High tea, darling

Sydney blogger Daniella samples the delights of afternoon tea with her Mum and Gran at the beautiful Sir Stamford at Circular Quay.

Cheers!

Gentle classical music greets us as we enter the old-world sanctuary of the Sir Stamford dining room. The antique carpets, regal armchairs and elegant settings hark back to a time of a ladylike leisure set for whom afternoon tea was a serious social occasion.

Our welcoming host brings us glasses of Moet as we settle into the wide armchairs, a celebratory treat on a Sunday afternoon. He patiently explains the order of the High Tea, before placing before us a three tiered platter of carefully crafted delights.

We start with a savoury level of dainty sandwiches, salmon and caviar tarts and pastrami filled pastry cups. Each unleashed a mouthful of flavour, a variety of spices. A flavoursome curry puff was identified as the Sir Stamford’s signature dish, a delicate pastry embracing the colonial English history of the high tea tradition.

The sweet layer

Our next level revealed an indulgent collection of superbly constructed desserts. Melt in your mouth friands nestled among miniature custard tarts topped with fruit. A panna cotta cup was a creamy concoction of delight, with an elegantly standing caramelised swirl the piece de resistance. The mini chocolate mousse deserves a mention, while the chocolate leaves added an element of fun.

The famous scones

The tasting of the scones was a crucial test, as my grandmother is one of the world’s greatest (unofficial) scone critics. Having scrutinised scones all over the world, a discerning review was anticipated. That the Sir Stamford scones were pronounced “perfectly fluffy, with a crisp shell” and generated an emphatic nod of approval was a sincere compliment to the chef.

A staggering selection of Ronnefeldt tea accompanied the three tiered journey of sweet and savoury delights. An afternoon of elegance, gastronomy and charm, the Sir Stamford Hotel’s High Tea allowed us to experience the mastery of a skilled pastry chef in the luxury of a dining sanctuary.

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