). Afternoon tea starts at £31 (about $60 USD) per person. When we left, the paparazzi outside told us that Catherine Zeta-Jones was in there (we didn't see her). Definitely not my usual hang out, but not because I don't want it to be.
Five of us went for afternoon tea on Pauline's birthday, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. It wasn't too difficult to come up with another excuse (my leaving town), so Pauline, Jane, Joy, and I went again on Wednesday.
To be fair, it was an entire day of indulgence for me. I took it as a holiday and met my friend Cara for brunch at Patisserie Valerie in Soho. Had the most amazing French toast and mocha there, but I failed to capture any photos of it. Then I shopped until it was time to eat again at Claridge's. Oh, to have a life of leisure.
It was a fabulous afternoon/evening, and how could it not be with with great friends and food? I brought along my copy of The Crafter's Companion, and the girls made the appropriate positive noises. Jane remains suitably annonymous behind her hair there, and I didn't even have to ask Joy to look amazed. Score!
Next course, cream tea. Wonderful little scones with amazing clotted cream and jam. You Americans think you're being so European when you ask for a scone from the local bakery case, but you haven't even made an effort without clotted cream. (I'm a citizen of the world, of course, despite what my passport says.) I think this is my favourite part of the afternoon tea, even though it's not so decadent as the sweets that follow:
Ah, to have a tray of tiny cakes and Pauline's strangely disembodied head. Two things I will miss when I'm in America.
As you can see, the light is very yellow in Claridge's. I had to seriously adjust the colour balance to get them to this point, and they're still so yellowy!
After paying for our tea, we went to the Claridge's bar (also very posh) for more beverages and chat. When we left, I realized I'd forgotten my blazer/coat in the main room, so I asked after it, and it had been checked for me. And I'm pretty sure the cloakroom steam pressed it. Now that's service!
There's a lot of posh London I remain unimpressed by (For example: Harrod's? Boring.), but Claridge's is definitely not in that category. If you want see the best bits of London, walk around Borough; take a stroll through the City on a Sunday; find a canal and explore (can you tell I live in the east?). But if you want luxury, this is where it's at.
Looks like a fabulous afternoon was had by all! Congratulations on The Crafters Companion and good luck with all your new ventures.
PS. I am an east end girl too !
posted by Rebecca at September 29, 2006 09:18 AM
Tea at Claridges is something I have always promised myself and never really got around too. Probably because I never seem to make it past Putney!
posted by Gemma at September 29, 2006 09:29 AM
Oh I love taking afternoon tea in posh hotels! There is something sublimely decadent about it, even though it's one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the grand hotel experience. I can also strongly recommend afternoon tea at both the Ritz and the Savoy as well.
posted by paola at September 29, 2006 11:41 AM
I don't think I can call myself a citizen of the world but I do know the wonders of dairy from across the puddle. I swear I have dreams about it. Yogurt... butter... clotted cream. ..SO.GOOD. Nothing in the U.S. can really compare (although, I do really love Maytag blue cheese. [Yay, Iowa!]).
posted by Sarah at September 29, 2006 03:48 PM