Don't laugh at me, the last time I went to Clipper Lounge was already 4 years ago for buffet. It was not until I came with some friends recently that I got to try out its signature afternoon tea.
Things looked pretty much the same still...with elegance and style...but you could just sit back and relax without the buzzing buffet crowds...
My friend requested a table by the window on booking, although we couldn't see out of the window when seated (it was too high), at least the lambient light was better for taking pictures.
So the menu is no secret and is all on the hotel's website:
Mandarin High Tea one person $258 (selection of three sandwiches, three warm, three pastries and scones) two people $448 (everything on the listed menu)
There were 3 of us and we just had lunch, we decided to share the two people set.
But first we had to choose our teas.
This is my Lapsang Souchong Imperial 中國立新茶, the menu described it as "a large black leaf tea from the Fujian province, smoked over pine fires, a distinct smoky tea with a silky tarriness, wonderful depth of flavor". Perhaps it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, as I found it rather roasty/smoky and tasted a little 'burnt'. Later I found out that was the unique character of this tea, well, curiosity killed the cat.
My companions' English Breakfast Tea and Chamomile were much safer choices. (The tea set came with 2 teas and we had one more tea @ $65/pax)
Soon came the 3-tiered stand with our food.
Sandwiches
cream cheese, cucumber, herb 青瓜忌廉芝士 smoked salmon, sour cream, chive 煙三文魚酸忌廉 egg salad, chive 香蔥蛋蓉沙律醬 york ham, mustard 火腿芥末 smoked chicken, waldorf 華都夫煙雞
These finger sandwiches won our praise for their delicate looks and compactness and complexity of favours. But simple is still best, and I liked the cream cheese, cucumber and herb sandwich the most.
These savories (well not the Madeleine ) weren't really that warm by the time we ate them as we devoured the scones first as they came along. Never mind, they tasted great too. The most special one was the spinach feta puff which looked exactly like a Shanghainese 蘿蔔絲酥餅 but under the same crispy pastry was the rich greenish spinach cheese filling. Nom nom.
Pastries
mandarin cheesecake 文華芝士餅 cup cake 紙杯蛋糕 seasonal fruit tart 鮮果撻 opera cake 千層朱古力蛋糕
When you're at the MO what not to miss is its sweets of course. The HK's best Mandarin Cheesecake (IMHO) needed no more introduction, I could have the whole piece if I hadn't had to share with my pals (well, next time just go to the MO Cake Shop to get a bigger one). The velvety/crunchy/hazelnutty/chocolaty Opera cake was superb too.
Scones
raisin scone 提子鬆餅 classic scone 傳統鬆餅 clotted cream, rose petal jam or blackberry jam 配牛油忌廉,玫瑰花果醬或黑草莓果醬
And, no afternoon tea is complete without scones, especially at the MO. Let's indulge in the irresistible aroma of the rose petal jam melting into the silky smooth clotted cream on the hot scones... now who wants the blackberry jam anyway? But with 2 scones per person (1 1/3 in our case), you're reassured that you'll be stuffed till dinner time.
I know there're a whole lot of afternoon/"high" teas out there that I've yet to go and try, but I think Clipper Lounge has one of the most classic ones that I would want to return, partly for the food and more for the ambience and attentive service.
My friend requested a table by the window on booking, although we couldn't see out of the window when seated (it was too high), at least the lambient light was better for taking pictures.
So the menu is no secret and is all on the hotel's website:
one person $258 (selection of three sandwiches, three warm, three pastries and scones)
two people $448 (everything on the listed menu)
There were 3 of us and we just had lunch, we decided to share the two people set.
But first we had to choose our teas.
"a large black leaf tea from the Fujian province, smoked over pine fires, a distinct smoky tea with a silky tarriness, wonderful depth of flavor".
Perhaps it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, as I found it rather roasty/smoky and tasted a little 'burnt'. Later I found out that was the unique character of this tea, well, curiosity killed the cat.
My companions' English Breakfast Tea and Chamomile were much safer choices.
(The tea set came with 2 teas and we had one more tea @ $65/pax)
Soon came the 3-tiered stand with our food.
Sandwiches
smoked salmon, sour cream, chive 煙三文魚酸忌廉
egg salad, chive 香蔥蛋蓉沙律醬
york ham, mustard 火腿芥末
smoked chicken, waldorf 華都夫煙雞
These finger sandwiches won our praise for their delicate looks and compactness and complexity of favours. But simple is still best, and I liked the cream cheese, cucumber and herb sandwich the most.
Warm
bacon,onion quiche 煙肉洋蔥撻
spinach, feta puff 菠菜羊奶芝士酥
madeleine 瑪德琳蛋糕
These savories (well not the Madeleine
Never mind, they tasted great too. The most special one was the spinach feta puff which looked exactly like a Shanghainese 蘿蔔絲酥餅 but under the same crispy pastry was the rich greenish spinach cheese filling. Nom nom.
Pastries
cup cake 紙杯蛋糕
seasonal fruit tart 鮮果撻
opera cake 千層朱古力蛋糕
When you're at the MO what not to miss is its sweets of course. The HK's best Mandarin Cheesecake (IMHO) needed no more introduction, I could have the whole piece if I hadn't had to share with my pals (well, next time just go to the MO Cake Shop to get a bigger one). The velvety/crunchy/hazelnutty/chocolaty Opera cake was superb too.
Scones
classic scone 傳統鬆餅
clotted cream, rose petal jam or blackberry jam
配牛油忌廉,玫瑰花果醬或黑草莓果醬
And, no afternoon tea is complete without scones, especially at the MO. Let's indulge in the irresistible aroma of the rose petal jam melting into the silky smooth clotted cream on the hot scones...
But with 2 scones per person (1 1/3 in our case), you're reassured that you'll be stuffed till dinner time.
I know there're a whole lot of afternoon/"high" teas out there that I've yet to go and try, but I think Clipper Lounge has one of the most classic ones that I would want to return, partly for the food and more for the ambience and attentive service.
Other Ratings:
Keep it up!
Interesting
Touched
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