An afternoon treat

Dating back to the 19th century, over the years afternoon tea has remained as a lovely way to catch up or reminisce with family or friends.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jun 2014, 11:15 BST

Galgorm Resort & Spa recently opened The River Room Conservatory, their stunning new addition to their fine dining restaurant, providing the perfect excuse for an afternoon treat for my mum and me.

On arrival, we were shown to our seats at a table overlooking the stunning River Maine.

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After perusing the vast tea menu, we both settled on good old English breakfast.

Our server left us to peruse the afternoon tea menu for our sandwich choices, with mum opting for the Honey Roast Gammon & Smoked Cheddar, while I opted for the Goats Cheese & Roast Pepper.

In no time at all, our first course of miniature savouries arrived, comprising of two finger sandwiches, a Haggis Sausage Roll, Smoked Chicken Caesar, and a cup of moreish mushroom and tarragon soup.

Each item perfectly complimented the rest of the selection, and we both commented on how we were supposed to finish it all, especially as scones and a Miniature Dessert platter were still to come.

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With just the right amount of time between the ‘courses’, and fresh refills of tea in between, we were soon ready to tackle the desserts.

And what delicious morsels they were! A raspberry and white chocolate scone, fresh out of the oven, served with fresh cream and home-made raspberry jam.

It was hard to know where to start - Strawberry Victoria Sponge; Coffee Macaroon with chocolate and roast hazelnut; Lemon Posset, elderflower jelly, raspberries, meringue; and Apple & Blackberry Mousse, honeycomb and fresh blueberries.

The Lemon Posset caught my eye, particularly the attention to detail with a lovely viola flower as edible decoration.

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And then the Coffee Macaroon, filled with a rich, chocolatey filling, just melted in the mouth.

While all the desserts were tempting, we were both unable to finish everything but in a nice touch, our server boxed up what we’d left to take home.

Before we knew it, nearly two hours had passed, and what a way to spend them.

Perfect relaxation, stunning views, and delectable treats - with Galgorm’s efforts, the tradition of afternoon tea will easily continue for many years to come.

* Afternoon Tea is served daily in the River Room Conservatory at Galgorm Resort and Spa. To book, phone 028 2588 1001.