The high tea began with a glass of Brown Brothers sparkling wine, which we enjoyed while waiting for the three-tiered stand of savoury and sweet plates.
On a cold and wet Sydney Sunday it was the perfect weather to be inside enjoying the intriguing flavours of an Indian high tea. The venue where High Tea Society had the pleasure of taking high tea was at AKI’s Indian in Woolloomooloo, Sydney – a restaurant which has recently won a Chef Hat in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards 2012.
The high tea began with a glass of Brown Brothers sparkling wine, which we enjoyed while waiting for the three-tiered stand of savoury and sweet plates. AKI’s describes the high tea as inspired by “the ‘tiffin’ concept of India”, and it certainly is a good way to try a range of dishes and flavours.
The top two tiers of the stand are savoury plates, with the bottom plate a mixture of sweet items. Among the savoury highlights were shrimps dusted in spiced rice flour which were deliciously spicy and crisp. Likewise, the Kathi roll with shredded chicken tikki in a wholemeal roti, was really tasty.
After the savoury plates it was nice to finish the high tea with the sweet plate, followed by either a Lassi or cup of Masala Chai. The caramelised saffron-infused basmati rice custard was delicious, and it was easy to get obsessed with getting every last rice grain out of the bottom of the glass. This was followed by a chocolate hit from the chocolate naan and Petit Fours.
AKI’s High Tea Menu:
• Upma with Papdi Crispies: semolina cooked with green peas, curry leaves, ginger and green chillies topped with crisp savouries.
• Vada Pav: Cocktail buns with besan-battered potato dumplings
• Prawn 65: Shrimps dusted in spiced rice flour
• Kathi roll: shredded chicken tikka in a wholemeal roti with spiced onions, coriander, mint and pomegranate dust.
• Paneer chutney sandwiches: containing cottage cheese, tomato and chutney.
• Caramelised saffron-infused Basmati rice custard
• Petit Fours
• Chocolate naan
In addition, there is also a choice between either a Masala Chai (an Indian Darjeeling Masala tea with Cardamom), a Mango Lassi, or a plain Lassi (sweet or salty). A vegetarian option is available, if you request it when you phone to book the high tea.
A wine list is also available with a mix of options available at extra cost such as wine, beers, soft drinks and spirits.
The venue is a nice location on the wharf at Cowper Wharf Road, with a décor consisting of bigwooden windows contrasting with the silver and black papered walls, together with a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
It was great to try an Indian high tea, and the mix of both savoury and sweet plates made it an ideal high tea to have in the middle of day. But probably the most enjoyable aspect of the experience was the adventure of trying different flavour combinations in a high tea setting.
