FOOD
Time for tea, this Jubilee? There can be no doubt about it, the Island is stepping up to mark the Jubilee in style,
and how better to round off the celebrations than with a quintessentially English cream tea, says Emily Scotcher
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A weakness for so many of us, it is difficult to resist the lure of afternoon tea, and every year I find myself sampling it from as many places as I can before the season is out – variety is the spice, and all that . . . There are five places whose teas have not only brightened my day, they’ve made it.
A RIGHT ROYAL TREAT Sumptuous, decadent, exquisite. From the moment I arrived at The Royal Hotel in Ventnor to the moment I left, I felt like a descendent of Queen Victoria, who famously enjoyed tea at this very hotel.
But you don’t have to be royalty to enjoy an afternoon tea at The Royal. The Royal’s unique High Tea is served on a tiered cake stand with a choice of six internationally- renowned Jing teas. This year’s High Tea has been lovingly created by pastry hef Emily Harris.
EM’S TOP TREAT:
It’s a draw. My reaction to the chocolate cupcake took me at least five minutes to put into words, and the apricot and coconut snowdrop from the Spring menu was a mouthful of bliss, which is returning in its summer form as a Loganberry Dome. I will be first in line.
A WORK OF ART
Being named after the Camerons’ tea estates in Dimbula, Sri Lanka, gives you high expectations of tea at Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater Bay before you even set foot through the door. And it doesn’t disappoint. Here, a cream tea is a melt-in-the-mouth delight. The first thing I noticed was that the scones were warm, a more than welcome surprise on a rainy day, and the second was the artwork adorning the walls. Dimbola Lodge is proudly supporting local artist and photographers, displaying their walk on the walls for visitors to enjoy as they relax with their tea.
EM’S TOP TREAT:
The warm scones stick firmly in my mind, and they were the perfect comfort food to combat the soaking I had taken that
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morning. The atmosphere here is one to be envied, and I can’t wait to go back when it has undergone its transformation.
RED SQUIRREL
People come from all over the world to enjoy a cream tea at Pencil Cottage in Shanklin, and it is as much about the location and the experience as it is about the tea. Each scone is lovingly handmade daily, and the tea served alongside them is an Island blend, designed to suit our water.
It’s the little touches that make the difference here: the fresh strawberries topping the Deluxe cream tea, the choice of jam with a Red Squirrel, the traditional decoration of the tea garden, it is all spot on.
EM’S TOP TREAT:
“I’ll have a red squirrel, please,” have been the first words out of my mouth every time I’ve set foot in Pencil Cottage. The homemade jam, made by none other than the Luccombe Jam Man, comes in three flavours – strawberry, raspberry and plum – and I am proud to say I have tried all three.
TEA IN THE TOWN
Afternoon tea at Cafe Isola was a treat indeed, and my first experience of Teapigs was equally enjoyable, once I had got past the initial disappointment of there being nothing vaguely pig-like about them, was equally enjoyable. At this quirky cafe, the focus is on individuality and a glass of fresh homemade lemonade or an Island-roasted coffee is the perfect answer to a long day.
The pasta di mandorla are made using pistachio nuts, sugar and almonds, and without overpowering your sweet tooth will give you enough of a sugar boost to drag those heavy bags back to the car park.
EM’S TOP TREAT:
Teapigs Liquorice and Peppermint – a sweet minty tingle, with a zingy liquorice kick, this is a refreshing tea for any time of day! Team it with a slice of their carrot and coconut cake and you have an afternoon treat worth taking time out of your day for.
A MODEL CREAM TEA At The Old Smithy in Godshill, it can take up to twenty minutes to decide on which cake you’re having. It is always buzzing and the food never disappoints. Their savoury menu is just as hearty as the sweet, and you often see people enjoy lunch and leave, only to return within the hour for a cream tea or cake.
Everything is delightfully traditional here, and value for money is never a worry. The cakes are enormous, but I would advise against sharing – one mouthful and you will be fighting for the fork!
EM’S TOP TREAT:
There can only be one winner, and that is the banoffee pie. Since my first bite four years ago, it has appeared on my order with every single visit. Even when passing through, I have been known leave enough time to stop for a cake.
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