Here in Adelaide, there seems to been a current boom in the popularity of high tea. Women especially are celebrating special events with a glass of sparkling and a tier of treats. So it comes as no surprise when my mum decided to have a high tea for her milestone birthday!
On our arrival, the Intercontinental Hotel staff offered us a glass of sparkling wine, which of course every guest accepted! A few minutes later, our three-tiered stands were brought out, with one shared between two. A huge fan of seafood, I began with the Tasmanian smoked salmon in mountain bread. The addition of watercress and horseradish made it a delightful way to start the afternoon festivities. I then moved on to the prosciutto in sour dough (yum) and the cucumber and sour cream sandwich (which unfortunately was very stale on top).
The scones were my next victims and these were served with a range of South Australian Beerenberg jams and fresh whipped cream. While there were three different types of scones (plain, sultana, and blueberry), I must admit they weren’t like the fresh scones my grandma makes. Yes they were a nice treat, but they did look store-bought if you get my drift!
With the attentive and friendly staff constantly filling our tea cups, I was pretty full by this stage! I did manage to eat the carrot cake and flourless chocolate brownie, but was allowed to take home the macaron, apricot slice, and lemon meringue tart. These were all rather delicious as any sweet-tooth would say!
While the crockery and cutlery were the usual hotel standard, the ambiance of the Atrium Lounge was rather enjoyable. A pianist enhanced the mood as we all tucked into our high tea. The $35 price tag was about right for what we received on this pleasurable afternoon.
Details
Where: Atrium Lounge, Intercontinental Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide
When: Sunday 2pm-4pm
Cost: $35 (basic) – $65 (indulgent)
Yum rating: 4/5
Further details: Website
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