Today, this popped into my inbox:
And I promptly started to drool and look at airfares to London. Impulsive? Maybe just a little. But I’ve planned vacations based on news stories about chickens.
The Berkeley Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge neighborhood (near Harrods) announced its Spring/Summer 2012 Prêt-à-Portea afternoon collection. Inspired by the season’s fashions, the Berkeley offers one of the Western world’s most creative, colorful daily afternoon teas for about $50 USD, or thereabouts, that includes posh pastries and savory sandwiches. Sample a Miu Miu vanilla bikini biscuit, Jason Wu’s cherry bavarois and coconut creamed pudding topped with a sexy leg stretching to the moon, and a “fabulous” Christian Louboutin neon yellow high-heeled chocolate cookie–a heel so high and so pointed it could stomp out all pointless cares and concerns. And those are just the cookies!
We did the fashionista tea at the Berkeley in December 2009 when Anna, Mike and I nibbled on a Mulberry Bayswater handbag with silver clasp, a Roger Vivier chocolate ‘over-the-knee’ boot, a Christian Lacroix dark chocolate dress, and a Burberry Prorsum classic trench coat–all washed down with some classic Earl Grey.
Not in the mood to lick a fondant bathing suit? No problem. Beginning May 29 through June 12, the Berkeley is offering less risque tea time confections to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Only one other British royal reached her Diamond Jubilee and that was Her Majesty Vicky in 1897. Did she eat biscuits shaped like Marilyn Monroe’s legs? Most likely not, but this is the 21st century and I think Queen Elizabeth would appreciate Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection’. Not surprisingly, there are several hat-shaped cookies, given the queen enjoys a well-crafted chapeau and is said to have worn 5,000 hats since being crowned 60 years ago. Dive into delectables such as a biscuit sculpted to look like Queen Elizabeth’s crown worn for her coronation in 1953; a more ceremonial blueberry hat cake reminiscient of what we often see Her Majesty wearing when we catch glimpses of her on the BBC. Decorated with sugar roses and green leaves, this cookie is based on a design by royal milliner extraordinaire Rachel Trevor-Morgan. Pralines and iced cakes also make up the Royal Collection.
I’m jealous of anyone who will be roaming around Knightsbridge later this spring before Summer Olympics mayhem strikes and can just pop into the Berkeley’s Caramel Room for a break from luxury goods shopping. If you do need a place to rest your well-heeled heels, try the fashionista or Royal Collection teas, and email me the sweet juicy details.