Afternoon Tea Review: The Raffles Hotel Singapore

Venue:

The Raffles hotel is architecturally beautiful on a grand scale, and is arguably one of the most prestigious hotels in Singapore. The Raffles Hotel has been serving afternoon tea for more than 100 years. When my fiancé and I arrived, we were directed by a hotel attendant to que outside the Tiffin room- which is located around the corner from the entrance. The line was long, and it was terribly humid and wet.

Service:

The service was wonderful. Upon arrival, a waiter took our drink orders immediately. I ordered a glass of Champagne and a pot of English Breakfast tea. My fiancé ordered a Singapore Sling and a coffee. The waiter came over again to explain to us the proceedings of the Raffles afternoon tea. The waiter also stated that we could order more food for our three tier stand if we ran out- which I though was very generous.

I just love how Singaporeans have a real appreciation for designer bags. When I went to put my Louis Vuitton bag on the floor, a waiter came over promptly with a little stool and popped my bag on to it. Come on Perth, lift your game! Food and beverage service was regular and prompt. Overall, I found the staff to be friendly and obliging.

Food:

Afternoon tea tea at the Raffles hotel is served semi buffet style. A three tier is presented to each table with a selection of sandwiches and petite desserts. The buffet table features a dim dum selection, and a variety of scones (including one savoury variety), cakes and fresh fruit. The sandwiches and scones were fresh and tasty, however I didn’t particular like the sweets on offer, but that really comes down to personal choice.

Overall Experience:

Is it the best afternoon tea I’ve ever had? No. But if you’re a high tea lover like myself, then I recommend that you make a reservation for the Raffles hotel next time you go to Singapore, as it is the most iconic place in Singapore to enjoy afternoon tea. Reservations book up fast, so make sure you book a few months in advance.

The Raffles Hotel Singapore

Afternoon Tea is served in the Tiffin Room 3:00pm – 5:30pm daily

1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673

Bookings Are Essential Via Website:

dining.singapore@raffles.com

http://www.raffles.com/singapore/

 

High Tea Review: Pearl Appreciation High Tea @ The Pan Pacific Hotel Perth

I have recently reviewed high tea at the Pan Pacific hotel Perth, therefore this post will provide a brief overview of the Pearl Appreciation High Tea event.
The Pearl Appreciation High Tea is an afternoon dedicated to all things pearls, and features guests speakers from Kailis Australian Pearls. At each event, there is a door prize to be won of $1000 to spend on Kailis pearls.

Venue:
The high tea was held in the Grand River Ballroom, and I must say, it was a perfect choice. The venue is absolutely stunning, and was the perfect location for such a wonderful event. Our table was adorned with beautiful Wedgewood china teacups and saucers, and the white roses added an elegant touch. At each place setting there was a gift bag. Inside the bag was a Kailis gift catalogue and a small box with a piece of rocky road inside.

Service:
Upon arrival guests were offered a choice of sparkling wine or sparkling water.
The food arrived promptly, and tea and sparkling wine top ups were plentiful.

Pearl Appreciation Menu

The Menu
I opted for a pot of Rose with French Vanilla, and my mother ordered a pot of the Brilliant Breakfast.

Food:
The food was nothing short of amazing. The presentation was superb, and the food was refined and delicious. The pearl inspired menu consisted of seafood, pearl and ocean inspired desserts and seaweed scones.

Vegetarian Savouries

Seafood Selection

Other Savoury Delights

When I first read the menu, I have to admit that I was afraid to try the seaweed and tapioca scones. However, after slathering on a generous amount of raspberry jam and clotted cream, I could barely taste the seaweed.

The pearl themed sweets were the highlight of the event. They looked absolutely fabulous, and they tasted just as good. My favourite was the chocolate macaron clam shell, with a delicate white pearl ganache.

Yum!

Amazing!

The Pan Pacific Hotel Perth
The Pearl Appreciation High Tea is only available on the following dates: 10th, 17th and 24th of May 2015, 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Bookings are Essential.
$65 Per Person (Includes Unlimited Sparkling Wine)
Telephone: (08) 9224 7777 or Email: dining.ppper@panpacific.com
Address: 207 Adelaide Terrace, Perth

High Tea Review : Opus Restaurant @ The Richardson Hotel

For my birthday I received a gift voucher from my mother entitling me to a Massage and Champagne High Tea at The Richardson Hotel. I have been eager to try this package for a while now, and after my highly stressful Engagement party on Saturday, I was in need of some serious pampering.

Venue:
The Richardson Hotel is a luxurious, boutique style 5 star hotel located on Richardson Street in West Perth. It is cleverly disguised, and is often the hotel of choice for the rich and famous, who prefer to stay somewhere discrete. From the outside, The Richardson Hotel looks like any other block of apartments in West Perth. The hotel lobby has a rather impressive modern and elegant appearance. The Opus restaurant is also beautifully designed, and is the perfect venue for a special occasion.

Service:
I must say that the service at The Richardson Hotel was completely faultless. The beauty therapist who delivered my massage treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism. The massage was divine, and I felt like I was heaven. The wait staff at the Opus restaurant were very efficient and polite, and the chef remembered my dietary requirements.

Food:
I was offered a pot of tea of my choice, and I opted for my usual English Breakfast.
I was also offered a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne, which I simply couldn’t refuse.

The three-tier arrived shortly after I received my drinks. I was impressed with the simplistic, yet stylish presentation.

The finger sandwiches were divine. The bread was fresh, and the fillings were delicious. The varieties included: cheese and tomato, a beautiful creamy egg mayonnaise, creamy mushroom, and salad with pesto.

The scones were delicious. I received one fruit, and one plain scone. The scones were warm, and light and fluffy on the inside.

I received a generous serving of clotted cream and strawberry jam. Yum!

The sweets tier included a gorgeous strawberry and cream macaron, a decadent chocolate and orange torte, carrot cake and a macadamia nut tart. My favourite sweet was the chocolate and orange torte. The cake was rich with a mousse like texture, and topped with a refreshing slice of orange.

Overall Experience:
Overall, I could not fault my experience at The Richardson Hotel. The massage was heavenly, and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the tranquility of the spa, and the relaxing atmosphere at the Opus restaurant. The staff were friendly, efficient and professional, and the food was of a high quality. I highly recommend that you book yourself or a loved one in for this package. If you’re not up for the massage, then I recommend getting the girls together for a lovely afternoon tea on a Sunday. The hotel prides itself on being luxurious, and I think this high tea does it justice.

Opus Restaurant @ The Richardson Hotel
High tea is served on Sundays
$159 for The Spa Champagne Afternoon Tea (Available Tuesday – Friday Only)
$48 for Afternoon Tea
$65 with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne
Bookings are essential.
Telephone: (08) 9217 8880
Address: 32 Richardson Street, West Perth.

High Tea Review: Bistro Guillaume

Bistro Guillaume is a relatively new French restaurant located within the newly renovated Crown Casino entertainment complex. Bistro Guillaume is nestled between the Atrium restaurant and the Crown Metropol hotel at the fancy end of the complex. Bistro Guillaume has recently introduced a French inspired high tea. At $65 per person, high tea at Bistro Guillaume is the priciest venue in Perth. Not surprisingly, my expectations were at an all time high when my mother and I arrived for afternoon tea.

Venue:
Bistro Guillaume is a beautifully designed restaurant with a modern and sophisticated decor. I don’t quite see how lime green ties into the French theme, but I think it’s a refreshing pop of colour that really brightens up the space. The highlight for me was the French provincial style couch. Such elegance!

Service:
The staff were very polite, however we did have long delays with our water and tea order. I also had to remind staff when our food arrived that I requested one vegetarian. There was yet again another long delay waiting for my vegetarian selection to be prepared. I feel that the staff could have been more efficient, especially considering the restaurant wasn’t at all busy.

Food:
Mother and I ordered two pots of English Breakfast, just to keep it simple. I also had two glasses of Perrier-Jouet champagne (mother didn’t want hers) which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The goats cheese, roasted tomato and confit shallot mini quiche was warm and tasty. That’s where it ends. In addition, I received one mini baguette with apple and cream cheese, and a finger sandwich with the exact same filling. I feel that Granny Smith apples and cream cheese is an acquired taste and is probably something a pregnant woman would crave. Either way, I was not impressed! I also received a tart with goats cheese filling and beetroot and a glass of white sauce topped with vegetables, which I cannot accurately describe. Mother’s selection included a spanner crab finger sandwich, a chicken and waldorf champagne baguette, smoked salmon and dill creme, rare roast beef and horseradish served on a crouton, a veal sausage roll, and a goats cheese, roasted tomato and confit shallot mini quiche. The highlight for my mother was the smoked salmon and dill creme.

We received two bite sized scones each, served with raspberry coulis and fresh creme chantilly. They were nice scones, however I can’t say I was a fan of the raspberry coulis. My mother ended up eating my share, so I guess she was a fan.

My mother and I received a different flavoured macaron each. I got the salted caramel macaron, and my mother got a pistachio macaron.
The macarons were pleasant enough, but they were not flavours that I would order again. Vanilla slice is my mother’s favourite pastry therefore she was eager to devour it! I expected a perfect vanilla slice to be served in a French restaurant. Unfortunately, the pastry was overcooked, and there wasn’t enough filling.
The chocolate mousse (disguised as a cake) was the highlight for me. It had a rich chocolate ganache shell, and a beautiful layer of milk and white chocolate mousse filling. The lemon tart worked well as a refreshing palette cleanser.

Overall Experience:
Overall, it wasn’t a terrible experience. Did it meet my expectations? yes and no. The restaurant has a modern and sophisticated interior design. The service wasn’t too bad, but it could have been better. The menu is refined with some elements of a traditional British high tea. I think the menu is an excellent take on a French inspired high tea. The food was presented beautifully, and it was all fresh. However I feel that for the price we paid, it was the Champagne that I enjoyed the most. If you have dietary requirements, I suggest that you remind staff when you arrive. If you are vegetarian, I would recommend checking out a different venue. Unless Granny Smith apples with cheese is your thing. 🙂

Bistro Guillaume (Crown Casino Perth)
High Tea is served on Saturday between 2pm – 4pm and Sunday between 3pm – 5pm
$65 per person includes a glass of Champagne
Bookings are Essential.
Telephone: 1800 556 688
Address: Crown Casino, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood.

High Tea Review: The Terrace Hotel Perth

The Terrace Hotel Perth is nestled in the heart of the Perth CBD and is easily accessible via public transport. However, if you are willing to pay for parking, there are plenty of multi-storey car parks along St George’s Terrace.
This is my second visit to The Terrace Hotel Perth in just over 12 months. The first time I left feeling very impressed, and therefore I was eager to return for a second experience.

Venue:
The Terrace Hotel is a gorgeous venue. The inside is elegant, with high ceilings and stunning chandeliers. I would describe it as having a sophisticated interior decor with a homely feel. Guests are given the option of sitting inside the lounge area or outside on the terrace. During this particular occasion, my girlfriend opted to sit outside on the terrace in case the Giants walked down St George’s Terrace. It was a lovely cool day, so I didn’t mind.

Our Table was gorgeous. It was adorned with a white table cloth and napkins, and delicate crockery. The table layout reminded me very much of The Ritz Hotel in London. Simple, yet elegant. My only minor criticism with our table was that it lacked cutlery. My friends and I would have liked a cake fork to accompany our sweets.

Service:
The service we received at the Terrace Hotel Perth was efficient and friendly. Our host was attentive, and he was well acquainted with our dietary requirements. I should also mention, that the Terrace Hotel is very accommodating when it comes to specific dietary requirements (including Gluten free) therefore please do not hesitate to inform staff at the time of your reservation. My only criticism is that our tea orders took a rather long time to arrive. However, other than that the service was fantastic.

Food:
The Tea Selection Menu. I ordered a pot of the White Vanilla Grapefruit. A subtle blend of vanilla, grapefruit, with a hint of chocolate. I found this tea to be an excellent palate cleaner. One of my friend’s ordered a pot of the Supreme Breakfast, and the other ordered a pot of Peaches and Ginger, which they both enjoyed.

Our Three-Tier selection arrived in all of its glory. We immediately scrambled around looking for our phones. What a spectacularly colourful and tantalising array of afternoon tea treats!

The savoury tier was the highlight of this experience. My friends and I received a croissant filled with cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, radish, and red onion. The croissants were well received among the us girls. Our sandwich selection was incredible. They included three different types of bread: sun-dried tomato, with avocado and tomato, a brown type with a cream cheese and relish filling and green bread with a creamy curried egg filling. The perfect vegetarian selection! Our only complaint was that there wasn’t enough!

These scones were perfect. Neither too big, nor too small. They were fresh, warm, soft and fluffy on the inside and lightly dusted with icing sugar. The accompaniments included a generous serving of raspberry preserve and whipped cream with a subtle hint of vanilla- yum!

Our sweets selection included: a raspberry meringue tart which the girls thoroughly enjoyed. The tart itself was cooked perfectly, and the meringue was delicious. We also received a walnut, fruit and chocolate brownie each, and a slice of citrus cake, which was so delicately adorned with red love hearts for Valentines’s Day. The citrus cake was very moist, and it had rather a pleasant taste. Although there was quite a diverse selection of sweets, I feel like the presence of a macaron would have been the perfect finishing touch.

Overall Experience:
Overall, this was definitely one of the best high tea experiences that I have had the pleasure of attending in Perth. Every aspect of this high tea was absolutely delightful. The atmosphere was relaxed, the food was superb, the service was attentive and efficient, and the venue is spacious and elegant. I really cannot fault this experience; and therefore I would highly recommend The Terrace Hotel for your next high tea in Perth. This is the second time that I have been to The Terrace Hotel, and I must say that I am really impressed with their high tea service; in fact I am so impressed that I am placing them in my top 5 Perth High Tea Venues!

The Terrace Hotel Perth
High Tea is served on Saturday and Sunday from 1pm – 4pm
$42 for The Temperance Package (which includes a selection of Harley & Sons teas)
$56 for the Daisy Package (which includes a glass of French Champagne)
Bookings are Essential.
Telephone:(08) 9214 4444
Address: 237 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

High Tea Review: Joondalup Resort (Bistro 38)

Joondalup Resort is a wonderful, and fairly secluded place to enjoy a spot of tea.
The golf course is lush, and the grounds are well maintained. There is plenty of scenery to sit back and take in.

Venue:
Joondalup Resort is a big place, and the lack of signage makes Bistro 38 difficult to find. While searching for the restaurant, my friend and I actually enjoyed our walk admiring the surrounds. Bistro 38 is not a fancy looking restaurant, instead I would describe it as having country club charm. Bistro 38 is located next to the pool area and provides patrons with gorgeous views of the golf course.

Our table was adorned with simple white teaware and red napkins. The artificial floral arrangement in the corner of our table gave the space a much needed pop of colour.

Service:
The service was excellent. Our waitress was polite and attentive, and our food and tea arrived promptly.

Tea Menu

Food:
We were offered unlimited tea, which we were delighted with. My friend and I selected a pot of English Breakfast, and a pot of Island Groove.

Island Groove is a blend of Hibiscus flowers, apple, papaya, corinth, elderberries and blackberries. Island Groove has a pleasant aroma of assorted fruits, and has a subtle sweetness to it.

Three Tier Stand

Our savoury selection included: a delicious warm pumpkin and cheese tart and three finger sandwiches each. The sandwich fillings included: cheese and chutney, egg mayonnaise and alfalfa and lettuce and tomato. The pumpkin and cheese tart was a highlight for me. The pastry was buttery and soft, and the filling was very tasty.

The scones were a major let down. They were dry, rock hard and too difficult to eat.

The sweets tier included: lemon meringue tart, citrus cake and a chocolate and mint mousse. I think the chocolate and mint mousse was the best of the selection. It was also a nice palette cleanser, and a great way to finish off. My friend enjoyed her selection of sweets, however we both agreed that the citrus cake tasted a bit odd. A cupcake or macaron would have been a more suitable option.

Overall Experience:
Overall it was a nice day out. The restaurant was fairly busy, however this did not impede on our ability to have a conversation. The food was good value for money, and the service was lovely. My main criticism is that the scones were too hard and dry.

Bistro 38 at Joondalup Resort
High Tea is served on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 5pm
$30 for Classic High Tea
$38 for Sparkling High Tea
Bookings are Essential
Telephone: (08) 9400 8866
Address: Country Club Boulevard, Connolly

High Tea Review: Rochelle Adonis

This is my second visit to Rochelle Adonis. The last time I had high tea at Rochelle’s was back in 2012 when her studio was in Northbridge. Rochelle Adonis offers high tea with a modern twist. The menu is refined, and the sittings are structured. Rochelle Adonis is a world renowned pastry chef, so you expect the food to be nothing short of exceptional.

Venue:
Rochelle Adonis Cakes & Confections is located on the corner of Beaufort street and St Alban’s Avenue in Highgate. From the outside, it’s a gorgeous studio in disguise. The interior decor of the studio features gorgeous marble high tables, a simple colour palette and luxurious finishing touches. The layout gives the studio a homely feel, and it is far more spacious than the last location. I would describe the interior decor as French Provincial, a style that I absolutely adore.

The marble table top is simply stunning. A table cloth would do it no justice.
The elegant silver teaware is an ideal match, with a fresh bunch of pink roses for added colour and femininity. It is one of the best table settings that I have ever seen. My only complaint is that you have to sit at a communal table with other people. This can be uncomfortable for some people, and it did get quite noisy.

Service:
The service was prompt and staff were attentive. However, my friend received a cucumber sandwich after I specifically asked them to exclude it when I made the reservation. However, this was a relatively minor inconvenience and I did receive my plate of vegetarian savouries without any trouble. The high tea service at Rochelle Adonis is quite structured. You are allowed 1 hour and 45 minutes per sitting. During this time you are able to select one pot of tea to accompany your savoury selection, and another pot of tea to accompany your sweets selection. When my friend asked for another pot of tea, she was told that she had to wait for her dessert selection before ordering another pot. My friend and I found this very strange. If a guest asks for another pot of tea, then they should be able to order their tea when they want it. Especially if the package stipulates two pots of tea per person.

Food:
My tea selection included one pot of Vanilla Berry ‘Queen of Hearts’ and another pot of Parisian Rose. The Queen of Hearts tea is described as a gorgeous blend of berries, assorted fruits and vanilla. When I poured it into my cup, I was surprised by its miserable grey appearance. However the delicate vanilla aroma and subtle berry flavour made it a pleasant tea to drink.

When the food arrived, the hostess explained each item very quickly. By the time we ate it we had totally forgotten what it was, so please bear with me! My vegetarian selection included a fritatta, a potato rosti, a jar with mushrooms, blue cheese and zucchini (I think), a jar of mixed oats (again, not sure what it was) and a crunchy thing that had a hint of feta and sweet chili.

A palate cleanser was provided prior to receiving our sweets. The sorbet had a sour aftertaste which I didn’t enjoy.

There are no scones at Rochelle Adonis. Again, this is not a traditional high tea. Food is served on plates in a structured manner, rather than all at once on a three-tier stand.

The sweets were very beautifully presented. Of course being December there was a Christmas theme. Our selection included a slice of chocolate yule log, a fruit mince tart, a very nice vanilla soft serve ice cream with Rochelle Adonis’ signature sauce drizzled over it, and what appeared to be a gelatin based berry dessert (which I did not eat).

Overall Experience:
I have mixed feelings about high tea at Rochelle Adonis. At $55 per person, Rochelle Adonis is one of the more expensive high tea venues in Perth. In saying that, I think it could have been a lot better for that price. I love the interior decor, and the presentation of the food was superb. However, the level of noise was too much. I ended up having to permanently lean over my friend just to have a conversation. And if i’m honest, sharing a table with 10 strangers just isn’t my idea of a good time. The service wasn’t particularly bad, but it wasn’t anything to rave about either. The food was interesting. However, I can’t say that there was anything in particular that I really enjoyed. I think Rochelle Adonis would suit someone who prefers a more refined and non traditional take on high tea. I prefer a more traditional high tea with scones!

Rochelle Adonis
High Tea is served Tuesday to Friday at 12pm and 2pm, and on weekends with the option of a 10am, 12pm, 2pm or 4pm sitting.
$49 pp on Tuesday to Friday and $55 pp on weekends. BYO Bubbles with a $10 corkage fee.
Due to popular demand, it is recommended that you make your reservation at least two weeks in advance.
Telephone: (08) 9227 0007
Address: 2 St Albans Avenue, Highgate.

High Tea Review: Pan Pacific Perth

High Tea at the Pan Pacific hotel is served in the Conservatory restaurant. The menu boasts a contemporary, somewhat non-traditional take on high tea.

Venue:
The Pan Pacific is a four star hotel, and is located on Adelaide Terrace in the Perth CBD. The decor of the hotel and the lobby area is modern and stylish.
The Conservatory restaurant is a decent sized space which is capable of accommodating quite a large number of guests. The Conservatory overlooks the pool area of the hotel, and our table happened to be right at the window. My girlfriend and I agreed that the pool area was in desperate need of some maintenance work.

Our table was laden with gorgeous colourful tea ware, white napkins and polished silver cutlery.

Love The Tea Ware!

Service:
Apart from our first tea order and one sparkling wine refill, the service was no existent. At one point my girlfriend actually asked for another pot of tea, and the hostess never returned. When we went to pay, the hostess never even asked us if we enjoyed it. Perhaps they could read the unimpressed expressions on our faces and decided that it was best not to ask. Staff at the Pan Pacific need to learn a thing or two about hospitality service.

Food:
My friend and I ordered the Rose and Vanilla tea. It wasn’t a particularly delightful tasting tea, so I opted to stick to my sparkling wine.

Free Flowing Sparkling Wine

The food was terrible. We received two plates of savoury food which included: a shot glass of balsamic vinegar accompanied by a skewer with a cherry tomato and an olive on it (DISGUSTING), a spoon of finely chopped avocado with red onion and coriander (which was the worst thing I’ve ever tasted), a red pepper finger sandwich that was so moist and soggy that the bread fell apart when I picked it up, and another spoon with finely chopped mixed vegetables on it. The only thing that was remotely tasty was the shot glass of cauliflower soup, however it could have used a good pinch of salt. I also received a cheese tart which I didn’t particularly enjoy. My girlfriend received her non-vegetarian option which included: A prawn cocktail, cauliflower soup, a seafood scroll, a ham sandwich and a savoury tart (which was the only thing she enjoyed eating).

Now, this is the really interesting part! The scones were so dry that I choked. Yes, I actually choked. A piece of dry dough became firmly lodged in my throat and I began to choke. It was a good thing that I was surrounded by an assortment of beverages. Imagine the headlines: “Perth’s queen of high tea chokes to death while eating a scone”

It was lucky that the sweets weren’t as horrible as the rest of the food. The selection included: Hazelnut and chocolate ganache cake, a chocolate and green tea tart, a chocolate and passionfruit cake presented on a spoon (enough with the spoons already!), and a strawberry and white chocolate mascarpone. For $52 (which was the only option) you got a minimal amount of food. My girlfriend and I ended up going to Jus Burgers afterwards because we were still so hungry.

Overall Experience:
A dismal experience. If you cannot execute a proper high tea, don’t offer it at all. Simple. The place was crowded and noisy, infants were crying and it was just a generally unpleasant atmosphere. For $52, I wouldn’t recommend high tea at the Pan Pacific. There are other much nicer and snazzier establishments that offer a more reasonably priced high tea. My friend and I left the Pan Pacific feeling totally ripped off and completely unsatisfied. My advice is to save your money for somewhere else.

Pan Pacific Hotel
Origins Restaurant
High Tea is served on weekends between 2pm and 5pm
$52 per person (includes free flowing sparkling wine)
Bookings are Essential.
Telephone: (08) 9224 7777
Address: 207 Adelaide Terrace, Perth.

High Tea Review: Cafe Elixir

Cafe Elixir is a vibrant and busy cafe located within the city of Wanneroo. I’ve had high tea at Cafe Elixir a number of times now, and last year I held my 24th birthday party there. Going into this, I definitely knew what to expect.

Venue:
Cafe Elixir has a fresh and modern decor. Green, white and black are Cafe Elixir’s signature colours. The first thing I always notice when I step inside, is the fabulous wallpaper. Our table featured a traditional set up and looked totally high tea fabulous. The table was adorned with a pretty white tablecloth, matching floral crockery, silver tea ware (cutlery, sugar bowls, trays) and the teapots were covered in adorable tea cosies.

Service:
In the past I have had some issues with the service at Cafe Elixir. This time however, I think the service was much better. They seem to know me quite well there, and they know what to expect when I arrive for high tea. There is one girl there, (her name escapes me) and she is absolutely delightful. She is friendly, pleasant and makes you feel welcome. It’s always nice to be greeted by a friendly, familiar face when you go somewhere. The food and drinks arrived in good time, and we never encountered any problems flagging down a staff member when we needed something. What I should also mention is that Taylor, who is the owner, always goes out of his way to speak to each customer and to personalise the service. To me, this shows his dedication and enthusiasm for his business and demonstrates a strong desire to make a personal connection with his customers. I think this is what sets Cafe Elixir apart from other establishments.

The Tea Menu

Food:
My friends and I started our high tea experience by ordering a delicious Elixir hot chocolate each. These hot chocolates are smooth, creamy and absolutely amazing. You get a choice of two drinks for high tea, so I recommend ordering a hot chocolate for one of your drinks.

The next beverage of choice was good old English Breakfast. Check out those adorable tea cosies!

As always, we started with the savoury goodies. First we ate the tomato sandwiches. The bread was fresh and soft, however I would have liked more variety with the fillings. Perhaps the addition of a slice of cheese or a curried egg variety.

The savoury stand came out filled with a wonderful variety of vegetarian delights. The savoury stand included: mini pizzas, samosas, tomato and mushroom quiche (which was definitely my favourite, curried vegetable pasties, and spinach and ricotta rolls.

My Plate of Savouries. Yum!

The scones were delightful. Slightly warm, bite sized, light and fluffy on the inside and lightly dusted with icing sugar. The scones were accompanied by a generous serving of strawberry jam and clotted cream.

The sweets three tier included: mini vanilla cupcakes with a strawberry jam filling and pink icing, mini lemon cupcakes, petite blueberry and chocolate muffins, and scrumptious mini chocolate coated custard filled eclairs. The sweets went down a real treat with my friends. I’m unsure as to whether the food is made on-site or whether Elixir (being a relatively small cafe) outsources their high tea goodies. Irrespective of where the food comes from, every time I have visited it has always been faultless.

Overall Experience:
Overall, I have to say that I was happy with the high tea experience at Cafe Elixir. The venue is modern and comfortable, the ambience was nice, the service was top notch, and the food was delicious. High Tea at Cafe Elixir is definitely great value for money. For $28 per person, you get a traditional high tea with a wide variety of food and there is plenty for everyone. Plus the hot chocolate is amazing! If you’re thinking of hosting a tea party, then Cafe Elixir is a good choice. There is plenty of room (they can accommodate up to 12 guests per table), it is affordable, and you get plenty of food. You may find that Wanneroo is a bit out of the way, however I think high tea at Cafe Elixir is definitely worth the drive.

Cafe Elixir
High Tea is served daily from 2:30pm
$28 for Classic High Tea which includes two drinks (tea, coffee or hot chocolate)
Bookings are Essential.
Telephone: (08) 9404 5493
Address: 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo.

High Tea Review: Koko Black Claremont Quarter

Koko Black offers a Queen of Hearts high tea for two people.
You don’t expect to get a lot for around $22 per person, however you do expect to receive an ample amount of chocolate.

Venue:
Koko Black is a stylish and modern chocolatier and cafe located inside the prestigious Claremont Quarter shopping centre. As soon as you step inside you are greeted with a strong smell of decadent chocolate and a mind boggling selection of truffles and chocolate bars. There is plenty of room, with tables inside and outside.

Service:
The service was pleasant and prompt and we didn’t have to wait long for our food and drinks.

Food:
I have a passion for chocolate, and not just any kind of chocolate- the kind that is of a very high quality. For drinks, instead of ordering a tea, I went for an iced chocolate and my partner ordered an iced coffee. It was definitely the best iced chocolate that I have ever tasted!

The savoury tier included a mixture of vegetarian and non vegetarian treats. There were two leek and goats cheese tarts, a basil pesto, mozzarella, sundried tomato and roasted eggplant toasted sandwich and a pastrami, gruyere and seeded mustard butter toasted sandwich. My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed the sandwiches. I’m not a fan of goats cheese, so I didn’t particularly enjoy the tart.

Yum!

The sweets selection was a chocoholics fantasy which I can only describe as completely faultless. There was a cream and jam filled lamington, a koko black take on a royal biscuit, a creme brûlée tart, a rich chocolate truffle slice topped with a bar of signature Koko Black dark chocolate and a chocolate and praline cake.

Overall Experience:
Overall, I was impressed with this high tea. It’s reasonably valued, and the food is high quality. My only suggestion would be to have lunch before you go. You don’t get a lot for $22.50 per person, and the sweets have to be shared. If you consider yourself a chocoholic, then you’re going to love this high tea.

Koko Black (Claremont Quarter)
High Tea is served daily.
$45 for two people.
Bookings are not required.
Address: 23 Quentin Avenue, Claremont.