If you’re looking for an afternoon of over indulgence then look no further than High Tea at the Sofitel Brisbane.
The High Tea Society took afternoon tea on the 30th floor of the Sofitel Club Lounge where we were seated by a window that overlooked Brisbane’s city rooftops. The comfortable chairs were inviting and the staff were friendly as they poured us a glass of Mumm Cordon Rouge.
The Enchanting High Tea is exactly as the title would suggest – something magical. When the three tier stand was placed at the table we were blown away by the intricacies of the desserts donning the top tier.
But let’s not get carried away with the top tier yet, we still have two more tiers to get through. As boring as this may sound, my favourite part of a high tea is often the bottom and middle tier – while traditionally the least exciting, I love to see how each venue put their flair on the humble finger sandwich and humble scone. The Sofitel Brisbane did not disappoint.
With four types of finger sandwiches on offer, stacked perfectly with an actual paper ribbon holding them in place, the selection included cooked fresh salmon with mayonnaise and cress, roast beef with horseradish cream, creamed egg with mustard and cucumber, and tandoori chicken and minted cucumber yoghurt. While the egg and salmon sandwiches were fairly standard, the roast beef was a highlight, and while you would not usually associate tandoori chicken flavours with a high tea, I’m pleased to say that on this occasion, it worked.
The tea in this high tea is not the hero of this experience and was not offered in the first instance as we were seated. While we sat sipping our Mumm Cordon Rouge and eating our deliciously delicate finger sandwiches, we began wondering when the tea would be offered. After tracking down a lovely waitress tea orders were taken but the brand of tea was not explained, just a selection of the types on offer. I opted for a fragrant peppermint tea served in Villeroy and Boch china.
The scones, the cornerstone of any high tea, were light and fluffy. Exactly how they should be. The sultana and plain scones were served with fruit jam, marmalade and Chantilly cream.
But as I alluded to earlier, the top tier is really where this high tea shines. The Sofitel Brisbane’s new Pastry Chef Joel Helot has certainly made his mark creating this ‘enchanting’ and absolutely decadent high tea. A delight not just for the eyes but for all the senses. I even enjoyed the sound my spoon made as it cracked into the apricot and almond sponge.
The top tier begins with a mixed berry macaron with violet dust that has a beautiful flowery flavour, it’s followed by a chocolate mousse sphere with raspberry mirror glaze that is the perfect balance of richness, we then enjoyed a green tea wafer with creamy custard and tropical fruit, and finally the apricot and almond sponge with chocolate shard.
High tea at the Sofitel Brisbane is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. The atmosphere in the Sofitel Club Lounge is quiet with a touch of luxury – you could easily feel a million miles away.
At $66 per person, while it’s not the cheapest high tea in Brisbane it’s certainly one of the most interesting and an experience to be enjoyed.
Bookings Essential.
Reviews for this venue:
- 29 May 2015: High Tea at the Sofitel Brisbane
