Afternoon Tea is one of those proper British institutions, like Wimbledon or the ashes, every time you sit down to it; you feel more proud of where you come from. So when I was invited by The Principal Hotel to review their new afternoon tea menu, only a week on from England’s (almost) historic victory over the Aussies, you can imagine I was brimming with pride. They’ve chosen to highlight their relationship with York’s chocolate history for this latest adaptation, as the city’s oldest hotel (dating back further than even the first ashes test) for their 145th anniversary they’ve transformed the menu into a celebration of chocolate.
Each guided step we take toward our seats feels like a step back in time, the garden room is beautifully preserved and feels as welcoming as it did to guests and resident visitors like myself a century ago. Our’s is a window seat with views of the Minster — serving as a reminder of how central the Principal is, you can quite literally just wander in from the street. The staff were nothing short of wonderful, informative and welcoming and the glass of champagne that waits for us at the table is almost equally as welcoming.
In no time at all our first course arrived, a delicious plate of finger sandwiches; cucumber egg, salmon —all the favourites you can imagine, accompanied by a Wensleydale Cheese & Caramelised Onion Tartlet. While these were a brilliant introduction, it’s fortunate the staff were forward-thinking enough to remind us not to fill up — better to box up and take some sandwiches home than not enjoy the chocolate course.
Then that moment I’d been counting down the days for arrives— a mountain of cake, brownie, macaroon and scone is elegantly heaped in front of us. Sharply followed by a refreshing pot of loose-leaf tea that as any reader can imagine went down a treat. The much anticipated chocolate menu offers something for everyone but my personal favourite was The ‘Orange’, a chocolate orange delice, mousse and sponge combination. I followed this swiftly with The Big One, a purple brioche-crumb choux bun, the menu introduces it alongside the words ‘aimed to share’ but this advice became obsolete immediately after my first bite.
It will come as no surprise to hear that this latest adaptation made for a roaring success, I hope the chocolate theme catches on as a trend for years to come — the Principal’s chef seems to have found the perfect balance. Just like one of those magical mornings when the smell of chocolate from the Nestle factory on Haxby Road catches on a breeze and is carried throughout the town, each bite transports you back in time — to York’s golden days as the chocolate city.
The Principal should be at the top of every York resident’s list, whether you’re looking for a weekend afternoon treat, or a venue for an important celebration. The table to our left had booked in to celebrate a 100th birthday, looking back on a million memories made living in York. Beyond the delicious cakes, the Principal Afternoon Tea is an idyllic backdrop for the reunions that matter.
To see the full menu and book in your afternoon tea, head to www.theprincipalyork.com.
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