Sir Stamford Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea for Mother's Day has become a proud tradition for mama and me - I have vowed to take her to every reputable afternoon tea establishment in Sydney.
Afternoon tea (or 'low tea', not 'high tea', contrary to common usage) was meant as a means of filling the stomach and allowing aristocratic ladies to wile away the hours between luncheon and dinner (thank you, Duchess of Bedford). However, I suggest going on an empty stomach - the bite sized morsels add up to become quite filling!
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay boasts 'the best afternoon tea in Sydney' (mere puffery, I think - however it is admittedly excellent). Despite the location of the hotel, tea is served in The Bar, which does not afford a view of the Habour. The interior, however, is very luxurious and intimate - dark colours, fire place, wall paper.
The Elegant High Tea is served with a glass of champagne, a selection of tea or coffee, and the three-tiered selection of savoury items, sweet items and scones. I recommend the Rose Vanilla tea. Served without milk or honey, it is perfect on its own - fragrant yet subtle.
Sir Stamford is known for its curry puff, a bite sized parcel of mild spices, encased in a moon-shaped, crumbly pastry. The guacamole and prawn cup is also quite good, as is the crab meat and spinach sandwich roll.
The standout on this tier is the mango puree and vanilla custard, served in tiny cups. There is a generous amount of vanilla beans in the custard and the texture is silky smooth. I am also quite a fan of the opera cake, being moist, dense and highly satisfying. I didn't take to the strawberry mousse in chocolate cups, but having said that, the chocolate is beautifully tempered and goes to show the skill of the pastry chefs.
I always, always look forward to the scones at afternoon tea. It is to sweet food what pasta is to savoury food - a true comfort staple. Sir Stamford scones are fluffy, crumbly and buttery. The home-made berry jam has chunks of blueberries in it, and the clotted cream is suitably sweet. Perfect with the aforementioned Rose Vanilla tea.
Score: 4/5
I still think the Westin serves the best afternoon tea in Sydney, but Sir Stamford's surroundings are much more elegant.
Cost: approx $70 for Elegant High Tea, which is the going rate these days for afternoon tea with champagne. Given the quality of the food and the elegance of the surroundings, the price is reasonable.
Address: 93 Macquarie St, Sydney
Website: http://www.stamford.com.au/sscq/restaurant--bar/sydney-high-tea
Afternoon tea (or 'low tea', not 'high tea', contrary to common usage) was meant as a means of filling the stomach and allowing aristocratic ladies to wile away the hours between luncheon and dinner (thank you, Duchess of Bedford). However, I suggest going on an empty stomach - the bite sized morsels add up to become quite filling!
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay boasts 'the best afternoon tea in Sydney' (mere puffery, I think - however it is admittedly excellent). Despite the location of the hotel, tea is served in The Bar, which does not afford a view of the Habour. The interior, however, is very luxurious and intimate - dark colours, fire place, wall paper.
The Elegant High Tea is served with a glass of champagne, a selection of tea or coffee, and the three-tiered selection of savoury items, sweet items and scones. I recommend the Rose Vanilla tea. Served without milk or honey, it is perfect on its own - fragrant yet subtle.
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| The bottom tier - savouy selection |
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| The middle tier - sweet selection |
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| Top tier - scones |
Score: 4/5
I still think the Westin serves the best afternoon tea in Sydney, but Sir Stamford's surroundings are much more elegant.
Cost: approx $70 for Elegant High Tea, which is the going rate these days for afternoon tea with champagne. Given the quality of the food and the elegance of the surroundings, the price is reasonable.
Address: 93 Macquarie St, Sydney
Website: http://www.stamford.com.au/sscq/restaurant--bar/sydney-high-tea
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