Hmm what to do on these long hot summer days? BBQ tick, play sport tick, laze around a beer garden triple tick. I decided it was time to culture myself and visit the Serpentine Pavillion, erected each year by a different architect/designer just next to the serpentine Gallery in Hyde park. I go every year to marvel at the new feats of design and engineering that go into making an amazing out door space. So you can see I didn't even go expecting to find a good meal! Not only did I find one, but it was provided by one of London's best food purveyors, Fortnum and Mason! F&M is one of the most underutilised food halls in London. Tourists and the old Mayfair set enjoy this gem of London's food scene but I implore you, the young and noble foodie to go and explore the 300 year old food mecca on Piccadilly.
This year the pavilion was designed by Sou Fujimoto. He has created an amazing structure using square metal poles to create see through cubes, which combined to form a giant climbing frame. There are perspex steps allowing you to climb up certain areas. Although you are definitely not allowed to climb further (I got told off). From afar it looks like a massive digital cloud, from within you feel like you are in the movie tron. There are so many ways of looking at it. People sitting down on the steps seem like they are hoovering within the "cloud." In the end, it just a great bit of fun for kids and adults a like. The pavilion opened in June and is set to close in October so I would implore you to go for a visit!
Now, I could talk about F&M's Choccolosus biscuits (incredible), their lemon curd (divine), their dazzling array of cheese, teas, cakes and chocolates (all magnificent) but that could take three posts in itself! This post focuses on the incredible and surprisingly good value for money afternoon tea being provided inside this year's pavilion.
Once you have explored the in and outs of Fujimoto's cloud the 300 year old caterers of London's elite are on hand to serve you up some delicious refreshments! You can have snacks or hot and cold drinks. But for a touch more you can have a full on Fortnum's experience! The "Hamperling" is a new invention by F&M it is essentially a cross between hamper and picnic. A hamperling can have two forms either a Hamperling Lunch for one. Which includes a choice of three dishes: Asparagus Tips, Rosary Cheese & Bulgar Wheat Salad or Rare Roast Beef with French Beans & Little Gem Salad or Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagels.Accompanied by: Fresh Strawberries with Mint and a choice of Fortnum’s Tea or Coffee. Or
The Hamperling Afternoon Tea for Two including
Finger Sandwiches: Cucumber & Mint, Salted Beef & Dijon Mustard, Egg & Garden Cress, Smoked Salmon.
Accompanied by: Plain and Fruited Scones with Clotted Cream and
Fortnum’s Strawberry Preserve. Sachertorte Squares, Macarons and a
choice of Fortnum’s Tea.These are priced at £15 for lunch or £25 for tea, now the lunch is slightly punchy but the tea is excellent value! Let me explain why...Now my visit was at approximately 4pm therefore we opted for the tea for two! Tea is sacred at fortnum's so I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed! After paying your twenty five quid (or £12.50 each) you are presented with what can only be described as an adult and very posh happy meal box! This beautifully packaged box unfolds and reveals two layers. The top layer holds your two tea cups, sandwiches, napkins and very flash metal cutlery set.
The bottom layer holds the scones, macorons and cake. in between you have a very thoughtful paper picnic rug! To be honest I'd pay the £25 for the packaging alone! The sandwiches were delicious! salmon, salt beef, egg and cucumber (obviously). Each person gets one finger of each flavour if your sharing nicely. Moving onto the scones you get a small pot of Fortnum's jam which was exquisite and a pot of fresh clotted cream, to go on one fruit scone and one plain. Whether you do this according to Devonshire or Cornish principals, is completely up to you.It is at this point you look around, whilst sipping your tea in one hand and your generously cream covered scone in the other you see a crowd of on lookers wishing, or rather cursing that they had your F&M happy meal tea for two instead of the poxy limp sandwich they bought in one of the park cafes! By this point, if you have had lunch you may be slightly full, but there was still more. The Macarons left me speechless the pistachio flavour in particular was of extraordinary quality. Melt in your mouth texture subtlety flavoured greatness! Then the sachertorte, by this point the developers of this joyful meal must have thought "lets just push this hamperling thing to new levels of indulgence." The chocolate sachertorte cake is RICH! Really rich and its big! Not just a mouthful but full on pudding size! Co couldn't finish hers I only just managed mine, washing it done with the last bit of Royal blend tea (stunning tea as well btw, not your builders here!).
This was simply a wonderful meal in a fantastic location with great surroundings. The staff were nice and smiley too! I would make this a must of your 2013 summer. Take the other half for a special afternoon or arrange to meet the gang. If nothing else you can claim it was all in the pursuit of being more cultural! I for one am looking forward to tea at the pavilion in 2014 (or maybe again next week hmm)!
