Everyone that knows me well knows that my greatest weakness is my sweet tooth. So when we were kindly invited to afternoon tea at Harvey Nichols Forth Floor restaurant it was an unequivocal salivating YES!!
Forth Floor at Harvey Nichols
It’s a while since I’ve been up to the Forth Floor and I’d forgotten what a stylishly pleasant place it is. The views are stunning and the glazed curtain walling makes the restaurant feel really light and spacious. I also noticed that there was a real mix of people enjoying the space for different reasons; friends lunching, couples enjoying a cheeky afternoon beverage, business lunches and even someone slurping a coffee immersed in a (hardback book). Here anything goes as long as it is with style!
Greeted by a friendly front of house we were escorted to our table ready for our chocolate afternoon tea treat.
Chocolate Heaven
Created by Paul A. Young, a chocolatier with a reputation for his creative use of flavours, this Chocolate Afternoon Tea explores the relationship of fragrance and scent with taste, texture and the tactile sensation when chocolate flavours first hit the tongue and is part of Harvey Nichols month of exploring the Art of Scent.
So before we elaborate on which senses sent us into a tizzy let us first share the menu:
Champagne
Rare roast beef and horseradish sandwich
Cucumber, poppy seed and mascarpone sandwich
Savoury chocolate, Gorgonzola and rocket sandwich
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Mini fruit scone, jam and cream
Mini brown sugar scone, salt caramel and clotted cream
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Moroccan spiced chocolate pot
Rose crunch cake
Chocolate and pecan tart
Carrot and chocolate chip cake with coconut frosting
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Served with a cocoa nib and mint infusion tea
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Sounds amazing? It truly was.
Presentation
The first thing we noticed when the cake stand was presented was the size of the portions – this was an afternoon tea for real people, in fact for hungry people. We even questioned whether we’d finish it? Who were we trying to kid!!!
Before explaining that our tea would be appropriately infused when the nibs sink he spritzed the chocolate and pecan tart (which were served on their own plate because they were so special …and big!!) with an atomizer scented with butterscotch and pecan – apparently this adds a greater depth to the flavours.
So with champers supped and tea infusing we made our way on this sense stimulating chocolate journey and what a journey.
Savoury
I always think that the sandwiches are just there to make you feel less guilty for indulging in three tiers of sugar but on this occasion chocolate even crept its way into the supposedly guilt free tier. However, it was a savoury chocolate. I really liked it but it was too rich with the gorganzola for me but I must state I am not so much of a cheese fan. Although to the contrary I really really enjoyed the mascarpone and cucumber combo – very light and quite cleansing. Beef was good too. A very good start.
Sweet
I actually have a strategy when it comes to afternoon tea; I eat half of one thing and save it until I discover my least and most favourite and always save the best to last.
I started with a good old-fashioned fruit scone and it didn’t disappoint, perfectly crisp on the outside, sturdy enough in the middle but scope room for a little ‘crumb-age’. I’ve never had a brown sugar scone, which I smothered in the salt caramel and clotted cream and literally thought I’d been whisked away to heaven.
Every slice to follow seemed to get better and better and the rose crunch cake acted as an ideal palette cleanser.
Just by looking, and of course the fact it was spritzed with an atomizer, I knew the chocolate and pecan tart had to be special so this was to be the grand finale. Woooooaaahhh. The first morsel was spine tingling and with each further mouthful the intensity increased. The most delicious sweet treat I think I have ever enjoyed. Truly, truly indulgent.
Service
The service team was extremely knowledgeable and attentive particularly to the needs of the wee nipper (8 month old) we had in tow.
Conclusion
The BEST afternoon tea I have ever sampled. My waistline didn’t even complain. Calories? Who cares when food tastes, feels, smells and looks so good.
Costs & Details
Chocolate Afternoon Tea = £20 per person
Champagne Chocolate Afternoon Tea = £28 per person
Chocolate Afternoon Tea runs till the 31st October so be quick. Find out more about Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh
Contact Details
Web: www.harveynichols.com
Tel: 0131 524 8350
Address: 30 – 34 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2AD
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