Day 2
Last night there was a thunderstorm here in Singapore so I opted to just have some cheese and crackers in the hotel lounge and spent the rest of the evening laughing hysterically at youtube videos. Doesn't quite qualify for culinary blog material.
So instead, I'm going to share one of my favorite things to do whenever I'm in Hong Kong - going for high tea.
As a young child I would travel with my mother to the east coast to visit her family and it was there that I decided I was going to grow up to become a lady that lunches. That was until I discovered high tea. Now I want to grow up to become a lady that lunches AND a lady of leisure. A lady of leisure goes to tea.
I figure, I'm awake at least 14 of every 24 hour day, plenty of time for both (in addition to breakfast and dinner of course).
Ever since my initial introduction to it, I've tried to tea whenever it is available. Last week at Sevva, in the Prince's building of Hong Kong's central district was by far the most memorable.
It was a bit of a rocky start because I couldn't quite figure out how to get there. There are 3 elevators at the lobby of the building but only 2 of those elevators will go all the way up to the 25th floor where the restaurant is located. So beware. Choose wisely.
I originally sat in their balcony section because I was told the view is incredible. Unfortunately, it was raining and I was seated next to three ladies who must have deemed the content of their conversation to be incredibly interesting. For I almost had to turn around and suggest to them that if they want the people in the next building to hear their conversation, they should just go over there. Shouting is far less effective.
I eventually decided to move inside. It was the best decision I made for the next 2 hours. The cushions on the couch were much more plush. Then there were piano music in the background and the dark wooded Marie Antoinette-ish decor fits all the basic elements of the serenity that makes taking time in the middle of the day for tea so enticing.
Now, I'm a simple person. It takes very little to make me happy and forgive any previous mishaps. This was very quickly proven when the 3 tiers of hors d'oeuvres and cakes hit the table. The signature of every high tea. I almost forgot there were other people around.
Again, this was by far the most impressive of all the high teas I've had. There were warm crispy spring rolls, crab cakes and short rib sliders on artisan bread, fresh made sandwiches, canapes of heaping perfectly cured salmon gravlax, savory caviar, and egg salads topped with shaved earthy black truffles.
Here is where I need to give a shout out to the brilliant Earl of Sandwich. It was his seemingly vulgar insistence on eating his meals between 2 slices of bread, so that he can hold it in one hand and not have to interrupt his poker games, that inspired this scrumptous thing we now call sandwiches. Quite possibly even high tea. Cheers to the Earl!
And now to the 3rd tier. The petit fours of moist, bittersweet chocolate cake, creamy, melt in your mouth chestnut infused meringue, and light, airy cakes. All paired with a refreshingly, fragrant peppermint tea.
If I were to worship at the Church of Decadence, this would be a strong front runner for finding the holy grail.
All for 660 HKD for 2 people. Roughly $85 USD.
This is making me hungry. It's almost 5pm here in Singapore. I need a pre dinner snack.
Stay tuned for my next meal..... =)
Last night there was a thunderstorm here in Singapore so I opted to just have some cheese and crackers in the hotel lounge and spent the rest of the evening laughing hysterically at youtube videos. Doesn't quite qualify for culinary blog material.
So instead, I'm going to share one of my favorite things to do whenever I'm in Hong Kong - going for high tea.
As a young child I would travel with my mother to the east coast to visit her family and it was there that I decided I was going to grow up to become a lady that lunches. That was until I discovered high tea. Now I want to grow up to become a lady that lunches AND a lady of leisure. A lady of leisure goes to tea.
I figure, I'm awake at least 14 of every 24 hour day, plenty of time for both (in addition to breakfast and dinner of course).
Ever since my initial introduction to it, I've tried to tea whenever it is available. Last week at Sevva, in the Prince's building of Hong Kong's central district was by far the most memorable.
It was a bit of a rocky start because I couldn't quite figure out how to get there. There are 3 elevators at the lobby of the building but only 2 of those elevators will go all the way up to the 25th floor where the restaurant is located. So beware. Choose wisely.
I originally sat in their balcony section because I was told the view is incredible. Unfortunately, it was raining and I was seated next to three ladies who must have deemed the content of their conversation to be incredibly interesting. For I almost had to turn around and suggest to them that if they want the people in the next building to hear their conversation, they should just go over there. Shouting is far less effective.
I eventually decided to move inside. It was the best decision I made for the next 2 hours. The cushions on the couch were much more plush. Then there were piano music in the background and the dark wooded Marie Antoinette-ish decor fits all the basic elements of the serenity that makes taking time in the middle of the day for tea so enticing.
Now, I'm a simple person. It takes very little to make me happy and forgive any previous mishaps. This was very quickly proven when the 3 tiers of hors d'oeuvres and cakes hit the table. The signature of every high tea. I almost forgot there were other people around.
Again, this was by far the most impressive of all the high teas I've had. There were warm crispy spring rolls, crab cakes and short rib sliders on artisan bread, fresh made sandwiches, canapes of heaping perfectly cured salmon gravlax, savory caviar, and egg salads topped with shaved earthy black truffles.
Here is where I need to give a shout out to the brilliant Earl of Sandwich. It was his seemingly vulgar insistence on eating his meals between 2 slices of bread, so that he can hold it in one hand and not have to interrupt his poker games, that inspired this scrumptous thing we now call sandwiches. Quite possibly even high tea. Cheers to the Earl!
And now to the 3rd tier. The petit fours of moist, bittersweet chocolate cake, creamy, melt in your mouth chestnut infused meringue, and light, airy cakes. All paired with a refreshingly, fragrant peppermint tea.
If I were to worship at the Church of Decadence, this would be a strong front runner for finding the holy grail.
All for 660 HKD for 2 people. Roughly $85 USD.
This is making me hungry. It's almost 5pm here in Singapore. I need a pre dinner snack.
Stay tuned for my next meal..... =)
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