CUTCakes & Tea at 45 Park Lane

With stiff competition in London, afternoon tea has to be highly innovative or it’s just not going to make the cut, so to speak… But I’ve found one that is well and truly unique.
45 Park Lane is is the younger more trendy sister to London stalwart, The Dorchester. With a contemporary design, a focus on art and a smaller more boutique feel, there is a very personal and special style to this Dorchester Collection property. Steak restaurant CUT is the jewel in the crown of the hotel, and regular readers may remember me meeting owner, chef and legendary restauranteur, Wolfgang Puck when I sampled the wagyu beef served at the restaurant.
But this post of course about the brand new afternoon tea. CUTCakes & Tea takes an American twist on the classic, there’s not a finger sandwich in sight in the concept created by executive chef, David McIntyre.

Sticking with the theme we kicked off with J Vineyards, ‘Cuvée 20’, Russian River Valley, California sparkling wine. A bubbly almost imperceptible from champagne.
Mr S once asked me what’s the point of afternoon tea (er…cake, cake and more cake?) but I do believe that this is a tea that he could well and truly get on board with. He would absolutely loved the Wagyu Beef Slider with garlic aioli and sweet pickle which was perfectly cooked with a lovely fluffy bun. My absolute favourite was the tuna tartare ‘Sandwich’ which featured the freshest of tuna between croutons. Black truffle grilled cheese… I mean need I say more…

Fried chicken and buttermilk Bisquet with honey-jalapeño jam was another success, as was Lobster Po’Boy, a variation of a lobster roll on crisp, slightly sweet, homemade brioche with herb remoulade.

Though not quite American, the team at 45 Park Lane thought you just can’t have afternoon tea without scones. And the CUTCakes & Tea scones are utterly divine, huge and fluffy and served with clotted cream, strawberry and huckleberry compote.

As you can see the cakes are the real showstoppers!
The desserts are exactly what I think of when I think back to holidays in the states; indeed they are evoked by the chef’s childhood memories. The strawberry milk shake is pretty in pink with a cute candy striped straw. Graham Cracker S’mores are pretty much the best thing ever. Peanut Butter & Jelly Twinkie is a play on the classic American dessert but given the five -star treatment. Pastry chef Niamh Larkin created the Cola Cake and Caramel Corn Macaron to resemble a cheese burger and it’s oh so decadently delicious!
The pastries also come with a selection of cake pops including Pink Lemonade (my favourite) Cookies & Cream Cake and New York Cheesecake. Drinks-wise you can beat the current heat wave with Iced Tea or opt for the classic hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate
The Dorchester Collection always gets it right in coming up with new and innovative food and beverage ideas and this is once again one I’d highly recommend.