Eat Me, Drink Me – A Mad Tea Party

Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at The Montagu, Hyatt Regency – The Churchill

Chopstix ventures to Blighty this month for a subject close to our hearts: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As this year is the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s book those clever people at the Hyatt Regency London’s The Churchill hotel have created a Mad Hatter’s tea.

Novelty afternoon teas are two a penny (bun) these days, especially in Hong Kong, but this one at The Montagu restaurant is pretty special.

The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at The Montagu, Hyatt Regency London The Churchill

While it looks spectacular (heart shaped jam tarts, fob watch macaroons, toadstool marshmallows, hat shaped mini vanilla sponges and a raspberry and elderflower tonic in a cute medicine bottle labelled Drink Me) there are also some curiouser and curiouser touches. The jam tarts are topped with tiny iced rosebuds (painted red of course), A “mock turtle” cucumber gazpacho is poured into a tea cup which comes with a Wonderland quote attached to the handle; a strawberry cream has a striped “Cheshire cat’s tail” curling out of the serving glass.

Drink Me, Eat Me cocktail at Hyatt Regency The Churchill

Icing on the cake is the Drink Me, Eat Me cocktail. The hotel’s Churchill Bar team has taken inspiration from Alice’s description: “It has a sort of mixed flavour of cherry tart, custard, pineapple, toffee and hot buttered toast”. The Churchill has wisely omitted the Roast Turkey from the book. Don’t worry though, it also involves alcohol – in the form of gin and cherry liqueur. Yum. For the Eat Me element, the cocktail is topped with an edible pocket watch and a toffee cherry.

All of this is accompanied by a tea (as in the drink) menu and there’s a lovely exhibition of beautifully witty hats by star milliners Lomax & Skinner in the restaurant.

If you’re visiting London this summer don’t miss this afternoon tea. And if not, book a stay at The Churchill especially to try the Mad Hatter’s tea – you’ll love it, or Chopstix will eat its hat.

The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea is available until September 8th 2015. http://www.london.churchill.hyatt.com

For reservations email: montagu.hrlondon@hyatt.com