We couldn’t agree more with Henry James when he said, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” If you’re in Dubai and share our love of the experience as well as our passion for fashion, or just want something wonderfully different, here are two top suggestions. And as you gather with your friends, remember what happens around the teapot, stays around the teapot.
The Jewellery Box High Tea at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai
Pretty decorative boxes are our favourite things to have around the house, and when they contain some precious baubles from loved ones, they become twice as dear. Perhaps tapping into our affection for jewellery boxes, the decision makers at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai has come up with a novel tea concept, the Jewellery Box High Tea.
A sparkling, bespoke jewelllery box steals centre stage during the sophisticated and elegant experience at the hotel’s famous Dunes Café. It’s a culinary gem created by the skilled in-house pâtissier, who got tremendously innovative while inspired by fashion. Needless to say, the box’s golden drawers are filled with delicious savoury and sweet surprises.
If you’re more interested in the savoury options, you can enjoy delights like salmon rolled squid ink bread with cream cheese, asparagus, caviar and tomato, sous vide beef with mustard mayo in a waffle basket and tomato consommé with paprika straws. When it comes to sweet treats, the selection includes mouth-watering butter cookies, a macadamia nut tart with Chantilly milk chocolate and a perfectly scrumptious café latte panacotta. For the more experiential palate, there’s a green tea fruit roll and a lipstick jelly. And of course, no afternoon tea is complete without the traditional English scones with clotted cream and jam.
You can delight in The Jewellery Box High Tea starting September 25, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Megan Hess Paris Afternoon Tea at Fairmont The Palm
Fairmont The Palm is offering a new super chic Afternoon Tea concept starting November 2, all in honour of Megan Hess. That’s exactly after the international fashion illustrator launches her book, “Paris through a Fashion Eye” in a lavish book signing.
The hotel’s legendary and award-winning Mashrabiya Lounge’s Afternoon Tea will be going through a transformation inspired by the themes and colours (blush pink, gold and black) related to the new release while The Megan Hess Paris Afternoon Tea is served. The atmosphere and décor allows guests to get a feel of the fashion world in Paris (and have lots of Instagram worthy photo opportunities). What’s more, those who indulge in the Afternoon Tea will also receive a copy of the book itself!
Executive Pastry Chef Arnaud Souchet and his pastry team have re-created coveted bites in incredible shapes and flavours, promising to dazzle fashionista’s taste buds. Make sure to be hungry enough to enjoy the dainty finger sandwiches, delicate scones with clotted cream and an extensive selection of homemade macaroons that come in beautiful glass jars. To add to the fun theme, there are truffles and chocolate lipsticks in jewellery box pass arounds. So if you’re an afternoon tea lover with and a penchant for French fashion, you’ll be happy to know you have the whole of November, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., to check off two ticks in one outing.
