Pan Pacific, the shiny new luxury hotel that’s recently opened in the City, is going all out for its first Christmas by putting a festive twist on its afternoon tea. Created by Executive Chef Lorraine Sinclair and Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden (she of Bake Off: The Professionals judging fame), the hotel’s Orchid Lounge serves two afternoon teas, the British Traditional Afternoon Tea and the Singaporean-inspired Kopi Tiam Afternoon Tea, and both of those have been given extra holiday cheer with special Christmas-inspired handmade patisserie, including the lemon shortbread & passion fruit caramel The Night Before Christmas; the Chocolate Bauble, made from chocolate sponge Guanacoa 67% dark chocolate & Dulcey cremeux; the spicy clementine mousse & citrus peel Victoria sponge Gift From Santa; and the pistachio mousse, financier & sour cherry compote Christmas Tree.
Before you get to the beautiful patisserie – you’d feel bad for demolishing them if they weren’t so tasty – there’s the savouries and scones to eat first. For the Traditional Afternoon Tea, it’s turkey sausage rolls and finger sarnies like smoked trout & dill creme and roast gammon with piccalilli sauce, and scones with jam and clotted cream. But what sets Pan Pacific apart is the Kopi Tiam Afternoon Tea, which draws on Singapore’s cafe culture, with Asian savouries like curry puffs, mushroom bao and dim sum, and plain and matcha scones served with kaya jam. YUM.
The festive afternoon teas, both costing £72 per person, are available everyday and right through into January….did someone say Christmas present?
Available until Mon 10th January 2022
80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB
panpacificlondon.com