Afternoon tea separates the newbies from the regulars. The newbies hover, almost nervously, a few metres away from the good stuff and say things like “I couldn’t eat another thing” or “I should just have a piece of fruit”, yet we know, and they know, that they’re kidding themselves. Why else are they here? The regulars, on the other hand, are straight in there with plates and appetites.
There are always a few choices at afternoon tea. You may get some honey, yoghurt and chocolate cake (our best, by far), some brown butter and cardamom biscuits, or any one of the other 20 options in our repertoire. A word of warning – if you come during school holidays (and if you don’t like kids, it’s probably best if you come some other time), then make sure you arrive at afternoon tea at 4pm sharp. Kids are self-centred and unapologetic at afternoon tea time, and when we triple the serve, they just take three times as much.
During the other 44 weeks of the year, outside of school holidays, afternoon tea is blissfully quiet and tasteful. Guests are almost collegial in the way they talk about the day and share stories and tips.
