Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych
Time to get dressed up for an adventure to the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and share delicious pastries with your girlfriends!
Here at Your Coffee Break, we love to have a luxe good time after a day of hard work. Therefore, it was unquestionable to take a look inside the world of the One Aldwych Hotel, located just a 5-minute walk from our Covent Garden office – just off The Strand in central London. Its award-winning, sleek and comfortable contemporary interior design laced with classicism simply and openly inspires you to mingle, sip on a cocktail, and end the day cozying up in one of their hotel suites.
One Aldwych, which just so happens to be the official hotel of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is seasonally celebrating the wit and wonder of Roald Dahl with its unique version of Afternoon Tea. How genius! The Cheered up Charlie from the story described the chocolate factory as the most wonderful place in the world, but you don’t need a rare Golden Ticket to try this afternoon treat!
Using the freshest seasonal ingredients and fan favourites, the exclusive summer menu contains surprising intrigue and true imagination. And behind the mouth-watering menu choices is the hotel’s Executive chef Dominic Teague. You won’t need an educated Egg-dicator to tell you that good egg chef Dominic will deliver you treats as scrumdiddlyumptious as the legendary curious confectioner Willy Wonka!
“I have fond memories of reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a boy and I hope some of the story’s humour and fun comes across in this afternoon tea,” chef Dominic tells Your Coffee Break. “Like the book, there’s much in the tea to satisfy children and adults alike.”
Starting off with a splendid tea tray of assorted tidbits including heritage tomato tarts, leek and stilton quiche, English cucumber sandwich squares and more, offered us all a tasty introductory sneak peak of what was to come shortly after…but we had no idea as to how authentic the chef’s lavish portrayal of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s desserts would be!
A Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea without an inspired cocktail wouldn’t complete the magic and allure, now would it? As Willy Wonka explained, “Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.” The award-winning Lobby Bar team, headed by Pedro Paulo and Tiago Mara, has created an exceptional cocktail that got the Your Coffee Break team instantly hooked and wanting more. Conjuring up the mystery and enchantment of the factory for your delight, the brewed cocktail arrived within a potion-like smoking carafe. To give you more of a taste bud daydream, Cocktail Charlie is a savory mix of Dalmore Whisky, Cherry Marnier, Chocolate bitters and Champagne. And if you don’t prefer to take a step on the wild side, Lallier Grand Réserve Champagne comes in a chilled glass to take its place…with hints of buttery brioche and apricot; it’s a great alternative to the rebellious mixology of Cocktail Charlie!
Saving the best for last, miniature-size sweets of pleasure were brought to our table in the most decadent presentation, seeming purely premeditated, and by decadent planning, we mean, we now accurately understand why those lucky Golden Ticket winners turned so greedy in the story! From the coconut cream & mango golden egg to the homemade cotton candy to the fresh jams and blueberry brioches, marveling opportunities were endless and in Wonka fashion, “It happens every time, they all become blueberries.”
Fantasy nearly became reality having One Aldwych’s Afternoon Tea. The only thing that was missing were those dancing Oompa Loompas! “I want you to get me an Oompa Loompa right away!”
Pop in for the delicious Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Bar. The summer season is nearly over, so make your unforgettable reservation here!
One Aldwych Hotel is also having two grand ticket packages. From June 4th to December 31st, you can combine a One Aldwych Stay & experience Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical or Afternoon Tea followed by the musical. For more information, simply call: +44 (0)20 7300 1070 or visit http://www.onealdwych.com
