High Tea: A sweet affair at The Kingsbury

Friday, 7 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

High Tea is an age old English tradition. Sharing a warm pot of tea over scones, short cakes and savoury pies with friends in tapestry dressed salons was a mark of the socialising upper class since the time of colonial rule. Fortunately, the tradition did not fade, but wielded its way into modern culture too. Today High Tea is a casual affair and is a welcome reverie that celebrates the sweeter things of life. The Kingsbury keeps the tradition of evening time tea alive at its High Tea, daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Gourmet Station – the hotel’s patisserie overlooking the poolside.

It is a time of celebration, with little gatherings of friends and family bonding over a delightful array of finger food. The Kingsbury by evening is a hive of activity. The lobby is filled with guests; from happy newlywed couples and retinues posing for photographs that would last them for posterity, to business people busy at work –the hotel have become one of Colombo’s bustling hubs. At 3.00 p.m. The Gourmet Station transforms into a unique location of rendezvous, serving delectable food that warrants unforgettable tastes. High Tea at The Kingsbury has an interesting spread of variety. As if to do proud to the term ‘variety’, The Gourmet Station serves more than just tea as a beverage. Besides an array of flavoured tea that awaits to be freshly brewed per preference, there is also the option of fresh

aromatic coffee to kick start tired nerves, iced coffee, strawberry milkshake and black-currant juice for those who prefer to cool down during tea time. The sandwich bar is a definite hit. Guests could choose their bread and filling from smoked chicken, ham, tuna and egg, topped with cheese, tomatoes, olives, pickle and other healthy vegetable choices. The sandwiches are toasted, if preferred, to perfection, to achieve that slightly crunchy texture at the top, softly diffusing flavour with each bite. Another novel addition to the spread is the availability of pickled fruit at the station. From pickled guavas, to amberella, mango, olives and pineapple – one is truly spoilt for choice. Besides having that tangy, sweet and sour flavour, pickled fruit have a way of resurrecting old school day memories.

The Gourmet Station also serves a selection of Italian pizza with chicken, beef and olive topping, batter fried fish, chicken satay with just the right peanut sauce and a choice of pastry. The highlight of the evening is the warm chocolate chip pudding with crunchy cashew nuts. Cravings of the sweet-tooth are further satiated by an assortment of orange, coffee and chocolate flavoured cake and truffle, and fruit pastry that burst with flavour. To top it off, one could also enjoy scoops of homemade ice cream in fancy flavours. All in all High Tea at The Kingsbury is an experience not to be missed, be it for the culinary feast it offers, its splendid scenic views or for the excellent company it brings together. Priced at Rs.1,700 per person (all inclusive), it is probably one of the best things the heart of the city has to offer.