Crave Sydney International Food Festival 2011 is back for its third year, with a month-long series of food events that run across Sydney and regional parts of NSW. Renowned around the world for its clever design of international food flags, the festival transforms October into a veritable cornucopia of food events.
High Tea is one of the popular categories that make up Crave Sydney, with 17 locations participating in the afternoon tea ceremony.
With its dark tones and elegant interiors of a “British-Raj” inspired era, the Victoria Room in Darlinghurst brings an element of class and vintage to this English tradition.
The Victoria Room
On a Sunday afternoon, the vibe at the Victoria Room is far removed from the boisterous cocktails shaking of the evening or the frenetic pace of the Bartender Bum Fight during BarShow Week. The welcome at the front desk is polite and inviting, and we are escorted to our table towards the back of the room where many ladies, and the occasional fine gentleman, are lounging in style and comfort.
The dining section
High tea is a special time for girlfriends, and as much as I have enjoyed the decadence of an afternoon tea at the Ritz Hotel in London and the indulgent afternoon tea at Burj al Arab in Dubai, I am excited to be sharing the Victoria Room experience.
A glass of Brown Brothers sparkling wine among girlfriends makes conversations flow, and amidst the hubbub of the room and the influx of guests, the atmosphere is very relaxed with unobtrusive background music.
High Tea is served in the classical 3 tier style. Starting with the savoury layer, the selection of afternoon tea sandwiches includes chicken with wild herbs, the customary cucumber, crème fraiche and dill, smoked salmon, rocket, lemon and capers, watercress, celery, walnuts and goats curd. Every bite of the triangles is simply delectable.
Assorted Sweeties follow which is an array of sweet and tasty morsels of dark chocolate cupcakes with chocolate mousse, the moreish short crust tartlets with seasonal fruit and a hint of mint, the delicately flavoured rosewater jelly with a frosted petal on top and shortbread biscuits infused with lavender.
Rosewater jelly with rose petal
We finish with date and plain scones served with organic strawberry conserve and a light Chantilly cream.
A tea and herbal infusion menu is offered and we choose the aromatic Queen Mary tea, a blend of Darjeeling and Ceylon teas and the Russian Caravan tea, a traditional blend of China black tea that has a mild and fine aromatic flavour.
High Tea menu
At the Victoria Room, it is easy for time to slip away between sips of tea. Service is very polite and friendly, with the ladies ensuring that we are well looked after and enjoying the experience.
Much like the Prêt-à-Portea at the Berkeley Hotel adds a fashionista flavour to a British tradition, a touch of vintage and class sums up High Tea at Sydney’s Victoria Room.
High Tea at the Victoria Room is priced at $45 per person and includes a pot of tea or coffee and a flute of Brown Brothers sparkling. Other High Tea menus are also served outside of the Crave Sydney International Food Festival month and take place Saturdays and Sundays from 12.00pm to 5.00pm.
The Victoria Room High Tea
Level 1, 235 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
www.thevictoriaroom.com
Brown Brothers would go perfectly well with high tea….actually, I think it goes well with everything! LOL Great place, love the lighting.
Gorgeous, isn’t it… you never want to leave!
Ohhhh, I like the looks of this place VERY much! 🙂 I confess I love all things Old Britain and this is perfect. 🙂 High Tea always makes me happy. 🙂
You’d love it here! I think you should put it on your itinerary when you make it to Sydney 🙂
Sounds just perfect! <RT @Gourmantic: High Tea at the Victoria Room Darlinghurst: Crave Sydney http://bit.ly/n… (cont)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
wow! “@Gourmantic: High Tea at the Victoria Room Darlinghurst: Crave Sydney http://t.co/KYHbztTY @TheVictoriaRoom @cravesydney #cravesiff”
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
The sandwiches are normally my fave at high tea – aside from the bubbles, that is! 🙂
But of course… 😉
There’s nothing like a high tea with girlfriends in such an elegant spot!
Agree. One needs to do it more often!
Been here a couple of times for hens nights and the high tea is always lovely
That would suit perfectly!
Wow, that sure looks very cozy. I’ll be sure to drop by when I’m around!
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