One thing glaringly apparent from last month's business lunch review at Marco Pierre White Newcastle was the number of three tiered cake stands. The restaurant is clearly a hotspot for afternoon tea, transporting the genteel English custom from the pastoral to the cosmopolitan glamour of downtown Newcastle.
This hasn’t gone unnoticed by my girlfriend Rosie who has been nagging me for a while to join her. Unfortunately, this landed on the same Sunday as a certain Man City/Liverpool potential title decider although this was far too good of an opportunity to pass up, so we donned our Sunday best and booked in for all Hotel Indigo had to offer.
Much like our last visit, the dining area had a palpable buzz and we were greeted warmly and shown to our cosy corner snug. Hot drinks have been specially selected with tea pigs tea and Musetti coffee -two ever presents in the gourmet Christmas hamper- used very well here. It would be tea for two and a glass of fizz which is available for £35.00 for two with the standard offering available for £29.95, not to mention a headline champagne afternoon tea with two glasses of Laurent Perrier for £44.50.
Soon after our stand arrived – three storeys of sweet and savoury goodies. Sandwiches were served on both white and granary loaf with unsalted butter. Severn and wye smoked salmon was crossed with a light cream cheese whilst sliced Wiltshire ham came spiked with Colman’s mustard. Co-starring was traditional roast beef with a devilish horseradish whilst Rosie enjoyed the vegetarian sliced cucumber with mayonnaise.
On the next floor up, came scones, fresh and doughy and dusted in sugar. These were perfect for slathering in cream on jam and indeed jam upon cream. Top of the tree was a rainbow of crowd-pleasing sweet treats which we shared between us. Pick of the plate was a chocolate & caramel mirror slice whilst we also enjoyed a grand slab of carrot cake, a zingy lemon cheesecake and a selection of house macaroons.
Much thought has clearly gone into afternoon tea at Marco Pierre Newcastle – another branch of a highly polished food and drink offering.
