I've been to London several times now and have walked past the famous Savoy Hotel on the Strand, marveling at the beauty of the historic building. Opened in 1889, it was the first deluxe luxury hotel of its kind, one that attracted the rich and famous. From Queen Victoria's son, Edward, the party boy Prince of Wales to Princess Diana, the royal family have been frequent visitors. Other famous guests included the 33rd President of the United States Harry S. Truman, actor Charlie Chaplin, and novelist H.G. Wells.
Needless to say, I was delighted when my husband Chris surprised me with a Christmas Tea at the Savoy. Upon entering the hotel, everything is steeped in beauty, elegance, and history. Guests are escorted to their table while a pianist plays softly and waiters scurry back and forth to accommodate diners each and every whim. Our table was covered with a white linen tablecloth and set with china and flute glasses exclusively designed for the Savoy. A single red rose set off the perfect romantic centerpiece.
We decided to order the festive afternoon high tea, which began with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Heritage champagne before our waiter, a soft-spoken Indian named Abishek, brought out our tea and finger sandwiches. I think my favorites were the salmon with spinach bread and the turkey salad with festive cranberry bread to celebrate the holiday. Another favorite was a little brioche roll stuffed with egg and Wiltshire truffles, topped with a gold-leaf shaving (I don't think I've ever eaten gold before).
And that was just the first round! Once we'd devoured our sandwiches, Abishek brought out our hand-dived Orkney scallop, topped with a smidge of Petrossian caviar and drenched in a fizzy yogurt grapefruit topping.
By the time our third round of food came out, I was already stuffed. Still, I managed to try the mince pie and a scone topped with clotted cream and strawberry jam before summoning Abishek to find out if the Savoy offered "doggie bags."
He assured me that putting all our delicious desserts in a box would be no problem at all. He took the tray away and soon returned with the cutest black box with Savoy stenciled in green across the side. Later that evening back in our hotel room, we both tried the Christmas Bauble, which was a yogurt cremeux, lemon sponge, and blackberry compote, and let me tell you, I've never had such a treat in my life. Each bite literally melts in your mouth! We still have three more tasty dessert bites to try, but I'm sure each will be equally delicious. If you ever have an opportunity to have tea at the Savoy, this is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Comments