AFTERNOON TEA WITH TIFFANY AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KL

 

An epitome of luxury, love and joy for over more than 175 years, the signature robin egg blue of Tiffany & Co. makes its presence felt at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with The Lounge’s Afternoon Tea with Tiffany experience, available now until 16 June.

 

Through the Hotel’s collaboration with Tiffany & Co., an authentic Tiffany’s table setting replicating the charming ambience of The Blue Box Café™ back in Fifth Avenue, New York takes pride of place.

For the uninitiated, The Blue Box Café™ — located on the 4^th Floor of Tiffany & Co. New York flagship store — has a 6-month waiting list for those who yearn to sample the legendary breakfast, lunch and tea at Tiffany. The dream eats list includes The Ten Carat Breakfast (USD100), a platter of buttermilk waffle luxed up with 30g Siberian Ossetra caviar and lemon crème fraiche.

Closer to home, I was ecstatic when Dato’ Rosemarie Wee of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur extended an invitation for moi to experience the Tiffany-inspired afternoon tea. The show-stopping cache centres on a beautifully laid table set with limited edition Tiffany tableware in white and robin egg blue, specially brought in from The Blue Box Café™. This sophisticated setting befits the Tiffany-inspired tea menu curated by Executive Chef Junious Dickerson.

Inspired by Tiffany’s latest Believe in Love jewellery line, the gorgeous handcrafted afternoon tea treats come clad in that iconic robin egg blue and white hues. Hats off to Chef Junious Dickerson and team for getting the hallmark shades down pat.

 

Presented on a tiered stand, we couldn’t stop gushing over the lovely creations. The most pix-worthy is undoubtedly the dainty candied peel-studded Royal Spice Cake in a beribboned, fondant Tiffany Box. Another gem is the luscious Chocolate Praline with Mandarin Orange Gel shaped like a multi-faceted, gold-flecked turquoise jewel.

My favourite is Gateau Napolitaines with Raspberry Jam, a disc of icing-covered buttery shortbread biscuit topped with lush vanilla mousse and raspberry jam. Coming in a close second is the ethereal Chocolate Gianduja Plaisir Sucre Cake — wafer-thin chocolate praline layered with chocolate whipped cream on hazelnut cake base coming in a close second. An airy-light Elderflower Choux Puff adorned with a white chocolate feather and crisp Blueberry Macarons with Mascarpone Crème complete the on-point selection.

The Lounge’s Signature Tea Blend, brimming with discernible peach and tropical fruit nuances, is a perfect accompaniment for the array of marvellous morsels. No classic cream tea is complete without scones and we dare say the warm Plain and Raisin Scones here doesn’t disappoint. All the scones need is a liberal spread of Devonshire Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam and Lescure Butter.

On the savoury front, the winsome quintet features miniature New York Ruebens with Peppered Pastrami, Sauerkraut and Provolone, Egg Salad with Poached Asparagus and Truffle Crème on Pain au Lait (French milk bread), Foie Gras Mousse in Bouche with Blue Pea Flower Jewels, Cucumber with Aged Feta Cream, Fennel Pollen, Olive Oil Pearls on Sundried Tomato Bread and Cured Salmon Rillettes on Purple Potato Blini. Nothing is more satisfying than sampling thoughtfully curated, detailed creations in the company of good friends.

An Afternoon Tea with Tiffany is priced at RM158 nett, will be served at The Lounge daily from 2.30pm to 5.30pm until 16 June. Limited edition Tiffany tableware will be used exclusively for reservations of 8 guests or more. Reservations are highly recommended.

Please call Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2382 8650 for reservations and information. 

CLASSICAL AFTERNOON TEA AT THE SHANGRI-LA KL

Arch Quartet — a string quartet will perform a stirring repertoire of classical favourites to feed the soul from 3pm to 6pm every Sunday, while you savour a fine cream tea in the plush Lobby Lounge of the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

From now until 28 February, the Afternoon Tea theme remains Chinese New Year-centric. Served on a circular-shaped, Oriental-inspired and multi-tier display stand, the dainty selection of savoury and sweet morsels including a miniature KL Tower in chocolate is a sight to behold. Come March, expect a floral theme to burst forth.

 

In their bid to evoke the current festive mood, the culinary team proffers delicious Peking Duck in Crispy Wonton Skin, Grilled Chicken Jerky in Mantou, Pickled Onion and Chicken Floss, and Seared Chicken & Chives Dumpling. While the wonton and mantou hit the spot, the dumpling tends to be a little soggy after sitting in its vinegar dip.

Deliciously crisp Sesame Prawn Toast helps to dial up the nostalgic feel alongside evergreen CNY trad treats of Ninko & Sweet Potato Spring Roll and Steamed Ninko with Grated Coconut. These go marvellously well with our freshly brewed tea.

Since mandarin oranges, tangerines and pineapples are ubiquitous in local CNY celebration, we find the chefs have drawn plenty of inspiration from those fruits for the dessert creations. Besides Plain Scones, the light, buttery Red Dates & Five Spice Scones when smeared with Pineapple Jam & Clotted Cream and Chinese Style Lightly Sweetened Butter Cream got full ‘ayes’ from all present.

A subtle hint of citrus is discernible when I sample the lush filling of the mini Ivorie Mandarin Orange Cream Hornet. The Clementine Butter Cookie is equally on-point. Prefer a dessert treat with playful flavour contrasts? We recommend the delicate Tea, Lychee & Raspberry Tart — a tempting tartlet blending the bitter astringency of tea, the sweetness of lychee and the refreshing tartness of raspberry.

Slightly high on the decadence scale would be Pistachio & Rosella Opera Slice, Prosperous Macaron with Dark Soya & Bitter Chocolate Ganache and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie & Orange Tangerine Cream Frosting. Take comfort the irresistible offerings come in small, titillating portions.

Your walk down memory lane should be accompanied by nice retro-style nibbles like Classic Kampar Cookies, Pineapple Shortcake and Golden Good Luck Coin Chocolate.

The Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Lounge is priced at RM190 nett for 2 persons and at RM320 nett for 2 persons inclusive of 2 glasses of Prosecco.  

For reservations, call Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2074 3900 or visit https://www.shangri-la-specials.com/web/home.aspx