Voted as the best afternoon tea in the UK, the Art Afternoon Tea at the Rosewood London has already garnered quite a reputation by incorporating elements of Vincent Van Gogh’s work into its desserts. Now, the hotel has unveiled a brand new afternoon tea experience inspired by the work of celebrated sculptor Antony Gormley.
Running from 21 September and launched in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, the sculpture-based afternoon tea marks the opening of the academy’s new exhibition celebrating the life and work of the internationally-acclaimed British sculptor. The exhibition is the most significant display of Gormley’s works for over a decade, and will bring together both existing works and pieces created especially for the show.
To mark the occasion, executive pastry chef Mark Perkins has created four signature pastries to be served at the Antony Gormley Afternoon Tea. Body and Fruit will be the centre-piece of the exhibition, and is mirrored in edible form as a light chocolate mousse, infused with notes of Ceylon tea and paired with mandarin jelly, praline cremeux and hazelnut financier, inspired by Gormley’s time studying Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
The Antony Gormley afternoon tea will be served at Rosewood London’s Mirror Room, starting with a selection of freshly-made finger sandwiches and scones and moving on to the specially-crafted desserts. Dishes include a series of four different apple pastries in homage to Gormley’s work One Apple, with an apple mousse, blackberry cheesecake, praline choux, and apple compote presented on a marble tray and sprayed with silver to retain a sculptural feel and a black forest gateau inspired by his work Full Bowl.
The Art Afternoon Tea is available weekdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. It is priced from £60 (US$75) per person.
Antony Gormley at the Royal Academy of Arts opens on 21 September and is on until 3 December 2019. More information is available at the official Rosewood London website.
